Inactivation of a purine biosynthesis repressor promotes ribosome synthesis to overcome antibiotic stress | mBio The Erm rRNA methyltransferase superfamily represents the most prevalent determinant of MLS resistance in nosocomial Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacteria. Previous studies have established that erm expression is primarily governed by upstream ribosome stalling peptide and the 5′ untranslated regions. Using the widespread S. aureus ermBL-ermB (ermB+) operon as a model system, we unexpectedly identified second-site mutations in purR that synergistically enhance MLS resistance in an ermB+ background. Loss of purR function derepresses nucleotide biosynthesis and ribosome production, thereby promoting bacterial growth under antibiotic stress. While numerous purR single-nucleotide polymorphisms across multiple species have been associated with antibiotic resistance, no study has directly linked these sequence polymorphisms to their regulatory function. Our results highlight the critical role of ribosome abundance and nucleotide metabolism in shaping antibiotic efficacy.

Seemingly unrelated mutations boost multidrug resistance by promoting ribosome synthesis. Out in #mBio @asm.org, 1st author @lescorneta.bsky.social, great collaboration w/ Dapeng Zhang's and Jade Wang's groups. @nu-bsa.bsky.social #MicroSky #ribosome #AMR journals.asm.org/doi/10.1128/...

Postdoctoral Position (Please re-post)
A funded postdoctoral position for a recent graduate to study aspects of Neisseria gonorrhoeae pathogenesis, antigenic variation, genetics, or physiology.
Please contact Hank Seifert h-seifert@northwestern.edu
#Microsky, #Microbiology, #MicrobialEvolution

Just for fun! The Utah "Zammoth" Zamboni.

I hope the answer is not more mandated mentoring training. 😅

Conference banner showing trees with leafs changing colors.

Announcing the 4th Lakeside Conference on Protein Toxins and Effectors 2026 Registration/Abstract Submission is OPEN (#lakesidePTE)! Come join this premier event on the structure, biochemistry, and cell biology of Microbial Protein Toxins Oct 12-15, 2026. event.fourwaves.com/lakesidepte2...

The better goal tender won. Please don’t blame all of the US for our government.

Publicly Available Neisseria Gonorrhoeae Genomes Predominantly Represent In Vitro-Derived Nonpiliated Variants Most Neisseria gonorrhoeae clinical isolates are piliated but lose piliation during laboratory passage. However, most public genomic sequences are from non

Publicly Available Neisseria Gonorrhoeae Genomes Predominantly Represent In Vitro-Derived Nonpiliated Variants url: academic.oup.com/jid/article/...
#Microbiology #Microsky

Link didn’t work

Peptidoglycan architecture dictates protein interactions, tissue tropism, and arthritis in the Lyme disease spirochete Borrelia burgdorferi Author summary Many of the pathogenic mechanisms by which Borrelia burgdorferi causes disease involve cell envelope interactions with host components. To further elucidate the role of peptidoglycan in...

Peptidoglycan architecture dictates protein interactions, tissue tropism, and arthritis in the Lyme disease spirochete Borrelia burgdorferi

Exciting new research from @jutraslab.bsky.social

journals.plos.org/plospathogen...

#MicroSky

Excited to announce the upcoming 2026 Microbial Toxins and Pathogenicity GRC and GRS meeting taking place July 12 - 17, 2026 at Waterville Valley in New Hampshire. This meeting will be chaired by yours truly and co-chaired by
@sunnyshinlab.bsky.social www.grc.org/microbial-to...

Oxford Press just sent an email to print a Reviewer Certificate. My response, "Please, this offer is tone deaf. I review as a professional duty, even though journals make money whenever I publish or read. A certificate is neither valuable nor appreciated." #AcademicSky

Please repost. #microsky

Bought and paid for

#microsky #mevosky @spp2389.bsky.social

A PhD position is available in my lab to work on:

Emergence and self-organisation of bacterial metabolism in consortia of cross-feeding bacteria.

Please RT

Deadline: 12.11.25

More infos 👇
shorturl.at/rAKAT

Northwestern Microbiology-Immunology Annual Faculty Dinner. Good times, good colleagues.

It is absolutely wild that the guy who won’t stop yelling about law and order is now personally stepping in to keep January 6 documents hidden from the police officers who were attacked that day. He knows exactly what’s in those files and he is terrified the country will see it.

Michigan Congresswoman Haley Stevens Introduces Articles of Impeachment Against RFK Jr. Stevens: “Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has turned his back on science, on public health, and on the American people – spreading conspiracies and lies, driving up costs, and putting lives at risk” W...

stevens.house.gov/media/press-...

@haleyformi.bsky.social
@rephaleystevens.bsky.social
@standupforscience.bsky.social

Publicly Available Neisseria Gonorrhoeae Genomes Predominantly Represent In Vitro-Derived Nonpiliated Variants Most Neisseria gonorrhoeae clinical isolates are piliated but lose piliation during laboratory passage. However, most public genomic sequences are from non

Publicly Available Neisseria Gonorrhoeae Genomes Predominantly Represent In Vitro-Derived Nonpiliated Variants url: academic.oup.com/jid/article/... @iboiko.bsky.social and Selma Metanne

Got a competitive renewal

Iryna Boiko and Selma Mettane show that most gonococcal genomic sequences are from nonpiliated bacteria, even though clinical isolates are piliated.

Publicly Available Neisseria Gonorrhoeae Genomes Predominantly Represent In Vitro-Derived Nonpiliated Variants: academic.oup.com/jid/article/...

What you get if you stay in academics a long time and volunteer to participate in the important things.

The right-wing think tank which wrote the entire platform for the current president of the US is defending neo-Nazis, and meanwhile a substantial portion of American rabbis think the Muslim candidate for NYC mayor who has denounced antisemitism is the biggest threat to me as an American Jew.

Beyond Antibiotics: Emerging Strategies for Combating Bacterial Infection | Keystone Symposia Join us at the Keystone Symposia on Beyond Antibiotics: Emerging Strategies for Combating Bacterial Infection, May 2026, in Breckenridge, with field leaders!

We're just 6 months away from @keystoneSymposia.bsky.social Beyond #Antibiotics : Emerging Strategies Combating #BacterialInfection, May 2026 in Breckenridge! 👉Scholarship and short talk abstract deadlines are Jan 7! 🧐 keysym.us/KSBeyondAntibiotics26 #KSBeyondAntibiotics26

Flavin affinity for the reductase HpaC differentially sensitizes Neisseria gonorrhoeae during Type IV pilus-dependent killing Author summary Neisseria gonorrhoeae is the causative agent of the sexually transmitted disease, gonorrhea. Neutrophils are first host immune responders that activate multiple potent antimicrobial def...

A new article by @husonfirst.bsky.social about Neisseria Flavin pathways and pilus phenotypes : dx.plos.org/10.1371/jour...

If one of the appliances in your home, say your cooker or fridge, ran using ten times the power of a normal one, you‘d replace it as fast as possible and never go near that manufacturer again, because you’d think they were catastrophically bad at making stuff.

But it’d be cool if it talked, right?

Mark your calendars! #mmpc2026 The 2026 Midwest Microbial Pathogenesis Conference will be take place September 25-27, 2026 at the University of Minnesota! We are excited to welcome keynote speaker Dr. Andy Camilli. Give us a follow and watch for important information here ➡️ mmpc2026.umn.edu

Microbiology Postdoctoral Position (Please re-post)

A funded postdoctoral position in Chicago will open in 2026 to study aspects of Neisseria gonorrhoeae pathogenesis, antigenic variation, genetics, or physiology.
If interested, please get in touch with Hank Seifert
h-seifert@northwestern.edu

Reposting, submit soon!