Wim Meijer
@wimgmeijer.bsky.social
Microbiologist, Professor at University College Dublin
One Health | Wastewater Based Epidemiology | AMR | Water Quality | Microbial Source Tracking | Host Pathogen Interaction | Rhodococcus equi
https://people.ucd.ie/wim.meijer
One Health | Wastewater Based Epidemiology | AMR | Water Quality | Microbial Source Tracking | Host Pathogen Interaction | Rhodococcus equi
https://people.ucd.ie/wim.meijer
Reposted by Wim Meijer
Reposted by Wim Meijer
Scientists have converted the blood type of a donor kidney and transplanted the organ into a person.
The procedure — the first of its kind — could improve access to donor organs, specialists say, because the blood type of the donor would no longer matter.
🧪
www.nature.com/articles/d41...
The procedure — the first of its kind — could improve access to donor organs, specialists say, because the blood type of the donor would no longer matter.
🧪
www.nature.com/articles/d41...
First human transplant of kidney modified to have ‘universal’ blood type
Recipient diagnosed with brain death received a type-O organ, which is compatible with all blood types.
www.nature.com
October 4, 2025 at 6:52 AM
Scientists have converted the blood type of a donor kidney and transplanted the organ into a person.
The procedure — the first of its kind — could improve access to donor organs, specialists say, because the blood type of the donor would no longer matter.
🧪
www.nature.com/articles/d41...
The procedure — the first of its kind — could improve access to donor organs, specialists say, because the blood type of the donor would no longer matter.
🧪
www.nature.com/articles/d41...
Reposted by Wim Meijer
Nitazenes can be as much as 500 times more potent than opium-derived drugs.
This means that just a tiny amount can be deadly. There were 179 confirmed deaths from nitazene overdoses in the UK since May 2024.
Ireland too has seen several nitazene overdose deaths.
🧪
www.nature.com/articles/d41...
This means that just a tiny amount can be deadly. There were 179 confirmed deaths from nitazene overdoses in the UK since May 2024.
Ireland too has seen several nitazene overdose deaths.
🧪
www.nature.com/articles/d41...
Dangerous ‘nitazene’ opioids are on the rise: researchers are worried
This class of synthetic opioids is more potent than heroin and morphine.
www.nature.com
October 11, 2025 at 7:02 AM
Nitazenes can be as much as 500 times more potent than opium-derived drugs.
This means that just a tiny amount can be deadly. There were 179 confirmed deaths from nitazene overdoses in the UK since May 2024.
Ireland too has seen several nitazene overdose deaths.
🧪
www.nature.com/articles/d41...
This means that just a tiny amount can be deadly. There were 179 confirmed deaths from nitazene overdoses in the UK since May 2024.
Ireland too has seen several nitazene overdose deaths.
🧪
www.nature.com/articles/d41...
Reposted by Wim Meijer
Four subtle tweaks to an enzyme could help explain why naked mole rats’ can live for nearly 30 years, an unusually long lifespan for a creature its size.
The enzyme, cGAS, enhances the animal’s ability to repair genetic damage that leads to ageing.
🧪
www.nature.com/articles/d41...
The enzyme, cGAS, enhances the animal’s ability to repair genetic damage that leads to ageing.
🧪
www.nature.com/articles/d41...
Naked mole rats live for decades — genetic tweaks reveal insights into ageing
Four subtle changes to an enzyme might explain the hairless rodents’ longevity.
www.nature.com
October 11, 2025 at 7:06 AM
Four subtle tweaks to an enzyme could help explain why naked mole rats’ can live for nearly 30 years, an unusually long lifespan for a creature its size.
The enzyme, cGAS, enhances the animal’s ability to repair genetic damage that leads to ageing.
🧪
www.nature.com/articles/d41...
The enzyme, cGAS, enhances the animal’s ability to repair genetic damage that leads to ageing.
🧪
www.nature.com/articles/d41...
In science this is known as ‘crap in, crap out’..
Artificial intelligence (AI) chatbots are worse at retrieving accurate information and reasoning when trained on large amounts of low-quality content, particularly if the content is popular on social media.
🧪
www.nature.com/articles/d41...
Artificial intelligence (AI) chatbots are worse at retrieving accurate information and reasoning when trained on large amounts of low-quality content, particularly if the content is popular on social media.
🧪
www.nature.com/articles/d41...
Too much social media gives AI chatbots ‘brain rot’
Large language models fed low-quality data skip steps in their reasoning process.
www.nature.com
November 2, 2025 at 7:56 AM
In science this is known as ‘crap in, crap out’..
Artificial intelligence (AI) chatbots are worse at retrieving accurate information and reasoning when trained on large amounts of low-quality content, particularly if the content is popular on social media.
🧪
www.nature.com/articles/d41...
Artificial intelligence (AI) chatbots are worse at retrieving accurate information and reasoning when trained on large amounts of low-quality content, particularly if the content is popular on social media.
🧪
www.nature.com/articles/d41...
By studying the process through which a soil bacterium naturally produces a well-known drug, scientists have discovered a powerful antibiotic that could help to fight drug-resistant infections.
🦠🧪
www.nature.com/articles/d41...
🦠🧪
www.nature.com/articles/d41...
Powerful new antibiotic that can kill superbugs discovered in soil bacteria
Surprise discovery could pave the way for new treatments against drug-resistant infections.
www.nature.com
November 2, 2025 at 7:52 AM
By studying the process through which a soil bacterium naturally produces a well-known drug, scientists have discovered a powerful antibiotic that could help to fight drug-resistant infections.
🦠🧪
www.nature.com/articles/d41...
🦠🧪
www.nature.com/articles/d41...
The Center for Pediatric CRISPR Cures at the University of California, Berkeley and the University of California, San Francisco, are developing personalized gene-editing therapies.
These correct mutations causing severe life-threatening illnesses.
🧪
www.nature.com/articles/d41...
These correct mutations causing severe life-threatening illnesses.
🧪
www.nature.com/articles/d41...
Personalized gene editing helped one baby: can it be rolled out widely?
In a world first, a bespoke gene-editing therapy benefitted one child. Now reseachers plan to launch a clinical trial of the approach.
www.nature.com
November 2, 2025 at 7:51 AM
The Center for Pediatric CRISPR Cures at the University of California, Berkeley and the University of California, San Francisco, are developing personalized gene-editing therapies.
These correct mutations causing severe life-threatening illnesses.
🧪
www.nature.com/articles/d41...
These correct mutations causing severe life-threatening illnesses.
🧪
www.nature.com/articles/d41...
How/why are Americans, of all political affiliations, are ok with this?
Genuine question, I truly don’t understand.
🧪
Genuine question, I truly don’t understand.
🧪
Trump: "We have Darth Vader. You know Darth Vader, right? Darth Vader is a man who is sitting -- is that Darth? Stand up please. Does everybody know -- they call him Darth Vader, I call him a fine man. But he's cutting Democrat priorities and they're never gonna get them back."
October 22, 2025 at 8:55 PM
How/why are Americans, of all political affiliations, are ok with this?
Genuine question, I truly don’t understand.
🧪
Genuine question, I truly don’t understand.
🧪
In Ireland, insulin is free of charge with a prescription for individuals registered for the Long-Term Illness (LTI) Scheme, which covers most people with Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes.
🧪
🧪
It costs ~$70 to produce a year’s supply of insulin.
Yet, the average annual cost of insulin went from $2,864 in 2012 to $5,705 in 2016 to $18,000 in 2025. A 25,714% markup. That isn’t inflation or supply chain—It’s corporate greed.
Now—California will sell insulin for $11. Make this nationwide!
Yet, the average annual cost of insulin went from $2,864 in 2012 to $5,705 in 2016 to $18,000 in 2025. A 25,714% markup. That isn’t inflation or supply chain—It’s corporate greed.
Now—California will sell insulin for $11. Make this nationwide!
October 17, 2025 at 5:02 AM
In Ireland, insulin is free of charge with a prescription for individuals registered for the Long-Term Illness (LTI) Scheme, which covers most people with Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes.
🧪
🧪
At the start of Trump’s first term in office he tore up the pandemic preparedness plan by the Obama administration.
Now his administration is burning the US pandemic preparedness infrastructure to the ground.
When, not if, the next pandemic comes the US will not able to protect public health..
🧪
Now his administration is burning the US pandemic preparedness infrastructure to the ground.
When, not if, the next pandemic comes the US will not able to protect public health..
🧪
Trump Administration Lays Off Dozens of C.D.C. Officials
“Disease detectives,” high-ranking scientists, the entire Washington office and the staff of a weekly public health journal were among those who learned late Friday that they would lose their jobs.
#GiftLink
www.nytimes.com/2025/10/11/u...
“Disease detectives,” high-ranking scientists, the entire Washington office and the staff of a weekly public health journal were among those who learned late Friday that they would lose their jobs.
#GiftLink
www.nytimes.com/2025/10/11/u...
Trump Administration Lays Off Dozens of C.D.C. Officials
www.nytimes.com
October 11, 2025 at 7:36 AM
At the start of Trump’s first term in office he tore up the pandemic preparedness plan by the Obama administration.
Now his administration is burning the US pandemic preparedness infrastructure to the ground.
When, not if, the next pandemic comes the US will not able to protect public health..
🧪
Now his administration is burning the US pandemic preparedness infrastructure to the ground.
When, not if, the next pandemic comes the US will not able to protect public health..
🧪
Four subtle tweaks to an enzyme could help explain why naked mole rats’ can live for nearly 30 years, an unusually long lifespan for a creature its size.
The enzyme, cGAS, enhances the animal’s ability to repair genetic damage that leads to ageing.
🧪
www.nature.com/articles/d41...
The enzyme, cGAS, enhances the animal’s ability to repair genetic damage that leads to ageing.
🧪
www.nature.com/articles/d41...
Naked mole rats live for decades — genetic tweaks reveal insights into ageing
Four subtle changes to an enzyme might explain the hairless rodents’ longevity.
www.nature.com
October 11, 2025 at 7:06 AM
Four subtle tweaks to an enzyme could help explain why naked mole rats’ can live for nearly 30 years, an unusually long lifespan for a creature its size.
The enzyme, cGAS, enhances the animal’s ability to repair genetic damage that leads to ageing.
🧪
www.nature.com/articles/d41...
The enzyme, cGAS, enhances the animal’s ability to repair genetic damage that leads to ageing.
🧪
www.nature.com/articles/d41...
Nitazenes can be as much as 500 times more potent than opium-derived drugs.
This means that just a tiny amount can be deadly. There were 179 confirmed deaths from nitazene overdoses in the UK since May 2024.
Ireland too has seen several nitazene overdose deaths.
🧪
www.nature.com/articles/d41...
This means that just a tiny amount can be deadly. There were 179 confirmed deaths from nitazene overdoses in the UK since May 2024.
Ireland too has seen several nitazene overdose deaths.
🧪
www.nature.com/articles/d41...
Dangerous ‘nitazene’ opioids are on the rise: researchers are worried
This class of synthetic opioids is more potent than heroin and morphine.
www.nature.com
October 11, 2025 at 7:02 AM
Nitazenes can be as much as 500 times more potent than opium-derived drugs.
This means that just a tiny amount can be deadly. There were 179 confirmed deaths from nitazene overdoses in the UK since May 2024.
Ireland too has seen several nitazene overdose deaths.
🧪
www.nature.com/articles/d41...
This means that just a tiny amount can be deadly. There were 179 confirmed deaths from nitazene overdoses in the UK since May 2024.
Ireland too has seen several nitazene overdose deaths.
🧪
www.nature.com/articles/d41...
Reposted by Wim Meijer
The editors of the CDC’s Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR) were apparently fired today.
The precursor to MMWR began in 1878 to address emerging public health threats rapidly.
We are not “great” without it. We are vulnerable to threats from sporadic foodborne illness to bioterrorism.
The precursor to MMWR began in 1878 to address emerging public health threats rapidly.
We are not “great” without it. We are vulnerable to threats from sporadic foodborne illness to bioterrorism.
October 11, 2025 at 4:09 AM
The editors of the CDC’s Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR) were apparently fired today.
The precursor to MMWR began in 1878 to address emerging public health threats rapidly.
We are not “great” without it. We are vulnerable to threats from sporadic foodborne illness to bioterrorism.
The precursor to MMWR began in 1878 to address emerging public health threats rapidly.
We are not “great” without it. We are vulnerable to threats from sporadic foodborne illness to bioterrorism.
Reposted by Wim Meijer
Trump Administration Lays Off Dozens of C.D.C. Officials
“Disease detectives,” high-ranking scientists, the entire Washington office and the staff of a weekly public health journal were among those who learned late Friday that they would lose their jobs.
#GiftLink
www.nytimes.com/2025/10/11/u...
“Disease detectives,” high-ranking scientists, the entire Washington office and the staff of a weekly public health journal were among those who learned late Friday that they would lose their jobs.
#GiftLink
www.nytimes.com/2025/10/11/u...
Trump Administration Lays Off Dozens of C.D.C. Officials
www.nytimes.com
October 11, 2025 at 6:14 AM
Trump Administration Lays Off Dozens of C.D.C. Officials
“Disease detectives,” high-ranking scientists, the entire Washington office and the staff of a weekly public health journal were among those who learned late Friday that they would lose their jobs.
#GiftLink
www.nytimes.com/2025/10/11/u...
“Disease detectives,” high-ranking scientists, the entire Washington office and the staff of a weekly public health journal were among those who learned late Friday that they would lose their jobs.
#GiftLink
www.nytimes.com/2025/10/11/u...
Reposted by Wim Meijer
I like how they gave the Nobel Prize to someone fighting for democracy in Venezuela, instead of someone sinking fishing boats off their coast.
October 10, 2025 at 11:58 AM
I like how they gave the Nobel Prize to someone fighting for democracy in Venezuela, instead of someone sinking fishing boats off their coast.
I don’t tango but love gaming.. both are good for the brain 😊
Engaging in a creative pastime can slow brain ageing, according to a study of dancers, musicians, artists and video game players from multiple countries.
🧪
www.nature.com/articles/d41...
Engaging in a creative pastime can slow brain ageing, according to a study of dancers, musicians, artists and video game players from multiple countries.
🧪
www.nature.com/articles/d41...
Creative hobbies could slow brain ageing at the molecular level
To keep the mind young, dance the tango.
www.nature.com
October 4, 2025 at 6:56 AM
I don’t tango but love gaming.. both are good for the brain 😊
Engaging in a creative pastime can slow brain ageing, according to a study of dancers, musicians, artists and video game players from multiple countries.
🧪
www.nature.com/articles/d41...
Engaging in a creative pastime can slow brain ageing, according to a study of dancers, musicians, artists and video game players from multiple countries.
🧪
www.nature.com/articles/d41...
Scientists have converted the blood type of a donor kidney and transplanted the organ into a person.
The procedure — the first of its kind — could improve access to donor organs, specialists say, because the blood type of the donor would no longer matter.
🧪
www.nature.com/articles/d41...
The procedure — the first of its kind — could improve access to donor organs, specialists say, because the blood type of the donor would no longer matter.
🧪
www.nature.com/articles/d41...
First human transplant of kidney modified to have ‘universal’ blood type
Recipient diagnosed with brain death received a type-O organ, which is compatible with all blood types.
www.nature.com
October 4, 2025 at 6:52 AM
Scientists have converted the blood type of a donor kidney and transplanted the organ into a person.
The procedure — the first of its kind — could improve access to donor organs, specialists say, because the blood type of the donor would no longer matter.
🧪
www.nature.com/articles/d41...
The procedure — the first of its kind — could improve access to donor organs, specialists say, because the blood type of the donor would no longer matter.
🧪
www.nature.com/articles/d41...
Reposted by Wim Meijer
Horizon Europe has launched a €253M AMR partnership to accelerate innovation and move potential therapies closer to market. The first funding call, focused on treatments, will open in November following a pre-announcement in mid-October.
sciencebusiness.net/news/r-d-fun...
sciencebusiness.net/news/r-d-fun...
Horizon Europe’s new antimicrobial resistance partnership looks to the market
Horizon Europe’s partnership for antimicrobial resistance (AMR) research launched last week with a plan to bring Europe closer to finding new anti-microbial therapies in the next decade. With more of ...
sciencebusiness.net
September 30, 2025 at 6:18 AM
Horizon Europe has launched a €253M AMR partnership to accelerate innovation and move potential therapies closer to market. The first funding call, focused on treatments, will open in November following a pre-announcement in mid-October.
sciencebusiness.net/news/r-d-fun...
sciencebusiness.net/news/r-d-fun...
Whole genome sequencing to be admitted as evidence in US criminal trials..
“Cold-case units all over the country are going back through their evidence lockers to see if there are samples that can now be tested with a reasonable chance of success.”
🧪
www.nature.com/articles/d41...
“Cold-case units all over the country are going back through their evidence lockers to see if there are samples that can now be tested with a reasonable chance of success.”
🧪
www.nature.com/articles/d41...
US serial killer case opens door to using cutting-edge DNA data in courts
New York trial could set a legal precedent by admitting findings from whole-genome sequencing as evidence.
www.nature.com
September 26, 2025 at 3:57 AM
Whole genome sequencing to be admitted as evidence in US criminal trials..
“Cold-case units all over the country are going back through their evidence lockers to see if there are samples that can now be tested with a reasonable chance of success.”
🧪
www.nature.com/articles/d41...
“Cold-case units all over the country are going back through their evidence lockers to see if there are samples that can now be tested with a reasonable chance of success.”
🧪
www.nature.com/articles/d41...
Reposted by Wim Meijer
A new paper appearing in Cell Stem Cell describes organoids that can replicate some of the functions of kidneys in mice. The lead investigator of the study predicts that there could be a transplantable kidney available for animal testing within 5 years.🧪
www.science.org/content/arti...
www.science.org/content/arti...
Scientists make most authentic kidney replicas so far
Lab-grown organoids reproduce some of a kidney’s internal structure and function
www.science.org
September 25, 2025 at 6:55 AM
A new paper appearing in Cell Stem Cell describes organoids that can replicate some of the functions of kidneys in mice. The lead investigator of the study predicts that there could be a transplantable kidney available for animal testing within 5 years.🧪
www.science.org/content/arti...
www.science.org/content/arti...
Just got my Covid-19 and influenza vaccines 😊
As recommended by the Irish government.. we do like evidence based medicine here…
🧪🦠
As recommended by the Irish government.. we do like evidence based medicine here…
🧪🦠
September 19, 2025 at 4:45 PM
Just got my Covid-19 and influenza vaccines 😊
As recommended by the Irish government.. we do like evidence based medicine here…
🧪🦠
As recommended by the Irish government.. we do like evidence based medicine here…
🧪🦠
Reposted by Wim Meijer
Where the separate divisions of ANTIFA landed on the beaches of Normandy on June 6, 1944:
September 18, 2025 at 11:19 PM
Where the separate divisions of ANTIFA landed on the beaches of Normandy on June 6, 1944:
Mirror life consists of synthetic cells built from molecules that are mirror images of those found in the natural world.
Many scientists have voiced concerns that they would pose an enormous risk to human health and the environment.
🧪🦠
www.nature.com/articles/d41...
Many scientists have voiced concerns that they would pose an enormous risk to human health and the environment.
🧪🦠
www.nature.com/articles/d41...
How should ‘mirror life’ research be restricted? Debate heats up
Some researchers are calling for strict limits, while others speak out against halting basic science prematurely.
www.nature.com
September 17, 2025 at 4:43 AM
Mirror life consists of synthetic cells built from molecules that are mirror images of those found in the natural world.
Many scientists have voiced concerns that they would pose an enormous risk to human health and the environment.
🧪🦠
www.nature.com/articles/d41...
Many scientists have voiced concerns that they would pose an enormous risk to human health and the environment.
🧪🦠
www.nature.com/articles/d41...
Material deep inside Earth, near the planet’s core, has undergone a mysterious shift
The discovery, possible because the geological shift altered the planet’s gravitational field, is a testament to Earth-orbiting GRACE satellites.
Planetary science rocks!
🧪
www.nature.com/articles/d41...
The discovery, possible because the geological shift altered the planet’s gravitational field, is a testament to Earth-orbiting GRACE satellites.
Planetary science rocks!
🧪
www.nature.com/articles/d41...
Mysterious changes near Earth’s core revealed by satellites in space
Orbiters can pick up gravitational shifts thousands of kilometres below the surface.
www.nature.com
September 17, 2025 at 4:39 AM
Material deep inside Earth, near the planet’s core, has undergone a mysterious shift
The discovery, possible because the geological shift altered the planet’s gravitational field, is a testament to Earth-orbiting GRACE satellites.
Planetary science rocks!
🧪
www.nature.com/articles/d41...
The discovery, possible because the geological shift altered the planet’s gravitational field, is a testament to Earth-orbiting GRACE satellites.
Planetary science rocks!
🧪
www.nature.com/articles/d41...
Outbreaks of dengue are killing thousands in South America each year and is getting worse.
Brazil hopes to turn the tide with a vaccine and an army of mosquitoes infected with Wolbachia bacteria.
These lower the odds mosquitoes can transmit the virus to humans.
🧪🦠
www.nature.com/articles/d41...
Brazil hopes to turn the tide with a vaccine and an army of mosquitoes infected with Wolbachia bacteria.
These lower the odds mosquitoes can transmit the virus to humans.
🧪🦠
www.nature.com/articles/d41...
How billions of hacked mosquitoes and a vaccine could beat the deadly dengue virus
Outbreaks of dengue are killing thousands of people in South America each year and getting worse. Brazil hopes to turn the tide with a home-grown vaccine and an army of mosquitoes infected with Wolbac...
www.nature.com
September 17, 2025 at 4:33 AM
Outbreaks of dengue are killing thousands in South America each year and is getting worse.
Brazil hopes to turn the tide with a vaccine and an army of mosquitoes infected with Wolbachia bacteria.
These lower the odds mosquitoes can transmit the virus to humans.
🧪🦠
www.nature.com/articles/d41...
Brazil hopes to turn the tide with a vaccine and an army of mosquitoes infected with Wolbachia bacteria.
These lower the odds mosquitoes can transmit the virus to humans.
🧪🦠
www.nature.com/articles/d41...