Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Reposted by Petra Levin

Jan-Willem Veening @veeninglab.com · 8d

Finally out, such an awesome piece of work, very proud of this one: www.cell.com/cell-systems... #MicroSky

Reposted by Petra Levin

Joe Peters Lab @joepeterslab.bsky.social · 9d

The Peters lab is looking for a new team member! The role transposons play in evolution, basic mechanisms regulating transposition, and applying transposons as tools for genome modification with a special focus on guide RNA-directed transposition. cornell.wd1.myworkdayjobs.com/CornellCaree...

Technician III - Department of Microbiology

Position Summary This position will be in the lab of Dr. Joseph E. Peters in the Department of Microbiology. Research in the Peters’ lab broadly involves deciphering mechanisms in genome stability and...

cornell.wd1.myworkdayjobs.com

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Reposted by Petra Levin

Ákos T Kovács @evolvedbiofilm.bsky.social · 9d

Amazing work by @hueihsuantsai.bsky.social and colleagues from @nikogeldner.bsky.social, Feng Zhou @tonnigrubeandersen.bsky.social labs in Science

Localized glutamine leakage drives the spatial structure of root microbial colonization

www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...

#chemotaxis #MicroSky

Localized glutamine leakage drives the spatial structure of root microbial colonization

Plant roots release exudates to encourage microbiome assembly, which influences the function and stress resilience of plants. How specific exudates drive spatial colonization patterns remains largely ...

www.science.org

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Reposted by Petra Levin

Annika Barber @annikabarber.bsky.social · 11d

Despite These Times...my department is hiring! I really like my department, we have a good mix of disciplines and organisms and we're really low-drama. We also get pizza at faculty meeting. So if you're a computational and structural biologist, join us! 🧪 jobs.rutgers.edu/postings/260...

Assistant Professor - Tenure Track Faculty

The Department of Molecular Biology and Biochemistry at Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, is inviting applicants for a tenure-track Assistant Professor position. The position requires a doc...

jobs.rutgers.edu

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Reposted by Petra Levin

Brian Stevenson Ph.D. spirochete lab @bstevensonlab.bsky.social · 11d

#MicroSky

Rosana Zenil-Ferguson @roszenil.bsky.social · 11d

The Department of Biology at the University of Kentucky is hiring a Microbiologist (broadly defined). Microbial eco-evo folks, this is your sign to come work with us. Not in the search committee, but happy to answer questions.
ukjobs.uky.edu/postings/600...
#microbiology #ecology

Assistant or Associate Professor in Microbiology

The Department of Biology in the College of Arts and Sciences at the University of Kentucky in Lexington, KY seeks to fill a tenure-eligible faculty position at the Assistant or Associate Professor le...

ukjobs.uky.edu

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Reposted by Petra Levin

Tom Sandora, MD MPH @tomsandora.bsky.social · 12d

This is a truly remarkable finding: 17 years after introduction of the HPV vaccine, there was a decreased prevalence of HPV infection (and therefore decreased cancer risk) in both vaccinated AND unvaccinated individuals. Cancer prevention through herd immunity!!!

Population-Level Effectiveness and Herd Protection 17 Years After HPV Vaccine

This cross-sectional study investigates population-level effectiveness and herd protection in the first 17 years after human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination among adolescent girls and young women at ...

jamanetwork.com

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Petra Levin @redrockcity.bsky.social · 15d

Rain >>>>> super hot. Fact.

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Reposted by Petra Levin

Ashley Jester @ajester.bsky.social · 15d

Let me add one of my favorites: the simple test for toxoplasmosis that's saved so many babies

I knew about the test b/c of my pregnancy & then I happened to rent the house across the street from the man who discovered it & created the modern treatment protocol

med.stanford.edu/news/all-new...

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Reposted by Petra Levin

Markus Deserno @markusdeserno.bsky.social · 16d

I am super excited to announce that we have a tenure-track faculty position in biophysics open in the Department of Physics at Carnegie Mellon! 🧪

Interfolio link: apply.interfolio.com/174360

PLEASE, share widely across the blue skies!

Let me briefly explain what we're looking for:

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Tenure-track Position in Biophysics at Carnegie Mellon University, Department of Physics

Location: Pittsburgh, PA
Open Date: Sep 19, 2025

Description
The Department of Physics at Carnegie Mellon University invites applications for a tenure-track faculty position in biophysics. The appointment is intended to be at the Assistant Professor level, but exceptional candidates at a higher level may also be considered. We seek outstanding candidates with a strong record in cellular and subcellular biophysics. Topics of particular interest include, but are not limited to, uncovering how key characteristics of living systems arise from the interplay between supramolecular cellular structures, how the emergent cellular circuitry defines goals and enables robust decision making, and how metabolic resources are allocated. This encompasses understanding of how information is learned, stored, transduced, and processed across subcellular structures. Applicants with theoretical, data science, or experimental backgrounds within biological physics are encouraged to apply. The ideal candidate will strengthen and extend research programs of current biophysics faculty in the Department of Physics and collaborate with broader life science activities across many departments at CMU and the wider Pittsburgh area.

More details on Interfolio: https://apply.interfolio.com/174360

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Reposted by Petra Levin

Zamin Iqbal @zaminiqbal.bsky.social · 17d

Delighted to see our paper studying the evolution of plasmids over the last 100 years, now out! Years of work by Adrian Cazares, also Nick Thomson @sangerinstitute.bsky.social - this version much improved over the preprint. Final version should be open access, apols.
Thread 1/n

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Reposted by Petra Levin

George O'Toole (he/him/his) @geiselbiofilm.bsky.social · 17d

New in JB: Ma, Wang & Li review the role of DNA methylation in regulating pathogenesis, drug resistance, biofilm formation, adhesion, and motility and more!
journals.asm.org/doi/10.1128/...
@asm.org #JBacteriology

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Reposted by Petra Levin

The New York Times @nytimes.com · 19d

It is Fat Bear Week in Alaska. The popular competition lets anyone vote on which of the animals is most prepared for winter. nyti.ms/3IBbucx

A very large brown bear walking in a field of grass.

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Reposted by Petra Levin

Martin Polz @polzlab.bsky.social · Aug 11

Longstanding collaboration with Scott Manalis where we have developed technology to measure single cell growth rates of bacteria in native seawater with some very surprising results.
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...

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Reposted by Petra Levin

Wayne Riekhof @wayneriekhof.bsky.social · Sep 12

Very nice writeup on someone I've admired and learned from for many years. I didn't know he had passed until catching up on This Week in Microbiology driving to campus this morning. His 1958 paper on Salmonella growth rates basically founded the formal study of microbial physiology, which...

STCmicrobeblog @stcmicrobeblog.bsky.social · Aug 21

schaechter.asmblog.org/schaechter/2...
#MicroSky

Elio (1928-2025)

by The STC Team — Losing a close friend always saddens one deeply, regardless of age. Losing a person who has so immensely influenced our worldview through his guidance and example makes the sadness e...

schaechter.asmblog.org

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Reposted by Petra Levin

John Helmann @johnhelmann.bsky.social · Sep 12

For those interested in further reading, the studies establishing the triplet nature of the genetic code were also reviewed by both Benzer and Crick in two 1962 Scientific American articles -- both worth a read!
www.jstor.org/stable/24937...
www.jstor.org/stable/24936...

The Fine Structure of the Gene on JSTOR

Seymour Benzer, The Fine Structure of the Gene, Scientific American, Vol. 206, No. 1 (January 1962), pp. 70-87

www.jstor.org

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Reposted by Petra Levin

ASM @asm.org · Sep 12

The 2025 agar art contest is open and accepting submissions until Oct. 26! The theme is “Microbes Make the World Go Round.” Submit your artwork and showcase the vital role microbes play in our daily lives. All are welcome to apply! See contest details: asm.org/events/asm-a...

Agar art: Microbes make the world go ground.

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Petra Levin @redrockcity.bsky.social · Sep 12

Article about the article from his longtime home, @harvardmcb.bsky.social

www.mcb.harvard.edu/department/n...

Rich Losick’s Farewell Publication Reexamines a Molecular Biology Milestone - Harvard University - Department of Molecular & Cellular Biology

Richard Losick, Maria Moors Cabot Professor of Biology, Emeritus in Harvard’s Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, is about to publish what he describes as his “last paper”—though […]

www.mcb.harvard.edu

Petra Levin @redrockcity.bsky.social · Sep 12

Original publication here

www.nature.com/articles/192...

General Nature of the Genetic Code for Proteins - Nature

Nature - General Nature of the Genetic Code for Proteins

www.nature.com

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Petra Levin @redrockcity.bsky.social · Sep 12

The last publication (he says!) from Rich Losick, my PhD advisor.

Historical in nature it focuses on a seminal paper in molecular biology, the study revealing the genetic code to be triplet in nature. Come for the science, appreciate the clear prose!

www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...

Revisiting a Breathtaking Publication in the History of Molecular Biology

www.sciencedirect.com

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Reposted by Petra Levin

Kumaran Ramamurthi @ramamurthilab.bsky.social · Sep 12

Immunization with peptides can elicit antigen-specific T cell responses, but they're not widely used because they are poorly immunogenic and are rapidly cleared. Domenico D'Atri solves this by using our "SSHEL" platform (synthetic bacterial spores) .
journals.asm.org/doi/10.1128/...

Immunization with peptide encapsulated within synthetic spores activates T cell responses and reduces tumor growth | mBio

Effective delivery of antigens to the immune system is essential for activating the adaptive immune system. Synthetic Spore Husk-Encased Lipids (SSHELs) are synthetic bacterial spore-like particles, w...

journals.asm.org

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Reposted by Petra Levin

Prahathees Eswara @eswaralab.bsky.social · Sep 12

We are hiring! Please share the news.

Tenure Track Assistant Professor in Bacterial Pathogenesis

See link below for details.

We are a vibrantly growing department with friendly colleagues and supportive environment. Bonus: year-round sunshine in Tampa, FL 🌤🌴

Job Ad: tinyurl.com/USF-Microbio...

Assistant Professor - Molecular Biosciences

Department Name / Number: Molecular Biosciences / 0-1210-000 College: College of Arts and Sciences Hiring Salary: Negotiable Appointment Start Date: August 7, 2026 The Department of Molecular Bioscien...

tinyurl.com

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Petra Levin @redrockcity.bsky.social · Sep 11

Should have noted we called her “Mama Shapiro” in Rich’s lab…

Petra Levin @redrockcity.bsky.social · Sep 11

I also enjoy their tribute to a hero of bacteriology, Francois Jacob.

www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...

François Jacob (1920–2013)

The French Nobel laureate ushered in the field of molecular genetics by defining the regulated cellular pathway that translates DNA into proteins.

www.science.org

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Petra Levin @redrockcity.bsky.social · Sep 11

I, of course, am also very fond of the many retrospective reviews she wrote with Rich. This one on the advent of bacterial cell biology and its impact is great.

journals.asm.org/doi/10.1128/...

Changing Views on the Nature of the Bacterial Cell: from Biochemistry to Cytology | Journal of Bacteriology

When the authors were graduate students in the 1960s, the bacterial cell was generally viewed as an amorphous vessel housing a homogeneous solution of proteins. Trained as biochemists, we would break ...

journals.asm.org

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Petra Levin @redrockcity.bsky.social · Sep 11

This is a lovely article she wrote describing the arc of her career if people want to appreciate not only her work but also her beautiful prose. www.annualreviews.org/content/jour...

A Half Century Defining the Logic of Cellular Life | Annual Reviews

Over more than fifty years, I have studied how the logic that controls and integrates cell function is built into the dynamic architecture of living cells. I worked with a succession of exceptionally ...

www.annualreviews.org

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