Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Reposted by Augustinas Silale

Ellie Boardman @ellieboardman.bsky.social · 1d

The CCP4 Northern Structural Biology Meeting is back again in Newcastle 6-7th November 2025. If you are a structural biologist/biochemist in the North of the UK please register and submit abstracts by this Friday 17th.

nusbf.ncl.ac.uk/ccp4-norther...

nusbf.ncl.ac.uk

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Reposted by Augustinas Silale

Alessandra Dantas @alesdantas.bsky.social · 7d

Prof Quinn telling us about her novel findings on bacterial type-VI secretion mediated killing of fungi. @mhd-newcastle.bsky.social @nclfungalgroup.bsky.social #Candida2025

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Reposted by Augustinas Silale

Tracy Palmer @proftracypalmer.bsky.social · 10d

Check it out! A proper team effort from past and present group members and a great collaboration with @sergemostowylab.bsky.social

bioRxiv Microbiology @biorxiv-microbiol.bsky.social · 10d

The Staphylococcus aureus LXG-domain toxins EsxX and SAR0287 do not promote virulence in a zebrafish larval infection model https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1101/2025.10.04.680436v1

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Augustinas Silale @augustsilale.bsky.social · 13d

Berks and @smlea.bsky.social labs also found yet a different BAM architecture in Flavobacterium johnsoniae, another member of Bacteroidota.

doi.org/10.1038/s415...

A new paradigm for outer membrane protein biogenesis in the Bacteroidota - Nature

Structural and biochemical studies of the β-barrel-assembly machinery from Flavobacterium johnsoniae reveal a subunit composition and assembly that are distinct from those of the canonical Escherichia coli complex.

doi.org

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Augustinas Silale @augustsilale.bsky.social · 13d

We think this much larger BAM enables biogenesis of outer membrane β-barrel and surface-exposed lipoprotein complexes, which are a hallmark of the Bacteroidota.

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Augustinas Silale @augustsilale.bsky.social · 13d

Our paper on the Bacteroidota BAM complex is out in @natmicrobiol.nature.com! With @madejmar.bsky.social

We found that BAM in Bacteroides and Porphyromonas gingivalis has a distinct architecture from BAM in Proteobacteria.

doi.org/10.1038/s415...

Structure of a distinct β-barrel assembly machinery complex in the Bacteroidota - Nature Microbiology

Structural and functional characterization of the β-barrel assembly machinery complex in Bacteroidota reveals a distinct, seven-component complex with a large extracellular domain that may enable β-barrel–surface lipoprotein complex assembly.

doi.org

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Reposted by Augustinas Silale

Lis Lowe @lislowe.bsky.social · 16d

Spending some time collecting memories of Harry today 🥺 - this is when he was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society. If anyone in the #glycotime universe has pictures or memories of Harry Gilbert they want to share please send them my way 💚

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Reposted by Augustinas Silale

Microbes in Health and Disease @mhd-newcastle.bsky.social · 23d

Now we are on Bluesky, over the next couple of days we would like to introduce some of the MHD groups on Bluesky who you can follow for more research updates. Or check out our handy MHD starter pack 😀
go.bsky.app/SoVnvW3

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Reposted by Augustinas Silale

Rhys Grinter @rhyswg.bsky.social · 25d

The outer membrane of Gram-negative bacteria blocks many antibiotics. Our latest work reveals that L-type pyocins bypass this barrier by inactivating the BAM complex, killing Pseudomonas aeruginosa without entering the cell, providing a new blueprint for beating antibiotic resistance.

A Protein Antibiotic Inhibits the BAM Complex to Kill Without Cell Entry

Many antibiotics are ineffective against Gram-negative pathogens such as Pseudomonas aeruginosa because they cannot penetrate the bacterial outer membrane. Here, we show that protein antibiotics calle...

www.biorxiv.org

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Reposted by Augustinas Silale

Agathe couturier @agathe-couturier.bsky.social · 28d

Exclusion systems, far from slowing down plasmid spread, are in fact essential to preserve host cell viability and thereby ensure the successful dissemination of conjugative plasmids and antibiotic resistance genes.

@nfrk92.bsky.social
@narjournal.bsky.social

academic.oup.com/nar/article/...

Exclusion systems preserve host cell homeostasis and fitness, ensuring successful dissemination of conjugative plasmids and associated resistance genes

Abstract. Plasmid conjugation is a major driver of antibiotic resistance dissemination in bacteria. In addition to genes required for transfer and maintena

academic.oup.com

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Reposted by Augustinas Silale

Stephen Garrett @stephenrgarrett.bsky.social · 29d

Really excited to share my first paper from the Whitney lab, alongside an amazing grad student, Polina. Here we identify a chaperone family required for the folding of a central domain of T7SS toxins, and solve the structure of the chaperone-toxin complex. www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/...

A widespread family of molecular chaperones promotes the intracellular stability of type VIIb secretion system–exported toxins | PNAS

To survive in highly competitive environments, bacteria use specialized secretion systems to deliver antibacterial toxins into neighboring cells, t...

www.pnas.org

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Reposted by Augustinas Silale

TJ McCorvie @allostericstate.bsky.social · Aug 21

nusbf.ncl.ac.uk/blog/2025/08...

If you want to see the progress of the installation of the Tundra TEM at @nusbf.bsky.social @newcastleuni.bsky.social Johan has been kindly updating the website with pictures as it is being assembled.

Progress Update: Tundra Installation — August 20, 2025 - NUSBF

We’re excited to share the latest advances in the Tundra project as of 20 August 2025. The installation is moving swiftly, and here’s how things stand: The wiring had continued and the microscope is c...

nusbf.ncl.ac.uk

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Reposted by Augustinas Silale

Melissa Webby @melissawebby.bsky.social · Aug 15

🦠 A fan of bacteria?
We're hiring a Research Technician to join our team at the @warwicklifesci.bsky.social @uni-of-warwick.bsky.social

Positive, organised, skills in molecular biology and protein purification?

Apply here 👉 warwick-careers.tal.net/vx/appcentre...

Please share! 🔬

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Reposted by Augustinas Silale

James Connolly @ruamicro.bsky.social · Jul 30

Absolutely delighted to share the labs latest work. We identify and characterise two pathways for D-ribulose utilisation in pathogenic EHEC and Citrobacter.

Convergent evolution of distinct D-ribulose utilisation pathways in attaching and effacing pathogens - Nature Communications

Cottam et al. identify distinct pathways for D-ribulose utilisation in pathogenic Escherichia coli and Citrobacter rodentium, providing mechanistic details and suggesting convergent evolution towards ...

www.nature.com

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Reposted by Augustinas Silale

Michael Deghelt @michaeldeghelt.bsky.social · Jul 29

#microsky
We challenge the long-standing view that peptidoglycan alone protects cells from bursting.

Our study shows that the periplasm — enclosed by OM–PG connections — acts as a pressure buffer essential for osmoprotection in Gram-negative bacteria.

📄 www.nature.com/articles/s41...

Peptidoglycan–outer membrane attachment generates periplasmic pressure to prevent lysis in Gram-negative bacteria - Nature Microbiology

Outer membrane attachment to peptidoglycan enables periplasmic pressure to build up and counter cytoplasmic turgor pressure, preventing lysis during osmotic challenges in Escherichia coli.

www.nature.com

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Reposted by Augustinas Silale

Dr Katherine Duncan @kateduncan.bsky.social · Jul 22

*JOB AD*: interested in doing a postdoc in microbial metabolomics? Passionate about natural products mass spec?

Come join the group! Informal enquires welcome!

Closing Date: 19 August 2025

jobs.ncl.ac.uk/job/Newcastl...

Research Associate - Microbial Metabolomic

jobs.ncl.ac.uk

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Reposted by Augustinas Silale

Rob Klose @robklose.bsky.social · Jul 15

My wonderful colleage Colin Kleanthous is raising money for the MND association. Please support Colin in this worthy endeavor! www.justgiving.com/page/colin-k...
(Please repost!)

Colin Kleanthous' fundraiser for Motor Neurone Disease Association

Help Colin Kleanthous raise money to support Motor Neurone Disease Association

www.justgiving.com

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Reposted by Augustinas Silale

Yoann Santin @ysantin.bsky.social · Jul 7

You thought all OMPs were trimeric? 🧐 Not in our predator B. bacteriovorus! 🦠
Excited to have contributed to this great collab with the Lovering lab on this intriguing protein. @lalouxlab.bsky.social
👉 Paper here!
www.nature.com/articles/s41...

#BacterialPredation #Bdellovibrio #StructuralBiology

A porin-like protein used by bacterial predators defines a wider lipid-trapping superfamily - Nature Communications

This study reveals that an outer membrane protein from the predator Bdellovibrio bacteriovorus forms a pentameric assembly that traps a lipid monolayer within. This allows the discovery of two superfa...

www.nature.com

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Reposted by Augustinas Silale

Herve Celia @hervecelia.bsky.social · Jul 1

After an unexpectedly long editorial process, our paper describing the structures of the E coli TolAQR and TonB-ExbBD complexes is finally out. The coordinates are to be released on July 9th on the PDB.

www.nature.com/articles/s41...

Cryo-EM structures of the E. coli Ton and Tol motor complexes - Nature Communications

The Ton and Tol systems are bacterial energy-transducing complexes that use the proton motive force at the inner membrane to exert force on outer membrane proteins. Here the authors present the high-r...

www.nature.com

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Reposted by Augustinas Silale

Kiran R. Patil @kiranrpatil.bsky.social · Jul 2

Excited to share some key details on our latest research in @natmicrobiol.nature.com reporting intra-cellular accumulation of #PFAS (aka forever chemicals) by certain human gut bacteria. #microsky #mevosky #microbiomesky
www.nature.com/articles/s41...

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Reposted by Augustinas Silale

Ingo Greger @igreger.bsky.social · Jul 2

Happy about our new paper in Nature rdcu.be/eukUB
The GluA3 structure provides a framework for understanding this disease-prone glutamate receptor - novel interfaces will provide targets for modulator development

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Reposted by Augustinas Silale

Florian Wollweber @florianwollweber.bsky.social · Jun 27

After 5 amazing years @pilhoferlab.bsky.social I'm starting my lab @embl.org Grenoble this November embl.org/wollweber
We'll image Asgard archaea and many other strange microbes ( #archaeasky, #protistsonsky..) to understand eukaryogenesis
First job ad: #teamtomo scientist!🔬❄️ tinyurl.com/2rdu2ze6

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Reposted by Augustinas Silale

Oli Clarke @olibclarke.bsky.social · Jun 12

1/x New story - the structure of the Vault cap, at 2.3Å! Matching a beautiful preprint from @sjorsscheres.bsky.social, we show that the cap of the vault particle has C13 symmetry, in contrast to the 39-fold symmetry of the body. Study lead by talented postdoc @huanli00.bsky.social from my group! ⬇️

At left, a reconstruction of the vault cap with C39 symmetry imposed; at right, the reconstruction after identifying the correct symmetry, with the three non-equivalent protomers highlighted.

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Reposted by Augustinas Silale

Tracy Palmer @proftracypalmer.bsky.social · Jun 1

Check out our latest preprint! We show that the same antibacterial toxin requires different immunity proteins depending whether it’s intra or extracellular

bioRxiv Microbiology @biorxiv-microbiol.bsky.social · Jun 1

Distinct immunity protein families mediate compartment-specificneutralisation of a bacterial toxin https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1101/2025.05.31.657152v1

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Reposted by Augustinas Silale

Calum H. G. Johnston @chgjohnston.bsky.social · May 12

Pleased to share a new preprint - a great collaboration with @jessicaandreani.bsky.social and the Guerois lab at I2BC, and the Radicella lab at the CEA. Using stuctural modelling, we reveal & validate a 3 protein complex involved in DNA import during transformation.

www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...

A tripartite protein complex promotes DNA transport during natural transformation in firmicutes.

Natural genetic transformation is a conserved mechanism of bacterial horizontal gene transfer, which is directed entirely by the recipient cell and facilitates the acquisition of new genetic traits su...

www.biorxiv.org

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