Gillian Fraser
@fraserlabcam.bsky.social
Molecular Microbiologist in Cambridge, UK.
🦠🧫🧬
🦠🧫🧬
Reposted by Gillian Fraser
'Ahead of the autumn budget on 26 November, Universities UK (UUK) has calculated that funding per student for teaching in 2025-26 is at 64 per cent of the level it was in 2015-16.' 1/3
University teaching income ‘£6.4 billon less’ than 10 years ago
UUK says shortfall in teaching money is ‘baked in’ to higher education funding system as institutions brace for new tax in upcoming budget
www.timeshighereducation.com
November 24, 2025 at 7:45 AM
'Ahead of the autumn budget on 26 November, Universities UK (UUK) has calculated that funding per student for teaching in 2025-26 is at 64 per cent of the level it was in 2015-16.' 1/3
Reposted by Gillian Fraser
If you'd like to celebrate the biology of viruses - or the fight against viral diseases - this winter, try out our free and updated #VirusSnowflake designs.
Please share, and if you have any photos of Virus Snowflakes in your area it would be lovely to see them!
cvr-engagement.co.uk/virus-snowfl...
Please share, and if you have any photos of Virus Snowflakes in your area it would be lovely to see them!
cvr-engagement.co.uk/virus-snowfl...
November 17, 2025 at 5:39 PM
If you'd like to celebrate the biology of viruses - or the fight against viral diseases - this winter, try out our free and updated #VirusSnowflake designs.
Please share, and if you have any photos of Virus Snowflakes in your area it would be lovely to see them!
cvr-engagement.co.uk/virus-snowfl...
Please share, and if you have any photos of Virus Snowflakes in your area it would be lovely to see them!
cvr-engagement.co.uk/virus-snowfl...
Reposted by Gillian Fraser
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/...
Reposted by Gillian Fraser
Potentially big news.
I am dreading a post-antibiotic world, so this sounds awesome!
I am dreading a post-antibiotic world, so this sounds awesome!
British and Australian chemists have discovered a powerful new antibiotic called pre-methylenomycin C lactone, hiding in a well-known soil bacterium. This molecule kills drug-resistant bacteria without triggering resistance. buff.ly/YlXaONo
#ShareGoodNewsToo
#ShareGoodNewsToo
Scientists find hidden antibiotic 100x stronger against deadly superbugs
A team of scientists discovered a hidden antibiotic 100 times stronger than existing drugs against deadly superbugs like MRSA. The molecule had been overlooked for decades in a familiar bacterium. It…
buff.ly
November 16, 2025 at 6:48 PM
Potentially big news.
I am dreading a post-antibiotic world, so this sounds awesome!
I am dreading a post-antibiotic world, so this sounds awesome!
Reposted by Gillian Fraser
🚨 PhD Opportunity 🚨
Interested in microbiology, phages & water security?
Join me and Prof Cindy Smith to test phages as a sustainable alternative to chlorine in drinking-water biofilters.
Metagenomics, phage discovery & ecology — all in one exciting project!
Apply: www.gla.ac.uk/colleges/mvl...
Interested in microbiology, phages & water security?
Join me and Prof Cindy Smith to test phages as a sustainable alternative to chlorine in drinking-water biofilters.
Metagenomics, phage discovery & ecology — all in one exciting project!
Apply: www.gla.ac.uk/colleges/mvl...
November 15, 2025 at 3:30 PM
🚨 PhD Opportunity 🚨
Interested in microbiology, phages & water security?
Join me and Prof Cindy Smith to test phages as a sustainable alternative to chlorine in drinking-water biofilters.
Metagenomics, phage discovery & ecology — all in one exciting project!
Apply: www.gla.ac.uk/colleges/mvl...
Interested in microbiology, phages & water security?
Join me and Prof Cindy Smith to test phages as a sustainable alternative to chlorine in drinking-water biofilters.
Metagenomics, phage discovery & ecology — all in one exciting project!
Apply: www.gla.ac.uk/colleges/mvl...
Reposted by Gillian Fraser
🚨Attention prospective PhD students🚨
Are you interested in molecular mechanisms, RNA viruses, structural biology or biophysics? 🧬🦠🧪
We have THREE fully-funded PhD projects available for October 2026 entry:
www.findaphd.com/phds/?Keywor...
Please share/repost, and get in touch if you're interested
Are you interested in molecular mechanisms, RNA viruses, structural biology or biophysics? 🧬🦠🧪
We have THREE fully-funded PhD projects available for October 2026 entry:
www.findaphd.com/phds/?Keywor...
Please share/repost, and get in touch if you're interested
chris hill PhD Projects, Programmes & Scholarships - 3 PhDs Listed
FindAPhD. Search Funded PhD Projects, Programmes & Scholarships in chris hill. Search for PhD funding, scholarships & studentships in the UK, Europe and around the world.
www.findaphd.com
November 13, 2025 at 7:54 PM
🚨Attention prospective PhD students🚨
Are you interested in molecular mechanisms, RNA viruses, structural biology or biophysics? 🧬🦠🧪
We have THREE fully-funded PhD projects available for October 2026 entry:
www.findaphd.com/phds/?Keywor...
Please share/repost, and get in touch if you're interested
Are you interested in molecular mechanisms, RNA viruses, structural biology or biophysics? 🧬🦠🧪
We have THREE fully-funded PhD projects available for October 2026 entry:
www.findaphd.com/phds/?Keywor...
Please share/repost, and get in touch if you're interested
Reposted by Gillian Fraser
What if even the core of bacterial nanomachines wasn’t static?
We found that the T3SS core protein SctD in Yersinia dynamically exchanges subunits — and this flexibility is essential for proper assembly & function.
🔗 www.nature.com/articles/s41...
@kit.edu @t3sss.bsky.social
We found that the T3SS core protein SctD in Yersinia dynamically exchanges subunits — and this flexibility is essential for proper assembly & function.
🔗 www.nature.com/articles/s41...
@kit.edu @t3sss.bsky.social
November 12, 2025 at 4:21 PM
What if even the core of bacterial nanomachines wasn’t static?
We found that the T3SS core protein SctD in Yersinia dynamically exchanges subunits — and this flexibility is essential for proper assembly & function.
🔗 www.nature.com/articles/s41...
@kit.edu @t3sss.bsky.social
We found that the T3SS core protein SctD in Yersinia dynamically exchanges subunits — and this flexibility is essential for proper assembly & function.
🔗 www.nature.com/articles/s41...
@kit.edu @t3sss.bsky.social
Reposted by Gillian Fraser
In situ structures of the Legionella Dot/Icm T4SS identify the DotA–IcmX complex as the gatekeeper for effector translocation | PNAS www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/...
In situ structures of the Legionella Dot/Icm T4SS identify the DotA–IcmX complex as the gatekeeper for effector translocation | PNAS
The Dot/Icm machine of Legionella pneumophila is among the most versatile type IV
secretion systems (T4SSs), capable of translocating more than 330...
www.pnas.org
November 7, 2025 at 5:48 PM
In situ structures of the Legionella Dot/Icm T4SS identify the DotA–IcmX complex as the gatekeeper for effector translocation | PNAS www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/...
Reposted by Gillian Fraser
More useful with the link #microsky www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
November 6, 2025 at 3:57 PM
More useful with the link #microsky www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
Reposted by Gillian Fraser
Important report critiquing how uk has been or not been supporting scaling up science innovations. Notably also scathing about vast costs for visas for researchers too- hope this will be noted and acted upon🧪
U.K. science sector is ‘bleeding to death,’ lawmakers say in report
House of Lords committee urges government to stem exodus of science and technology companies
www.science.org
November 6, 2025 at 8:12 AM
Important report critiquing how uk has been or not been supporting scaling up science innovations. Notably also scathing about vast costs for visas for researchers too- hope this will be noted and acted upon🧪
Reposted by Gillian Fraser
Please RT. Post-doc opportunity alert! 💥 closing 10th December.. Come join our team (www.thelowlab.org) at Imperial, London, working on the structure and mechanism of bacterial secretion systems.
For more details and to apply please see
www.imperial.ac.uk/jobs/search-...
For more details and to apply please see
www.imperial.ac.uk/jobs/search-...
November 4, 2025 at 5:20 PM
Please RT. Post-doc opportunity alert! 💥 closing 10th December.. Come join our team (www.thelowlab.org) at Imperial, London, working on the structure and mechanism of bacterial secretion systems.
For more details and to apply please see
www.imperial.ac.uk/jobs/search-...
For more details and to apply please see
www.imperial.ac.uk/jobs/search-...
Reposted by Gillian Fraser
Looking for a PhD opportunity in Microbiology? Consider joining one of the UK's leading microbiology research clusters at Newcastle University. See the thread for MRC DTP studentships currently advertised. @medicalsciencesncl.bsky.social @sagencl.bsky.social @cbcb-newcastle.bsky.social #microsky
November 4, 2025 at 10:54 AM
Looking for a PhD opportunity in Microbiology? Consider joining one of the UK's leading microbiology research clusters at Newcastle University. See the thread for MRC DTP studentships currently advertised. @medicalsciencesncl.bsky.social @sagencl.bsky.social @cbcb-newcastle.bsky.social #microsky
Reposted by Gillian Fraser
🚨 Fully funded PhD studentships 🚨
We have three fully funded PhD studentships available for Oct 26 start. Funded by the MRC DiMeN programme & the BBSRC Yorkshire Biosciences DTP. Details below as they are advertised. Contact me here or via email for more details or to discuss an application
We have three fully funded PhD studentships available for Oct 26 start. Funded by the MRC DiMeN programme & the BBSRC Yorkshire Biosciences DTP. Details below as they are advertised. Contact me here or via email for more details or to discuss an application
Clostridial Cell Biology Group
We are the Clostridial Cell Biology Group at the University of Sheffield. We study all aspects of cell biology, including the architecture and biogenesis of surface structures on both vegetative cells...
sites.google.com
October 31, 2025 at 3:44 PM
🚨 Fully funded PhD studentships 🚨
We have three fully funded PhD studentships available for Oct 26 start. Funded by the MRC DiMeN programme & the BBSRC Yorkshire Biosciences DTP. Details below as they are advertised. Contact me here or via email for more details or to discuss an application
We have three fully funded PhD studentships available for Oct 26 start. Funded by the MRC DiMeN programme & the BBSRC Yorkshire Biosciences DTP. Details below as they are advertised. Contact me here or via email for more details or to discuss an application
Reposted by Gillian Fraser
Want to find ways to combat TB? Check out this PhD position 👇
November 2, 2025 at 8:44 PM
Want to find ways to combat TB? Check out this PhD position 👇
Reposted by Gillian Fraser
If you are interested in researching how drug resistant bacteria evade killing by our immune system, them this PhD project is for you. Come join the our team at Newcastle, in collaboration with University of Liverpool, and lead research at the interface of microbiology, immunology and metabolomics.
MRC DiMeN Doctoral Training Partnership: Hiding in plain sight: How multi-drug resistant pathogens evade detection and killing by human neutrophils at Newcastle University on FindAPhD.com
PhD Project - MRC DiMeN Doctoral Training Partnership: Hiding in plain sight: How multi-drug resistant pathogens evade detection and killing by human neutrophils at Newcastle University, listed on Fin...
www.findaphd.com
November 2, 2025 at 8:22 PM
If you are interested in researching how drug resistant bacteria evade killing by our immune system, them this PhD project is for you. Come join the our team at Newcastle, in collaboration with University of Liverpool, and lead research at the interface of microbiology, immunology and metabolomics.
Reposted by Gillian Fraser
If you’re interested in solving bacterial mysteries, this PhD project is for you!
www.findaphd.com/phds/project...
www.findaphd.com/phds/project...
Investigating the role of the Vi antigen in Salmonella pathogenesis. at University of Edinburgh on FindAPhD.com
PhD Project - Investigating the role of the Vi antigen in Salmonella pathogenesis. at University of Edinburgh, listed on FindAPhD.com
www.findaphd.com
November 2, 2025 at 6:07 PM
If you’re interested in solving bacterial mysteries, this PhD project is for you!
www.findaphd.com/phds/project...
www.findaphd.com/phds/project...
Reposted by Gillian Fraser
Beautiful work using #insitu #cryoEM #SingleParticleAnalysis from @guowangbiao @yalemed.bsky.social in @natmicrobiol.nature.com www.nature.com/articles/s41...
October 31, 2025 at 6:07 PM
Beautiful work using #insitu #cryoEM #SingleParticleAnalysis from @guowangbiao @yalemed.bsky.social in @natmicrobiol.nature.com www.nature.com/articles/s41...
Reposted by Gillian Fraser
#microsky #mevosky @spp2389.bsky.social
A PhD position is available in my lab to work on:
Emergence and self-organisation of bacterial metabolism in consortia of cross-feeding bacteria.
Please RT
Deadline: 12.11.25
More infos 👇
shorturl.at/rAKAT
A PhD position is available in my lab to work on:
Emergence and self-organisation of bacterial metabolism in consortia of cross-feeding bacteria.
Please RT
Deadline: 12.11.25
More infos 👇
shorturl.at/rAKAT
October 28, 2025 at 8:43 AM
#microsky #mevosky @spp2389.bsky.social
A PhD position is available in my lab to work on:
Emergence and self-organisation of bacterial metabolism in consortia of cross-feeding bacteria.
Please RT
Deadline: 12.11.25
More infos 👇
shorturl.at/rAKAT
A PhD position is available in my lab to work on:
Emergence and self-organisation of bacterial metabolism in consortia of cross-feeding bacteria.
Please RT
Deadline: 12.11.25
More infos 👇
shorturl.at/rAKAT
Reposted by Gillian Fraser
We are looking for mentors for the Sci.STEPS program! Please apply if you want to help your junior colleagues around the globe navigate their career path in any science related field.
🤩Join the Sci.STEPS 2026 Mentor Cohort!
We invite #mentors from varied backgrounds and stages of their #scientific careers to apply and share their knowledge and expertise with our #mentees.
✏ Register here: lnkd.in/edZggY32
🗓 Deadline: November 10th 2025
👀more about #SciSTEPS: www.scisteps.org
We invite #mentors from varied backgrounds and stages of their #scientific careers to apply and share their knowledge and expertise with our #mentees.
✏ Register here: lnkd.in/edZggY32
🗓 Deadline: November 10th 2025
👀more about #SciSTEPS: www.scisteps.org
October 24, 2025 at 12:22 PM
We are looking for mentors for the Sci.STEPS program! Please apply if you want to help your junior colleagues around the globe navigate their career path in any science related field.
Reposted by Gillian Fraser
First time posting on Bluesky! 🥳 We discovered a new pilus family in cyanobacteria. The pilin has a novel protein fold that forms a super-tight double-layer tube. Similar gene clusters exist in a few cyanobacterial orders. A great collaboration with John and others! www.nature.com/articles/s41...
A family of tubular pili from harmful algal bloom forming cyanobacterium Microcystis aeruginosa - Nature Communications
Ricca et al discover a new family of tubular pili in Microcystis aeruginosa, a harmful algal bloom-forming cyanobacterium. These pili are crucial for buoyancy by forming cell micro-colonies, which inc...
www.nature.com
October 24, 2025 at 4:08 AM
First time posting on Bluesky! 🥳 We discovered a new pilus family in cyanobacteria. The pilin has a novel protein fold that forms a super-tight double-layer tube. Similar gene clusters exist in a few cyanobacterial orders. A great collaboration with John and others! www.nature.com/articles/s41...
Reposted by Gillian Fraser
Pls share: Secchi group at ETH Zürich is recruiting two fully funded, four-year PhD positions for an SNSF-funded project investigating the nonlinear rheology of bacterial biofilms. Deadline: 30 November 2025. Full advert and submission details: jobs.ethz.ch/job/view/JOP...
Two PhD positions in Biophysics and rheology of bacterial biofilms
jobs.ethz.ch
October 21, 2025 at 10:39 AM
Pls share: Secchi group at ETH Zürich is recruiting two fully funded, four-year PhD positions for an SNSF-funded project investigating the nonlinear rheology of bacterial biofilms. Deadline: 30 November 2025. Full advert and submission details: jobs.ethz.ch/job/view/JOP...
Reposted by Gillian Fraser
Genome maintenance by telomerase is a fundamental process in nearly all eukaryotes. But where does it come from?
Today, we report the discovery of telomerase homologs in a family of antiviral reverse transcriptases, revealing an unexpected evolutionary origin in bacteria.
doi.org/10.1101/2025...
Today, we report the discovery of telomerase homologs in a family of antiviral reverse transcriptases, revealing an unexpected evolutionary origin in bacteria.
doi.org/10.1101/2025...
October 17, 2025 at 12:47 PM
Genome maintenance by telomerase is a fundamental process in nearly all eukaryotes. But where does it come from?
Today, we report the discovery of telomerase homologs in a family of antiviral reverse transcriptases, revealing an unexpected evolutionary origin in bacteria.
doi.org/10.1101/2025...
Today, we report the discovery of telomerase homologs in a family of antiviral reverse transcriptases, revealing an unexpected evolutionary origin in bacteria.
doi.org/10.1101/2025...
Reposted by Gillian Fraser
Check out our preprint! With new molecular mechanisms, 140 subtomogram averages, and ~600 annotated cells under different conditions, we @embl.org were able to describe bacterial populations with in-cell #cryoET. And there’s a surprise at the end 🕵️
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
#teamtomo
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
#teamtomo
October 15, 2025 at 6:26 AM
Check out our preprint! With new molecular mechanisms, 140 subtomogram averages, and ~600 annotated cells under different conditions, we @embl.org were able to describe bacterial populations with in-cell #cryoET. And there’s a surprise at the end 🕵️
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
#teamtomo
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
#teamtomo
Reposted by Gillian Fraser
My colleagues & I have taken a huge gamble to set up @thenerve.news We’re trying to build a new independent publication from the ground up. Social media is our only distribution for now.
Sharing this article in your networks would make a huge difference. Thank you! 🙏🙏🙏
Sharing this article in your networks would make a huge difference. Thank you! 🙏🙏🙏
NEW: The British politician, his Russian intelligence handler & a Kremlin plot against the US & Ukraine.
My new piece about Nathan Gill and Nigel Farage for @thenerve_news in which we ask:
Why, even now, is no-one asking questions?
t.co/BUTtpK9C4S
My new piece about Nathan Gill and Nigel Farage for @thenerve_news in which we ask:
Why, even now, is no-one asking questions?
t.co/BUTtpK9C4S
October 13, 2025 at 9:21 AM
My colleagues & I have taken a huge gamble to set up @thenerve.news We’re trying to build a new independent publication from the ground up. Social media is our only distribution for now.
Sharing this article in your networks would make a huge difference. Thank you! 🙏🙏🙏
Sharing this article in your networks would make a huge difference. Thank you! 🙏🙏🙏
Reposted by Gillian Fraser
We have a PhD opportunity available in our group @johninnescentre.bsky.social through the NRP Doctoral Training Partnership. Help us uncover the Hidden Diversity of Bacterial NLRs.
Start date: October 2026. For more information and how to apply👉 biodtp.norwichresearchpark.ac.uk/projects/bey...
Start date: October 2026. For more information and how to apply👉 biodtp.norwichresearchpark.ac.uk/projects/bey...
Beyond Immunity: Uncovering the Hidden Diversity of Bacterial NLRs (SCHLIMPERT_J26DTP) | Doctoral Training Partnership
Join us in exploring the hidden functions of ancient immune proteins in bacteria. Bacteria, like plants and animals, have evolved sophisticated systems to detect and respond to threats.
biodtp.norwichresearchpark.ac.uk
October 13, 2025 at 6:46 AM
We have a PhD opportunity available in our group @johninnescentre.bsky.social through the NRP Doctoral Training Partnership. Help us uncover the Hidden Diversity of Bacterial NLRs.
Start date: October 2026. For more information and how to apply👉 biodtp.norwichresearchpark.ac.uk/projects/bey...
Start date: October 2026. For more information and how to apply👉 biodtp.norwichresearchpark.ac.uk/projects/bey...