SPPIRIT Network
@sppirit-network.bsky.social
Scottish Parasitology Partnership in Research, Innovation, and Training (SPPIRIT) - a network to support parasitology ECRs in Scotland.
http://sppirit.net/
http://sppirit.net/
Pinned
Hi everyone!
We are SPPIRIT, a Scottish ECR network created by a group of postdocs, research fellows, and PIs motivated to develop and strengthen the parasitology community in Scotland.
Follow us for research highlights, training opportunities, Workshops and much more!
We are SPPIRIT, a Scottish ECR network created by a group of postdocs, research fellows, and PIs motivated to develop and strengthen the parasitology community in Scotland.
Follow us for research highlights, training opportunities, Workshops and much more!
Our next Parents of Parasites virtual coffee is almost here! ☕🍼
A chance to catch up and connect with fellow parents in academia.
📅 1 December
⏰ 10:30 AM (GMT)
👉 SPPIRIT members: check your inbox
👉 Non-members: DM or email us to join
A chance to catch up and connect with fellow parents in academia.
📅 1 December
⏰ 10:30 AM (GMT)
👉 SPPIRIT members: check your inbox
👉 Non-members: DM or email us to join
November 26, 2025 at 12:05 PM
Our next Parents of Parasites virtual coffee is almost here! ☕🍼
A chance to catch up and connect with fellow parents in academia.
📅 1 December
⏰ 10:30 AM (GMT)
👉 SPPIRIT members: check your inbox
👉 Non-members: DM or email us to join
A chance to catch up and connect with fellow parents in academia.
📅 1 December
⏰ 10:30 AM (GMT)
👉 SPPIRIT members: check your inbox
👉 Non-members: DM or email us to join
Coming up: Postdoctoral fellowship mini-workshop as a part of the SPPIRIT Forum series. EMBO, Marie Curie, and Wellcome Early Career fellows will share their advice on fellowship applications.
Join us at 12 noon on Thursday 14th November!
Register at docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1F...
Join us at 12 noon on Thursday 14th November!
Register at docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1F...
November 4, 2025 at 11:45 AM
Coming up: Postdoctoral fellowship mini-workshop as a part of the SPPIRIT Forum series. EMBO, Marie Curie, and Wellcome Early Career fellows will share their advice on fellowship applications.
Join us at 12 noon on Thursday 14th November!
Register at docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1F...
Join us at 12 noon on Thursday 14th November!
Register at docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1F...
Reposted by SPPIRIT Network
Incredibly proud to share that our work on Cryptosporidium Oocyst Wall Proteins is published in
@PLOSPathogens
journals.plos.org/plospathogen...
Led by previous PhD student
@BacchettiRoss
and carried on by current PhD student, Sarah Stevens.
@PLOSPathogens
journals.plos.org/plospathogen...
Led by previous PhD student
@BacchettiRoss
and carried on by current PhD student, Sarah Stevens.
Cryptosporidium oocyst wall proteins are true components of the oocyst wall and COWP8 is not required for parasite transmission
Author summary Infection with Cryptosporidium causes diarrhoea, which can be fatal for malnourished children or people who are immunocompromised. There is no vaccine or effective medicines available t...
journals.plos.org
October 23, 2025 at 6:40 PM
Incredibly proud to share that our work on Cryptosporidium Oocyst Wall Proteins is published in
@PLOSPathogens
journals.plos.org/plospathogen...
Led by previous PhD student
@BacchettiRoss
and carried on by current PhD student, Sarah Stevens.
@PLOSPathogens
journals.plos.org/plospathogen...
Led by previous PhD student
@BacchettiRoss
and carried on by current PhD student, Sarah Stevens.
Join the next TrypsClub Journal Club with our former committee member Dr Kirsty McWilliam, who will be chatting about her latest trypanosome work! 🔬🧬
Registration is open for our next TrypsClub Journal Club! 😊
If you fancy some cool Trypanosome science and a friendly supportive environment to discuss science then join us!
If you fancy some cool Trypanosome science and a friendly supportive environment to discuss science then join us!
October 18, 2025 at 9:44 AM
Join the next TrypsClub Journal Club with our former committee member Dr Kirsty McWilliam, who will be chatting about her latest trypanosome work! 🔬🧬
📢 Just 1 month to go until our SPPIRIT ECR symposium
📝 Abstract deadline extended to 10 October 2025 - don’t miss out!
📝 Abstract deadline extended to 10 October 2025 - don’t miss out!
📢 7 weeks to go until our SPPIRIT symposium
A fantastic opportunity for ECR parasitologists across Scotland to network and showcase their research.
🗓️ 31 October 2025 | 📍 Roslin Institute, Edinburgh
🎟️ Free to attend → tinyurl.com/3yzjnm5h
Secure your spot today!
A fantastic opportunity for ECR parasitologists across Scotland to network and showcase their research.
🗓️ 31 October 2025 | 📍 Roslin Institute, Edinburgh
🎟️ Free to attend → tinyurl.com/3yzjnm5h
Secure your spot today!
Hostbusters: SPPIRITed to Roslin
Bringing together ECR parasitologists from across Scotland to network and showcase their science.
tinyurl.com
September 30, 2025 at 12:13 PM
📢 Just 1 month to go until our SPPIRIT ECR symposium
📝 Abstract deadline extended to 10 October 2025 - don’t miss out!
📝 Abstract deadline extended to 10 October 2025 - don’t miss out!
📢 7 weeks to go until our SPPIRIT symposium
A fantastic opportunity for ECR parasitologists across Scotland to network and showcase their research.
🗓️ 31 October 2025 | 📍 Roslin Institute, Edinburgh
🎟️ Free to attend → tinyurl.com/3yzjnm5h
Secure your spot today!
A fantastic opportunity for ECR parasitologists across Scotland to network and showcase their research.
🗓️ 31 October 2025 | 📍 Roslin Institute, Edinburgh
🎟️ Free to attend → tinyurl.com/3yzjnm5h
Secure your spot today!
Hostbusters: SPPIRITed to Roslin
Bringing together ECR parasitologists from across Scotland to network and showcase their science.
tinyurl.com
September 12, 2025 at 6:31 PM
📢 7 weeks to go until our SPPIRIT symposium
A fantastic opportunity for ECR parasitologists across Scotland to network and showcase their research.
🗓️ 31 October 2025 | 📍 Roslin Institute, Edinburgh
🎟️ Free to attend → tinyurl.com/3yzjnm5h
Secure your spot today!
A fantastic opportunity for ECR parasitologists across Scotland to network and showcase their research.
🗓️ 31 October 2025 | 📍 Roslin Institute, Edinburgh
🎟️ Free to attend → tinyurl.com/3yzjnm5h
Secure your spot today!
Reposted by SPPIRIT Network
🆕 | @uofgsii.bsky.social's Professor Rick Maizels has been prominently featured in a fascinating Freethink* article exploring the surprising relationship between parasitic worms and the human immune system.
👉 Full story: www.gla.ac.uk/schools/infe...
🗞️ Article: www.freethink.com/biotech/worm...
👉 Full story: www.gla.ac.uk/schools/infe...
🗞️ Article: www.freethink.com/biotech/worm...
September 11, 2025 at 12:36 PM
🆕 | @uofgsii.bsky.social's Professor Rick Maizels has been prominently featured in a fascinating Freethink* article exploring the surprising relationship between parasitic worms and the human immune system.
👉 Full story: www.gla.ac.uk/schools/infe...
🗞️ Article: www.freethink.com/biotech/worm...
👉 Full story: www.gla.ac.uk/schools/infe...
🗞️ Article: www.freethink.com/biotech/worm...
Reposted by SPPIRIT Network
Save the dates!! @bspparasitology.bsky.social Spring Meeting 2026 will be in Bonnie Glasgow! 7-9 April 2026, with a drinks reception in Glasgow City Chambers on the 6th of April 2026!
Keep an eye on the BSP website for registration and abstract submission!
Logo by @shannaraeilean.bsky.social! 🦟
Keep an eye on the BSP website for registration and abstract submission!
Logo by @shannaraeilean.bsky.social! 🦟
September 11, 2025 at 11:09 AM
Save the dates!! @bspparasitology.bsky.social Spring Meeting 2026 will be in Bonnie Glasgow! 7-9 April 2026, with a drinks reception in Glasgow City Chambers on the 6th of April 2026!
Keep an eye on the BSP website for registration and abstract submission!
Logo by @shannaraeilean.bsky.social! 🦟
Keep an eye on the BSP website for registration and abstract submission!
Logo by @shannaraeilean.bsky.social! 🦟
Our next Parents of Parasites meeting is coming up! ☕👶
Being a parent in academia can feel isolating - join our virtual coffee break to connect, share experiences, and support each other.
📅 22nd September
🕒 2:00 PM
👉 SPPIRIT members: check your inbox
👉 Non-members: email or DM us to join
Being a parent in academia can feel isolating - join our virtual coffee break to connect, share experiences, and support each other.
📅 22nd September
🕒 2:00 PM
👉 SPPIRIT members: check your inbox
👉 Non-members: email or DM us to join
September 11, 2025 at 8:55 AM
Our next Parents of Parasites meeting is coming up! ☕👶
Being a parent in academia can feel isolating - join our virtual coffee break to connect, share experiences, and support each other.
📅 22nd September
🕒 2:00 PM
👉 SPPIRIT members: check your inbox
👉 Non-members: email or DM us to join
Being a parent in academia can feel isolating - join our virtual coffee break to connect, share experiences, and support each other.
📅 22nd September
🕒 2:00 PM
👉 SPPIRIT members: check your inbox
👉 Non-members: email or DM us to join
Don't miss the chance to learn from an industry expert in drug discovery and connect with the Tryps Club community! 🌍✨
Join us for the first Career Talk of the 2025–2026 Tryps Club season!
Prof. Paul M. Selzer will give us an insight into anti-parasitic drug development in industry.
📅 Date: 24.09.2025
🕒 Time: 12:00 pm BST
📍 Location: Zoom
Register following link or the QR code on the poster
lnkd.in/eA7b9QRx
Prof. Paul M. Selzer will give us an insight into anti-parasitic drug development in industry.
📅 Date: 24.09.2025
🕒 Time: 12:00 pm BST
📍 Location: Zoom
Register following link or the QR code on the poster
lnkd.in/eA7b9QRx
September 11, 2025 at 6:38 AM
Don't miss the chance to learn from an industry expert in drug discovery and connect with the Tryps Club community! 🌍✨
Reposted by SPPIRIT Network
We’re pleased to share our new study, led by @jezieldamasceno.bsky.social, that used long-read, single molecule sequencing to reveal the full (?) picture of Leishmania DNA replication. Thanks, Mike Boemo and helpful reviewers @uofgsii.bsky.social
www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
Leishmania major chromosomes are replicated from a single high-efficiency locus supplemented by thousands of lower efficiency initiation events
DNA replication initiates at genome sites termed origins. Previous origin mapping approaches in the populations of the protozoan parasite Leishmania m…
www.sciencedirect.com
August 15, 2025 at 7:32 AM
We’re pleased to share our new study, led by @jezieldamasceno.bsky.social, that used long-read, single molecule sequencing to reveal the full (?) picture of Leishmania DNA replication. Thanks, Mike Boemo and helpful reviewers @uofgsii.bsky.social
www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
Reposted by SPPIRIT Network
🚨NEW PAPER🚨 We've already shown mosquito infections vary by time-of-day, here we test whether infection of mice FROM mosquitoes vary in a rhythmic manner. We test this in untreated & drug treated mice as some fitness consequences are only apparent in stressful environments doi.org/10.1186/s130...
August 15, 2025 at 1:09 PM
🚨NEW PAPER🚨 We've already shown mosquito infections vary by time-of-day, here we test whether infection of mice FROM mosquitoes vary in a rhythmic manner. We test this in untreated & drug treated mice as some fitness consequences are only apparent in stressful environments doi.org/10.1186/s130...
Only one week left until SPPIRIT Forum meeting! Join us to discuss recent work on mosquito tissue ultrastructure-expansion microscopy for malaria research, and ask questions to the 1st author, @benliffner.bsky.social, who will join us!
For meeting link fill in: tinyurl.com/3j5ewezv
For meeting link fill in: tinyurl.com/3j5ewezv
August 15, 2025 at 4:21 PM
Only one week left until SPPIRIT Forum meeting! Join us to discuss recent work on mosquito tissue ultrastructure-expansion microscopy for malaria research, and ask questions to the 1st author, @benliffner.bsky.social, who will join us!
For meeting link fill in: tinyurl.com/3j5ewezv
For meeting link fill in: tinyurl.com/3j5ewezv
Reposted by SPPIRIT Network
My attempt to become a professor was unsuccessful again but the diplonema tagging paper is now published in Open Biology. royalsocietypublishing.org/doi/10.1098/...
August 6, 2025 at 4:05 PM
My attempt to become a professor was unsuccessful again but the diplonema tagging paper is now published in Open Biology. royalsocietypublishing.org/doi/10.1098/...
Reposted by SPPIRIT Network
A real pleasure to be a part of this beautiful new study on T cell responses in repeat controlled human infection vs natural infection with #schistosomes, spearheaded by @emmahoulder.bsky.social with many wonderful colleagues #helminths #ImmunoSky #IDSky 🪱 🧪 www.nature.com/articles/s41...
T cell responses in repeated controlled human schistosome infection compared to natural exposure - Nature Communications
In schistosomiasis-endemic regions, the cyclical nature of infection and treatment complicates understanding of host immune responses. Repeated controlled human Schistosoma mansoni infection, designed...
www.nature.com
July 28, 2025 at 11:30 AM
A real pleasure to be a part of this beautiful new study on T cell responses in repeat controlled human infection vs natural infection with #schistosomes, spearheaded by @emmahoulder.bsky.social with many wonderful colleagues #helminths #ImmunoSky #IDSky 🪱 🧪 www.nature.com/articles/s41...
We would like to invite you to join our brand new SPPIRIT Forum! This series of online meetings aims to bring parasitologists together to discuss science, funding opportunities, etc.
For more info, join our mailing list: tinyurl.com/3j5ewezv
For more info, join our mailing list: tinyurl.com/3j5ewezv
The SPPIRIT Forum
SPPIRIT would like to invite you to join our series of meetings - the SPPIRIT Forum!
The forum is a platform where we will discuss parasitology, funding applications, experimental methods, and other t...
tinyurl.com
July 31, 2025 at 4:16 PM
We would like to invite you to join our brand new SPPIRIT Forum! This series of online meetings aims to bring parasitologists together to discuss science, funding opportunities, etc.
For more info, join our mailing list: tinyurl.com/3j5ewezv
For more info, join our mailing list: tinyurl.com/3j5ewezv
🚨 Postdoc alert! Our former committee member @macleanlab.bsky.social is looking for a postdoc to work on Toxoplasma metabolism in his lab. Great opportunity to do cool science in a beautiful city! 🧪🤝
📣 Open postdoc position in my lab to investigate how Toxoplasma acquires nutrients. Join me at the University of Edinburgh. Closing date 14th August. More details below ⬇️
elxw.fa.em3.oraclecloud.com/hcmUI/Candid...
elxw.fa.em3.oraclecloud.com/hcmUI/Candid...
Postdoctoral Research Associate
We are looking for a talented and enthusiastic Postdoctoral researcher to join the Maclean lab to investigate the metabolism of the human parasite Toxoplasma gondii.
elxw.fa.em3.oraclecloud.com
July 28, 2025 at 10:50 AM
🚨 Postdoc alert! Our former committee member @macleanlab.bsky.social is looking for a postdoc to work on Toxoplasma metabolism in his lab. Great opportunity to do cool science in a beautiful city! 🧪🤝
Reposted by SPPIRIT Network
MMV, @LPIXEL_Inc & @dundeeuni are partnering to accelerate #malaria drug discovery using advanced AI-powered image analysis. This partnership aims to develop a platform that could shave months off the process of screening & selecting compounds. Learn more: bit.ly/44Roq5o
MMV announces new partnership using AI-powered image analysis to accelerate malaria drug discovery | Medicines for Malaria Venture
MMV announces new partnership using AI-powered image analysis to accelerate malaria drug discovery. The platform will improve identification of compounds with novel modes of action that can help comba...
bit.ly
July 17, 2025 at 8:03 AM
MMV, @LPIXEL_Inc & @dundeeuni are partnering to accelerate #malaria drug discovery using advanced AI-powered image analysis. This partnership aims to develop a platform that could shave months off the process of screening & selecting compounds. Learn more: bit.ly/44Roq5o
Reposted by SPPIRIT Network
Delighted our latest paper is now published in Science Translational Medicine. Fantastic collab with Dr Avninder Bhambra and his team. Our studies reveal promising quinazolines selectively target KRS in T. cruzi. www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
@dundee.ac.uk
@dundee.ac.uk
Antitrypanosomal quinazolines targeting lysyl-tRNA synthetase show partial efficacy in a mouse model of acute Chagas disease
Quinazolines targeting Trypanosoma cruzi lysyl-tRNA synthetase show partial efficacy in a mouse model of acute Chagas disease.
www.science.org
July 9, 2025 at 7:06 PM
Delighted our latest paper is now published in Science Translational Medicine. Fantastic collab with Dr Avninder Bhambra and his team. Our studies reveal promising quinazolines selectively target KRS in T. cruzi. www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
@dundee.ac.uk
@dundee.ac.uk
Reposted by SPPIRIT Network
Great to have a latest #Chagas disease drug discovery paper published in @rsc.org MedChem: pubs.rsc.org/en/content/a...
This work highlights how we decide to progress or terminate series, and hopefully provides some useful approaches and lessons.
@ddu-dundee.bsky.social 🧪 #NTD #drugdiscovery
This work highlights how we decide to progress or terminate series, and hopefully provides some useful approaches and lessons.
@ddu-dundee.bsky.social 🧪 #NTD #drugdiscovery
Structure–activity relationships of 1,5-dihydro-2H-benzo[b][1,4]diazepine-2,4(3H)-diones as inhibitors of Trypanosoma cruzi
Chagas disease, caused by infection with the protozoan parasite Trypanosoma cruzi (T. cruzi), is responsible for a large health burden with around 6–8 million people infected globally. The current dru...
pubs.rsc.org
July 9, 2025 at 3:52 PM
Great to have a latest #Chagas disease drug discovery paper published in @rsc.org MedChem: pubs.rsc.org/en/content/a...
This work highlights how we decide to progress or terminate series, and hopefully provides some useful approaches and lessons.
@ddu-dundee.bsky.social 🧪 #NTD #drugdiscovery
This work highlights how we decide to progress or terminate series, and hopefully provides some useful approaches and lessons.
@ddu-dundee.bsky.social 🧪 #NTD #drugdiscovery
Reposted by SPPIRIT Network
New paper led by Joel Odero from the #VectorsGlasgow team in @sbohvm.gla.ac.uk and #IfakaraHealthInstitute
⬇️
Genomic evidence of spatially structured gene flow and divergent insecticide resistance backgrounds of the malaria vector Anopheles funestus in Tanzania academic.oup.com/genetics/art...
⬇️
Genomic evidence of spatially structured gene flow and divergent insecticide resistance backgrounds of the malaria vector Anopheles funestus in Tanzania academic.oup.com/genetics/art...
Genomic evidence of spatially structured gene flow and divergent insecticide resistance backgrounds of the malaria vector Anopheles funestus in Tanzania
Abstract. Population genetic analysis of mosquitoes is important for understanding the distribution of insecticide resistance alleles, devising sustainable
academic.oup.com
July 8, 2025 at 7:43 AM
New paper led by Joel Odero from the #VectorsGlasgow team in @sbohvm.gla.ac.uk and #IfakaraHealthInstitute
⬇️
Genomic evidence of spatially structured gene flow and divergent insecticide resistance backgrounds of the malaria vector Anopheles funestus in Tanzania academic.oup.com/genetics/art...
⬇️
Genomic evidence of spatially structured gene flow and divergent insecticide resistance backgrounds of the malaria vector Anopheles funestus in Tanzania academic.oup.com/genetics/art...
🚨 Postdoc alert! Amazing opportunity to work on Toxoplasma with @youngtoxolab.bsky.social in Edinburgh. Check it out!
Postdoc position open to investigate chronic Toxoplasma infection!
elxw.fa.em3.oraclecloud.com/hcmUI/Candid...
elxw.fa.em3.oraclecloud.com/hcmUI/Candid...
Postdoctoral Research Associate
We are looking for a talented and enthusiastic Postdoctoral researcher to join the Young lab to investigate secreted proteins during chronic Toxoplasma gondii infection.
elxw.fa.em3.oraclecloud.com
July 9, 2025 at 7:21 AM
🚨 Postdoc alert! Amazing opportunity to work on Toxoplasma with @youngtoxolab.bsky.social in Edinburgh. Check it out!
Reposted by SPPIRIT Network
I used inducible CRISPR/Cas9 to make Trypanosoma brucei cell line that allowed me to edit originally muti-copy histone gene. We uncovered a novel role of H4 histone tail in gene regulation. I enjoyed working on this exciting project with @joanarcf.bsky.social, a great mentor.
doi.org/10.1038/s414...
doi.org/10.1038/s414...
Precision-edited histone tails disrupt polycistronic gene expression controls in trypanosomes - Nature Communications
Transcription in trypanosomatids, such as Trypanosoma brucei, is predominantly polycistronic and involves unconventional RNA polymerase II promoters. This study uses precision gene editing, site-satur...
www.nature.com
July 6, 2025 at 3:36 PM
I used inducible CRISPR/Cas9 to make Trypanosoma brucei cell line that allowed me to edit originally muti-copy histone gene. We uncovered a novel role of H4 histone tail in gene regulation. I enjoyed working on this exciting project with @joanarcf.bsky.social, a great mentor.
doi.org/10.1038/s414...
doi.org/10.1038/s414...
Reposted by SPPIRIT Network
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
Nice to have been involved in this great study from the Horn Lab, driven by @marketanovotna.bsky.social ! Elegant application of CRISPR precision editing and saturation mutagenesis!
Nice to have been involved in this great study from the Horn Lab, driven by @marketanovotna.bsky.social ! Elegant application of CRISPR precision editing and saturation mutagenesis!
Precision-edited histone tails disrupt polycistronic gene expression controls in trypanosomes - Nature Communications
Transcription in trypanosomatids, such as Trypanosoma brucei, is predominantly polycistronic and involves unconventional RNA polymerase II promoters. This study uses precision gene editing, site-satur...
www.nature.com
July 5, 2025 at 9:08 AM
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
Nice to have been involved in this great study from the Horn Lab, driven by @marketanovotna.bsky.social ! Elegant application of CRISPR precision editing and saturation mutagenesis!
Nice to have been involved in this great study from the Horn Lab, driven by @marketanovotna.bsky.social ! Elegant application of CRISPR precision editing and saturation mutagenesis!
Reposted by SPPIRIT Network
New paper alert! Enjoy!
pubs.acs.org/doi/10.1021/...
pubs.acs.org/doi/10.1021/...
The Thienopyrimidinone Gamhépathiopine Targets the QO Site of Plasmodium falciparum Cytochrome b
Chemotherapy remains a key component of the arsenal of tools to fight malaria. Specifically, new drugs with diverse mechanism(s) of action are required to combat existing drug resistance. Here, we des...
pubs.acs.org
June 11, 2025 at 4:53 PM
New paper alert! Enjoy!
pubs.acs.org/doi/10.1021/...
pubs.acs.org/doi/10.1021/...