Siân Owen
@sianowen.bsky.social
Microbiologist & phage phanatic! Enthusiastic explorer of microbial genomes
PI at the Wadsworth Center, New York State Department of Health
Assist Prof @albany.edu
Currently obsessed with plasmid-dependent phage
www.wadsworth.org/research/laboratories/owen
PI at the Wadsworth Center, New York State Department of Health
Assist Prof @albany.edu
Currently obsessed with plasmid-dependent phage
www.wadsworth.org/research/laboratories/owen
Pinned
Siân Owen
@sianowen.bsky.social
· Dec 4
We made a small modification to the classic plaque assay, by integrating multiple fluorescent strains into the lawn. This allows immediate read-out of phage phenotypes, skipping the laborious downstream screening
(and a well deserved glow-up for the work horse of virology for almost 100 years!) 8/
(and a well deserved glow-up for the work horse of virology for almost 100 years!) 8/
Reposted by Siân Owen
The University at Albany Biomedical Sciences Department is hiring at the Assistant Professor level. We are looking for researchers at the intersection of infectious disease and artificial intelligence:
albany.interviewexchange.com/jobofferdeta...
#infectiousdisease #artificialintelligence
albany.interviewexchange.com/jobofferdeta...
#infectiousdisease #artificialintelligence
albany.interviewexchange.com
November 18, 2025 at 10:45 PM
The University at Albany Biomedical Sciences Department is hiring at the Assistant Professor level. We are looking for researchers at the intersection of infectious disease and artificial intelligence:
albany.interviewexchange.com/jobofferdeta...
#infectiousdisease #artificialintelligence
albany.interviewexchange.com/jobofferdeta...
#infectiousdisease #artificialintelligence
Faculty search at UAlbany targeting folks broadly applying AI/ML to infectious disease research!! Please RT 🙏
albany.interviewexchange.com/jobofferdeta...
albany.interviewexchange.com/jobofferdeta...
November 18, 2025 at 11:15 PM
Faculty search at UAlbany targeting folks broadly applying AI/ML to infectious disease research!! Please RT 🙏
albany.interviewexchange.com/jobofferdeta...
albany.interviewexchange.com/jobofferdeta...
Reposted by Siân Owen
📣 New preprint from us at phagefoundry.org 📣
A solid machine learning framework & to predict strain-level phage-host interactions across diverse bacterial genera from genome sequences alone. Avery Noonan from the Arkin Lab led this massive effort
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
A solid machine learning framework & to predict strain-level phage-host interactions across diverse bacterial genera from genome sequences alone. Avery Noonan from the Arkin Lab led this massive effort
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
Phage Foundry
phagefoundry.org
November 16, 2025 at 5:58 PM
📣 New preprint from us at phagefoundry.org 📣
A solid machine learning framework & to predict strain-level phage-host interactions across diverse bacterial genera from genome sequences alone. Avery Noonan from the Arkin Lab led this massive effort
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
A solid machine learning framework & to predict strain-level phage-host interactions across diverse bacterial genera from genome sequences alone. Avery Noonan from the Arkin Lab led this massive effort
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
Reposted by Siân Owen
First 🟦 post - my main postdoc work is out in the world! We designed a Cas12a-based genetic screen to identify host factors that contribute to infection by the tickborne pathogen Rickettsia parkeri, and stumbled across a really exciting direct interaction between host and bacterium🦠. Check it out!
Host cyclophilin-mediated maturation of an obligate intracellular bacterial surface virulence factor https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1101/2025.10.28.684717v1
November 3, 2025 at 7:03 PM
First 🟦 post - my main postdoc work is out in the world! We designed a Cas12a-based genetic screen to identify host factors that contribute to infection by the tickborne pathogen Rickettsia parkeri, and stumbled across a really exciting direct interaction between host and bacterium🦠. Check it out!
Reposted by Siân Owen
I just put a new Christmas card design up on inrprnt - a bit early I know, but it's 40% off sitewide... get em while they're cheap(er)!
www.inprnt.com/gallery/eliz...
🧪🐡🧫🦠
www.inprnt.com/gallery/eliz...
🧪🐡🧫🦠
Phage-mas cracker, a card pack by Eliza Wolfson
Phage-mas crackerCard Pack description...
www.inprnt.com
October 28, 2025 at 10:42 AM
I just put a new Christmas card design up on inrprnt - a bit early I know, but it's 40% off sitewide... get em while they're cheap(er)!
www.inprnt.com/gallery/eliz...
🧪🐡🧫🦠
www.inprnt.com/gallery/eliz...
🧪🐡🧫🦠
Reposted by Siân Owen
Been working on a really strange retron bacterial immune system, here's the preprint: www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
Type VI retrons are unlike any other. Phage infection triggers reverse transcription of a DNA fragment that activates translation of a toxin to kill the infected cell.
Type VI retrons are unlike any other. Phage infection triggers reverse transcription of a DNA fragment that activates translation of a toxin to kill the infected cell.
October 23, 2025 at 6:49 PM
Been working on a really strange retron bacterial immune system, here's the preprint: www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
Type VI retrons are unlike any other. Phage infection triggers reverse transcription of a DNA fragment that activates translation of a toxin to kill the infected cell.
Type VI retrons are unlike any other. Phage infection triggers reverse transcription of a DNA fragment that activates translation of a toxin to kill the infected cell.
Reposted by Siân Owen
Are you interested in studying RNA phages? We are looking for a PhD student and a postdoc to join the lab!
For more information and how to apply, see below 👇
Please RT!
For more information and how to apply, see below 👇
Please RT!
📢 The #HIRI is looking for a #postdoc & a #PhD student to join the research group of @jenshoer.bsky.social. His lab focuses on understanding the molecular mechanisms of #phages with #RNA genomes during infection, host takeover & anti-phage defense. 🧫🦠 More info: www.helmholtz-hiri.de/en/jobs-tale...
Working at HIRI
At the HIRI, we do not just value excellent research. Short distances, an open door policy, and a good working atmosphere—this is what distinguishes us from others. Have a look at our current job…
www.helmholtz-hiri.de
October 17, 2025 at 12:52 PM
Are you interested in studying RNA phages? We are looking for a PhD student and a postdoc to join the lab!
For more information and how to apply, see below 👇
Please RT!
For more information and how to apply, see below 👇
Please RT!
Reposted by Siân Owen
My lab is hiring a postdoc! Official job ad and application instructions here:
healthresearch.wd1.myworkdayjobs.com/en-US/HRI_Ca...
Current deadline says October 13, but this will be extended to be open for ~2 weeks.
healthresearch.wd1.myworkdayjobs.com/en-US/HRI_Ca...
Current deadline says October 13, but this will be extended to be open for ~2 weeks.
Research Affiliate I (Post Doctoral)
Applications to be submitted by October 13, 2025 Compensation Grade: P99 (Research Affiliate I) Compensation Details: Minimum: $62,353.20 - Maximum: $62,353.20 Annually Positions with a designated wor...
healthresearch.wd1.myworkdayjobs.com
October 10, 2025 at 6:44 PM
My lab is hiring a postdoc! Official job ad and application instructions here:
healthresearch.wd1.myworkdayjobs.com/en-US/HRI_Ca...
Current deadline says October 13, but this will be extended to be open for ~2 weeks.
healthresearch.wd1.myworkdayjobs.com/en-US/HRI_Ca...
Current deadline says October 13, but this will be extended to be open for ~2 weeks.
Reposted by Siân Owen
For those of you working on tailed #phages, this is the virus realm for you!
#Duplodnaviria #virus #taxonomy
The Profile in #JGenVirol provides the citable reference. More details in the chapter on the ICTV website: ictv.global/report/chapt...
#Duplodnaviria #virus #taxonomy
The Profile in #JGenVirol provides the citable reference. More details in the chapter on the ICTV website: ictv.global/report/chapt...
October 10, 2025 at 8:07 AM
For those of you working on tailed #phages, this is the virus realm for you!
#Duplodnaviria #virus #taxonomy
The Profile in #JGenVirol provides the citable reference. More details in the chapter on the ICTV website: ictv.global/report/chapt...
#Duplodnaviria #virus #taxonomy
The Profile in #JGenVirol provides the citable reference. More details in the chapter on the ICTV website: ictv.global/report/chapt...
Reposted by Siân Owen
New pre-print www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
Plasmid-dependent phage (PDPs) are ubiquitous, but the selective pressures that they impose on plasmids are not well understood. Project led by Daniel Cazares in collaboration with @brockhurstlab.bsky.social!
#phagesky#microsky
Plasmid-dependent phage (PDPs) are ubiquitous, but the selective pressures that they impose on plasmids are not well understood. Project led by Daniel Cazares in collaboration with @brockhurstlab.bsky.social!
#phagesky#microsky
Trade-offs between phage resistance and conjugative ability shape the ecological and evolutionary response of a multidrug resistance plasmid to plasmid-dependent phage
Phage therapy is a promising alternative to antibiotics to treat multidrug resistant infections. Plasmid dependent phages (PDPs) are particularly attractive as therapeutics because they can both kill ...
www.biorxiv.org
October 9, 2025 at 10:07 AM
New pre-print www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
Plasmid-dependent phage (PDPs) are ubiquitous, but the selective pressures that they impose on plasmids are not well understood. Project led by Daniel Cazares in collaboration with @brockhurstlab.bsky.social!
#phagesky#microsky
Plasmid-dependent phage (PDPs) are ubiquitous, but the selective pressures that they impose on plasmids are not well understood. Project led by Daniel Cazares in collaboration with @brockhurstlab.bsky.social!
#phagesky#microsky
Reposted by Siân Owen
Published in Current Biology! P. aeruginosa can use its filamentous phage to inhibit competitors but high phage production is susceptible to cheater miniphage invasion. Subsequent phage tragedy of the commons can lower bacteria and phage fitness. Link: authors.elsevier.com/c/1lt5I3QW8S...
Preprint out! Bacteria w/ hyper-replicative filamentous phage lead to overnight emergence of cheater phages. Bacteria w/ both phages can outcompete wildtype, then rapidly lose phage via a phage Tragedy of the Commons
@shellyscrib.bsky.social @vscooper.micropopbio.org www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
@shellyscrib.bsky.social @vscooper.micropopbio.org www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
Filamentous cheater phages drive bacterial and phage populations to lower fitness
Many bacteria carry phage genome(s) in their chromosome (i.e., prophage), and this intertwines the fitness of the bacterium and the phage. Most Pseudomonas aeruginosa strains carry filamentous phages ...
www.biorxiv.org
October 2, 2025 at 3:54 PM
Published in Current Biology! P. aeruginosa can use its filamentous phage to inhibit competitors but high phage production is susceptible to cheater miniphage invasion. Subsequent phage tragedy of the commons can lower bacteria and phage fitness. Link: authors.elsevier.com/c/1lt5I3QW8S...
Reposted by Siân Owen
Small side-project from my postdoctoral work with @hitenmadhani.bsky.social. We found that blasticidin S can select for Cryptococcus transformants, and made CRISPR-compatible plasmids for other existing markers. Now 7 dominant genetic selection methods in total!
journals.asm.org/doi/10.1128/...
journals.asm.org/doi/10.1128/...
CRISPR/Cas9-compatible plasmids enabling seven dominant genetic selection methods for the human fungal pathogen Cryptococcus neoformans | Microbiology Spectrum
Cryptococcus neoformans is the top-ranked World Health Organization priority fungal pathogen due to its widespread
distribution and inadequate treatment options. Additionally, as a basidiomycete yeast...
journals.asm.org
September 26, 2025 at 9:39 PM
Small side-project from my postdoctoral work with @hitenmadhani.bsky.social. We found that blasticidin S can select for Cryptococcus transformants, and made CRISPR-compatible plasmids for other existing markers. Now 7 dominant genetic selection methods in total!
journals.asm.org/doi/10.1128/...
journals.asm.org/doi/10.1128/...
Reposted by Siân Owen
Delighted to see our paper studying the evolution of plasmids over the last 100 years, now out! Years of work by Adrian Cazares, also Nick Thomson @sangerinstitute.bsky.social - this version much improved over the preprint. Final version should be open access, apols.
Thread 1/n
Thread 1/n
September 25, 2025 at 9:29 PM
Delighted to see our paper studying the evolution of plasmids over the last 100 years, now out! Years of work by Adrian Cazares, also Nick Thomson @sangerinstitute.bsky.social - this version much improved over the preprint. Final version should be open access, apols.
Thread 1/n
Thread 1/n
Reposted by Siân Owen
Our Department of Microbiology & Immunology at UCSF is running a faculty search this year for a new Assistant Professor! Please see the ad below for details. Searching for a great colleague, mentor, and scientist!
aprecruit.ucsf.edu/JPF05807
aprecruit.ucsf.edu/JPF05807
Microbiology and Immunology – Faculty Position (Ladder Rank) – Assistant Professor
University of California, San Francisco is hiring. Apply now!
aprecruit.ucsf.edu
September 25, 2025 at 5:51 PM
Our Department of Microbiology & Immunology at UCSF is running a faculty search this year for a new Assistant Professor! Please see the ad below for details. Searching for a great colleague, mentor, and scientist!
aprecruit.ucsf.edu/JPF05807
aprecruit.ucsf.edu/JPF05807
Reposted by Siân Owen
Health officials are investigating whether the mosquito-borne virus chikungunya is circulating in New York after a woman tested positive on Long Island in a preliminary screening. The last time the debilitating disease was known to have been transmitted locally in the U.S. was about a decade ago.
Mosquito-Borne Illness Rarely Seen in U.S. Is Suspected on Long Island
Chikungunya, which is endemic in parts of South America, Africa and Asia, may be the cause of a woman’s illness.
nyti.ms
September 25, 2025 at 2:20 PM
Health officials are investigating whether the mosquito-borne virus chikungunya is circulating in New York after a woman tested positive on Long Island in a preliminary screening. The last time the debilitating disease was known to have been transmitted locally in the U.S. was about a decade ago.
Reposted by Siân Owen
✨Célia Souque just showcased the outcomes of the 12th Microbial Bioinformatics Hackathon at IMMEM XIV.
She brilliantly presented the first sneak-peek of PORT – Plasmid Outbreak Reporting Tool! 🧬
Looking forward to continuing this collaboration with PORT!
#IMMEM #Hackathon #Plasmids #ESGEM #ESGMAP
She brilliantly presented the first sneak-peek of PORT – Plasmid Outbreak Reporting Tool! 🧬
Looking forward to continuing this collaboration with PORT!
#IMMEM #Hackathon #Plasmids #ESGEM #ESGMAP
September 18, 2025 at 4:02 PM
✨Célia Souque just showcased the outcomes of the 12th Microbial Bioinformatics Hackathon at IMMEM XIV.
She brilliantly presented the first sneak-peek of PORT – Plasmid Outbreak Reporting Tool! 🧬
Looking forward to continuing this collaboration with PORT!
#IMMEM #Hackathon #Plasmids #ESGEM #ESGMAP
She brilliantly presented the first sneak-peek of PORT – Plasmid Outbreak Reporting Tool! 🧬
Looking forward to continuing this collaboration with PORT!
#IMMEM #Hackathon #Plasmids #ESGEM #ESGMAP
An inspiring read!
academic.oup.com/genetics/adv...
A beautiful historical perspective on Ester Lederberg's legacy from @ccwendling.bsky.social & @zacharybailey.bsky.social
academic.oup.com/genetics/adv...
A beautiful historical perspective on Ester Lederberg's legacy from @ccwendling.bsky.social & @zacharybailey.bsky.social
Pioneer of bacterial genetics: the legacy of Esther Miriam Lederberg
Abstract. Esther Miriam Lederberg's brilliant scientific lifework, from the discovery of phage lambda, bacterial conjugation, and replica plating, provided
academic.oup.com
August 28, 2025 at 10:52 PM
An inspiring read!
academic.oup.com/genetics/adv...
A beautiful historical perspective on Ester Lederberg's legacy from @ccwendling.bsky.social & @zacharybailey.bsky.social
academic.oup.com/genetics/adv...
A beautiful historical perspective on Ester Lederberg's legacy from @ccwendling.bsky.social & @zacharybailey.bsky.social
Reposted by Siân Owen
The 2024 rankings of bacterial threats
August 27, 2025 at 4:19 PM
The 2024 rankings of bacterial threats
Reposted by Siân Owen
🚨 New preprint 🚨
My phage annotation tool, Phynteny, finally has a preprint and a brand new version powered by a cool AI transformer architecture and protein language models! #phagesky
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
My phage annotation tool, Phynteny, finally has a preprint and a brand new version powered by a cool AI transformer architecture and protein language models! #phagesky
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
Synteny-aware functional annotation of bacteriophage genomes with Phynteny
Accurate genome annotation is fundamental to decoding viral diversity and understanding bacteriophage biology; yet, the majority of bacteriophage genes remain functionally uncharacterised. Bacteriopha...
www.biorxiv.org
July 30, 2025 at 6:01 AM
🚨 New preprint 🚨
My phage annotation tool, Phynteny, finally has a preprint and a brand new version powered by a cool AI transformer architecture and protein language models! #phagesky
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
My phage annotation tool, Phynteny, finally has a preprint and a brand new version powered by a cool AI transformer architecture and protein language models! #phagesky
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
Reposted by Siân Owen
Very proud to have our lab’s first work published in @cp-cellhostmicrobe.bsky.social!
In this work, we use functional metagenomics to find phage defenses from human and soil microbiomes!
Congrats to first author @luis840alberto.bsky.social !
www.cell.com/cell-host-mi...
(1/3)
In this work, we use functional metagenomics to find phage defenses from human and soil microbiomes!
Congrats to first author @luis840alberto.bsky.social !
www.cell.com/cell-host-mi...
(1/3)
July 29, 2025 at 2:53 PM
Very proud to have our lab’s first work published in @cp-cellhostmicrobe.bsky.social!
In this work, we use functional metagenomics to find phage defenses from human and soil microbiomes!
Congrats to first author @luis840alberto.bsky.social !
www.cell.com/cell-host-mi...
(1/3)
In this work, we use functional metagenomics to find phage defenses from human and soil microbiomes!
Congrats to first author @luis840alberto.bsky.social !
www.cell.com/cell-host-mi...
(1/3)
Still open for applications! We are looking for prospective new faculty doing exciting research in virology or any vector borne diseases
The Wadsworth Center is expanding it's research focus on #virology /vector-borne diseases!
www.asmcareerconnections.org/job/research-scientist-5-g-31/78488664/
This is a unicorn assistant prof equivalent position with 12-month hard money salary and no teaching commitments (!)
Reposts appreciated 🙏
www.asmcareerconnections.org/job/research-scientist-5-g-31/78488664/
This is a unicorn assistant prof equivalent position with 12-month hard money salary and no teaching commitments (!)
Reposts appreciated 🙏
July 25, 2025 at 11:04 PM
Still open for applications! We are looking for prospective new faculty doing exciting research in virology or any vector borne diseases
Reposted by Siân Owen
Our work to functionally map the Cryptococcus genome is now "officially" out in Cell!
In today's issue of Cell-->if you are looking for a good distraction from the news (who isn't), check it out!
www.cell.com/cell/fulltex...
www.cell.com/cell/fulltex...
Phenotypic landscape of an invasive fungal pathogen reveals its unique biology
The construction and high-precision fitness profiling of a C. neoformans knockout
library reveals a high-resolution functional map of its genome and allowed for the
identification of fungal analogs of...
www.cell.com
July 24, 2025 at 7:38 PM
Our work to functionally map the Cryptococcus genome is now "officially" out in Cell!
Reposted by Siân Owen
Reposted by Siân Owen
Latest preprint from our lab describing a new 2-plasmid system to investigate sRNAs-target molecule interactions in A. baumannii.
Development of two compatible plasmids to assess sRNA-mediated post-transcriptional regulation in Acinetobacter baumannii https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1101/2025.07.11.664372v1
July 14, 2025 at 7:26 AM
Latest preprint from our lab describing a new 2-plasmid system to investigate sRNAs-target molecule interactions in A. baumannii.
Whoa, F-pilus dependent phage MS2 whips off it's capsid before entry into the cell?? www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti... "Extracellular uncoating of bacteriophage MS2" #phagesky
Extracellular uncoating of bacteriophage MS2
In the early stages of infection of its host, Escherichia coli, bacteriophage MS2 sheds its icosahedral protein capsid, after which the single-strande…
www.sciencedirect.com
July 6, 2025 at 9:14 PM
Whoa, F-pilus dependent phage MS2 whips off it's capsid before entry into the cell?? www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti... "Extracellular uncoating of bacteriophage MS2" #phagesky