Check out our most recent study featured on the cover of the December issue of the @amjtransplant.bsky.social Big shoutout to the Departments of Surgery, Pediatrics, Pathology & Immunology at WashU for the great collaborative work! #virology #transplant #lung

New paper by @italoacastro.bsky.social is out! In collaboration with the Kreisel Lab from the Department of surgery, we studied the impact of a lung viral infection in transplanted lungs...with some unexpected results! Take a look:

doi.org/10.1016/j.aj...

As always, Ted Chiang is great in this interview.
cdh.princeton.edu/blog/2025/08...

Validation of diverse and previously untraceable Sendai virus copyback viral genomes by direct RNA sequencing | Journal of Virology Most viruses of the order Mononegavirales have been demonstrated to naturally generate copyback viral genomes. These genomes are critical determinants of infection outcomes; they interfere with standa...

Congratulations to SB Pye and team for validating several paramyxovirus copyback genomes by direct RNA-Seq (no PCR involved). Specially cool are species formed between nucleotide 1 of the genome and a sequence close to the trailer..these are real products! journals.asm.org/doi/10.1128/...

The Sengupta lab is seeking research technicians to join its team. Ideal candidates must possess a passion for research and exceptional communication skills. Both early-career and experienced candidates are welcome. Email SenguptaS@chop.edu with CV and letter of interest with goals and expectations.

Now you see me, now you don’t: What and how viral RNAs are detected by cytoplasmic pattern-recognition receptors In a recent issue of Molecular Cell, Genoyer et al. show that during West Nile virus infection, escaped, cytoplasmic, anti-genomic negative-sense viral RNA triggers an antiviral response via RIG-I activation. Flaviviruses typically hide −vRNA in replication compartments to avoid detection, but some −vRNA leaks, possibly aided by viral capsid proteins.

Now you see me, now you don’t: What and how viral RNAs are detected by cytoplasmic pattern-recognition receptors

Copy-back viral genomes induce a cellular stress response that interferes with viral protein expression without affecting antiviral immunity This study shows that non-standard viral genomes of the "copy-back" type (cbVGs) trigger translation inhibition and stress granule formation during virus infection, independent of, and without affecti...

Nice work. It nicely complements our observation of independent activation of RLR and PKR signaling in the context of infection.
journals.plos.org/plosbiology/...

Vergüenza ajena…que horror tanta ignorancia en este país que se supone “líder”

Columbia Bent Over Backward to Appease Right-Wing, Pro-Israel Attacks — And Trump Still Cut Federal Funding Columbia bent over backward to appease right-wing, pro-Israel attacks on Gaza protesters — and Trump still cut the school’s federal funding.

With this kind of people, bending over won’t help. Also, this IS the time to stand up for principles, particularly academic freedom, and… free speech. theintercept.com/2025/03/08/c...

Pretty nice turnout at Jefferson City, MO’s capitol for #StandUpforScience today given how far it is from the closest large cities. Thanks to the organizers and to all those who drove 2h to make it there!

Stand Up for Science Alabama

Friends, we need 50 subscribers to our YouTube channel to be able to live stream today’s Birmingham Stand Up For Science march! Anyone willing to subscribe is greatly appreciated!

youtube.com/@standupfors...

List of Stand Up for Science events—official events in red, solidarity events in blue.

SO MANY STAND UP FOR SCIENCE EVENTS TO CHOOSE FROM—153 and COUNTING!

To get more information on our local events and to register your own, head to www.standupforscience2025.org/local-event-information/ ☀️⬇️🌎

Our colleges & universities should encourage, not suppress, open & vigorous dialogue & debate about even the most deeply held beliefs.

Trump’s threats against student protesters are antithetical to the mission of higher education.

We strongly condemn them.

www.aaup.org/news/threats...

navy blue background with white text that says "3 days until we stand up for science"

On Friday, we Stand Up for Science in locations Nationwide (& internationally!) to support science as a public good that benefits everyone.

Join us! Visit www.standupforscience2025.org for more information & other ways to get involved ☀️

For the sake of humanity, it's time to get out there and Stand Up For Science!! Spread the word!

I got laid off today, with the rest of 18F.

18F was an elite federal software shop. We made gov't websites work better, more efficiently for the American people. We saved taxpayers from getting screwed over by contractors. And were fired for it.

We made this website to tell our story:
18f.org

Rubella is a major cause of birth abnormalities if a pregnant woman gets exposed. That’s why we vaccinate against it. What about all those worries for unborn babies now???

ATTENTION

The Washington Post is collecting data about funding issues. Please consider contributing.

thewashingtonpost.formstack.com/forms/scient...

Opinion: Science funding cuts are based on flawed logic. Here’s the truth. Earlier this month, the National Institutes of Health issued supplemental guidance indicating it would immediately impose a 15% cap on indirect costs for research grants, an unprecedented and abrup…

Very grateful to our @scripps.edu President/CEO Pete Schultz, for this OpEd in @sandiegouniontribune.com on the key importance of research institutions in U.S. biomedical science and how federal support is critical to fuel new discoveries and medicines.

www.sandiegouniontribune.com/2025/02/25/o...

Some NIH study sections will resume reviewing grants, but final funding decisions are still in limbo While some NIH study sections will resume, advisory council meetings, which make final funding decisions, seem to still be held up.

STAT story is up about study section restart.

www.statnews.com/2025/02/24/s...

a man in a red suit and tie is holding a piece of paper that says breaking news on it ALT: a man in a red suit and tie is holding a piece of paper that says breaking news on it

Some good-ish news from NIH

“Federal Register notices for study sections run by CSR (but not those by ICs) will start being permitted again”

As far as I know, the timing for this is not clear, but I will be checking the Federal Register.

www.aei.org/economics/wh...

Senator Murray Blasts Trump & Elon for Illegally Paralyzing Lifesaving Research Again, Threatening to Extinguish Ongoing and Groundbreaking Work - Senator Patty Murray ICYMI: Murray Blasts Trump and Musk Decimating HHS, Risking Americans’ Health and Livelihoods Washington, D.C. — U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), Vice Chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee and...

A US Senator Joins the Fray. Thank you
@murray.senate.gov ! More of this, please!

www.murray.senate.gov/senator-murr...

This list with sources telling the reality of what is going on should be spread widely. Thanks for putting it together.

No! Only study sections already announced in the federal register have resumed. Nothing has been posted by the NIH to the federal register since Jan 21.

I am finding it wild how many professors don't know this. Please spread this info to your Universities!

Gut-wrenching and perfectly describing the fear and impotence that many in the scientific community are experiencing today

SLC35A2 modulates paramyxovirus fusion events during infection Author summary Paramyxovirus entry, the first step in establishing an infection, involves two key processes: attachment and virus-cell fusion. Paramyxoviruses use their attachment protein to bind to s...

First paper of 2025! Postdoc Yanling Yang shows that SLC35A2 modulates paramyxovirus fusion events during infection | PLOS Pathogens journals.plos.org/plospathogen...

New paper out! Here Vicky tested our DDO (DVG-derived Oligonucleotide) as a type 1 immunity-inducer adjuvant in mRNA vaccines using influenza NP as a model antigen...works great in mice by stimulating RLRs! journals.asm.org/doi/epub/10....

We are looking for an experienced biochemist to work on exciting questions in virology. Extensive experience in protein purification, structure and biochemistry and/or RNA biology is requiere.
Email your CV and cover letter to clopezzalaquett@wustl.edu

Excited for my first bluesky post announcing TWO openings for tenure track positions in virology! I am chair of the search committee and with a new department head Mike Gale we are in an exciting building phase.

Please share with anyone who might be interested: hr.myu.umn.edu/jobs/ext/365...