Prof. Dr. Horst Malke (✝︎)

Horst Malke is primarily recognized for many contributions to the genetics of bacteria, particularly the pathogenic streptococci. He developed novel transduction and conjugation systems for genetic exchange that served as freely available tools for the genetic analysis of streptococci in the pre-recombinant DNA era. Teaming up with researchers at OUHSC, he was the first to clone, sequence, ectopically express and comprehensively characterize the polymorphic streptokinase gene, the product of which is exploited as a fibrinolytic agent in clinical medicine.
His work included seminal discoveries involving global streptococcal transcription regulators (relA and codY) that sense the nutritional status of the bacterial cell in the integration of metabolic and virulence pathways.