Alois Huger – Laying the foundations for an integrated insect pathology

Dr. Alois Huger had a long and distinguished career at the Institut für biologische Schädlingsbekämpfung (Institute for Biological Pest Control) Darmstadt, Germany, where he became one of the world’s leading insect pathologists. He applied his experience and understanding of insect tissues and specialist skills in microscopy to diagnosis and elucidation of the pathology of insect diseases. During his career he discovered the Oryctes nudivirus and Bacillus thuringiensis subsp. tenebrionis, and was part of teams unravelling amber disease in scarab beetles and the role of bacteria in parthenogenesis of parasitoids. He elucidated life cycles of microsporidian and rickettsial pathogens of insects and was the first to describe the ultrastructure of a microsporidian spore. Dr Huger carried out diagnosis of diseased insects over a period of 55 years and has left us with many publications and a database containing thousands of records for ongoing interrogation. Through working with multiple pathogens in different systems, Dr. Huger obtained an overview second to none in the complexities of insect/pathogen relationships and has been at the forefront of making these discoveries benefit humanity. He is a worthy recipient of the Founders’ Lecture award, the highest honour of the Society for Invertebrate Pathology.