Alistair Russell
@alistairrussell.bsky.social
Associate professor at UCSD studying influenza and interferons
Posts represent only my own personal opinions, for better or for worse.
russell-lab.com
Posts represent only my own personal opinions, for better or for worse.
russell-lab.com
Reposted by Alistair Russell
Warning. ⚠️ If you are writing an NSF GRFP, new this year, you need official transcripts to apply. Beware. They will not review applications without official transcripts. ‼️
November 4, 2025 at 8:50 PM
Warning. ⚠️ If you are writing an NSF GRFP, new this year, you need official transcripts to apply. Beware. They will not review applications without official transcripts. ‼️
Reposted by Alistair Russell
Just to add - after the molecular clock anomaly of the 2014 Lomela EBOV outbreak in DRC I wondered if @arambaut.bsky.social & I got the West African/Makona EBOV epidemic root wrong. Very happy to see JT McCrone correct the record (or at least get closer to the truth).
Our paper on the phenomenon of persistence and latency in Ebola virus in an unobserved reservoir is finally out in preprint: www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
Evidence of latency reshapes our understanding of Ebola virus reservoir dynamics
Ebola virus (EBOV) has caused severe outbreaks of haemorrhagic fever in Central and West Africa since the first observed zoonotic epidemic in the late 1970s. While recent outbreaks have revealed much ...
www.biorxiv.org
October 20, 2025 at 6:27 AM
Just to add - after the molecular clock anomaly of the 2014 Lomela EBOV outbreak in DRC I wondered if @arambaut.bsky.social & I got the West African/Makona EBOV epidemic root wrong. Very happy to see JT McCrone correct the record (or at least get closer to the truth).
Reposted by Alistair Russell
NEW: @CDCgov hit hard by massive firings that several staff describe to me as a “bloodbath.”
Among those RIFd:
—leadership of the center for immunization and respiratory diseases;
—leadership of global health center
—leadership of the measles outbreak response; 1/4
Among those RIFd:
—leadership of the center for immunization and respiratory diseases;
—leadership of global health center
—leadership of the measles outbreak response; 1/4
October 11, 2025 at 12:49 PM
NEW: @CDCgov hit hard by massive firings that several staff describe to me as a “bloodbath.”
Among those RIFd:
—leadership of the center for immunization and respiratory diseases;
—leadership of global health center
—leadership of the measles outbreak response; 1/4
Among those RIFd:
—leadership of the center for immunization and respiratory diseases;
—leadership of global health center
—leadership of the measles outbreak response; 1/4
Reposted by Alistair Russell
UMass Amherst Microbiology is hiring a tenure-track virologist. Come work with me! 🦠🧪
careers.umass.edu/amherst/en-u...
careers.umass.edu/amherst/en-u...
Details - Assistant Professor - Virology | Human Resources | UMass Amherst
careers.umass.edu
October 2, 2025 at 2:51 PM
UMass Amherst Microbiology is hiring a tenure-track virologist. Come work with me! 🦠🧪
careers.umass.edu/amherst/en-u...
careers.umass.edu/amherst/en-u...
Reposted by Alistair Russell
Please repost -- The Univ. California Davis dept of Plant Pathology is hiring a Fungal biologist / Mycologist
Applications due Dec 1
Application portal: recruit.ucdavis.edu/JPF07339
Screenshot shows part of the job posting (with alt-text of the same text)
Applications due Dec 1
Application portal: recruit.ucdavis.edu/JPF07339
Screenshot shows part of the job posting (with alt-text of the same text)
September 22, 2025 at 6:58 PM
Please repost -- The Univ. California Davis dept of Plant Pathology is hiring a Fungal biologist / Mycologist
Applications due Dec 1
Application portal: recruit.ucdavis.edu/JPF07339
Screenshot shows part of the job posting (with alt-text of the same text)
Applications due Dec 1
Application portal: recruit.ucdavis.edu/JPF07339
Screenshot shows part of the job posting (with alt-text of the same text)
Reposted by Alistair Russell
What causes viral transmission bottlenecks? This study uses barcoded virions to show that in the case of #influenza A #virus, early within-host replication dynamics (rather than a reduced inoculum population) drive loss of diversity during transmission @plosbiology.org 🧪 plos.io/4ngicDK
September 3, 2025 at 12:56 PM
What causes viral transmission bottlenecks? This study uses barcoded virions to show that in the case of #influenza A #virus, early within-host replication dynamics (rather than a reduced inoculum population) drive loss of diversity during transmission @plosbiology.org 🧪 plos.io/4ngicDK
Reposted by Alistair Russell
🚨🚨Our new preprint establishes the first robust model of severe influenza cardiac complications in WT immunocompetent mice. Heart transcriptomics implicated a potential therapeutic metabolic intervention that indeed shows beneficial heart/survival effects. 🦠🧫🧬🫁🫀🐀
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
Cardioprotective effects of AMPK activation in H1N1 influenza virus infection
Cardiac complications are among the most common and severe extrapulmonary manifestations of influenza virus infection, yet they are rarely recapitulated in mouse models without immunodeficiency. We fo...
www.biorxiv.org
September 1, 2025 at 3:59 PM
🚨🚨Our new preprint establishes the first robust model of severe influenza cardiac complications in WT immunocompetent mice. Heart transcriptomics implicated a potential therapeutic metabolic intervention that indeed shows beneficial heart/survival effects. 🦠🧫🧬🫁🫀🐀
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
Reposted by Alistair Russell
Excited to share the most recent work from our lab! In which we seek out the cellular source of homeostatic IFNL in the gut and find that gut pDC are ‘rewired’ to produce IFNL over type I IFNs.
Plasmacytoid dendritic cells in the intestine preferentially produce interferon lambda at homeostasis contributing to tonic localized innate immune responses https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1101/2025.08.25.672167v1
August 30, 2025 at 1:35 AM
Excited to share the most recent work from our lab! In which we seek out the cellular source of homeostatic IFNL in the gut and find that gut pDC are ‘rewired’ to produce IFNL over type I IFNs.
Reposted by Alistair Russell
#NIH is hanging by a thread. The #CDC has been decimated. #RFK Jr. and Russell #Vought are psychopaths--I don't say this frivolously--they are cold, calculating, inflicting violence on millions through public policy. It is where we are right now. These men are not normal. 1/
August 28, 2025 at 9:55 AM
Reposted by Alistair Russell
Please read all three senior officials’ resignation letters in full. I couldn’t even find quotes to pull. All three are cornerstones of modern public health. Dan Jernigan’s been at CDC longer than I’ve been alive. Department leadership left them in an impossible position.
August 28, 2025 at 12:37 AM
Please read all three senior officials’ resignation letters in full. I couldn’t even find quotes to pull. All three are cornerstones of modern public health. Dan Jernigan’s been at CDC longer than I’ve been alive. Department leadership left them in an impossible position.
Still worth celebrating things I think.
Our CRITR-Seq paper is now out online in PNAS
www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/...
Our CRITR-Seq paper is now out online in PNAS
www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/...
PNAS
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS), a peer reviewed journal of the National Academy of Sciences (NAS) - an authoritative source of high-impact, original research that broadly spans...
www.pnas.org
August 27, 2025 at 6:13 PM
Still worth celebrating things I think.
Our CRITR-Seq paper is now out online in PNAS
www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/...
Our CRITR-Seq paper is now out online in PNAS
www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/...
Reposted by Alistair Russell
1/ Excited to share the first preprint from my lab! 🎉
My postdoc Paz asked how cholera toxin (CT) helps Vibrio cholerae thrive in the gut.
Turns out, CT rewires epithelial metabolism toward L-lactate production—fueling pathogen growth in the small intestine during disease
My postdoc Paz asked how cholera toxin (CT) helps Vibrio cholerae thrive in the gut.
Turns out, CT rewires epithelial metabolism toward L-lactate production—fueling pathogen growth in the small intestine during disease
Cholera toxin-induced disease generates epithelial cell-derived L-lactate that promotes Vibrio cholerae growth in the small intestine
Cholera toxin (CT) promotes Vibrio cholerae colonization by altering gut metabolism to favor pathogen growth. We have previously found that CT-induced disease leads to increased concentrations of L-la...
www.biorxiv.org
August 18, 2025 at 9:13 PM
1/ Excited to share the first preprint from my lab! 🎉
My postdoc Paz asked how cholera toxin (CT) helps Vibrio cholerae thrive in the gut.
Turns out, CT rewires epithelial metabolism toward L-lactate production—fueling pathogen growth in the small intestine during disease
My postdoc Paz asked how cholera toxin (CT) helps Vibrio cholerae thrive in the gut.
Turns out, CT rewires epithelial metabolism toward L-lactate production—fueling pathogen growth in the small intestine during disease
Reposted by Alistair Russell
Just a reminder that if you want to do your postdoc in the best city in the world, well, you might be in luck - our position is still open and we're hoping to fill it within the next couple of weeks, so hurry up!
Are you looking for a Postdoc or Research Programmer position? Want to work as part of highly collaborative infectious disease programs that have direct relevance to global health?
Well, we got you covered!
Learn more 👇
andersen-lab.com/about/
Well, we got you covered!
Learn more 👇
andersen-lab.com/about/
About - Andersen Lab
Learn more about the Andersen Lab, as well as jobs and career opportunities.
andersen-lab.com
August 14, 2025 at 10:46 PM
Just a reminder that if you want to do your postdoc in the best city in the world, well, you might be in luck - our position is still open and we're hoping to fill it within the next couple of weeks, so hurry up!
Reposted by Alistair Russell
The Roslin Institute is looking for a full time Engagement Officer. Great to see them highlight that you don’t need a research background or PhD.
My research background is a massive help to me in my career, but that is just one of many routes that people can take into engagement. We need all voices!
My research background is a massive help to me in my career, but that is just one of many routes that people can take into engagement. We need all voices!
August 7, 2025 at 2:27 PM
The Roslin Institute is looking for a full time Engagement Officer. Great to see them highlight that you don’t need a research background or PhD.
My research background is a massive help to me in my career, but that is just one of many routes that people can take into engagement. We need all voices!
My research background is a massive help to me in my career, but that is just one of many routes that people can take into engagement. We need all voices!
Reposted by Alistair Russell
I'm excited to announce our new biorxiv preprint, wherein we investigate the evolution of the weirdest genetic locus I've ever seen! Behold the tgr genes of the social amoeba, which mediate self/non-self discrimination during facultative multicellularity 🐅 🧵 1/
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
Hypermutable hotspot enables the rapid evolution of self/non-self recognition genes in Dictyostelium
Cells require highly polymorphic receptors to perform accurate self/non-self recognition. In the amoeba Dicytostelium discoideum, polymorphic TgrB1 & TgrC1 proteins are used to bind sister cells and e...
www.biorxiv.org
August 5, 2025 at 12:56 AM
I'm excited to announce our new biorxiv preprint, wherein we investigate the evolution of the weirdest genetic locus I've ever seen! Behold the tgr genes of the social amoeba, which mediate self/non-self discrimination during facultative multicellularity 🐅 🧵 1/
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
Reposted by Alistair Russell
Congratulations to SB Pye and team for validating several paramyxovirus copyback genomes by direct RNA-Seq (no PCR involved). Specially cool are species formed between nucleotide 1 of the genome and a sequence close to the trailer..these are real products! journals.asm.org/doi/10.1128/...
Validation of diverse and previously untraceable Sendai virus copyback viral genomes by direct RNA sequencing | Journal of Virology
Most viruses of the order Mononegavirales have been demonstrated to naturally generate
copyback viral genomes. These genomes are critical determinants of infection outcomes;
they interfere with standa...
journals.asm.org
July 31, 2025 at 9:43 PM
Congratulations to SB Pye and team for validating several paramyxovirus copyback genomes by direct RNA-Seq (no PCR involved). Specially cool are species formed between nucleotide 1 of the genome and a sequence close to the trailer..these are real products! journals.asm.org/doi/10.1128/...
Reposted by Alistair Russell
Great to see jackhammer is back! If you have not tried it please give it a go. We would welcome constructive feedback. We are still adding features.
📣 We’re pleased to announce the release of jackhmmer.
It’s now available for use, and we’d greatly value any feedback as we continue to improve the tool.
www.ebi.ac.uk/Tools/hmmer/...
Give it a try and share your thoughts!
#bioinformatics #hmmer
It’s now available for use, and we’d greatly value any feedback as we continue to improve the tool.
www.ebi.ac.uk/Tools/hmmer/...
Give it a try and share your thoughts!
#bioinformatics #hmmer
July 22, 2025 at 2:41 PM
Great to see jackhammer is back! If you have not tried it please give it a go. We would welcome constructive feedback. We are still adding features.
Reposted by Alistair Russell
The Xue lab at UC Irvine is looking for a staff scientist to support our work investigating how microbes interact and evolve in the gut microbiome! Open to a wide range of previous experience levels, see ad for more.
recruit.ap.uci.edu/JPF09601
recruit.ap.uci.edu/JPF09601
Junior, Assistant, or Associate Specialist – Xue Lab
University of California, Irvine is hiring. Apply now!
recruit.ap.uci.edu
July 17, 2025 at 8:32 PM
The Xue lab at UC Irvine is looking for a staff scientist to support our work investigating how microbes interact and evolve in the gut microbiome! Open to a wide range of previous experience levels, see ad for more.
recruit.ap.uci.edu/JPF09601
recruit.ap.uci.edu/JPF09601
Reposted by Alistair Russell
This Thursday I will present the entirety of my PhD work (and a little bit more on the side) at #ASV2025 @amersocvirology.bsky.social . Be sure to be there if you'd like to know what is the hidden message of the coronavirus N gene!
July 14, 2025 at 11:03 AM
This Thursday I will present the entirety of my PhD work (and a little bit more on the side) at #ASV2025 @amersocvirology.bsky.social . Be sure to be there if you'd like to know what is the hidden message of the coronavirus N gene!
Reposted by Alistair Russell
Tiia is a superstar, and will be presenting not one, but two separate projects that are currently in the works. Make sure to check out her flash talk (W4-9) and posters (P1-28 and P21-1) on Tuesday. We welcome and appreciate your thoughts and feedback! #ASV2025
July 13, 2025 at 7:22 PM
Tiia is a superstar, and will be presenting not one, but two separate projects that are currently in the works. Make sure to check out her flash talk (W4-9) and posters (P1-28 and P21-1) on Tuesday. We welcome and appreciate your thoughts and feedback! #ASV2025
Reposted by Alistair Russell
On our way to Montreal for #ASV2025. Make sure to come check out Matt’s (@mattmcfa17.bsky.social) work during W22-6. Can’t wait to see you all! @amersocvirology.bsky.social
July 13, 2025 at 9:51 AM
On our way to Montreal for #ASV2025. Make sure to come check out Matt’s (@mattmcfa17.bsky.social) work during W22-6. Can’t wait to see you all! @amersocvirology.bsky.social
Reposted by Alistair Russell
Join our #DVGWorkshop2025 in Hamburg! Registration deadline: July 06. Take your chance to become part of the #DVGWorkshop2025 at @leibnizliv.bsky.social in Hamburg: www.leibniz-liv.de/aktuelles/ve...
#virusgenomics #defectivegenomes #DVGs #DIPs #antivirals #sequencing
#virusgenomics #defectivegenomes #DVGs #DIPs #antivirals #sequencing
June 30, 2025 at 11:29 AM
Join our #DVGWorkshop2025 in Hamburg! Registration deadline: July 06. Take your chance to become part of the #DVGWorkshop2025 at @leibnizliv.bsky.social in Hamburg: www.leibniz-liv.de/aktuelles/ve...
#virusgenomics #defectivegenomes #DVGs #DIPs #antivirals #sequencing
#virusgenomics #defectivegenomes #DVGs #DIPs #antivirals #sequencing
Reposted by Alistair Russell
Does anyone have DNA/ear biopsy from SJL (CD45.1) mice from Taconic or Charles River (originating from there, even if they've been in-house for a long time that's fine) that they can share? I don't have much reach here, would appreciate people sharing the post.
June 27, 2025 at 7:35 PM
Does anyone have DNA/ear biopsy from SJL (CD45.1) mice from Taconic or Charles River (originating from there, even if they've been in-house for a long time that's fine) that they can share? I don't have much reach here, would appreciate people sharing the post.
Reposted by Alistair Russell
If you're at #ASMicrobe, check out @reneeoles.bsky.social's talk on Monday morning:
Session EEB-IDS-501 - Evolution in Microbiomes Across Environments
Adaptive Evolution of Bacteroides fragilis under Oxidative Stress Modulates Iron Metabolism and Intensifies Host Inflammatory Responses
#asm2025
Session EEB-IDS-501 - Evolution in Microbiomes Across Environments
Adaptive Evolution of Bacteroides fragilis under Oxidative Stress Modulates Iron Metabolism and Intensifies Host Inflammatory Responses
#asm2025
June 20, 2025 at 10:57 PM
If you're at #ASMicrobe, check out @reneeoles.bsky.social's talk on Monday morning:
Session EEB-IDS-501 - Evolution in Microbiomes Across Environments
Adaptive Evolution of Bacteroides fragilis under Oxidative Stress Modulates Iron Metabolism and Intensifies Host Inflammatory Responses
#asm2025
Session EEB-IDS-501 - Evolution in Microbiomes Across Environments
Adaptive Evolution of Bacteroides fragilis under Oxidative Stress Modulates Iron Metabolism and Intensifies Host Inflammatory Responses
#asm2025
Reposted by Alistair Russell
My Canadian university, Queen's, is offering TWENTY 4-year funded PhDs (40k CAD/yr) for a student of ANY citizenship who has been accepted at a top 100 US university but have had offer rescinded OR are reconsidering offer due to US policy.
Details found here👇
www.queensu.ca/grad-postdoc...
Details found here👇
www.queensu.ca/grad-postdoc...
Queen’s Special U.S. Doctoral Recruitment Initiative | School of Graduate Studies and Postdoctoral AffairsDown arrowDown arrowDown arrowDown arrowDown arrowDown arrowDown arrowDown arrowDown arrowDown...
Queen’s University is a globally engaged, research-intensive institution dedicated to attracting and supporting exceptional PhD students who will significantly advance our research mission.
www.queensu.ca
June 5, 2025 at 3:31 PM
My Canadian university, Queen's, is offering TWENTY 4-year funded PhDs (40k CAD/yr) for a student of ANY citizenship who has been accepted at a top 100 US university but have had offer rescinded OR are reconsidering offer due to US policy.
Details found here👇
www.queensu.ca/grad-postdoc...
Details found here👇
www.queensu.ca/grad-postdoc...