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/...

Who gets the calories? An endothelial checkpoint for fat expansion. Luisa Iruela-Arispe @feinberg.northwestern.edu discusses new work by Wetternwald, Köck and colleagues @petrovalab.bsky.social (rupress.org/jem/article/...) in Insights: rupress.org/jem/article/...

#CardiovascularBiology #Metabolism

Flyer for the Eugene M. Silinsky Symposium 2026. Title reads: “Bringing Biology to Light: Novel Technologies in Scientific Visualization.” The event takes place Monday, April 6, 2026, from 1:00–4:15 PM at Baldwin Auditorium. Distinguished speakers include Eduardo Perozo (University of Chicago), Jennifer A. Dionne (Stanford University), Ertuğrul M. Özbudak (Northwestern University), and Hannah Wayment-Steele (University of Wisconsin–Madison), each shown with a headshot. Hosted by the Department of Pharmacology at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine. Contact: 312-503-4883. Design features purple and gold color blocks with scientific imagery in the background.

Members of the Northwestern community are invited to join the Department of Pharmacology for the Eugene M. Silinsky Symposium on Monday, April 6 from 1:00–4:15 p.m.

Bringing Biology to Light: Novel Technologies in Scientific Visualization

👇 See details in the flyer below.

Here are the virtual classes we're offering this month. Sign up here: galter.northwestern.edu/classes

Graphic text reads, "New Study Identifies Key Microglial Channel Driving Neuroinflammation and Depressive-Like Behaviors; On the right is the cover of Science Signaling (February 17, 2026 issue) featuring a colorful fluorescence microscopy image of the hippocampus, with dense red, green, and blue cellular labeling. The caption explains that the image shows LPS-induced increases in microglial marker labeling (red) and astrocyte marker labeling (green) in the CA1 region of the hippocampus, effects not seen in mice lacking Orai1 in microglia. Credit: DeMeulenaere et al./Science Signaling.

Scientists in the Prakriya Lab have identified Orai1 calcium channels as key drivers of microglia-mediated neuroinflammation, with inhibition reducing hippocampal inflammation and depressive-like behaviors, according to findings published in Science Signaling. tinyurl.com/yr4rb8jm

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

Promotional graphic for the Breakthroughs podcast episode titled, "New Paths for Diagnosing and Treating Lyme Disease with Brandon Jutras." A cutout photo of Brandon Jutras is in the foreground and decorative elements are in the background.

Brandon Jutras, PhD, joins #BreakthroughsPodcast to share how his lab is uncovering the biology behind persistent #LymeDisease symptoms and how these discoveries could lead to more targeted therapies and personalized diagnostics. spr.ly/6049hKQVv

Targeting Aberrant Learning May Improve Parkinson’s Treatment - News Center Northwestern Medicine scientists have discovered that targeting neuronal signaling controlling aberrant learning in the striatum may improve the efficacy of a first-line therapy for Parkinson’s…

Targeting neuronal signaling behind aberrant learning in the striatum may enhance first-line therapy for #Parkinsons and reduce therapy-related side effects, according to a Science Advances study led by D. James Surmeier, PhD.

Portrait of Murali Prakriya, PhD to the right. Purple Northwestern Medicine Feinberg School of Medicine logo and purple angles appears on the left with the text: “Prakriya Named 2025 ASPET Fellow”

Congratulations to Murali Prakriya, PhD, the Magerstadt Professor of Pharmacology, named a 2025 American Society for Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics Fellow — one of just 17 honorees recognized nationally for excellence in pharmacology, mentorship and service.

A close-up visualization of glowing neurons on a dark background. A purple overlay in the bottom left reads "Basic Science Events & Seminars – January 2026

A new year means new discoveries! 🔬🎆 Join us this January for Basic Science seminars and events and let’s kick off 2026 with learning, collaboration, and curiosity.

Details🔗: tinyurl.com/9e34r7t6

Autism Across the Spectrum: From Understanding the Brain to Developing New Treatments 12.2.2025 YouTube video by Northwestern University Medical Alumni Association

If you missed the webinar held on December 2, 2025, you can watch the recording here: www.youtube.com/watch?v=LPlS...

Promotional graphic for the Breakthroughs podcast from Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine. Left: colorful microscopic artwork with the podcast title and branding. Right: photo of Vladimir Gelfand.

What happens when a cell’s internal scaffolding breaks down?

Vladimir Gelfand, PhD, explores how cytoskeletal disruptions could play a role in motor neuron diseases like #ALS on the latest episode of #BreakthroughsPodcast.

🔗 spr.ly/6017COtU3

🎙️Egon Ozer, MD, PhD, co-director of the Center for Pathogen Genomics and Microbial Evolution, discusses investigating global infectious disease threats in the new episode of #ExploreGlobalHealthPodcast.

Listen: www.globalhealth.northwestern.edu/events/podca...

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/...

NEW PREPRINT led by stellar postdoc
@biophysben.bsky.social We turn diffusion models into inference machines. Score function→exact likelihoods, uncertainty estimate & interpretablity. Diffusion models generate. But classify? Untapped—until now @chanzuckerberg.bsky.social shorturl.at/s32uX

Snow-covered winter foliage frames the Northwestern University seal in the background, with a purple banner in the foreground that reads ‘Basic Science Events & Seminars – December 2025.

This December, explore our basic science events and seminars featuring exciting research. Join us for opportunities to connect with colleagues across Feinberg.

Check out the event lineup here: tinyurl.com/dvyvrds4

New preprint! We measured temperature- and pH-induced aggregation for over 18,000 natural and de novo designed protein domains!

Proofig AI Training: Research Integrity with Automated Image Verification - Tue, November 4 11:00 AM CST at Online (Zoom) Prism: collect, share, and preserve the full spectrum of your work - Wed, November 5 11:00 AM CST at Online (Zoom) Northwestern Elements - Wed, November 5 11:00 AM CST at Online (Zoom) EndNote - Wed, November 5 1:00 PM CST at Online (zoom) ORCID: Register, Use, Share - Wed, November 5 1:00 PM CST at Online (Zoom) Conducting a Scoping Review - Wed, November 12 1:00 PM CST at Online (Zoom) PubMed - Thu, November 13 12:00 PM CST at Online (Zoom) Conducting a Systematic Review: Part 1 - Planning the Process - Tue, November 18 12:00 PM CST at Online (Zoom) NIH Public Access Policy and Publication Management with MyNCBI - Wed, November 19 12:00 PM CST at Online (Zoom) 10 Simple Rules for Data Cleaning with Excel - Thu, November 20 10:00 AM CST at Online (Zoom) Using SciENcv for NIH Biosketches and Other Support Documents - Thu, November 20 12:00 PM CST at Online (Zoom) Conducting a Scoping Review - Tue, November 25 12:00 PM CST at Online (Zoom)

Join us this November for our virtual classes! Register here: galter.northwestern.edu/classes

A calendar page with a red pushpin marking a date. Text reads: “Join Us for Basic Science Events & Seminars – November 2025.” Northwestern Medicine Feinberg School of Medicine logo appears at the bottom

Join us for basic science events and seminars in November.

🔗Explore upcoming talks, lectures and discussions: tinyurl.com/2tvstbce

Accumulation of succinate suppresses de novo purine synthesis through succinylation-mediated control of the mitochondrial folate cycle The de novo purine synthesis pathway is fundamental for nucleotide production, yet the role of mitochondrial metabolism in modulating this process rem…

Excited to share our latest work out today in @cp-molcell.bsky.social, revealing a molecular link between succinate dehydrogenase and purine synthesis, connecting two fundamental metabolic pathways. Huge congratulations to the first author, Mushtaq Nengroo! www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
!

Online Now: Accumulation of succinate suppresses de novo purine synthesis through succinylation-mediated control of the mitochondrial folate cycle Online now:

Understanding Cellular Impacts of Neurodegeneration - News Center A Northwestern Medicine study has revealed a key mechanism underlying the development of motor neuron diseases, offering new insights into potential treatment options, according to a study published i...

DGP grad Sun Kim was first author of a recent study published in the Journal of Neuroscience! Read about the study: news.feinberg.northwestern.edu/2025/10/16/u...

Goyal Named Mallinckrodt Foundation Grant Fellow  - News Center Yogesh Goyal, PhD, assistant professor of Cell and Developmental Biology, has been named a 2025-2028 Edward Mallinckrodt, Jr. Foundation Grant Fellow, which recognizes early-stage biomedical investiga...

Congratulations to Dr. Yogesh Goyal on his appointment as a Mallinckrodt Foundation Grant Fellow!

Dr. Goyal is an active member of our CRS community, including serving as MS-RSM mentor and T32 faculty member.

news.feinberg.northwestern.edu/2025/10/13/g...

Portrait of Yogesh Goyal, PhD, assistant professor of Cell and Developmental Biology at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, smiling against a purple gradient background. Text reads: “Goyal Named Mallinckrodt Foundation Grant Fellow.” Northwestern Medicine Feinberg School of Medicine logo appears in the lower right corner.

Congratulations to Yogesh Goyal, PhD @goyallab.bsky.social, who was named a 2025–2028 Edward Mallinckrodt, Jr. Foundation Grant Fellow!

His work bridges engineering and biology to advance understanding of cellular plasticity and fate in development and disease. Learn more: tinyurl.com/2rumf48v

CAM Director Dina Arvanitis is currently in Banos, Ecuador, where she is co-organizer of the @biologists.bsky.social workshop Democratizing Microscopy in Latin America together with Mario Del Rosario, Fernanda Latorre, Helena De La Torre, Licyel Paulas, and Mariana De Niz. @nu-bsa.bsky.social

Thanks for highlighting the work of Nikon Center Manager at CAM, Mariana De Niz. All the best at the Ecuador workshop!!! @nu-bsa.bsky.social @latambioimaging.bsky.social @bioimagingna.bsky.social

Portrait of Richard Smith, PhD, assistant professor of Pharmacology and Pediatrics at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, with text reading “Smith Honored with NIH New Innovator Award” over a purple background featuring an illustrated brain outline.

Congratulations to Richard Smith, PhD, on receiving the prestigious NIH Director’s New Innovator Award, recognizing early-career scientists leading high-risk, high-impact research in the biomedical, behavioral or social sciences.

Learn more about his work: tinyurl.com/yrhnk7bn

NIH, My NCBI and PMCIDs - Virtual Q & A "Office Hours" Date: Fri, October 10 11:00 AM CDT Location: Online (Zoom) Conducting a Systematic Review: Part 2 - Tools & Resources Date: Wed, October 15 1:00 PM CDT Location: Online (Zoom) EndNote Date: Thu, October 16 12:00 PM CDT Location: Online (zoom) NIH Public Access Policy and Publication Management with MyNCBI Date: Thu, October 16 12:00 PM CDT Location: Online (Zoom) Feinberg Founders & Notables: Historical Walking Tour of Graceland Cemetery Date: Fri, October 17 2:00 PM CDT Location: Graceland Cemetery & Arboretum Prism: collect, share, and preserve the full spectrum of your work Date: Tue, October 21 9:00 AM CDT Location: Online (Zoom) ORCID: Register, Use, Share Date: Tue, October 21 10:00 AM CDT Location: Online (Zoom) PubMed Date: Tue, October 21 10:00 AM CDT Location: Online (Zoom) Northwestern Elements Date: Tue, October 21 11:00 AM CDT Location: Online (Zoom) Proofig AI Training: Research Integrity with Automated Image Verification Date: Wed, October 22 12:00 PM CDT Location: Online (Zoom) Using SciENcv for NIH Biosketches and Other Support Documents Date: Thu, October 23 12:00 PM CDT Location: Online (Zoom) Getting to Know the NIH Policy on Data Management and Sharing Date: Mon, October 27 10:00 AM CDT Location: Online (Zoom)

Join us this October for our virtual classes! Register here: galter.northwestern.edu/classes