Fellows of the American Academy of Microbiology, an honorific leadership group within the American Society for Microbiology (ASM), are elected annually through a highly selective, peer-review process, based on their records of scientific achievement and original contributions that have advanced microbiology. The Academy received 156 nominations this year, electing 65 into the 2024 Fellowship Class.

Said Professor Michael Escudier, Executive Dean at King's Faculty of Dentistry, Oral & Craniofacial Sciences: 

"We are delighted that Julian’s significant and long-standing contribution to the field is being recognised in this way by the American Academy of Microbiology. It is also a reflection of the strength and depth of the oral microbiology team that Julian has built and led with great success over many years."

Said Vanessa Sperandio, Ph.D., Chair of the Academy Governors: “Academy Fellowship signifies a distinguished accolade, and I am delighted to extend my congratulations and warm welcome to Professor Naglik as a member of the 2024 Cohort. Fellows are an outstanding assembly of scientists whose contributions have propelled discipline and whose knowledge benefits both the scientific community and broader society.” 

Julian Naglik, is Professor in Fungal Pathogenesis & Immunology in the Centre for Host-Microbiome Interactions, Faculty of Dental, Oral & Craniofacial Sciences at King’s College London.  His current research projects relate to the molecular analysis of host/pathogen interactions at mucosal surfaces, with specific focus on epithelial mechanisms activated by the human fungal pathogen C. albicans.  His laboratory described the danger response signalling pathways activated by the invasive hyphal form of C. albicans, which recently was found to be due to the secretion of candidalysin.  

Among the Class of 2024 fellows, 25% are women. Among the 2024 fellows in the U.S., 23% are from historically underrepresented ethnic groups. Moreover, there is good representation of international fellows (12%) from 6 countries outside the U.S. The Class of 2024 represents fellows from Hong Kong (Greater China), France, Germany, South Africa, Spain, the U.K. and the U.S.