Clive McKimmie
@clive-mckimmie.bsky.social
Team leader of the Virus Host Interaction Team University of York, Skin Research Centre; 🇬🇧🇪🇺🏳️🌈 (he/him) co-chairs @Arbovirus seminars.
#immunology #virology #skin #vectors
Website https://www.hyms.ac.uk/about/people/Clive-McKimmie
#immunology #virology #skin #vectors
Website https://www.hyms.ac.uk/about/people/Clive-McKimmie
Pinned
New paper out in iScience @cellpress.bsky.social
We show that #sand_fly biting reprograms skin fibroblasts, making them more permissive to virus infection
=> #fibroblasts aren’t bystanders, they help define severity/clinical outcome to infection AND #vector biting is key
👉 doi.org/10.1016/j.is...
We show that #sand_fly biting reprograms skin fibroblasts, making them more permissive to virus infection
=> #fibroblasts aren’t bystanders, they help define severity/clinical outcome to infection AND #vector biting is key
👉 doi.org/10.1016/j.is...
Reposted by Clive McKimmie
Psyched to say that Mike Diamond is talking at our next seminar. THURSDAY 20th Nov. All welcome!
World leading #virology not to be missed - just email us for a Zoom link.
Please help us with a re-post to get the word out 👍
World leading #virology not to be missed - just email us for a Zoom link.
Please help us with a re-post to get the word out 👍
November 13, 2025 at 10:28 AM
Psyched to say that Mike Diamond is talking at our next seminar. THURSDAY 20th Nov. All welcome!
World leading #virology not to be missed - just email us for a Zoom link.
Please help us with a re-post to get the word out 👍
World leading #virology not to be missed - just email us for a Zoom link.
Please help us with a re-post to get the word out 👍
New paper out in iScience @cellpress.bsky.social
We show that #sand_fly biting reprograms skin fibroblasts, making them more permissive to virus infection
=> #fibroblasts aren’t bystanders, they help define severity/clinical outcome to infection AND #vector biting is key
👉 doi.org/10.1016/j.is...
We show that #sand_fly biting reprograms skin fibroblasts, making them more permissive to virus infection
=> #fibroblasts aren’t bystanders, they help define severity/clinical outcome to infection AND #vector biting is key
👉 doi.org/10.1016/j.is...
November 3, 2025 at 9:06 AM
New paper out in iScience @cellpress.bsky.social
We show that #sand_fly biting reprograms skin fibroblasts, making them more permissive to virus infection
=> #fibroblasts aren’t bystanders, they help define severity/clinical outcome to infection AND #vector biting is key
👉 doi.org/10.1016/j.is...
We show that #sand_fly biting reprograms skin fibroblasts, making them more permissive to virus infection
=> #fibroblasts aren’t bystanders, they help define severity/clinical outcome to infection AND #vector biting is key
👉 doi.org/10.1016/j.is...
New PhD opportunity! Can skin inflammation protect us from mosquito-borne viruses like Zika?
Join our MRC PhD project at York exploring how psoriasis and eczema change skin immunity to virus.
Our grads thrive in academia, biotech & beyond.
Apply now 👉 tinyurl.com/bfmd2rf4
Join our MRC PhD project at York exploring how psoriasis and eczema change skin immunity to virus.
Our grads thrive in academia, biotech & beyond.
Apply now 👉 tinyurl.com/bfmd2rf4
October 31, 2025 at 12:25 PM
New PhD opportunity! Can skin inflammation protect us from mosquito-borne viruses like Zika?
Join our MRC PhD project at York exploring how psoriasis and eczema change skin immunity to virus.
Our grads thrive in academia, biotech & beyond.
Apply now 👉 tinyurl.com/bfmd2rf4
Join our MRC PhD project at York exploring how psoriasis and eczema change skin immunity to virus.
Our grads thrive in academia, biotech & beyond.
Apply now 👉 tinyurl.com/bfmd2rf4
Reposted by Clive McKimmie
NEW SEMINAR - Thursday 16th October, all welcome! 🦟 How do mosquitoes fight infection at the gene level? Using precision nuclear run-on sequencing (PRO-seq), Pascal and team captured transcription as it happens in Ae aegypti, offering new insights into vector biology and host–pathogen interactions.
October 9, 2025 at 12:23 PM
NEW SEMINAR - Thursday 16th October, all welcome! 🦟 How do mosquitoes fight infection at the gene level? Using precision nuclear run-on sequencing (PRO-seq), Pascal and team captured transcription as it happens in Ae aegypti, offering new insights into vector biology and host–pathogen interactions.
We all know vaccines target the pathogen, but can you also target the vector?
📢 in a new paper out today in Vaccines,
we show that a vaccine targeting mosquito salivary peptides, AGSv-PLUS, enhances human skin immune response to biting.
Open access: www.mdpi.com/2076-393X/13...
1/6
📢 in a new paper out today in Vaccines,
we show that a vaccine targeting mosquito salivary peptides, AGSv-PLUS, enhances human skin immune response to biting.
Open access: www.mdpi.com/2076-393X/13...
1/6
October 1, 2025 at 7:27 AM
We all know vaccines target the pathogen, but can you also target the vector?
📢 in a new paper out today in Vaccines,
we show that a vaccine targeting mosquito salivary peptides, AGSv-PLUS, enhances human skin immune response to biting.
Open access: www.mdpi.com/2076-393X/13...
1/6
📢 in a new paper out today in Vaccines,
we show that a vaccine targeting mosquito salivary peptides, AGSv-PLUS, enhances human skin immune response to biting.
Open access: www.mdpi.com/2076-393X/13...
1/6
Farewell, Zahra! Celebrating the end of a successful PhD journey with some well-deserved fun.
September 24, 2025 at 7:29 AM
Farewell, Zahra! Celebrating the end of a successful PhD journey with some well-deserved fun.
Super happy to announce Zahra Alfaheeda has passed her PhD viva. 🥳 She worked hard to combine diverse resources from cancer biology, virology and vector biology for a really unique project. Looking forward to sharing her story soon. Thanks to @maringerlab.bsky.social and Gina Doody for examining.
September 19, 2025 at 8:53 AM
Super happy to announce Zahra Alfaheeda has passed her PhD viva. 🥳 She worked hard to combine diverse resources from cancer biology, virology and vector biology for a really unique project. Looking forward to sharing her story soon. Thanks to @maringerlab.bsky.social and Gina Doody for examining.
Reposted by Clive McKimmie
See you Thursday 18th for our first seminar of the series with the inspiring @priyashah.bsky.social from @ucdavis.bsky.social with her talk
“Harder, better, faster, stronger: integrating virology and engineering to drive discovery”.
All welcome! email us for the zoom link.
“Harder, better, faster, stronger: integrating virology and engineering to drive discovery”.
All welcome! email us for the zoom link.
September 12, 2025 at 7:35 AM
See you Thursday 18th for our first seminar of the series with the inspiring @priyashah.bsky.social from @ucdavis.bsky.social with her talk
“Harder, better, faster, stronger: integrating virology and engineering to drive discovery”.
All welcome! email us for the zoom link.
“Harder, better, faster, stronger: integrating virology and engineering to drive discovery”.
All welcome! email us for the zoom link.
Psyched to be co-chairing this great line up of diverse speakers who represent the best in arbovirus research. See you there! Send us your email for a Zoom login. Please help with a re-post :-)
We’re back with another season of monthly seminars bringing together diverse and leading investigators worldwide to share cutting-edge arbovirus science.
🧬 Topics span molecular virology, virus–vector interactions, epidemiology, pathogenesis, and more.
📅 3rd Thursday each month
🕚 11 AM US ET Zoom
🧬 Topics span molecular virology, virus–vector interactions, epidemiology, pathogenesis, and more.
📅 3rd Thursday each month
🕚 11 AM US ET Zoom
August 31, 2025 at 8:54 AM
Psyched to be co-chairing this great line up of diverse speakers who represent the best in arbovirus research. See you there! Send us your email for a Zoom login. Please help with a re-post :-)
Not just wild fires that follow hot weather, clusters of locally acquired mosquito-borne virus infection in south France, an update on numbers.
France: Chikungunya, dengue and West Nile virus update
open.substack.com/pub/outbreak...
open.substack.com/pub/outbreak...
France: Chikungunya, dengue and West Nile virus update
As of August 26, 2025, 228 indigenous chikungunya cases have been reported on Mainland France.
open.substack.com
August 28, 2025 at 10:06 AM
Not just wild fires that follow hot weather, clusters of locally acquired mosquito-borne virus infection in south France, an update on numbers.
Was sad to say farewell to @yoncakeskekturk.bsky.social today. She transformed our understanding of the sandfly-skin interface during virus infection for her PhD, and just finished testing a new Zikv vaccine. She returns home to 🤞start her career as lecturer/PI. Take care Yonca! You will be missed.
August 27, 2025 at 6:13 PM
Was sad to say farewell to @yoncakeskekturk.bsky.social today. She transformed our understanding of the sandfly-skin interface during virus infection for her PhD, and just finished testing a new Zikv vaccine. She returns home to 🤞start her career as lecturer/PI. Take care Yonca! You will be missed.
We knew this deeply misguided man was bad news, but now his actions threaten us all. RNA-based vaccines are safe, effective at preventing disease, and can be rapidly manufactured at scale. Just as the threat of infectious disease increases, we remove our best defence. www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
RFK Jr cancels $500m in mRNA vaccine development in the US
Since taking office, the vaccine sceptic has made a number of changes to how vaccines are regulated.
www.bbc.co.uk
August 6, 2025 at 8:20 AM
We knew this deeply misguided man was bad news, but now his actions threaten us all. RNA-based vaccines are safe, effective at preventing disease, and can be rapidly manufactured at scale. Just as the threat of infectious disease increases, we remove our best defence. www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Reposted by Clive McKimmie
I thought it might be helpful to do a more general immunology explainer which I can then build on for example when I discuss specific papers or political actions. Do let me know if its useful and other topics if so. This first one is a general one about how we tackle infections... 🧪 #ImmunoSky
Fundamental immunology 101: the basics of an immune response
Tackling infections
open.substack.com
August 4, 2025 at 4:58 PM
I thought it might be helpful to do a more general immunology explainer which I can then build on for example when I discuss specific papers or political actions. Do let me know if its useful and other topics if so. This first one is a general one about how we tackle infections... 🧪 #ImmunoSky
Reposted by Clive McKimmie
How can mosquitoes tolerate viral infections?
In our latest preprint we show that mosquitoes that can regulate their metabolism after infection can tolerate viral infections better.
Thanks to all the authors for all your ideas and contributions
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
In our latest preprint we show that mosquitoes that can regulate their metabolism after infection can tolerate viral infections better.
Thanks to all the authors for all your ideas and contributions
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
Metabolic homeostasis favors tolerance to persistent viral infection in Aedes aegypti mosquitoes
The mosquito Aedes aegypti harbors a wide range of persistent viral infections, including both medically important arboviruses and insect-specific viruses (ISVs). However, the mechanisms underpinning ...
www.biorxiv.org
July 29, 2025 at 12:32 PM
How can mosquitoes tolerate viral infections?
In our latest preprint we show that mosquitoes that can regulate their metabolism after infection can tolerate viral infections better.
Thanks to all the authors for all your ideas and contributions
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
In our latest preprint we show that mosquitoes that can regulate their metabolism after infection can tolerate viral infections better.
Thanks to all the authors for all your ideas and contributions
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
Reposted by Clive McKimmie
🧵 Dengue is no longer just a tropical disease - it's showing up in Europe.
This season, France, Italy, and Portugal (Madeira) have already reported locally acquired dengue cases.
Check the latest #CDTR on #dengue here: bit.ly/3TQpDVu
#IdSky #EpiSky #MosquitoBorne #Prevention #PublicHealth
This season, France, Italy, and Portugal (Madeira) have already reported locally acquired dengue cases.
Check the latest #CDTR on #dengue here: bit.ly/3TQpDVu
#IdSky #EpiSky #MosquitoBorne #Prevention #PublicHealth
July 21, 2025 at 2:33 PM
🧵 Dengue is no longer just a tropical disease - it's showing up in Europe.
This season, France, Italy, and Portugal (Madeira) have already reported locally acquired dengue cases.
Check the latest #CDTR on #dengue here: bit.ly/3TQpDVu
#IdSky #EpiSky #MosquitoBorne #Prevention #PublicHealth
This season, France, Italy, and Portugal (Madeira) have already reported locally acquired dengue cases.
Check the latest #CDTR on #dengue here: bit.ly/3TQpDVu
#IdSky #EpiSky #MosquitoBorne #Prevention #PublicHealth
Reposted by Clive McKimmie
🦟"World Health Organization @who.int raises concern about spread of #mosquito-borne #chikungunya #virus" via @reuters.com #arbovirus #GLAI
www.reuters.com/business/hea...
www.reuters.com/business/hea...
World Health Organization raises concern about spread of mosquito-borne Chikungunya virus
The World Health Organization issued an urgent call for action on Tuesday to prevent a repeat of an epidemic of the mosquito-borne chikungunya virus that swept the globe two decades ago, as new outbreaks linked to the Indian Ocean region spread to Europe and other continents.
www.reuters.com
July 23, 2025 at 10:21 PM
🦟"World Health Organization @who.int raises concern about spread of #mosquito-borne #chikungunya #virus" via @reuters.com #arbovirus #GLAI
www.reuters.com/business/hea...
www.reuters.com/business/hea...
Reposted by Clive McKimmie
Despite all the shit going on, we have to celebrate our victories. New publication with @entomososwin.bsky.social and @vectorimmunity.bsky.social showing that hemocytes play a central role in disseminating flaviviruses to secondary tissues potentially functioning as a Trojan Horse(TBD)
rdcu.be/euj4g
rdcu.be/euj4g
Mosquito immune cells enhance dengue and Zika virus infection in Aedes aegypti
Nature Communications - Infection of mosquito immune cells by dengue and Zika virus enhances the spread of virus infection to mosquito tissues, such as the salivary glands, to promote virus...
rdcu.be
July 1, 2025 at 3:02 PM
Despite all the shit going on, we have to celebrate our victories. New publication with @entomososwin.bsky.social and @vectorimmunity.bsky.social showing that hemocytes play a central role in disseminating flaviviruses to secondary tissues potentially functioning as a Trojan Horse(TBD)
rdcu.be/euj4g
rdcu.be/euj4g
These images are just stunning, generated using the largest mirror paired with the largest digital camera ever made. @vrubinobs.bsky.social
Holyyyyyy....I am a tired exhausted puddle on the floor. What a day for @vrubinobs.bsky.social! This observatory is incredible.
Highly, HIGHLY recommend joyscolling around Rubin's Skyviewer. I quite like this galaxy - which is your favorite? 🔭🧪
skyviewer.app
Highly, HIGHLY recommend joyscolling around Rubin's Skyviewer. I quite like this galaxy - which is your favorite? 🔭🧪
skyviewer.app
June 24, 2025 at 9:31 PM
These images are just stunning, generated using the largest mirror paired with the largest digital camera ever made. @vrubinobs.bsky.social
Reposted by Clive McKimmie
Nature research paper: Kupffer cell programming by maternal obesity triggers fatty liver disease
https://go.nature.com/4laOA9s
https://go.nature.com/4laOA9s
Kupffer cell programming by maternal obesity triggers fatty liver disease - Nature
In a mouse model, maternal obesity during pregnancy can lead to fatty liver disease in the offspring, driven by aberrant developmental programming of Kuppfer cells.
go.nature.com
June 19, 2025 at 9:48 AM
Nature research paper: Kupffer cell programming by maternal obesity triggers fatty liver disease
https://go.nature.com/4laOA9s
https://go.nature.com/4laOA9s
Last seminar in the series with latest insights from Jonathan Abraham's team - #alphavirus-fest 🤓
Final seminar before summer break is #Jonathan_Abraham from @harvardmed.bsky.social
With several key recent discoveries on #alphavirus receptor interactions, this is one not to miss.
THURSDAY 19th JUNE.
Re-post to help spread the word. Email to get a #Zoom link. 🙂
With several key recent discoveries on #alphavirus receptor interactions, this is one not to miss.
THURSDAY 19th JUNE.
Re-post to help spread the word. Email to get a #Zoom link. 🙂
June 12, 2025 at 9:50 AM
Last seminar in the series with latest insights from Jonathan Abraham's team - #alphavirus-fest 🤓
A great talk at GRC on tick-borne #CCHFV #pathogenesis. GP38, a secreted viral protein, drives vascular leak by disrupting the endothelial glycocalyx, similar to DENV NS1. Antibodies blocked leak and protected mice; => GP38 can be considered a viral Toxin; www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
Antibodies targeting Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever virus GP38 limit vascular leak and viral spread
Glycoprotein GP38-specific antibodies reduce viral dissemination and GP38-mediated vascular leak in Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever virus infection.
www.science.org
May 22, 2025 at 9:44 AM
A great talk at GRC on tick-borne #CCHFV #pathogenesis. GP38, a secreted viral protein, drives vascular leak by disrupting the endothelial glycocalyx, similar to DENV NS1. Antibodies blocked leak and protected mice; => GP38 can be considered a viral Toxin; www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
@chatel-chaixlab.bsky.social just gave excellent summary of their paper on a new #zebrafish model
#ZIKV at GRC viruses and cells. Useful new tool for assessing #neuropathogenesis when paired with unprecedented genetic and imaging capabilities. Worth checking out. journals.plos.org/plospathogen...
#ZIKV at GRC viruses and cells. Useful new tool for assessing #neuropathogenesis when paired with unprecedented genetic and imaging capabilities. Worth checking out. journals.plos.org/plospathogen...
May 22, 2025 at 9:19 AM
@chatel-chaixlab.bsky.social just gave excellent summary of their paper on a new #zebrafish model
#ZIKV at GRC viruses and cells. Useful new tool for assessing #neuropathogenesis when paired with unprecedented genetic and imaging capabilities. Worth checking out. journals.plos.org/plospathogen...
#ZIKV at GRC viruses and cells. Useful new tool for assessing #neuropathogenesis when paired with unprecedented genetic and imaging capabilities. Worth checking out. journals.plos.org/plospathogen...
Looking forward to a day of Yorkshire Immmnology at @york.ac.uk with my former colleague Gerry Graham of @crgglasgow.bsky.social as keynote. If you’re coming do say hi! 👋 #BSIYorkshire25
May 13, 2025 at 10:35 AM
Looking forward to a day of Yorkshire Immmnology at @york.ac.uk with my former colleague Gerry Graham of @crgglasgow.bsky.social as keynote. If you’re coming do say hi! 👋 #BSIYorkshire25
Reposted by Clive McKimmie
Super psyched to have leading investigator @thehornerlab.bsky.social presenting her team's work THURSDAY 15th May on Zoom.
#flavivirus #virus-host-interactions #innate_immunity #DENV #ZIKV
All are very welcome and please re-post to get the word out. Email organisers for Zoom link. See you there!
#flavivirus #virus-host-interactions #innate_immunity #DENV #ZIKV
All are very welcome and please re-post to get the word out. Email organisers for Zoom link. See you there!
May 9, 2025 at 10:36 AM
Super psyched to have leading investigator @thehornerlab.bsky.social presenting her team's work THURSDAY 15th May on Zoom.
#flavivirus #virus-host-interactions #innate_immunity #DENV #ZIKV
All are very welcome and please re-post to get the word out. Email organisers for Zoom link. See you there!
#flavivirus #virus-host-interactions #innate_immunity #DENV #ZIKV
All are very welcome and please re-post to get the word out. Email organisers for Zoom link. See you there!
Reposted by Clive McKimmie
The free speech website where the owner (who believes in free speech) will throttle your access if you criticize him - even if you support all the far-right conspiracy theories and bigotry he supports. www.nytimes.com/interactive/...
They Criticized Musk on X. Then Their Reach Collapsed. (Gift Article)
Three users who disagreed with the site’s owner saw views for their posts plummet.
www.nytimes.com
April 23, 2025 at 10:26 AM
The free speech website where the owner (who believes in free speech) will throttle your access if you criticize him - even if you support all the far-right conspiracy theories and bigotry he supports. www.nytimes.com/interactive/...