Főoldal     Dr. Ervin Károly Novák  

Dr. Ervin Károly Novák (1932-2009)

He was born in Budapest on 31st of May, 1932.

Following his graduation from the Evangelical Secondary Grammar School in 1950, he continued his studies at the Faculty of Science of Eötvös Loránd University. He received his diploma as teacher of biology-chemistry in1952, and specialized as certified microbiologist in 1955.

Between 1955 and 1957, he was the teacher for the Laboratory of Inorganic Chemistry in the Than Károly Technical School of Light Industry and Chemistry. In addition to it, as causal worker he studied the later so useful practical knowledge and skills at the Department for Biochemistry in the Research Institute of Agricultural Chemistry of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences.

April 1, 1957, he was employed by the Laboratory of Mycology belonging to the Department of Bacteriology of the National Institute of Public Health (OKI). He was appointed to Head of Laboratory in 1958, following Dr. Anna Csillags retirement.

In 1972, he was nominated for the Head of Laboratory of Mycology independent within the Division of Epidemiology and Microbiology. He had this position until his retirement by 31st December, 1992. Then he supported his successors work as a consultant from January 1 to March 31, 1993.

In 1962, the Faculty of Science of Eötvös Loránd University awarded the doctoral degree of natural science for his dissertation The malonic acid metabolism of organisms with special regard for the malonic acid use of microscopic fungi. He got PhD degree in biology for his thesis with the title of Data on the diagnostics and comparative physiology of pathogenic Saccharomyces sp. in 1981.

His scientific activity focussed on the research for the comparative physiology and taxonomy of Saccharomyces sp., the incidence and diagnostics of pathogenic fungi within medical mycology, the investigation for the aetiology of Hyphomycetes, and the mycological aspects of issues in the field of mycological diagnostics and public health.

He had important contribution to the organization of the not numerous mycological laboratories within the frame of the Station of Public Health and Epidemiology (KÖJÁL) in the 1960/1970s and to the improvement of their diagnostic activities later.

Following his appointment, he reorganized the Laboratorys profile first. Then, he was actively involved in the development for the topical term of reference for the new Department of Mycology (always operating with a small staff).

Under his management, the routine fungal serology testing began with the production of fungal antigens and antisera and the introduction of immunofluorescence. Dr. Csaba Dobolyi (1967-1984) and Dr. József Galgóczy (1969-1982) also participated in this work. The internationally acknowledged Zsolt Nováks yeast system based on a systematics and classification key different from the previous ones grounded on the yeast physiology and carbohydrate and amino acid metabolism researches performed within the collaboration with József Attila University of Szeged (JATE).

Between 1970 and 1980, the efficacy testing for antimycotics was performed. In collaboration with JATE, the ionic transport experiments done by the nystatin-resistant Candida albicans mutant strains and the electron microscopic tests accomplished the elaboration for a new model for the mechanism of action. Within the frame of collaboration with the Budapest University of Technology, mathematical-statistical methods for the modelling of reproductive kinetics were developed.

Significant results were achieved also in the improvement of medical mycological diagnostics. In collaboration with several research sites, first the so-called immune Indian ink serological staining method was worked out that was continued by its development to an ELISA histochemical immunoperoxidase assay. The study for the physiology of dermatophyton species and the micro-morphological examination of conidiogenesis yielded the elaboration of new taxonomy system and classification key.

The clarification for the aetiological issues of mycoses continued mainly with the research on the infection resources and predisposing factors for the neonatal oral mucosa candidiases. The research on aetiological agents of allergic respiratory diseases caused by fungi and the introduction of specific laboratory diagnostic techniques were started.

In the 1980s, the prior only experimental serological tests were included in the routine use. The mycological testing of the interior and exterior environment was stressed for the detection of allergenic fungi and the explanation of underlaying cause for allergy. Wide comparative analysis was performed to detect the appropriate diagnostic technique amid children with asthmatic bronchitis.

With Dr. Judit Zalas employment (1979- ), the research on mechanism of action of antimycotics got an impetus. The radioisotope and drug-combination experiments performed by the sensitive and resistant mutant strains provided further confirming evidence for the deviation of effect within the group of polyene antifungal antibiotics and for the untenableness of the internationally accepted, so-called theory of pores.

Zsuzsa Horváth (1983-1998) analysed the incidence of allergenic fungi within the research for aetiology of mycoses and surveyed the seasonal occurrence of several allergenic species with a pollen-microscopy method adapted to mycological testing.

During the last years of his active period in the Institute, he studied the possibility for the development of diagnostic techniques and the prevention of growth and harm of Hyphomycetes in the houses built by panel construction system.

He took pride in that his family name was given to two species of Saccharomyces, the Geotrichum novakii n.sp (1996) and Candida novakii n.sp (1997).

40 books and book chapters and 180 publications (more than 60% of them in foreign languages, mainly in English) stand for his impressive scientific activity.

He had a wide educational activity in the field of mycology within microbiology. He participated in the training for laboratory technicians, public health-epidemiological controllers, and specialized engineers (microbiology of conserve industry and biotechnology). He wrote several textbooks and book chapters about the topics covered by his lectures for his students. His lectures mirrored his wide knowledge, an expressive and easy style.  His message was coloured by the communication with the knowledge gained from his own experience.   

His great educational work at the Department of Agriculture and Biotechnology of Faculty of Chemical Engineering in the Budapest University of Technology was conceded by the rank of honorary university lecturer in 1981. In addition to this, he also taught at the József Attila University of Szeged for many years.

For the excellent performance of his professional duties, the Hungarian Society of Microbiology awarded the Manninger Rezső Medal to him in 1993.

He received commemorative medal and diploma from the President of Hungarian Academy of Sciences for his mycological research in Hungary.

He was an active member in the national scientific associations, Secretary for the Unit of Biochemistry in the Hungarian Society of Chemistry of the Association for Societies of Technology and Natural Science, and Chair of the Mycological Section in the Hungarian Society of Microbiology.

From 1989, he was a registered expert in the field of microbiology-mycology for the Ministry of Health.

During his 35-year activity in the OKI, he achieved not only eminent results in the medical-mycological research of the Institute but it also manifested his being of an outstanding organizer, a warm-hearted colleague, a considerate superior and master.

His work was thorough and conscientious, and he expected the same from his fellow-workers. His good ability for collaboration fostered the joint work with several Departments within the Institute. His friendly and genial nature, and his informality and readiness to help were well-known in the OKI. He created a school with his knowledge and his pupils have been amid the leading professionals and researchers of the current scientific life.

We express our deep honour and love for his memory, the internationally acknowledged expert who is amid the excellent scientists of the National Institute of Public Health.

 

Dr. Gyula Erdős, MD
        Consultant

Dr. Judit Zala

 

Publications of Dr. Ervin Károly Novák

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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