J Ind Microbiol Biotechnol (2010) 37:1221–1222
DOI 10.1007/s10295-010-0776-8
PREFACE
Introduction
Ales Prokop • Martin Franc
Ó Society for Industrial Microbiology 2010
This special issue of the Journal of Industrial Microbiology
and Biotechnology (JIMB) originated as the result of a
conference held to honor Academician Ivan Málek, distinguished microbiologist, scientist and organizer [Ivan
Málek and ČSAV; Conference on the 100th birthday
anniversary of Ivan Málek (1909–1994); Prague, 15–16
October 2009]. It was held under the auspices of the
Masaryk Institute and the Archive of the Academy of
Sciences of the Czech Republic (ASCR), which controls
the personal archive of Málek. The conference was assisted
by the Institute of Microbiology of the ASCR, v.v.i.
(throughout this Volume, IM ASCR), and paid tribute to
Málek. It was a collection of contributions dealing with
historical aspects and reminiscences celebrating Malek’s
life and his achievements.
At the conference, the first day was devoted to the theme
‘‘Ivan Málek as an Academician of ASCR,’’ focusing on
his activity within the structures of the Czechoslovak
Academy of Sciences during the 1950s and 1960s and the
science politics of Czechoslovakia. The second day, which
was held on the premises of the Institute of Microbiology,
emphasized Málek as the director of a scientific institution
and as a prominent researcher. The speakers were mainly
his former coworkers, who stressed his contributions to
microbiology, emphasizing his impact on continuous
cultivation of microorganisms and biosynthesis. An international assessment of Málek’s scientific activity was presented by the distinguished historian of biotechnological
A. Prokop (&)
Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, USA
e-mail: ales.prokop@vanderbilt.edu
M. Franc
Archive of ASCR, Prague, Czech Republic
development, Robert Bud, from the UK. The program also
included contributions dealing with Málek’s studies of
ecology and his life as an educator.
This publication presents the contributions made by Ivan
Málek to the development of microbiology and other fields
in the former Czechoslovakia, and defines their contents
and analyzes their influence. The discussions represent
individual contributions honoring Málek. The special issue
addresses the significance of Málek’s ‘‘school’’ with
respect to the future development of microbiology and
other fields (the term ‘‘school’’ mainly refers to continuous
culture; see Kyslı́k and Prokop, this volume). According to
the Oxford Dictionary, a ‘school’ revolves around leading
teachers and principles instilled into their students and
shared by them. Thus, it appears that in a scientific school,
human elements like charisma of its leaders intermingle
with scientific principles. Further, the impact of Málek’s
activity on general microbiology, genetics, molecular
biology, biotechnology, microbial and algal ecology, and
biodiversity is analyzed, and finally, the present status and
future significance of Málek’s work is examined.
This special issue is very different from a historical
assessment. It consists of contributed reviews in different
areas of microbiology, accompanied by original papers. It
covers areas where Málek contributed the most, especially
with regard to the special departments and schools that he
established within his own institute. The issue is the result
of the enthusiasm of the scientists and their willingness to
contribute. Many of the chapters deal with aspects of
continuous culture of microorganisms to some degree. The
paper of Pokorný and colleagues covers dissipative ecosystems, an open system with feeds in and out. The role of
microorganisms was not stressed in this presentation. In
this special case, the activity described is an example of the
very broad knowledge and concepts that Málek introduced
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and supported in his contacts with international organizations. It should be stressed that Málek introduced the idea
of the ‘‘physiological state’’ as an accompanying concept
of microbial culturing, initially at the qualitative level, and
later, even quantitatively (see the paper of Kyslı́k and
Prokop).
The second prevailing theme of the special issue is that
of differentiation and biosynthesis, which play significant
roles in general microbiology and genetics (see Nešvera;
and Pazlarová) as well as in biogenesis of natural compounds (Spı́žek et al.). Note also an attempt to employ
the continuous culture concept for secondary product
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J Ind Microbiol Biotechnol (2010) 37:1221–1222
formation (Kyslı́k and Prokop) and algal physiology
(Masojı́dek and Prášil). The latter contribution also deals
with continuous or semi-continuous culture by design.
Another example of Málek’s international acitivity is
exemplified by the contribution of Rakesh Bajpai, who
attended a 1-year UNESCO Long-term Postgraduate
Training on ‘‘Modern Problems in Biology’’ at the Institute
of Microbiology of ASCR. The Editors of this special issue
are indebted to the JIMB’s past Editor, Allen Laskin, and
current Editor, Robert Schwartz, whose profound understanding helped to make this happen.