Animalcules
@bacteriophile.bsky.social
Bacteria lover. Good, bad, or other wise. Beneficial, commensal, or pathogenic alike.
Authorized GMB (Genetically Modified Bacteria) scientist
Authorized GMB (Genetically Modified Bacteria) scientist
Reposted by Animalcules
Our latest T7SS study is now out in Science Advances!
We solved the cryoEM structure of the T7SSb core unit (T7bCU) composed of YukB, YukC, and YukD from Bacillus subtilis, revealing how these components assemble within the secretion machinery.
www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
We solved the cryoEM structure of the T7SSb core unit (T7bCU) composed of YukB, YukC, and YukD from Bacillus subtilis, revealing how these components assemble within the secretion machinery.
www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
A ubiquitin-like protein controls assembly of a bacterial type VIIb secretion system
Cryo-EM structure reveals how a ubiquitin-like protein orchestrates assembly of a bacterial weapon system.
www.science.org
November 21, 2025 at 7:05 PM
Our latest T7SS study is now out in Science Advances!
We solved the cryoEM structure of the T7SSb core unit (T7bCU) composed of YukB, YukC, and YukD from Bacillus subtilis, revealing how these components assemble within the secretion machinery.
www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
We solved the cryoEM structure of the T7SSb core unit (T7bCU) composed of YukB, YukC, and YukD from Bacillus subtilis, revealing how these components assemble within the secretion machinery.
www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
Delighted to report that our group's passion project over the last 6+ years to make DNA cloning more accessible, efficient, and scalable using a software-assisted workflow called CloneCoordinate is now out in ACS Synbio!
pubs.acs.org/doi/10.1021/...
pubs.acs.org/doi/10.1021/...
CloneCoordinate: Open-Source Software for Collaborative DNA Construction
Custom DNA constructs have never been more common or important in the life sciences. Many researchers therefore devote substantial time and effort to molecular cloning, aided by abundant computer-aide...
pubs.acs.org
November 22, 2025 at 12:24 AM
Reposted by Animalcules
Hot off the press! Our latest paper led by @fernpizza.bsky.social, understanding how plasmids evolve inside cells. These small, self-replicating DNA circles live inside bacteria and carry antibiotic resistance genes, but also compete with one another to replicate. 1/
www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
Intracellular competition shapes plasmid population dynamics
From populations of multicellular organisms to selfish genetic elements, conflicts between levels of biological organization are central to evolution. Plasmids are extrachromosomal, self-replicating g...
www.science.org
November 20, 2025 at 9:42 PM
Hot off the press! Our latest paper led by @fernpizza.bsky.social, understanding how plasmids evolve inside cells. These small, self-replicating DNA circles live inside bacteria and carry antibiotic resistance genes, but also compete with one another to replicate. 1/
www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
Reposted by Animalcules
🚨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 Animalcules
New preprint! We measured temperature- and pH-induced aggregation for over 18,000 natural and de novo designed protein domains!
November 19, 2025 at 9:16 PM
New preprint! We measured temperature- and pH-induced aggregation for over 18,000 natural and de novo designed protein domains!
Reposted by Animalcules
Bacteria have to adapt rapidly to changes in environment. Can they ‘remember’ those conditions? Another one for my “to read” pile! cc @microberamon.bsky.social @victoriachu.bsky.social @nickyuen.bsky.social @fratorelli.bsky.social #UTISky #MicroSky
#Review
Bacteria can “remember” past environments through genetic & biochemical imprints helping them adapt and thrive! 🦠🧠
#MicroSky
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
Bacteria can “remember” past environments through genetic & biochemical imprints helping them adapt and thrive! 🦠🧠
#MicroSky
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
Exploring the concept of bacterial memory - Nature Microbiology
This Perspective discusses the concept, mechanisms and evidence for memory in bacteria at individual and community levels.
www.nature.com
November 18, 2025 at 9:13 AM
Bacteria have to adapt rapidly to changes in environment. Can they ‘remember’ those conditions? Another one for my “to read” pile! cc @microberamon.bsky.social @victoriachu.bsky.social @nickyuen.bsky.social @fratorelli.bsky.social #UTISky #MicroSky
Reposted by Animalcules
Reposted by Animalcules
An overlooked letter and an unpublished news article, both written in 1953, reveal that she was an equal player.
🧪 www.nature.com/articles/d41...
🧪 www.nature.com/articles/d41...
What Rosalind Franklin truly contributed to the discovery of DNA’s structure
Franklin was no victim in how the DNA double helix was solved. An overlooked letter and an unpublished news article, both written in 1953, reveal that she was an equal player.
www.nature.com
November 17, 2025 at 5:12 PM
An overlooked letter and an unpublished news article, both written in 1953, reveal that she was an equal player.
🧪 www.nature.com/articles/d41...
🧪 www.nature.com/articles/d41...
Reposted by Animalcules
#Review
Bacteria can “remember” past environments through genetic & biochemical imprints helping them adapt and thrive! 🦠🧠
#MicroSky
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
Bacteria can “remember” past environments through genetic & biochemical imprints helping them adapt and thrive! 🦠🧠
#MicroSky
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
Exploring the concept of bacterial memory - Nature Microbiology
This Perspective discusses the concept, mechanisms and evidence for memory in bacteria at individual and community levels.
www.nature.com
November 18, 2025 at 8:51 AM
#Review
Bacteria can “remember” past environments through genetic & biochemical imprints helping them adapt and thrive! 🦠🧠
#MicroSky
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
Bacteria can “remember” past environments through genetic & biochemical imprints helping them adapt and thrive! 🦠🧠
#MicroSky
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
Reposted by Animalcules
Reposted by Animalcules
New paper out! Big thanks to Mikael Elias’ group at the University of Minnesota—together, we studied how quorum sensing affects dental plaque.
#biofilms #oralmicrobiome
rdcu.be/eQllg
#biofilms #oralmicrobiome
rdcu.be/eQllg
N-acyl homoserine lactone signaling modulates bacterial community associated with human dental plaque
npj Biofilms and Microbiomes - N-acyl homoserine lactone signaling modulates bacterial community associated with human dental plaque
rdcu.be
November 17, 2025 at 2:23 PM
New paper out! Big thanks to Mikael Elias’ group at the University of Minnesota—together, we studied how quorum sensing affects dental plaque.
#biofilms #oralmicrobiome
rdcu.be/eQllg
#biofilms #oralmicrobiome
rdcu.be/eQllg
Reposted by Animalcules
Happy to share our latest NAR paper on Rel toxins targeting M. tuberculosis anti-SD region, with Tim Blower’s team (@durham.ac.uk @nebiolabs.bsky.social) and Laurent Falquet
Thanks to FRM @frm-officiel.bsky.social and CNRS @cnrsbiologie.bsky.social
academic.oup.com/nar/article-...
Thanks to FRM @frm-officiel.bsky.social and CNRS @cnrsbiologie.bsky.social
academic.oup.com/nar/article-...
November 17, 2025 at 10:31 AM
Happy to share our latest NAR paper on Rel toxins targeting M. tuberculosis anti-SD region, with Tim Blower’s team (@durham.ac.uk @nebiolabs.bsky.social) and Laurent Falquet
Thanks to FRM @frm-officiel.bsky.social and CNRS @cnrsbiologie.bsky.social
academic.oup.com/nar/article-...
Thanks to FRM @frm-officiel.bsky.social and CNRS @cnrsbiologie.bsky.social
academic.oup.com/nar/article-...
Reposted by Animalcules
Lichen has survived 18 months attached to the outside of the Int'l Space Station.
If a microbe mutated while in space (as has happened already: astrobiology.com/2024/04/bact...) & was subsequently introduced back to Earth, should it be considered a non-native species?
My answer would be yes. [1/🧵]
If a microbe mutated while in space (as has happened already: astrobiology.com/2024/04/bact...) & was subsequently introduced back to Earth, should it be considered a non-native species?
My answer would be yes. [1/🧵]
Bacteria Found On The International Space Station Are Mutating To Become Functionally Distinct - Astrobiology
strains of the bacterial species Enterobacter bugandensis isolated from the International Space Station (ISS) were studied.
astrobiology.com
November 16, 2025 at 3:45 AM
Lichen has survived 18 months attached to the outside of the Int'l Space Station.
If a microbe mutated while in space (as has happened already: astrobiology.com/2024/04/bact...) & was subsequently introduced back to Earth, should it be considered a non-native species?
My answer would be yes. [1/🧵]
If a microbe mutated while in space (as has happened already: astrobiology.com/2024/04/bact...) & was subsequently introduced back to Earth, should it be considered a non-native species?
My answer would be yes. [1/🧵]
Reposted by Animalcules
New paper alert! 🚨
Plasmids promote bacterial evolution through a copy number-driven increase in mutation rate.
We combine theory, simulations, experimental evolution, and bioinformatics to demonstrate that mutation rates scale with plasmid copy number.
Let's dive in! 🧵👇
Plasmids promote bacterial evolution through a copy number-driven increase in mutation rate.
We combine theory, simulations, experimental evolution, and bioinformatics to demonstrate that mutation rates scale with plasmid copy number.
Let's dive in! 🧵👇
Plasmids promote bacterial evolution through a copy number-driven increase in mutation rate
Plasmids are autonomously replicating DNA molecules that stably coexist with chromosomes in bacterial cells. These genetic elements drive horizontal gene transfer and play a fundamental role in bacter...
www.biorxiv.org
July 22, 2025 at 9:38 AM
New paper alert! 🚨
Plasmids promote bacterial evolution through a copy number-driven increase in mutation rate.
We combine theory, simulations, experimental evolution, and bioinformatics to demonstrate that mutation rates scale with plasmid copy number.
Let's dive in! 🧵👇
Plasmids promote bacterial evolution through a copy number-driven increase in mutation rate.
We combine theory, simulations, experimental evolution, and bioinformatics to demonstrate that mutation rates scale with plasmid copy number.
Let's dive in! 🧵👇
Reposted by Animalcules
In episode 337 TWiM explains a study that examines pathogen presence in ancient humans and concludes that zoonoses emerged 6500 years ago with the domestication of livestock, and determination of universal rules that govern plasmid copy number. This week's special guest: @markowenmartin.bsky.social
TWiM 337: Lifestyles of the plasmids
YouTube video by MicrobeTV
youtu.be
August 19, 2025 at 6:52 PM
In episode 337 TWiM explains a study that examines pathogen presence in ancient humans and concludes that zoonoses emerged 6500 years ago with the domestication of livestock, and determination of universal rules that govern plasmid copy number. This week's special guest: @markowenmartin.bsky.social
Reposted by Animalcules
Curious about plasmid biology? Our latest paper is out now in Nature Communications! 🚨
doi.org/10.1038/s414...
We analyzed thousands of diverse bacterial plasmids to shed light for the first time on a key aspect of plasmid biology: plasmid copy number. 1/7 👇
doi.org/10.1038/s414...
We analyzed thousands of diverse bacterial plasmids to shed light for the first time on a key aspect of plasmid biology: plasmid copy number. 1/7 👇
Universal rules govern plasmid copy number - Nature Communications
Plasmids exhibit a broad range of sizes and copies per cell, and these two parameters appear to be negatively correlated. Here, Ramiro-Martínez et al. analyse the copy number of thousands of diverse b...
doi.org
July 2, 2025 at 10:07 AM
Curious about plasmid biology? Our latest paper is out now in Nature Communications! 🚨
doi.org/10.1038/s414...
We analyzed thousands of diverse bacterial plasmids to shed light for the first time on a key aspect of plasmid biology: plasmid copy number. 1/7 👇
doi.org/10.1038/s414...
We analyzed thousands of diverse bacterial plasmids to shed light for the first time on a key aspect of plasmid biology: plasmid copy number. 1/7 👇
Reposted by Animalcules
Reposted by Animalcules
#microsky #phagesky #phage defence
Anti-CRISPR protein hijacks host’s enolase to tackle and block CRISPR-Cas
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
Anti-CRISPR protein hijacks host’s enolase to tackle and block CRISPR-Cas
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
A phage-encoded anti-CRISPR protein co-opts host enolase to prevent type III CRISPR immunity - Nature Microbiology
Streptococcus thermophilus phages circumvent host CRISPR defences via AcrIIIA2, which complexes with enolase, a highly abundant glycolysis enzyme, to block phage RNA binding.
www.nature.com
November 11, 2025 at 4:27 PM
#microsky #phagesky #phage defence
Anti-CRISPR protein hijacks host’s enolase to tackle and block CRISPR-Cas
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
Anti-CRISPR protein hijacks host’s enolase to tackle and block CRISPR-Cas
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
Reposted by Animalcules
#MicrobiologyMonday: Bacteria swarm, but DYK they also "swash"? This flagella-independent movement is tied to fermentation: as cells ferment sugars, they create local osmolarity gradients, which generate a wave of fluid driving expansion. #JBacteriology: asm.social/2Gh
November 11, 2025 at 7:55 AM
Reposted by Animalcules
A nice write-up on the latest paper from my lab: news.ku.edu/news/article...
More commentary to come!
#PlantBiology #Drought #Corn #Maize #Microbiome #PlantScience #SoilHealth #PlantHealth
More commentary to come!
#PlantBiology #Drought #Corn #Maize #Microbiome #PlantScience #SoilHealth #PlantHealth
New study explores ‘legacy effects’ of soil microbes on plants across Kansas
Click for more on research in Nature Microbiology
news.ku.edu
November 8, 2025 at 1:54 AM
A nice write-up on the latest paper from my lab: news.ku.edu/news/article...
More commentary to come!
#PlantBiology #Drought #Corn #Maize #Microbiome #PlantScience #SoilHealth #PlantHealth
More commentary to come!
#PlantBiology #Drought #Corn #Maize #Microbiome #PlantScience #SoilHealth #PlantHealth