KNAW Beijerink Premium goes to Tessa Quax with virological research

Archaea play an important role in the evolution of life and are the precursors of the eukaryotes. Archaea are single-celled organisms that occur in the most diverse places in the world, for example in hot geysers or in the human gut. Unlike bacteria and eukaryotes, we know of no disease-causing archaea. Because research on archaeal viruses is thus separate from disease processes, it can focus on the role of all viruses in ecosystems and evolution. In her research, Quax gained insights into the virus-host dynamics of archaea. She is one of the few pioneers worldwide who is trying to unravel the mechanisms of infection and spread of viruses from archaea. Her findings have direct implications for theories of the evolution of viruses and archaea, and are important for creating a complete picture of what viruses are, what they do and where they come from. Quax’s unique research makes an important contribution to the development of this field.

Many different viruses

After her PhD, Quax worked in Leuven and at Freiburg University. She is now an associate professor at the Groningen Biomolecular Sciences and Biotechnology Institute, University of Groningen. She also holds various positions in international trade unions. Via these associations, Quax connects researchers within the larger field of ‘viruses of micro-organisms’. She sees this as an important personal task. She enthusiastically promotes collaboration and involvement of young researchers. Quax shows in its outreach activities that there are many different viruses that you have to distinguish from each other. She wants to make clear that many viruses have a lasting relationship with their host, are an intrinsic part of life and even have positive effects on their host by altering the metabolism or by protecting them against other viruses. Quax explains in an insightful way how viruses keep ecosystems (such as the human microbiome) healthy and thus stimulate the evolution of species.

The KNAW Beijerinck Premium will be awarded on 3 March 2022 during the Dutch Annual Virology Symposium from the Trippenhuis. Quax will give a short talk about her work. The KNAW Beijerinck Premium is awarded annually to a young researcher who conducts excellent virus-oriented research at a Dutch scientific institution. The Beijerinck Premium is made possible by the MW Beijerinck – Virology Fund of the KNAW. The fund was founded by the couple LE den Dooren de Jong in memory of the virologist Martinus Willem Beijerinck. The premium amounts to 25,000 euros, to be spent by the winner on virus-oriented research.

By: National Education Guide