Michael Brockhurst
@brockhurstlab.bsky.social
Microbial evolution / University of Manchester
Pinned
Resistance mutation supply modulates the benefit of CRISPR immunity against virulent phages
Only a fraction of bacterial genomes encode CRISPR-Cas systems but the selective causes of this variation are unexplained. How naturally virulent bacteriophages (phages) select for CRISPR immunity has...
www.biorxiv.org
New preprint!
Ever wondered why only a fraction of genomes encode CRISPR immunity? 🧬 🦠
Turns out CRISPR is rarely beneficial against virulent phages, being most beneficial against those for which resistance mutations are rare!
An epic effort by Rosanna Wright
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
Ever wondered why only a fraction of genomes encode CRISPR immunity? 🧬 🦠
Turns out CRISPR is rarely beneficial against virulent phages, being most beneficial against those for which resistance mutations are rare!
An epic effort by Rosanna Wright
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
What a week! Thanks to everyone who attended the UK Phage Therapy workshop and #MicroEvo25 in Liverpool… every talk, poster, question, chat, and round of applause helps to build our microbial evolution community! Thanks to @microbiologysociety.org and @ukri.org for support
November 27, 2025 at 9:34 PM
What a week! Thanks to everyone who attended the UK Phage Therapy workshop and #MicroEvo25 in Liverpool… every talk, poster, question, chat, and round of applause helps to build our microbial evolution community! Thanks to @microbiologysociety.org and @ukri.org for support
Reposted by Michael Brockhurst
November 27, 2025 at 7:34 AM
Reposted by Michael Brockhurst
#microsky #phagesky
Mycobacterium #phage review by Graham Hatfull covering the state of the art
www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/...
Mycobacterium #phage review by Graham Hatfull covering the state of the art
www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/...
All the world’s a phage | PNAS
A renewed interest in bacteriophages has emerged from the explosive discovery of the
complex pan-immune bacterial defense system and a revival of t...
www.pnas.org
October 31, 2025 at 10:00 AM
#microsky #phagesky
Mycobacterium #phage review by Graham Hatfull covering the state of the art
www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/...
Mycobacterium #phage review by Graham Hatfull covering the state of the art
www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/...
Reposted by Michael Brockhurst
Wow!!
Such a 😎 meeting #MicroEvo25
Met so many old friends & made new ones.
microbiologysociety.org/event/societ...
Such a 😎 meeting #MicroEvo25
Met so many old friends & made new ones.
microbiologysociety.org/event/societ...
November 27, 2025 at 8:55 PM
Wow!!
Such a 😎 meeting #MicroEvo25
Met so many old friends & made new ones.
microbiologysociety.org/event/societ...
Such a 😎 meeting #MicroEvo25
Met so many old friends & made new ones.
microbiologysociety.org/event/societ...
Reposted by Michael Brockhurst
Exciting news! I have two positions open in my lab at the UoManchester: one PDRA and one Research Tech.
Join our team to study evolutionary mycology and help us understand antifungal resistance in fungal pathogens. A fantastic opportunity to join the brilliant Manchester Fungal Infection Group!
Join our team to study evolutionary mycology and help us understand antifungal resistance in fungal pathogens. A fantastic opportunity to join the brilliant Manchester Fungal Infection Group!
November 5, 2025 at 3:35 PM
Exciting news! I have two positions open in my lab at the UoManchester: one PDRA and one Research Tech.
Join our team to study evolutionary mycology and help us understand antifungal resistance in fungal pathogens. A fantastic opportunity to join the brilliant Manchester Fungal Infection Group!
Join our team to study evolutionary mycology and help us understand antifungal resistance in fungal pathogens. A fantastic opportunity to join the brilliant Manchester Fungal Infection Group!
Reposted by Michael Brockhurst
Two conferences two weeks apart, thank you to everyone who came and chatted to me at my poster (or in general) at the Phages.fr conference in Nancy and the @microbiologysociety.org #MicroEvo25 conference in Liverpool. It was great to show the first data from my postdoc and get advice and feedback
November 27, 2025 at 8:40 PM
Two conferences two weeks apart, thank you to everyone who came and chatted to me at my poster (or in general) at the Phages.fr conference in Nancy and the @microbiologysociety.org #MicroEvo25 conference in Liverpool. It was great to show the first data from my postdoc and get advice and feedback
Reposted by Michael Brockhurst
Two fully-funded PhD openings in my research group at the University of York.
If you’re excited about viromes, phage biology, Nanopore sequencing, soils and the odd bit of alpine or agricultural field sampling, we’d love to hear from you!
🌱🦠🏔️
tiny.cc/c4pv001
tiny.cc/e4pv001
If you’re excited about viromes, phage biology, Nanopore sequencing, soils and the odd bit of alpine or agricultural field sampling, we’d love to hear from you!
🌱🦠🏔️
tiny.cc/c4pv001
tiny.cc/e4pv001
A Farewell to Arms: The Trade-off Between Growth and Defence in Bacteria (York YBDTP Project) at University of York on FindAPhD.com
PhD Project - A Farewell to Arms: The Trade-off Between Growth and Defence in Bacteria (York YBDTP Project) at University of York, listed on FindAPhD.com
tiny.cc
November 27, 2025 at 5:57 PM
Two fully-funded PhD openings in my research group at the University of York.
If you’re excited about viromes, phage biology, Nanopore sequencing, soils and the odd bit of alpine or agricultural field sampling, we’d love to hear from you!
🌱🦠🏔️
tiny.cc/c4pv001
tiny.cc/e4pv001
If you’re excited about viromes, phage biology, Nanopore sequencing, soils and the odd bit of alpine or agricultural field sampling, we’d love to hear from you!
🌱🦠🏔️
tiny.cc/c4pv001
tiny.cc/e4pv001
Reposted by Michael Brockhurst
🚨Preprint alert - this is a big one! We transfer the revolutionary power of TnSeq to bacteriophages.
Our HIDEN-SEQ links the "dark matter" genes of your favorite phage to any selectable phenotype, guiding the path from fun observations to molecular mechanisms.
A thread 1/8
Our HIDEN-SEQ links the "dark matter" genes of your favorite phage to any selectable phenotype, guiding the path from fun observations to molecular mechanisms.
A thread 1/8
November 20, 2025 at 8:40 PM
🚨Preprint alert - this is a big one! We transfer the revolutionary power of TnSeq to bacteriophages.
Our HIDEN-SEQ links the "dark matter" genes of your favorite phage to any selectable phenotype, guiding the path from fun observations to molecular mechanisms.
A thread 1/8
Our HIDEN-SEQ links the "dark matter" genes of your favorite phage to any selectable phenotype, guiding the path from fun observations to molecular mechanisms.
A thread 1/8
Reposted by Michael Brockhurst
🚨#PhD studentship opportunity! Plasmids provide bacteria with antimicrobial resistance, but do they have more fundamental effects on behaviour? 🧫🦠💫🧟♂️
Apply for a 4y funded MRC DiMeN position with me and Jamie Wheeler @livuni-ives.bsky.social www.findaphd.com/phds/project...
Apply for a 4y funded MRC DiMeN position with me and Jamie Wheeler @livuni-ives.bsky.social www.findaphd.com/phds/project...
MRC DiMeN Doctoral Training Partnership: Resistant zombies: how drug-resistance plasmids manipulate the behaviour of the opportunistic pathogen Pseudomonas aeruginosa at University of Liverpool on Fin...
PhD Project - MRC DiMeN Doctoral Training Partnership: Resistant zombies: how drug-resistance plasmids manipulate the behaviour of the opportunistic pathogen Pseudomonas aeruginosa at University of Li...
www.findaphd.com
November 18, 2025 at 9:38 AM
🚨#PhD studentship opportunity! Plasmids provide bacteria with antimicrobial resistance, but do they have more fundamental effects on behaviour? 🧫🦠💫🧟♂️
Apply for a 4y funded MRC DiMeN position with me and Jamie Wheeler @livuni-ives.bsky.social www.findaphd.com/phds/project...
Apply for a 4y funded MRC DiMeN position with me and Jamie Wheeler @livuni-ives.bsky.social www.findaphd.com/phds/project...
Reposted by Michael Brockhurst
Super meeting, and @microbiologysociety.org staff organisation was incredible as always! This meeting really fills a niche in evolutionary microbiology, let make sure it runs again! Great to see old friends and make new ones @gmknght.bsky.social
Absolutely brilliant #MicroEvo25 some great talks and talent that has me thinking about our research. And great to catch up with @brockhurstlab.bsky.social @craigmaclean.bsky.social @paulhoskisson.bsky.social
@lore-fermar.bsky.social @julieakmcdonald.bsky.social @lucyweinert.bsky.social and more
@lore-fermar.bsky.social @julieakmcdonald.bsky.social @lucyweinert.bsky.social and more
November 27, 2025 at 6:19 PM
Super meeting, and @microbiologysociety.org staff organisation was incredible as always! This meeting really fills a niche in evolutionary microbiology, let make sure it runs again! Great to see old friends and make new ones @gmknght.bsky.social
Reposted by Michael Brockhurst
Another fantastic poster presented by @knhanga.bsky.social at #MicroEvo25
November 27, 2025 at 6:06 PM
Another fantastic poster presented by @knhanga.bsky.social at #MicroEvo25
Reposted by Michael Brockhurst
Massive congratulations to our own @magdalenakurteu.bsky.social for winning the poster prize at #MicroEvo25!! Her poster describes coalescence dynamics in hot spring microbial communities, and featured wonderful photos from Icelandic field work
November 27, 2025 at 6:39 PM
Massive congratulations to our own @magdalenakurteu.bsky.social for winning the poster prize at #MicroEvo25!! Her poster describes coalescence dynamics in hot spring microbial communities, and featured wonderful photos from Icelandic field work
Reposted by Michael Brockhurst
Highlights from our recent participation!
Members of the Multi-Defence Consortium presented both talks and posters on phage defence systems — showcasing exciting progress across the field.
Great discussions, great science, and we’re excited to share more soon!
#MicroEvo25
Members of the Multi-Defence Consortium presented both talks and posters on phage defence systems — showcasing exciting progress across the field.
Great discussions, great science, and we’re excited to share more soon!
#MicroEvo25
November 27, 2025 at 5:26 PM
Highlights from our recent participation!
Members of the Multi-Defence Consortium presented both talks and posters on phage defence systems — showcasing exciting progress across the field.
Great discussions, great science, and we’re excited to share more soon!
#MicroEvo25
Members of the Multi-Defence Consortium presented both talks and posters on phage defence systems — showcasing exciting progress across the field.
Great discussions, great science, and we’re excited to share more soon!
#MicroEvo25
Reposted by Michael Brockhurst
Starting day two of #MicroEvo25 strong with our first MERMan speaker of the day! An amazing talk by @mattjago.bsky.social about mutational bias in E. coli 🧬
November 27, 2025 at 11:00 AM
Starting day two of #MicroEvo25 strong with our first MERMan speaker of the day! An amazing talk by @mattjago.bsky.social about mutational bias in E. coli 🧬
Reposted by Michael Brockhurst
Day 1 of #MicroEvo25 yesterday was great, I’m enjoying and am ready for the rest of Day 2 for some really interesting talks on predicting microbial evolutionary dynamics and more poster viewing! @microbiologysociety.org
November 27, 2025 at 11:45 AM
Day 1 of #MicroEvo25 yesterday was great, I’m enjoying and am ready for the rest of Day 2 for some really interesting talks on predicting microbial evolutionary dynamics and more poster viewing! @microbiologysociety.org
Reposted by Michael Brockhurst
Incredibly insightful talk this afternoon by @matthewjshepherd.bsky.social speaking about within-patient ciprofloxacin resistance in P. aeruginosa #MicroEvo25
November 27, 2025 at 3:16 PM
Incredibly insightful talk this afternoon by @matthewjshepherd.bsky.social speaking about within-patient ciprofloxacin resistance in P. aeruginosa #MicroEvo25
Reposted by Michael Brockhurst
Absolutely brilliant #MicroEvo25 some great talks and talent that has me thinking about our research. And great to catch up with @brockhurstlab.bsky.social @craigmaclean.bsky.social @paulhoskisson.bsky.social
@lore-fermar.bsky.social @julieakmcdonald.bsky.social @lucyweinert.bsky.social and more
@lore-fermar.bsky.social @julieakmcdonald.bsky.social @lucyweinert.bsky.social and more
November 27, 2025 at 4:49 PM
Absolutely brilliant #MicroEvo25 some great talks and talent that has me thinking about our research. And great to catch up with @brockhurstlab.bsky.social @craigmaclean.bsky.social @paulhoskisson.bsky.social
@lore-fermar.bsky.social @julieakmcdonald.bsky.social @lucyweinert.bsky.social and more
@lore-fermar.bsky.social @julieakmcdonald.bsky.social @lucyweinert.bsky.social and more
Reposted by Michael Brockhurst
More amazing posters presented by our researchers @zahraaalbaqsami.bsky.social and Rana at #MicroEvo25!
November 27, 2025 at 4:52 PM
More amazing posters presented by our researchers @zahraaalbaqsami.bsky.social and Rana at #MicroEvo25!
Reposted by Michael Brockhurst
morning, Liverpool ::
My brain is buzzing this morning from a great day of science talks, posters, and chats yesterday. I can’t wait for day two today! #microevo25
My brain is buzzing this morning from a great day of science talks, posters, and chats yesterday. I can’t wait for day two today! #microevo25
November 27, 2025 at 8:42 AM
morning, Liverpool ::
My brain is buzzing this morning from a great day of science talks, posters, and chats yesterday. I can’t wait for day two today! #microevo25
My brain is buzzing this morning from a great day of science talks, posters, and chats yesterday. I can’t wait for day two today! #microevo25
Reposted by Michael Brockhurst
Had the best day at #MicroEvo25 yesterday! Excited for day two and to be chatting more about hot spring microbial community coalescence 🌋 find me at poster 62 (likely with a coffee in hand)
November 27, 2025 at 8:44 AM
Had the best day at #MicroEvo25 yesterday! Excited for day two and to be chatting more about hot spring microbial community coalescence 🌋 find me at poster 62 (likely with a coffee in hand)
Reposted by Michael Brockhurst
@alekseiagapov.bsky.social presenting our data at #MicroEvo25! Always good to see a few new phage defences discovered😉
November 27, 2025 at 8:30 AM
@alekseiagapov.bsky.social presenting our data at #MicroEvo25! Always good to see a few new phage defences discovered😉
Reposted by Michael Brockhurst
Long read Metagenomics, #phage and #prophage in the gut by Ami Bhatt's group. Beautiful data showing changes in phages over two years
#phagesky
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
#phagesky
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
Long-read metagenomics reveals phage dynamics in the human gut microbiome - Nature
Complex prophage integration dynamics, including low-level induction, cross-family host range and transposase-mediated mobilization, challenge existing paradigms and deepen our understanding of phage–...
www.nature.com
November 26, 2025 at 9:55 PM
Long read Metagenomics, #phage and #prophage in the gut by Ami Bhatt's group. Beautiful data showing changes in phages over two years
#phagesky
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
#phagesky
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
Reposted by Michael Brockhurst
Great trip to Liverpool to the Phage Workshop.
Top points for me
-The AMR need is burgeoning
- regulation is still not crystal clear
- the academic science is mind blowing
- the translation to getting it into patients now is lacking in speed and ease
- the Phage community is inspiring
Top points for me
-The AMR need is burgeoning
- regulation is still not crystal clear
- the academic science is mind blowing
- the translation to getting it into patients now is lacking in speed and ease
- the Phage community is inspiring
November 26, 2025 at 8:58 AM
Great trip to Liverpool to the Phage Workshop.
Top points for me
-The AMR need is burgeoning
- regulation is still not crystal clear
- the academic science is mind blowing
- the translation to getting it into patients now is lacking in speed and ease
- the Phage community is inspiring
Top points for me
-The AMR need is burgeoning
- regulation is still not crystal clear
- the academic science is mind blowing
- the translation to getting it into patients now is lacking in speed and ease
- the Phage community is inspiring
Reposted by Michael Brockhurst
Will we be seeing you at @microbiologysociety.org Understanding and Predicting Microbial Evolutionary Dynamics today and tomorrow? 🧫🧬 #MicroEvo25
Keep an eye out for our talks and posters and come say hi 👋
Keep an eye out for our talks and posters and come say hi 👋
November 26, 2025 at 8:50 AM
Will we be seeing you at @microbiologysociety.org Understanding and Predicting Microbial Evolutionary Dynamics today and tomorrow? 🧫🧬 #MicroEvo25
Keep an eye out for our talks and posters and come say hi 👋
Keep an eye out for our talks and posters and come say hi 👋
Reposted by Michael Brockhurst
Excited to be in cold sunny Liverpool for #microevo25. Looking forward to an interesting day of microbial evolution talks! @microbiologysociety.org
November 26, 2025 at 9:42 AM
Excited to be in cold sunny Liverpool for #microevo25. Looking forward to an interesting day of microbial evolution talks! @microbiologysociety.org