Robert Arkowitz
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robertarkowitz.bsky.social
Robert Arkowitz
@robertarkowitz.bsky.social
Fascinated by fungal growth & asymmetries. Institute of Biology Valrose, CNRS-Inserm-Université Côté d’Azur, Nice. Microscopy addict, all things cell biological
Pinned
Chuffed/delighted to bring to your attention this beautiful thread that first author @antonioserrano.bsky.social
made detailing our recent results, enjoy!
🚨 Excited to share our new study on the human fungal pathogen Candida albicans! Thread 👇 (1/11)
biorxiv.org/content/10.1...

#Science #Microbiology #CellBiology
biorxiv.org
Reposted by Robert Arkowitz
In a potentially dramatic change to how it chooses what science to fund, NIH is ending a long-running practice at many of its institutes of establishing, and making public, a threshold peer-review score needed for a grant application’s approval. https://scim.ag/48ck2zu
NIH shake-up to grant decision-making draws concerns of political meddling
Policy drops “paylines” based on peer-review scores and requires geography and other factors to guide approvals
scim.ag
November 25, 2025 at 3:18 PM
Reposted by Robert Arkowitz
Redesign of Calmodulin for Genetically Encoded Zn2+ Sensing with High Dynamic Range
pubs.acs.org/doi/full/10....
Redesign of Calmodulin for Genetically Encoded Zn2+ Sensing with High Dynamic Range
The development of genetically encoded Zn2+ probes (GEZPs) has been hindered by the limited signal transduction efficiency of natural zinc-binding domains, but the encoded Ca2+ indicators utilize the ...
pubs.acs.org
November 25, 2025 at 8:35 AM
Reposted by Robert Arkowitz
Naturae makes mosaics. Scientist (developmental biologists) make mosaics (also)... Because cells (tiles) need to "talk" between them to "construct" (build) an organ with a "pattern". And we need to hear (listen) their conversation (talk). I made also Chimeras.

www.science.org/content/arti...
Why does biology keep building things out of tiles?
Science talks with two scientists about finding the beauty in nature’s mosaics
www.science.org
November 25, 2025 at 6:54 AM
Reposted by Robert Arkowitz
#OpenCloning is a an Open Source alternative to SnapGene/Benchling that supports automation and integration with other software

✅ Free
🔓 Open Source
🧬 More cloning methods than SnapGene
🤖 Can be automated with python
👨‍🔬 Built by a researcher — for researchers!

👉 Check it out at opencloning.org
November 24, 2025 at 4:57 PM
Reposted by Robert Arkowitz
Very cool new paper on a genetically encoded redox sensor in Cryptococcus neoformans: pubs.acs.org/doi/full/10....

These kind of approaches can enable so many cool experiments with real time monitoring!

Great work, @ubcmicroimmuno.bsky.social
Genetically Encoded Sensors for Monitoring Intracellular Redox Health of the Pathogenic Fungus Cryptococcus neoformans
Redox sensing and regulation are critical to both the survival and virulence strategies used by the pathogenic fungus Cryptococcus neoformans to evade host immunity and establish infection. However, the precise genetic and biochemical mechanisms driving these redox regulation systems in the context of fungal virulence are unclear. To address this limitation, we designed genetically encoded redox sensors optimized for expression in C. neoformans and linked these sensors to cryptococcal redox proteins for real-time monitoring of intracellular redox status. Using these sensors, we established several fluorescence-based techniques for monitoring dose-responsive changes in the intracellular oxidation status of C. neoformans under stress. Specifically, we demonstrated sensor responsiveness to nontoxic doses of peroxide stress and during different stages of cell growth, and we verified sensor responsiveness in a mutant with known sensitivity to oxidative stress. This approach provides a framework for developing and deploying biosensors in pathogenic fungi and in basidiomycetes─a group of microorganisms with relatively few sophisticated genetic tools for molecular and synthetic biology. Overall, our sensors enable real-time insights into the key redox mechanisms driving growth and survival of a globally important pathogen and pave the way for tool development in other fungi.
pubs.acs.org
November 24, 2025 at 5:19 PM
Reposted by Robert Arkowitz
Harborview Medical Center in Seattle has had 6 patients since June with a rare fungal infection.

Mucormycosis has a fatality rate of about 50% and strikes the immunocompromised.

Unrelated: Harborview rang a bell and sure enough one of the first U.S. patients died of COVID19 there.
Harborview patients test positive for mucormycosis - UW Medicine | Newsroom
newsroom.uw.edu
November 24, 2025 at 12:53 AM
Reposted by Robert Arkowitz
Pfizer’s mRNA Flu Vaccine Works Great, but RFK Jr. Might Ruin It for Everyone gizmodo.com/pfizers-mrna...
Pfizer’s mRNA Flu Vaccine Works Great, but RFK Jr. Might Ruin It for Everyone
In a large-scale trial, modRNA was significantly better at preventing confirmed flu cases than a typical seasonal flu shot.
gizmodo.com
November 23, 2025 at 3:42 PM
Reposted by Robert Arkowitz
Great article by @drjudystone.bsky.social about the impact cuts to government agencies are having on global health.

It was also noted that some international scientists refused to attend this conference because of ICE and racial profiling.

I am so deeply ashamed of our government.
Reminders Of What Our Losses From CDC And USAID Mean
With the loss of USAID and much of CDC, our ability to respond to pandemics is at risk. Global health issues are a growing threat.
www.forbes.com
November 23, 2025 at 7:01 PM
Reposted by Robert Arkowitz
Meanwhile, in the "what did you do over your summer vacation?" category...

www.notus.org/health-scien...?
Trump’s Privatization of Science Research Is Underway
The EPA’s scientists that helped in the aftermath of the East Palestine, Ohio, disaster, are now in the private sector. What does that mean for future crises?
www.notus.org
November 23, 2025 at 4:10 PM
Reposted by Robert Arkowitz
Fungal friends: The University of Minnesota is hiring a tenure track medical mycologist, with emphasis on emergence of pathogens, genomics and evolution!

www.nature.com/naturecareer...
New Assistant Professor: Tenure Track - Fungal Biology/Medical Mycology - Minneapolis, Minnesota job with University of Minnesota - Medical School | 12848307
About the Job: The Department of Microbiology & Immunology and the Institute on Infectious Diseases (UMIID) at the University of Minnesota Medical ...
www.nature.com
November 23, 2025 at 11:42 AM
Reposted by Robert Arkowitz
🌍New Funding Alert!
Apply for the CMM International Fund: up to £30k over 2 years for globally collaborative medical mycology research. FAPESP-funded PhD & Postdoctoral opportunities available for partnerships with researchers in São Paulo State, Brazil
🔗 www.exeter.ac.uk/research/med...
November 20, 2025 at 11:54 AM
Reposted by Robert Arkowitz
Scientists found a type of fungus that can break down plastic – fast.
Researchers in Pakistan have identified a strain of the widespread fungus Aspergillus tubingensis thriving in a landfill that possesses an extraordinary talent: the ability to rapidly break down polyurethane, one of the most pe...
November 20, 2025 at 4:07 PM
Reposted by Robert Arkowitz
#ImageOfTheWeek ¦ The Fungal Superhighway 🧫

Cryptococcus neoformans (blue) moving through mouse nose tissue (pink). This image is the first time it’s been seen in this formation in the airways.

📸 Dr Vanessa Francis, MRC Centre for Medical Mycology

#FungalInfection #Mycology #Science
November 21, 2025 at 1:40 PM
Reposted by Robert Arkowitz
Reposted by Robert Arkowitz
In related news, the claim ‘the Tooth Fairy does not actually take lost baby teeth from under pillows’ is not an evidence-based claim because studies have not ruled out the possibility that magical beings are secretly thieving teeth in the dead of night…”

www.ms.now/rachel-maddo...
CDC backpedals on vaccines and autism, despite earlier assurances from RFK Jr.
The CDC, under the direction of an unqualified health secretary, is now promoting claims that flunk Logic 101.
www.ms.now
November 20, 2025 at 8:43 PM
Reposted by Robert Arkowitz
Csf1, a tunnel-like lipid-transfer protein, mediates lipid remodeling and underpins eukaryotic membrane resilience to high hydrostatic pressure and cold https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1101/2025.11.20.689427v1
November 20, 2025 at 6:30 PM
Reposted by Robert Arkowitz
Nature research paper: Rare microbial relict sheds light on an ancient eukaryotic supergroup

go.nature.com/486YtjW
Rare microbial relict sheds light on an ancient eukaryotic supergroup - Nature
The discovery of an unusual protist named Solarion arienae, which has a mitochondrial genome with some intriguing features, provides insight into the early radiation of eukaryotic groups.
go.nature.com
November 20, 2025 at 11:04 AM
Reposted by Robert Arkowitz
How the Avalanche of Academic Papers Threatens Scientific Research, by Vince Bielski
'Editor-in-Chief Anna Stilz at @ucberkeleyofficial.bsky.social led a revolt that culminated in the mass resignation of the journal’s entire editorial staff and board.'
www.realclearinvestigations.com/articles/202...
How the Avalanche of Academic Papers Threatens Scientific Research
This is the third part of a series on academic publishing. Read part one here and part two here. For many years, the prestigious journal Philosophy & Public Affairs published about
www.realclearinvestigations.com
November 20, 2025 at 9:39 AM
Reposted by Robert Arkowitz
“Miasma theory” stages a comeback in the United States

Deep sigh 😮‍💨

www.theatlantic.com/health/2025/...
RFK Jr.’s Miasma Theory of Health Is Spreading
The NIH is picking up Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s argument that a healthy immune system can keep even pandemic germs at bay.
www.theatlantic.com
November 19, 2025 at 11:48 PM
Reposted by Robert Arkowitz
It’s World Antimicrobial Resistance Awareness Week! AMR is a top public health threat and will create increasingly complex challenges in the hospital, the lab, on the farm and in communities. See ASM’s policy paper with recommendations to combat AMR: asm.social/2H3 #WAAW
ASM Policy Recommendations to Combat Antimicrobial Resistance | ASM.org
Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is a top public health threat and national security issue. ASM recommends steps for policymakers that prioritize science and the roles of microbiologists.
asm.social
November 19, 2025 at 8:08 PM
Reposted by Robert Arkowitz
Quite a busy day on #Bluesky !
Been a while since we have been #preLight -ed !

Discover HAK-Actin if you haven't already ;)
November 19, 2025 at 12:36 PM
Reposted by Robert Arkowitz
Reposted by Robert Arkowitz
Holy shit.
MISO: microfluidic protein isolation enables single-particle cryo-EM structure determination from a single cell colony.

Or from a single dish of HEK cell culture in the case of two membrane proteins.

Out in Nature Methods now! lnkd.in/gpyBSceg

Wonderful collaboration with the Efremov lab.
November 15, 2025 at 1:41 PM