Simon McArthur
@drsimonmcarthur.bsky.social
Neuropharmacologist at Queen Mary, University of London, studying how diet, the gut/oral #microbiota and their products affect the #brain & #Alzheimer's disease (he/him) 🏳️🌈🇪🇺
Reposted by Simon McArthur
I wrote about the recent autism-microbiome paper, why I think it's the most important microbiome paper this year, and what it says about the field
open.substack.com/pub/blekhman...
open.substack.com/pub/blekhman...
The Autism-Microbiome Hypothesis Is Falling Apart
Why this new review paper should be required reading for every microbiome researcher
open.substack.com
November 19, 2025 at 5:12 PM
I wrote about the recent autism-microbiome paper, why I think it's the most important microbiome paper this year, and what it says about the field
open.substack.com/pub/blekhman...
open.substack.com/pub/blekhman...
Reposted by Simon McArthur
You're a parasitic ant queen eyeing the colony of another species. You have a simple plan:
1. Hide your scent by rubbing workers on your body
2. Infiltrate the nest
3. Spray the queen with chemicals that goad her daughters into tearing her to bits
4. All hail the usurper!
(my latest for CNN) 🧪
1. Hide your scent by rubbing workers on your body
2. Infiltrate the nest
3. Spray the queen with chemicals that goad her daughters into tearing her to bits
4. All hail the usurper!
(my latest for CNN) 🧪
Parasitic ant queen chemically manipulates workers into killing their mother | CNN
Scientists newly described how a parasitic ant queen infiltrates another ant species’ colony and tricks the workers into killing their mother.
www.cnn.com
November 17, 2025 at 6:48 PM
You're a parasitic ant queen eyeing the colony of another species. You have a simple plan:
1. Hide your scent by rubbing workers on your body
2. Infiltrate the nest
3. Spray the queen with chemicals that goad her daughters into tearing her to bits
4. All hail the usurper!
(my latest for CNN) 🧪
1. Hide your scent by rubbing workers on your body
2. Infiltrate the nest
3. Spray the queen with chemicals that goad her daughters into tearing her to bits
4. All hail the usurper!
(my latest for CNN) 🧪
Reposted by Simon McArthur
Wow
'MHRA-led study reveals major inconsistencies in global microbiome research'
www.gov.uk/government/n...
'Species identification varied from 63% to 100% accuracy across different methods, meaning that some laboratories failed to detect a third of the bacterial species present in the sample'
'MHRA-led study reveals major inconsistencies in global microbiome research'
www.gov.uk/government/n...
'Species identification varied from 63% to 100% accuracy across different methods, meaning that some laboratories failed to detect a third of the bacterial species present in the sample'
MHRA-led study reveals major inconsistencies in global microbiome research
International collaboration establishes new quality standards to improve reliability of gut health studies – improving accuracy to provide better diagnosis and treatment.
www.gov.uk
November 16, 2025 at 12:51 PM
Wow
'MHRA-led study reveals major inconsistencies in global microbiome research'
www.gov.uk/government/n...
'Species identification varied from 63% to 100% accuracy across different methods, meaning that some laboratories failed to detect a third of the bacterial species present in the sample'
'MHRA-led study reveals major inconsistencies in global microbiome research'
www.gov.uk/government/n...
'Species identification varied from 63% to 100% accuracy across different methods, meaning that some laboratories failed to detect a third of the bacterial species present in the sample'
Reposted by Simon McArthur
I came to this country as a child refugee. No English, no certainty, no idea what my life could become. Britain gave me refuge.
Not on a timer, not with conditions attached, but with a chance to grow roots.
A thread 🧵 1/8
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Not on a timer, not with conditions attached, but with a chance to grow roots.
A thread 🧵 1/8
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
UK set to limit refugees to temporary stays
Shabana Mahmood is expected to say the era of permanent protection for refugees is over, in major changes to the UK's asylum and immigration system.
www.bbc.co.uk
November 15, 2025 at 10:29 AM
I came to this country as a child refugee. No English, no certainty, no idea what my life could become. Britain gave me refuge.
Not on a timer, not with conditions attached, but with a chance to grow roots.
A thread 🧵 1/8
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Not on a timer, not with conditions attached, but with a chance to grow roots.
A thread 🧵 1/8
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Reposted by Simon McArthur
Claims that autism could be caused by problems with the gut microbiome have caught media attention but some microbiologists are sceptical trib.al/fgv5oLv
November 14, 2025 at 12:04 PM
Claims that autism could be caused by problems with the gut microbiome have caught media attention but some microbiologists are sceptical trib.al/fgv5oLv
Reposted by Simon McArthur
The link between the gut #microbiome and autism is not backed by science, researchers say.
Read the full opinion piece in @cp-neuron.bsky.social: spkl.io/63322AbxpA
@wiringthebrain.bsky.social, @statsepi.bsky.social, & @deevybee.bsky.social
Read the full opinion piece in @cp-neuron.bsky.social: spkl.io/63322AbxpA
@wiringthebrain.bsky.social, @statsepi.bsky.social, & @deevybee.bsky.social
November 13, 2025 at 4:00 PM
The link between the gut #microbiome and autism is not backed by science, researchers say.
Read the full opinion piece in @cp-neuron.bsky.social: spkl.io/63322AbxpA
@wiringthebrain.bsky.social, @statsepi.bsky.social, & @deevybee.bsky.social
Read the full opinion piece in @cp-neuron.bsky.social: spkl.io/63322AbxpA
@wiringthebrain.bsky.social, @statsepi.bsky.social, & @deevybee.bsky.social
Reposted by Simon McArthur
Two postdoc positions open now: let's work together to understand microbial regulation of the gut-brain axis in ageing:
buff.ly/UuJciHZ
buff.ly/vjp98fx
buff.ly/UuJciHZ
buff.ly/vjp98fx
November 14, 2025 at 11:28 AM
Two postdoc positions open now: let's work together to understand microbial regulation of the gut-brain axis in ageing:
buff.ly/UuJciHZ
buff.ly/vjp98fx
buff.ly/UuJciHZ
buff.ly/vjp98fx
Reposted by Simon McArthur
New paper with @statsepi.bsky.social and @deevybee.bsky.social in which we show there's really no evidence for a link between the gut microbiome and autism www.cell.com/neuron/fullt...
Conceptual and methodological flaws undermine claims of a link between the gut microbiome and autism
Claims that the gut microbiome causally contributes to autism regularly appear in
the scientific literature and popular press. Mitchell et al. critically examine influential
studies underpinning these...
www.cell.com
November 13, 2025 at 4:10 PM
New paper with @statsepi.bsky.social and @deevybee.bsky.social in which we show there's really no evidence for a link between the gut microbiome and autism www.cell.com/neuron/fullt...
Reposted by Simon McArthur
📣 Join us for the 2025 @isbscience.org Virtual Microbiome Symposium, focused on "Gut Microbial Metabolites and Their Impact on Host Systems".
co-director - @flash-point.bsky.social 🦠💥
It's free, & we have an amazing line-up of speakers!
Dec. 12th. Please share!
isbscience.org/2025-isb-vir...
co-director - @flash-point.bsky.social 🦠💥
It's free, & we have an amazing line-up of speakers!
Dec. 12th. Please share!
isbscience.org/2025-isb-vir...
2025 ISB Virtual Microbiome Symposium - Institute for Systems Biology (ISB)
Symposium Schedule All presentation times are shown in Pacific Daylight Time (GMT -07:00 / UTC -07:00) Time Talk / Session 9:00 Welcoming remarks by Sid Venkatesh Session One: Neural Effects
isbscience.org
November 13, 2025 at 7:13 AM
📣 Join us for the 2025 @isbscience.org Virtual Microbiome Symposium, focused on "Gut Microbial Metabolites and Their Impact on Host Systems".
co-director - @flash-point.bsky.social 🦠💥
It's free, & we have an amazing line-up of speakers!
Dec. 12th. Please share!
isbscience.org/2025-isb-vir...
co-director - @flash-point.bsky.social 🦠💥
It's free, & we have an amazing line-up of speakers!
Dec. 12th. Please share!
isbscience.org/2025-isb-vir...
Reposted by Simon McArthur
I enjoyed contributing to the @ilsieurope.bsky.social Healthy Ageing Task Force. Leonie and Thomas have done a great job summarising workshop findings on what's needed to develop nutritional interventions that support healthy ageing.
@dvauzour.bsky.social @drsimonmcarthur.bsky.social
@dvauzour.bsky.social @drsimonmcarthur.bsky.social
Building a roadmap to nutrition for Healthy Ageing: a brief report on the ILSI Europe Healthy Ageing Task Force
At the end of October 2024, ILSI Europe brought together industry and academic experts from different fields to identify research gaps and challenges …
www.sciencedirect.com
October 16, 2025 at 3:11 PM
I enjoyed contributing to the @ilsieurope.bsky.social Healthy Ageing Task Force. Leonie and Thomas have done a great job summarising workshop findings on what's needed to develop nutritional interventions that support healthy ageing.
@dvauzour.bsky.social @drsimonmcarthur.bsky.social
@dvauzour.bsky.social @drsimonmcarthur.bsky.social
Reposted by Simon McArthur
Y’all. They used dental floss on mice.... for vaccine delivery!!!
Not kidding. This is the type of research that keeps me so excited about science and innovation and why we should not be defunding science.
www.science.org/content/arti...
Not kidding. This is the type of research that keeps me so excited about science and innovation and why we should not be defunding science.
www.science.org/content/arti...
Engineers transform dental floss into needle-free vaccine
New method places inactivated viruses directly into mice’s gums
www.science.org
July 22, 2025 at 5:05 PM
Y’all. They used dental floss on mice.... for vaccine delivery!!!
Not kidding. This is the type of research that keeps me so excited about science and innovation and why we should not be defunding science.
www.science.org/content/arti...
Not kidding. This is the type of research that keeps me so excited about science and innovation and why we should not be defunding science.
www.science.org/content/arti...
Reposted by Simon McArthur
A great night Wednesday - our first Hub for Dementia in East London (HuDEL) get together. From basic science to psycho-social intervention research our team @qmul.bsky.social cover it all. Hopefully get the whole team together next time too. @qmulpsychiatry.bsky.social @qmul-wiph.bsky.social
Last night, we convened the first meeting of the Hub for Dementia in East London (HuDEL). | Claudia Cooper
Last night, we convened the first meeting of the Hub for Dementia in East London (HuDEL).
HuDEL brings together researchers and clinicians working on dementia across departments and institutions, in...
www.linkedin.com
July 18, 2025 at 6:19 AM
A great night Wednesday - our first Hub for Dementia in East London (HuDEL) get together. From basic science to psycho-social intervention research our team @qmul.bsky.social cover it all. Hopefully get the whole team together next time too. @qmulpsychiatry.bsky.social @qmul-wiph.bsky.social
Reposted by Simon McArthur
Exciting Senior Scientist 👩🔬 👨🔬 role available in my research group 🧠 🦠 - Closing date Tuesday 5th August 2025.
Please Share
@apcmicrobiomeirel.bsky.social @anatneuroucc.bsky.social
Full details here
my.corehr.com/pls/uccrecru...
Please Share
@apcmicrobiomeirel.bsky.social @anatneuroucc.bsky.social
Full details here
my.corehr.com/pls/uccrecru...
July 7, 2025 at 11:20 AM
Exciting Senior Scientist 👩🔬 👨🔬 role available in my research group 🧠 🦠 - Closing date Tuesday 5th August 2025.
Please Share
@apcmicrobiomeirel.bsky.social @anatneuroucc.bsky.social
Full details here
my.corehr.com/pls/uccrecru...
Please Share
@apcmicrobiomeirel.bsky.social @anatneuroucc.bsky.social
Full details here
my.corehr.com/pls/uccrecru...
Reposted by Simon McArthur
Today, Professor Donal Wall, @uofglasgow.bsky.social attended a pitch session as part of the Science, Innovation and Technology Committee's 'Under the Microscope' inquiry to explain why they should be interested in microbiomes.
July 1, 2025 at 2:16 PM
Today, Professor Donal Wall, @uofglasgow.bsky.social attended a pitch session as part of the Science, Innovation and Technology Committee's 'Under the Microscope' inquiry to explain why they should be interested in microbiomes.
Reposted by Simon McArthur
Absolutely incredible turnout for Budapest Pride! So proud of all the organizers, including some old friends, who estimate hundreds of thousands— major embarrassment to Orban
June 28, 2025 at 5:23 PM
Absolutely incredible turnout for Budapest Pride! So proud of all the organizers, including some old friends, who estimate hundreds of thousands— major embarrassment to Orban
Reposted by Simon McArthur
It's #WorldMicrobiomeDay! 🦠
We are proud to be a part of this exciting research area through contributions by our amazing authors.
To celebrate this occasion, here are some of our favourite microbiome papers.
Do you have a favourite of yours? let us know in the replies.
#MicroSky #MicrobiomeSky
We are proud to be a part of this exciting research area through contributions by our amazing authors.
To celebrate this occasion, here are some of our favourite microbiome papers.
Do you have a favourite of yours? let us know in the replies.
#MicroSky #MicrobiomeSky
June 27, 2025 at 8:12 AM
It's #WorldMicrobiomeDay! 🦠
We are proud to be a part of this exciting research area through contributions by our amazing authors.
To celebrate this occasion, here are some of our favourite microbiome papers.
Do you have a favourite of yours? let us know in the replies.
#MicroSky #MicrobiomeSky
We are proud to be a part of this exciting research area through contributions by our amazing authors.
To celebrate this occasion, here are some of our favourite microbiome papers.
Do you have a favourite of yours? let us know in the replies.
#MicroSky #MicrobiomeSky
Reposted by Simon McArthur
This new review by Anne L McCartney and Lesley Hoyles examines the often overlooked role of Klebsiella bioactives in host-microbiota dynamics.
🔗 Access the full article here: doi.org/10.1530/MAH-24-0011
🔗 Access the full article here: doi.org/10.1530/MAH-24-0011
June 4, 2025 at 2:15 PM
This new review by Anne L McCartney and Lesley Hoyles examines the often overlooked role of Klebsiella bioactives in host-microbiota dynamics.
🔗 Access the full article here: doi.org/10.1530/MAH-24-0011
🔗 Access the full article here: doi.org/10.1530/MAH-24-0011
Reposted by Simon McArthur
Nature awards and Yakult have announced another round of 'Global Grants for Gut Health'. An excellent opportunity for gut microbiota researchers, at any career stage, to win $100,000 for a year to cover their interesting research!
#MicrobiomeSky #MicroSky
www.nature.com/immersive/gu...
#MicrobiomeSky #MicroSky
www.nature.com/immersive/gu...
Nature Awards Global Grants for Gut Health
Grants for researchers investigating the gut microbiota and its role in human health.
www.nature.com
June 13, 2025 at 12:52 PM
Nature awards and Yakult have announced another round of 'Global Grants for Gut Health'. An excellent opportunity for gut microbiota researchers, at any career stage, to win $100,000 for a year to cover their interesting research!
#MicrobiomeSky #MicroSky
www.nature.com/immersive/gu...
#MicrobiomeSky #MicroSky
www.nature.com/immersive/gu...
Reposted by Simon McArthur
Great to see this review out on dietary glucuronides with @drsimonmcarthur.bsky.social, and our lovely colleagues in chemistry at the University of Liverpool.
Often thought of as inert chemicals, these glucuronides have wide-ranging biological activity. #microbiomesky
Often thought of as inert chemicals, these glucuronides have wide-ranging biological activity. #microbiomesky
Dietary substances and their glucuronides: structures, occurrence and biological activity
Covering up to 2025.Plant-derived polyphenols of various chemical classes are widely distributed in dietary substances, e.g. fruits, nuts, vegetables and teas. Such phenolic derivatives are natural an...
pubs.rsc.org
June 4, 2025 at 11:51 AM
Great to see this review out on dietary glucuronides with @drsimonmcarthur.bsky.social, and our lovely colleagues in chemistry at the University of Liverpool.
Often thought of as inert chemicals, these glucuronides have wide-ranging biological activity. #microbiomesky
Often thought of as inert chemicals, these glucuronides have wide-ranging biological activity. #microbiomesky
Very happy to see this published, with @bugsinyourguts.bsky.social and our colleagues at the University of Liverpool
Looking at the biological roles of what are often dismissed as waste - glucuronide conjugates of dietary and gut microbe-derived phenolic compounds
pubs.rsc.org/en/content/a...
Looking at the biological roles of what are often dismissed as waste - glucuronide conjugates of dietary and gut microbe-derived phenolic compounds
pubs.rsc.org/en/content/a...
Dietary substances and their glucuronides: structures, occurrence and biological activity
Covering up to 2025.Plant-derived polyphenols of various chemical classes are widely distributed in dietary substances, e.g. fruits, nuts, vegetables and teas. Such phenolic derivatives are natural an...
pubs.rsc.org
June 4, 2025 at 1:51 PM
Very happy to see this published, with @bugsinyourguts.bsky.social and our colleagues at the University of Liverpool
Looking at the biological roles of what are often dismissed as waste - glucuronide conjugates of dietary and gut microbe-derived phenolic compounds
pubs.rsc.org/en/content/a...
Looking at the biological roles of what are often dismissed as waste - glucuronide conjugates of dietary and gut microbe-derived phenolic compounds
pubs.rsc.org/en/content/a...
Reposted by Simon McArthur
JCI - The gut microbiome controls reactive astrocytosis during Aβ amyloidosis via propionate-mediated regulation of IL-17 www.jci.org/articles/vie...
May 15, 2025 at 10:57 AM
JCI - The gut microbiome controls reactive astrocytosis during Aβ amyloidosis via propionate-mediated regulation of IL-17 www.jci.org/articles/vie...
Reposted by Simon McArthur
Choose Science. Choose Europe.
A new Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions Postdoctoral Fellowships 2025 call is now open.
With a budget of €404.3 million, it will support around 1,650 researchers from Europe and beyond.
Apply by 10 September → europa.eu/!fBTMgF
A new Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions Postdoctoral Fellowships 2025 call is now open.
With a budget of €404.3 million, it will support around 1,650 researchers from Europe and beyond.
Apply by 10 September → europa.eu/!fBTMgF
May 8, 2025 at 10:12 AM
Choose Science. Choose Europe.
A new Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions Postdoctoral Fellowships 2025 call is now open.
With a budget of €404.3 million, it will support around 1,650 researchers from Europe and beyond.
Apply by 10 September → europa.eu/!fBTMgF
A new Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions Postdoctoral Fellowships 2025 call is now open.
With a budget of €404.3 million, it will support around 1,650 researchers from Europe and beyond.
Apply by 10 September → europa.eu/!fBTMgF
Reposted by Simon McArthur
Very pleased to see this review out on host interactions of bioactive molecules produced by Klebsiella spp. #MicroSky
mah.bioscientifica.com
April 24, 2025 at 7:38 PM
Very pleased to see this review out on host interactions of bioactive molecules produced by Klebsiella spp. #MicroSky
Reposted by Simon McArthur
“Behind every statistic is a real child, and a real family doing their best to heal wounds that others inflicted”, writes Lib Dem MP @tomgordonld.bsky.social
🗣️ Adoption breakdown in the UK is a silent crisis demanding urgent reform
www.politics.co.uk/mp-comment/2...
🗣️ Adoption breakdown in the UK is a silent crisis demanding urgent reform
www.politics.co.uk/mp-comment/2...
Adoption breakdown in the UK is a silent crisis demanding urgent reform
Adoption is often viewed as the happy ending in a child’s journey through trauma and instability, but for many families across the UK, it marks the beginning of a far more complex and challenging chap...
www.politics.co.uk
April 9, 2025 at 7:28 AM
“Behind every statistic is a real child, and a real family doing their best to heal wounds that others inflicted”, writes Lib Dem MP @tomgordonld.bsky.social
🗣️ Adoption breakdown in the UK is a silent crisis demanding urgent reform
www.politics.co.uk/mp-comment/2...
🗣️ Adoption breakdown in the UK is a silent crisis demanding urgent reform
www.politics.co.uk/mp-comment/2...
Reposted by Simon McArthur
This has made @drsimonmcarthur.bsky.social and I laugh this morning (but in a good - and very middle class - way). #gutbrainaxis #IShopAtWaitroseBecause
March 29, 2025 at 12:58 PM
This has made @drsimonmcarthur.bsky.social and I laugh this morning (but in a good - and very middle class - way). #gutbrainaxis #IShopAtWaitroseBecause