Cell Bio 2023-An ASCB|EMBO Meeting Network, learn, and collaborate with top cell biologists from around the globe.

🚨Hear, hear, fellow microbial cell biologists!🚨
🦠 Bacterial and Archaeal Cell Biology will be represented again at this year’s CELL BIO (ASCB-EMBO) meeting! The deadline to be considered for a talk in our Minisymposium is June 9. Help us spread the word!
www.ascb.org/cellbio2026/

Fluorescent labeling extended to 3 streptococcal species 🧫✨ @veeninglab.com & coll. benchmarked 5 proteins and developed multicolor cassettes enabling triple labeling—expanding tools for gene expression, cell dynamics & infection studies.

👉️ buff.ly/DFMXjE7

Repurposing of a DNA segregation machinery into a cytoskeletal system controlling cell shape Bacteria, like eukaryotes, use conserved cytoskeletal systems for intracellular organization. The plasmid-encoded ParMRC system forms actin-like filaments that segregate low–copy number plasmids. In m...

Out now in @science.org
Repurposing of a DNA segregation machinery into a cytoskeletal system controlling cell shape | Science www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...

A bacterial CARD–NLR-like immune system controls the release of gene transfer agents - Nature Microbiology An immunity-like system functions as a lysis control hub to promote gene transfer agent particle release from host bacterial cells, suggesting that bacterial immune systems may be co-opted to promote ...

Delighted to share our latest work on gene transfer agents (GTAs). We found a lysis control hub which allows GTAs to escape their bacterial host cells and transfer DNA 🧬 between bacteria. Thanks to @tunglejic.bsky.social, all co-authors, and our amazing collaborators!
www.nature.com/articles/s41...

Finally published. Many thanks to a wonderful collaborative team and scientific platforms!!! And thanks to editors and reviewers for enthusiasm and a great review.

www.nature.com/articles/s41...

Elongasome Dysfunction Triggers Dependence on MepM-Mediated Peptidoglycan Recycling www.biorxiv.org/content/10.64898/2026.04...

New preprint from the Vecchiarelli Lab! 🧵

Congratulations to first author Dr. Claire Dudley!
@claire-dudley.bsky.social

Claire uncovered a critical player in the organization for the photosynthetic cytoplasm of cyanobacteria - polyphosphate! #polyP

www.biorxiv.org/content/10.6...

New insight published in @molecularmicro.bsky.social by @saraalexander.bsky.social + Mark Goulian about how the phosphotransfer system known as PTS-Ntr mediates methylglyoxal resistance via K+ transporters. onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/...

Polyphosphate acts as an architectural regulator of carbon fixation and nucleoid structure in cyanobacteria Polyphosphate (polyP) is a conserved inorganic polymer traditionally viewed as a stress-induced phosphate and energy reserve. In cyanobacteria, however, polyP granules are constitutively present and frequently observed in proximity to carboxysomes, the bacterial microcompartments that mediate CO2 fixation. Here we show that polyP functions as a spatially organized regulator of the photosynthetic cytoplasm in Synechococcus elongatus. PolyP granules localize to the nucleoid and are periodically arranged along the cell axis, independently of the McdAB carboxysome positioning system. Despite this independence, polyP and carboxysomes associate non-randomly, and this association is enhanced when active carboxysome positioning by the McdAB system is disrupted. Loss of polyP synthesis leads to nucleoid expansion, an increased number of smaller carboxysomes with high mobility, and severe defects in growth under ambient CO2. Perturbation of polyP turnover further reveals structural connections to both carboxysomes and thylakoid membranes. Together, these findings identify polyP as an architectural integrator that couples chromosome organization, metabolic compartmentalization, and photosynthetic fitness. ### Competing Interest Statement The authors have declared no competing interest. National Institute of General Medical Sciences, https://ror.org/04q48ey07, R01-GM144731, R35-GM152128 Howard Hughes Medical Institute

Polyphosphate acts as an architectural regulator of carbon fixation and nucleoid structure in cyanobacteria | bioRxiv www.biorxiv.org/content/10.64898/2026.04...

Excited to share our new paper out today in @science.org 🎉

We show that HGT via natural competence drives diversification of chromosomal integrons in V. cholerae 🤩

Below a 🧵 on key findings incl. background on natural competence in V. cholerae 1/
#microsky #phagesky
www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...

A MinD-like ATPase couples flagellation and cell division in spirochetes www.biorxiv.org/content/10.64898/2026.04...

Local peptidoglycan composition defines division site selection in Streptococcus pneumoniae Nature Microbiology, Published online: 07 April 2026; doi:10.1038/s41564-026-02322-6Sequential peptidoglycan carboxylase activity of DacA and DacB generates a local peptidoglycan signature that recruits MapZ and establishes the division site at the Streptococcus pneumoniae cell equator.

Out Now! Local peptidoglycan composition defines division site selection in Streptococcus pneumoniae #MicroSky

A new study from our group, led by Iris Eisermann, of the septin interactome during appressorium development, revealing many new interactors and significantly widening the biological function of septins in fungal pathogenesis. 👇

@thesainsburylab.bsky.social

Phage receptor prediction from genome sequencing alone. Bacterial receptor (blue) interacting with phage proteins (purple) is shown here

📣Huge preprint 🔔
Today we share something our group has been working toward for a long time, led by @lucasmoriniere.bsky.social We asked can we predict which receptor a phage targets from its genome sequence alone? For most phages, we couldn’t. So Lucas set out to do something I had only dreamed of.

Peptidoglycan recycling is critical for cell division, cell wall integrity, and β-lactam resistance in Caulobacter crescentus Peptidoglycan recycling is essential for proper cell growth and intrinsic ampicillin resistance in Caulobacter crescentus, highlighting PG recycling enzymes as potential antibacterial targets.

Now available as a Version of Record.
Thanks a lot again to everyone involved in this project!
doi.org/10.7554/eLif...

Toolbox of FRET-based c-di-GMP biosensors and its FRET-To-Sort application for genome-wide mapping of c-di-GMP regulation - Nature Communications Cyclic di-GMP, a bacterial second messenger, governs many cellular processes including bacterial lifestyle transitions. Here, authors develop a set of FRET-based biosensors that enables them to monito...

Our paper describing a toolbox of FRET biosensors for c-di-GMP measurements in the cell and its application to elucidate the interplay between c-di-GMP and bacterial motility just appeared:
www.nature.com/articles/s41...

From MBoC…
We’re now accepting submissions for the Special Issue on Cell Biology of Bacteria & Archaea! Submit your cell-biological research in bacterial or archaeal systems and reach a broad cell biology audience.

📍 https://www.molbiolcell.org/bacteria-archaea

A WYL transcriptional regulator activates the DNA damage response pathway in Acinetobacter species Abstract. The ability to sense DNA damage and activate DNA damage response pathways is critical for repairing DNA damage in all domains of life. The most w

I am pleased to share my lab’s latest publication - Acinetobacter species lack canonical DNA repair pathway activation mechanisms, and we discovered a conserved transcriptional activator that fills this role: academic.oup.com/nar/article/...

Our work with the Brun lab on the in situ architecture of the Caulobacter crescentus Tad pilus machine is published in mBio. Amazing collaborative effort led by James Iarocci @jamesiarocci.bsky.social

In new work just published in @cp-trendsmicrobiol.bsky.social, we reviewed exciting new data in #abscess formation of #Staphylococcus aureus. These translational findings have the potential to improve studies of #temporal and #spatial components of abscess architecture!

Check out our new preprint providing direct in vivo evidence for transertion in Bacillus subtilis (also arguing for coupled transcription-translation). Excellent work by Jonathan Norris, co-supervised by Nikolay Zenkin and me during his PhD.
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.6...

#microsky

Type VIIb secretion system recruits the dedicated cell wall hydrolase EssH to enable effector secretion by Staphylococcus aureus - PubMed <span><i>Staphylococcus aureus</i> is a pervasive human pathogen that heavily relies on protein secretion to exert its virulence strategies. <i>S. aureus</i> encodes a specialized type VIIb secretion...

Type VIIb secretion system recruits the dedicated cell wall hydrolase EssH to enable effector secretion by Staphylococcus aureus t.co/bx60YZrw1f

Still not in the final format but couldn't wait to share it with you, after a long jpurney to get here. Our latest work (with @davidalbesa.bsky.social lab) on Tke5 T6SS toxin from my favourite bug P. putida KT2440. 🧵 1/5 www.nature.com/articles/s42...

Thank you Susan!!

Check out the latest version of our paper — peer-reviewed, polished, and published. Hope you like it!

www.nature.com/articles/s41...

Our work on understanding how Staphylococcus aureus mode of cell division contributes to pathogenesis is now available in bioRxiv

Our recent work is now available in bioRXIV!

Plasmids promote antimicrobial resistance through insertion sequence-mediated gene inactivation - Nature Microbiology Inactivation of chromosomal genes through plasmid-encoded IS elements is an extended mechanism of antimicrobial resistance evolution in bacteria.

Final version of our last paper is out!
www.nature.com/articles/s41...

Adaptation of Enterococcus faecalis to intestinal mucus revealed by a human colonic organoid model | mSystems Gut microbiota interactions with mucus during early intestinal colonization are critical for establishing stable communities and influencing host health. Using human colonic organoids combined with Tn-seq and live imaging, this study reveals how Enterococcus faecalis adapts to the mucosal surface by forming microcolonies and reprogramming its metabolism. This integrative approach provides a powerful platform to study other microbiota members in the native-like environment of the large intestine and evaluate potential therapeutic interventions.

Adaptation of Enterococcus faecalis to intestinal mucus revealed by a human colonic organoid model

#mSystems from Alexandre Persat
with @kimingeneva.bsky.social

journals.asm.org/doi/10.1128/...

The registration is now open for BACELL meeting on 8-9 June 2026 at University of Malaga, Spain.

Register and submit abstract for oral or poster presentation: bacell2026.eu

Deadline for abstract submission: 31 March 2026
Registration deadline: 15 May 2026

Organizer @diegromero.bsky.social