Alain Kohl
@alainkohlvirology.bsky.social
Chair in Virology and Emerging Infectious Diseases, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine.
Arboviruses, emerging viruses, viruses of parasites!
Arboviruses, emerging viruses, viruses of parasites!
Reposted by Alain Kohl
I really do hope that news outlets who report on the recent #ACIP recommendations understand that these decisions have nothing to do with HepB per se, and everything to do with sowing bigger doubts about vaccines - all vaccines - in general.
Don’t lose sight of what the bigger agenda is.
Don’t lose sight of what the bigger agenda is.
December 6, 2025 at 4:12 PM
I really do hope that news outlets who report on the recent #ACIP recommendations understand that these decisions have nothing to do with HepB per se, and everything to do with sowing bigger doubts about vaccines - all vaccines - in general.
Don’t lose sight of what the bigger agenda is.
Don’t lose sight of what the bigger agenda is.
Reposted by Alain Kohl
Rift Valley fever outbreak in Senegal: 70% of human cases involve professions exposed to infected animals
open.substack.com/pub/outbreak...
open.substack.com/pub/outbreak...
Rift Valley fever outbreak in Senegal: 70% of human cases involve professions exposed to infected animals
Since September, Senegal has been facing an outbreak of Rift Valley Fever (RVF), a viral disease transmitted by mosquitoes or through contact with infected animals.
open.substack.com
December 6, 2025 at 1:10 PM
Rift Valley fever outbreak in Senegal: 70% of human cases involve professions exposed to infected animals
open.substack.com/pub/outbreak...
open.substack.com/pub/outbreak...
At some point in the future, those affected in the US will hopefully be able to hold a number of people to account.
December 6, 2025 at 1:07 PM
At some point in the future, those affected in the US will hopefully be able to hold a number of people to account.
Reposted by Alain Kohl
I can’t tell you how glad I am to be released from the disgrace of Temu ACIP.
I made a commitment to watch and comment on these proceedings. Not sure I’ll do it again.
In summary, ACIP is no longer a legitimate scientific body.
Every U.S. state needs to decouple their vaccine policy from ACIP.
I made a commitment to watch and comment on these proceedings. Not sure I’ll do it again.
In summary, ACIP is no longer a legitimate scientific body.
Every U.S. state needs to decouple their vaccine policy from ACIP.
December 5, 2025 at 8:37 PM
I can’t tell you how glad I am to be released from the disgrace of Temu ACIP.
I made a commitment to watch and comment on these proceedings. Not sure I’ll do it again.
In summary, ACIP is no longer a legitimate scientific body.
Every U.S. state needs to decouple their vaccine policy from ACIP.
I made a commitment to watch and comment on these proceedings. Not sure I’ll do it again.
In summary, ACIP is no longer a legitimate scientific body.
Every U.S. state needs to decouple their vaccine policy from ACIP.
Reposted by Alain Kohl
Flaviviridae RdRp exploits NSUN2-driven m5C methylation to establish persistent infection
journals.plos.org/plospathogen...
journals.plos.org/plospathogen...
Flaviviridae RdRp exploits NSUN2-driven m5C methylation to establish persistent infection
Author summary Flaviviridae viruses—including JEV, CSFV, and HCV—deploy intricate molecular strategies to subvert host innate immune surveillance and establish chronic infections, representing signifi...
journals.plos.org
December 5, 2025 at 2:15 PM
Flaviviridae RdRp exploits NSUN2-driven m5C methylation to establish persistent infection
journals.plos.org/plospathogen...
journals.plos.org/plospathogen...
Reposted by Alain Kohl
Another new preprint! This time looking at flavivirus NS5 interactions with our collaborator Armando Arias - www.biorxiv.org/content/10.6...
Mitophagy-related prohibitin 2 is an orthoflavivirus restriction factor targeted for degradation during infection
Mitophagy selectively removes depolarised and damaged mitochondria, promoting cell viability. Some members of the Orthoflavivirus genus activate mitophagy to allow extended replication times in a surv...
www.biorxiv.org
December 6, 2025 at 11:21 AM
Another new preprint! This time looking at flavivirus NS5 interactions with our collaborator Armando Arias - www.biorxiv.org/content/10.6...
Reposted by Alain Kohl
🦟 #WNV: "Erstmals Mensch in der #Schweiz 🇨🇭 mit #WestNilVirus infiziert" via #SRF
#arbovirus #Switzerland
www.srf.ch/news/schweiz...
#arbovirus #Switzerland
www.srf.ch/news/schweiz...
Tessin meldet erste West-Nil-Virus-Infektion in der Schweiz
Das Tessin meldet die erste West-Nil-Virus-Infektion in der Schweiz. Ein Risiko für die Bevölkerung wird verneint.
www.srf.ch
December 4, 2025 at 9:46 PM
🦟 #WNV: "Erstmals Mensch in der #Schweiz 🇨🇭 mit #WestNilVirus infiziert" via #SRF
#arbovirus #Switzerland
www.srf.ch/news/schweiz...
#arbovirus #Switzerland
www.srf.ch/news/schweiz...
Reposted by Alain Kohl
Researchers argue that cool weather spurred by previously unidentified volcanic eruptions set into motion a deadly chain of events, ultimately leading to the Black Death. https://scim.ag/3Ky3bPR
Medieval volcano may have indirectly sparked Europe’s Black Death
Crop failures caused by eruptions possibly forced grain imports from plague-ridden regions
scim.ag
December 5, 2025 at 2:30 PM
Researchers argue that cool weather spurred by previously unidentified volcanic eruptions set into motion a deadly chain of events, ultimately leading to the Black Death. https://scim.ag/3Ky3bPR
Ticks get everywhere…
An eel donated to a natural history museum in 1873 had two ticks embedded in its skin, making it the first known instance of ticks parasitizing a fish. But it was only first documented this year, when a tick specialist identified the ticks and reported the case in the Journal of Medical Entomology.
Ticks on an Eel: Museum Specimen is a First of its Kind
Two ticks found on an 1873 electric eel specimen mark the first recorded case of ticks parasitizing a fish—but only documented just this year.
entomologytoday.org
December 4, 2025 at 6:43 PM
Ticks get everywhere…
Yet another rail journey on the west coast line affected by delays and problems. Rail travel in the UK is an expensive disgrace. A few weeks ago, it was a taxi from Preston to Glasgow (although in great company as desperate travellers got together).
December 3, 2025 at 1:26 PM
Yet another rail journey on the west coast line affected by delays and problems. Rail travel in the UK is an expensive disgrace. A few weeks ago, it was a taxi from Preston to Glasgow (although in great company as desperate travellers got together).
Reposted by Alain Kohl
Pleased to share our recent work in collaboration with the
@perrimonlab.bsky.social in which we perform the first genome-wide CRISPR knockout screen in Anopheles to examine essential fitness genes and genes associated with clodronate liposome function
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
@perrimonlab.bsky.social in which we perform the first genome-wide CRISPR knockout screen in Anopheles to examine essential fitness genes and genes associated with clodronate liposome function
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
A genome-wide CRISPR screen in Anopheles mosquito cells identifies fitness and immune cell function-related genes
Nature Communications - Mosquitoes are major vectors for the transmission of many serious pathogens. This study uses genome-wide CRISPR screens in the mosquito, Anopheles gambiae, to reveal new...
www.nature.com
December 2, 2025 at 7:34 PM
Pleased to share our recent work in collaboration with the
@perrimonlab.bsky.social in which we perform the first genome-wide CRISPR knockout screen in Anopheles to examine essential fitness genes and genes associated with clodronate liposome function
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
@perrimonlab.bsky.social in which we perform the first genome-wide CRISPR knockout screen in Anopheles to examine essential fitness genes and genes associated with clodronate liposome function
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
Reposted by Alain Kohl
🧐 Looking for a #PhD position? @lstmnews.bsky.social is #hiring for a PhD on "Modelling the impact of #vector control and anthropogenic change on vectors of Gambian #SleepingSickness 🪰 "
Apply by 3 December 2025!
More info:
www.lstmed.ac.uk/study/resear...
Apply by 3 December 2025!
More info:
www.lstmed.ac.uk/study/resear...
Modelling the impact of vector control and anthropogenic change on vectors of Gambian sleeping sickness
AbstractGambian human African trypanosomiasis (gHAT), commonly called sleeping sickness, is a neglected tropical disease caused by Trypanosoma brucei gambiense transmitted by tsetse flies (Glossina).
www.lstmed.ac.uk
November 29, 2025 at 1:24 AM
🧐 Looking for a #PhD position? @lstmnews.bsky.social is #hiring for a PhD on "Modelling the impact of #vector control and anthropogenic change on vectors of Gambian #SleepingSickness 🪰 "
Apply by 3 December 2025!
More info:
www.lstmed.ac.uk/study/resear...
Apply by 3 December 2025!
More info:
www.lstmed.ac.uk/study/resear...
Reposted by Alain Kohl
I taught (and co-taught) a course on human population genetics from 2000-2024. Having retired, I'm now making all the course materials public: github.com/alanrogers/p... #popgen #evbio
GitHub - alanrogers/popgen: A course on population genetics
A course on population genetics. Contribute to alanrogers/popgen development by creating an account on GitHub.
github.com
November 27, 2025 at 7:10 PM
I taught (and co-taught) a course on human population genetics from 2000-2024. Having retired, I'm now making all the course materials public: github.com/alanrogers/p... #popgen #evbio
Reposted by Alain Kohl
Our @sbohvm.gla.ac.uk has been lucky to recruit several fantastic PhD students through this programme. If you are a UK-based Black researcher interested in doing.a PhD in our core areas of #PlanetaryHealth, #EnvironmentalChange, #Ecology or #VeterinaryMedicine, check this out & get in touch
The opportunity for Black UK-domiciled students to undertake PhD research at @uofglasgow.bsky.social is still available!
Apply by 31 January 2026 for entry to our Scholarships in October 2026.
@uofgstem.bsky.social
@uofgmvls.bsky.social
@uofgartshums.bsky.social
@uofgsocsci.bsky.social
Apply by 31 January 2026 for entry to our Scholarships in October 2026.
@uofgstem.bsky.social
@uofgmvls.bsky.social
@uofgartshums.bsky.social
@uofgsocsci.bsky.social
November 27, 2025 at 6:38 PM
Our @sbohvm.gla.ac.uk has been lucky to recruit several fantastic PhD students through this programme. If you are a UK-based Black researcher interested in doing.a PhD in our core areas of #PlanetaryHealth, #EnvironmentalChange, #Ecology or #VeterinaryMedicine, check this out & get in touch
Reposted by Alain Kohl
📢 #hiring #jobalert #stellenangebot
The #Arbovirus #Ecology group at Bernhard Nocht Institute for Tropical Medicine #BNITM in Hamburg is looking for two highly motivated #PhD Students (m/f/d) – 65 % EG 13 TV-AVH. 🦟
Application deadline: 15 January 2026
Apply here: jobs.bnitm.de/PhD-Stuengnt...
The #Arbovirus #Ecology group at Bernhard Nocht Institute for Tropical Medicine #BNITM in Hamburg is looking for two highly motivated #PhD Students (m/f/d) – 65 % EG 13 TV-AVH. 🦟
Application deadline: 15 January 2026
Apply here: jobs.bnitm.de/PhD-Stuengnt...
Job opportunity PhD Student (m/f/d) - 65 % EG 13 TV-AVH - Arbovirus Ecology group at Bernhard-Nocht-Institut fuer Tropenmedizin Jobportal
Wissenschaft in Hamburg
jobs.bnitm.de
November 27, 2025 at 10:29 PM
📢 #hiring #jobalert #stellenangebot
The #Arbovirus #Ecology group at Bernhard Nocht Institute for Tropical Medicine #BNITM in Hamburg is looking for two highly motivated #PhD Students (m/f/d) – 65 % EG 13 TV-AVH. 🦟
Application deadline: 15 January 2026
Apply here: jobs.bnitm.de/PhD-Stuengnt...
The #Arbovirus #Ecology group at Bernhard Nocht Institute for Tropical Medicine #BNITM in Hamburg is looking for two highly motivated #PhD Students (m/f/d) – 65 % EG 13 TV-AVH. 🦟
Application deadline: 15 January 2026
Apply here: jobs.bnitm.de/PhD-Stuengnt...
Reposted by Alain Kohl
Are you fascinated by viruses? Would you like to design your own original research project in the UK's largest virology centre? Why not come and do a PhD @cvrinfo.bsky.social - application deadline 6th Jan 2026 (1/1): www.findaphd.com/phds/program...
FindAPhD : The MRC-University of Glasgow Centre for Virus Research (CVR) PhD Funded Programme at University of Glasgow
Apply for a PhD: The MRC-University of Glasgow Centre for Virus Research (CVR) PhD Funded Programme at University of Glasgow
www.findaphd.com
November 27, 2025 at 1:26 PM
Are you fascinated by viruses? Would you like to design your own original research project in the UK's largest virology centre? Why not come and do a PhD @cvrinfo.bsky.social - application deadline 6th Jan 2026 (1/1): www.findaphd.com/phds/program...
Reposted by Alain Kohl
Despite advances in #ProximityLabeling tools, we can't capture intermediary proteins that bridge two associated non-interacting proteins. STUPPIT is a novel method to label intermediary proteins between two non-interacting partners in signaling pathways @plosbiology.org 🧪 plos.io/4ab6YwQ
November 26, 2025 at 5:35 PM
Despite advances in #ProximityLabeling tools, we can't capture intermediary proteins that bridge two associated non-interacting proteins. STUPPIT is a novel method to label intermediary proteins between two non-interacting partners in signaling pathways @plosbiology.org 🧪 plos.io/4ab6YwQ
Reposted by Alain Kohl
H5N1 in bats - what should we think about this?
@itingtu.bsky.social explains her recent preprint (a collaboration with multiple @cvrinfo.bsky.social groups) in a really nice interview with @science.org
www.science.org/content/arti...
@itingtu.bsky.social explains her recent preprint (a collaboration with multiple @cvrinfo.bsky.social groups) in a really nice interview with @science.org
www.science.org/content/arti...
November 26, 2025 at 3:40 PM
H5N1 in bats - what should we think about this?
@itingtu.bsky.social explains her recent preprint (a collaboration with multiple @cvrinfo.bsky.social groups) in a really nice interview with @science.org
www.science.org/content/arti...
@itingtu.bsky.social explains her recent preprint (a collaboration with multiple @cvrinfo.bsky.social groups) in a really nice interview with @science.org
www.science.org/content/arti...
Reposted by Alain Kohl
1/5
🚨🚨 preprint alert! 🚨🚨
I wish to introduce CARDIB, not the singer, but the protein.
CARDIB=CARD Inhibitory Binding protein.
In our new work we discover this antiviral protein that is found in all Anthozoa (sea anemones and corals 🪸) but not in other animals.
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
🚨🚨 preprint alert! 🚨🚨
I wish to introduce CARDIB, not the singer, but the protein.
CARDIB=CARD Inhibitory Binding protein.
In our new work we discover this antiviral protein that is found in all Anthozoa (sea anemones and corals 🪸) but not in other animals.
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
An ancient anthozoan protein reveals an alternative evolutionary path of antiviral signaling
How antiviral immunity first arose in animals is a central question in evolutionary biology. Using the sea anemone Nematostella vectensis, we identify CARDIB, a previously uncharacterized gene located...
www.biorxiv.org
November 25, 2025 at 12:06 PM
1/5
🚨🚨 preprint alert! 🚨🚨
I wish to introduce CARDIB, not the singer, but the protein.
CARDIB=CARD Inhibitory Binding protein.
In our new work we discover this antiviral protein that is found in all Anthozoa (sea anemones and corals 🪸) but not in other animals.
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
🚨🚨 preprint alert! 🚨🚨
I wish to introduce CARDIB, not the singer, but the protein.
CARDIB=CARD Inhibitory Binding protein.
In our new work we discover this antiviral protein that is found in all Anthozoa (sea anemones and corals 🪸) but not in other animals.
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
Reposted by Alain Kohl
The first human case of H5N5 bird flu (sadly, a fatal case) was reported at the end of last week. I've summarised what we currently know and what this might mean for @uk.theconversation.com
First human bird-flu death from H5N5 – what you need to know
A patient in Washington state has died from H5N5 bird flu, the first known human infection with this virus – but experts say the wider risk remains low.
theconversation.com
November 25, 2025 at 1:23 PM
The first human case of H5N5 bird flu (sadly, a fatal case) was reported at the end of last week. I've summarised what we currently know and what this might mean for @uk.theconversation.com
Reposted by Alain Kohl
What role will structural modeling play in the future of phylogenetics?
Find out at the Australasian Protein Structural Phylogenetics Meeting (APSPM).
Find out at the Australasian Protein Structural Phylogenetics Meeting (APSPM).
Registration for #APSPM2026 closes soon.
Everyone’s welcome! whether you study evolution, structure, or computational methods, join us in Brisbane (and online) Feb 16–18, 2026 to learn how protein structure meets phylogenetics.
biosig.lab.uq.edu.au/strphy26
@official-smbe.bsky.social
Everyone’s welcome! whether you study evolution, structure, or computational methods, join us in Brisbane (and online) Feb 16–18, 2026 to learn how protein structure meets phylogenetics.
biosig.lab.uq.edu.au/strphy26
@official-smbe.bsky.social
November 24, 2025 at 2:50 PM
What role will structural modeling play in the future of phylogenetics?
Find out at the Australasian Protein Structural Phylogenetics Meeting (APSPM).
Find out at the Australasian Protein Structural Phylogenetics Meeting (APSPM).
Reposted by Alain Kohl
In addition to nearly 200,000 experimentally-determined PDB structures, RCSB.org now offers access to ~1 million Computed Structure Models (CSMs) from AlphaFoldDB and RoseTTAFold (from Model Archive)
Register for the Nov 24 Virtual Office Hour on Exploring CSMs at RCSB PDB
Learn how to use RCSB PDB features to navigate 3D Computed Structure Models from AlphaFold DB and ModelArchive
Learn how to use RCSB PDB features to navigate 3D Computed Structure Models from AlphaFold DB and ModelArchive
PDB101: Register for the Nov 24 Virtual Office Hour on Exploring CSMs at RCSB.org
PDB-101: Training, Outreach, and Education portal of RCSB PDB
pdb101.rcsb.org
November 21, 2025 at 9:57 AM
In addition to nearly 200,000 experimentally-determined PDB structures, RCSB.org now offers access to ~1 million Computed Structure Models (CSMs) from AlphaFoldDB and RoseTTAFold (from Model Archive)
Reposted by Alain Kohl
Our fully funded, four-year MRC Doctoral Training Partnership (DTP) is now open for applications for an October 2026 start.
We welcome applications from exceptional candidates from a broad range of academic disciplines who are passionate about global and public health.
Find out more : lstm.ac/PhD
We welcome applications from exceptional candidates from a broad range of academic disciplines who are passionate about global and public health.
Find out more : lstm.ac/PhD
November 21, 2025 at 7:47 AM
Our fully funded, four-year MRC Doctoral Training Partnership (DTP) is now open for applications for an October 2026 start.
We welcome applications from exceptional candidates from a broad range of academic disciplines who are passionate about global and public health.
Find out more : lstm.ac/PhD
We welcome applications from exceptional candidates from a broad range of academic disciplines who are passionate about global and public health.
Find out more : lstm.ac/PhD
Reposted by Alain Kohl
The agency this week quietly changed its official language to suggest vaccines may cause autism, a claim that scientists say has no basis in evidence
CDC Vaccine Website Promotes Anti-Science Claims of Autism Ties
The agency this week quietly changed its official language to suggest vaccines may cause autism, a claim that scientists say has no basis in evidence
www.scientificamerican.com
November 20, 2025 at 4:21 PM
The agency this week quietly changed its official language to suggest vaccines may cause autism, a claim that scientists say has no basis in evidence
Reposted by Alain Kohl
France: Local chikungunya cases top 800 in 2025
open.substack.com/pub/outbreak...
open.substack.com/pub/outbreak...
France: Local chikungunya cases top 800 in 2025
French health authorities, in an update today, report a total of 804 locally acquired chikungunya cases year to date.
open.substack.com
November 19, 2025 at 11:46 PM
France: Local chikungunya cases top 800 in 2025
open.substack.com/pub/outbreak...
open.substack.com/pub/outbreak...