Research team diving during sampling off the island of Curaçao (Caribbean Sea). Credit to Brad Weiler and Javier del Campo.

🌙 When the sun sets, corals recover from the stress accumulated during the day, caused by the intense activity of their symbiotic microorganisms. 💤

#DiscoveringLife
#ConservingBiodiversity

👉https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chom.2026.01.004

The MicrobeAtlas database: Global trends and insights into Earth’s microbial ecosystems MicrobeAtlas (www.microbeatlas.org) is an integrated, reference-based resource for truly planet-wide microbiomics, analyzing hundreds of thousands of microbial lineages across diverse environments, co...

MicrobeAtlas is now published in Cell. 🌐🌎🦠

Explore the paper and resource to see what large-scale microbiome data reveal about global ecological patterns:
www.cell.com/cell/fulltex...

For a concrete application, see our recent work on “Community conservatism”:
www.nature.com/articles/s41...

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…

🚨Only a few days left to apply for the 10 #PhD positions within the “CURIOSITY IS INFECTIOUS” initiative across the five @helmholtzhzi.bsky.social sites! At #HIRI, we are excited to welcome candidates who are passionate about all things #RNA. ❤️‍🔥🧬Apply by Feb 28: www.helmholtz-hiri.de/en/jobs-tale...

Another fantastic project with a fabulous supervisor. This is a great opportunity!

Read all of the comments in this incredible thread.

Screen shot of Rocky Mountain Laboratories in Hamilton, Montana, from the 1937 film "Green Light"

Screen shot of Rocky Mountain Laboratories in Hamilton, Montana, from the 1937 film "Green Light". Location of my postdoc research lab is indicated

Advertisement for the 1937 film "Green Light"

Screen shot of Rocky Mountain Laboratories in Hamilton, Montana, from the 1937 film "Green Light"

Postdoc memories (sort of)

"Green Light", 1937, is partially set in the Bitterroot Valley, Montana, deals with tick-borne disease. It includes shots of my old lab home at Rocky Mountain Labs, Hamilton. The lab itself looks almost identical to when I was there, 1994-1998. The film stars Errol Flynn.

Deadline is approaching (Feb 9) to apply for a PI position at Institut Pasteur. Come join us and contribute to an amazing scientific environment!!!

Congratulayions Nicky. Nice work

The glucose uptake inhibitor SgrS is induced by D-serine yet does not contribute to growth arrest in enterohaemorrhagic Escherichia coli Bacterial pathogens sense and respond to host-derived metabolites to regulate virulence and establish successful infections. d-Serine, an amino acid abundant in some extraintestinal environments but s...

Delighted to share the hard work of undergraduate student Ella Rellis and first publication from my group since relocating to TCD. Here we identify a new stress response regulator induced by D-serine. 🦠🔬🧫 @microbiologysociety.org #publishforthecommunity www.microbiologyresearch.org/content/jour...

🚨4-year fully funded PhD in the lab of @magicmicrobe.bsky.social (& collaborating with me!): How does iron availability shape the ability of pathogens to invade the gut microbiome?
Apply by Jan 26th
Advert: research.reading.ac.uk/foodbiosyste...
How to apply: research.reading.ac.uk/foodbiosyste...

Diet modulates Vibrio cholerae colonization and competitive outcomes with the gut microbiota Liu et al. show that dietary protein sources differentially restrict colonization of the pathogen Vibrio cholerae. Specific diets downregulate V. cholerae type VI secretion system (T6SS) expression, l...

#ScienceMonday 🧪 🦠 I've heard of picky eaters, but there's no reason to get your Type 6 Secretion System out over a meal,... but Vibrio will! Diet modulates Vibrio cholerae colonization and competitive outcomes with the gut microbiota: Cell Host & Microbe www.cell.com/cell-host-mi...

As 2025 wraps up, we’re looking back at some of the most intriguing microbes that made their scientific debut this year. This blog highlights standout bacterial species that caught our eye. Read the full #FEMSmicroBlog: buff.ly/2wz7k16

#NewMicrobes

Infographic on the chemistry of popcorn. The most significant aroma compounds are 2-acetyl-1-pyrroline (roasty, popcorn-like aroma), (E,E)-2,4-decadienal (fatty, fried aroma) and 2-furfurylthiol (roasted coffee-like aroma). Pyrazines, pyridines and phenols also contribute. Butter-flavoured compounds, including diacetyl, can be added, and can cause respiratory problems for workers in manufacturing facilities. Popcorn pops due to the escape of pressurised water vapour. Molten starch bursts through the shell and rapidly cools, giving popcorn its fluffy appearance

Did you know the sound of popcorn popping isn't caused by the cracking of the corn kernel? For #NationalPopcornDay, here's a portion of popcorn science 🍿 www.compoundchem.com/2017/01/19/p...

#ChemSky 🧪

Bacteria sense the antibiotic rifampicin through a widespread dual-promoter based alarm system Abstract. Most antibiotics are natural compounds or their derivatives, and bacteria have evolved defensive mechanisms to resist them. Many of these mechani

Bacteria sense the antibiotic rifampicin through a widespread dual-promoter based alarm system url: academic.oup.com/nar/article/...

Application deadline for this postdoc position in my group closing next week 🦠 thank you all who have shared so far!

The human gut microbiome in enteric infections: from association to translation Enteric infections remain a leading global cause of morbidity, mortality and economic loss, increasingly compounded by the rise of antimicrobial resistance. The gut microbiome — spanning bacteria, ...

Nice review from @alexmsalmeida.bsky.social et al on gut microbiome & enteric infection susceptibility/severity, including focus on some recurring susceptibility associations: decrease of α-diversity+butyrate producers & Proteobacteria/Enterobacteriaceae blooms.
www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10....

A happy memory from teaching microbiology students. I used to have an exercise where students would plate a dilution series of mixed E. coli expressing different pigments, pick one colony color out, and restreak to purity. A student made a labeling mistake, and turned it into this awesome meme.

🔬 Postdoc position – Infection Biology & Cryo-ET (Zurich) 🇨🇭
We are looking for a motivated Postdoc to join our interdisciplinary team.
📩 Interested? Check out the job advert:
www.imm.uzh.ch/dam/jcr:cb17...

👉 More info on the lab: www.weiss-laboratory.com
Please share with interested colleagues!

Why trauma-informed education could be a university’s smartest investment Responding to struggling students with empathy and flexibility can benefit the whole campus. Here’s how to create a culture of compassion

Responding to struggling students with empathy and flexibility can benefit the whole campus. Here’s how to create a culture of compassion: www.timeshighereducation.com/campus/why-traumainforme... #HigherEd #AcademicSky #EduSky

Nature Microbiology turns 10! 🎂

As a special treat, we take you back to the editorial team that started it all and then fast forward to take a peek into the future of microbiology through some brilliant microbiologists.

#MicroSky 🦠

www.nature.com/nmicrobiol/v...

Microbiologists are leading innovations against AMR. Are you one of them? Apply to take part in our cross-disciplinary Knocking Out AMR: Business Networking event in Belfast on 13 April 2026. Find out more: microb.io/KOAMRBusines... #KnockingOutAMR #AMR #Microbiology

Don’t downplay problems of bullying and harassment in academia The United Kingdom, like all countries, must prioritize a supportive research culture as an essential ingredient in research excellence.

What do you do if your country has a serious problem with bullying and harassment in academic research?

go.nature.com/4rA0hdS

The Vienna BioCenter Summer School 2026 call is open for talented undergrads, it's great for those interested in graduate study in the life sciences. Check out the groups from Institute of Molecular Biotechnology offering positions this time around!
https://training.vbc.ac.at/summer-school/

NUI Awards 2025 ✨

We were delighted to honour and recognise over 175 scholars yesterday from across the NUI federation, awarding more than €850,000 in grants, scholarships and prizes recognising excellence at every stage of academic life.

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is a growing concern in global food systems – and aquaculture is an important part of that conversation.

A social card with an image of the gut and brain and the text "Research Scientist to undertake research projects on understanding the microbiome-gut-brain axis and its role in ageing. Salary: £37,500 to £45,350, Contract length: 4.5 years, Apply by 28 November 2025."

The role will use animal models, multiomics, immunoassays, imaging, & functional analyses to identify beneficial microbial agents which, in FMT studies, have been shown to delay or protect against age-related decline in the brain🧠

💷 £37,500 to £45,350
🗓️ Apply by 28 November 2025
➡️ buff.ly/hFGpGvP

The next CIIMAR Neptune Seminar will feature Sandra Pereira (FCUP/CIIMAR).

📅 November 26
📷 11:30
📍Boca da Baleia, CIIMAR

More details here: www.ciimar.up.pt/events/neptu...

#CIIMARevents #CIIMARseminars #CIIMARresearch

Apply now to attend the next EMBO Bacterial Networks meeting #EMBOBacNet

🗓️13-18 September 2026
📍Sant Feliu de Guixols, Spain

📝Program and registration info: meetings.embo.org/event/26-bac...

👩‍🔬Organised with co-chair @s-lab.bsky.social and ECR @coralietesseur.bsky.social

#MicroSky

Diving through the purple sulfur bacteria layer of Fayetteville Green Lake with our ROV last month. This is the most intense density of PSB that I've seen in many years!

Intracellular Salmonella require T3SS effectors to cause infection. A study by the Hardt lab @ethz.ch ETH Zürich gives new insights into which bacterial factors are critical for infection in vivo, and provides new tools for researchers to further explore. More: biol.ethz.ch/en/news-and-...