José Ruiz Herrera pillar of science in Mexico, a trajectory and an enduring legacy in his journey through biochemistry, microbiology and the world of fungi

Abstract

Professor José Ruiz Herrera was one of the most distinguished scientists in our country, a pillar
of biochemistry, microbiology and the study of fungi, with their applications in medicine and agriculture.
This article pays tribute to the teacher and the person, through his career in different institutions,
in which he contributed to the formation and consolidation of groups and the dissemination of knowledge to countless generations of students. During his time at the National Polytechnic Institute,
Rutgers University, the University of Guanajuato, CINVESTAV, and his collaborations with
outstanding colleagues inside and outside our country, his discoveries on the structure of the cell
wall, the molecular basis of differentiation and its role in the biological cycle, the importance of
symbiosis and its applications in human activities are a legacy for generations to come. Dr. Ruiz
Herrera will also be remembered as an excellent teacher, extremely generous and always concerned
not only for the academic development of his students, but for their well-being. His respectful treatment
towards them is another of his many legacies and reminds us that academic success is deeply
linked to the teacher-student relationship.