Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Ana Maria Porras, Ph.D. @anamaporras.bsky.social · 23d

It focuses on models that have a host and a microbial component. It is centered on 8 key #engineering challenges that often arise when developing these types of models and examples of current solutions. We hope both the biomedical engineering and #microbiome communities find it useful!

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Ana Maria Porras, Ph.D. @anamaporras.bsky.social · 23d

In light of recent national conversations on the need for more human-relevant models, our lab wrote a review on "Innovative engineering approaches to model host-microbiome interactions in vitro," now published in Advanced Drug Delivery Reviews. #PorrasTMILab

authors.elsevier.com/a/1lnF%7E,3s...

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Reposted by Ana Maria Porras, Ph.D.

bmeunite.bsky.social @bmeunite.bsky.social · Aug 4

We are excited to announce our 2025 cohort of BME UNITE Future Faculty Fellows! The BME UNITE seminar series is designed to showcase future faculty candidates from diverse and underrepresented backgrounds in BME. Register here: tinyurl.com/bmeunite25

Names, photos, and institutions of 2025 BME UNITE Future Faculty Fellows. Text seminar details with link to presentation schedule.

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Reposted by Ana Maria Porras, Ph.D.

NPR @npr.org · Aug 3

When public media disappears, so do the stories that bring us together.

With federal funding eliminated, millions may lose their last trusted source of news and connection.

If that matters to you, now’s the time to act. Donate: n.pr/458sOhq

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Reposted by Ana Maria Porras, Ph.D.

onion person @junlper.beer · Jun 10

all conservatives are bots

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Reposted by Ana Maria Porras, Ph.D.

Dr. Kat Napaaqtuk❄️ @napaaqtuk.bsky.social · Jun 8

Distraction from *all of this*, a podcast about Archaea by Archaea scientists and enthusiasts. This particular episode is about how Archaea contribute to farts (and shape the microbiome). It's informative and lighthearted!

rss.com/podcasts/arc...

Archaea and Us: Heroes or Villains? | Podcast Episode on RSS.com

Welcome to ArchaeaCast! In our sixth episode, our hosts Priyanka Chatterjee and Dr. Connor Hines discuss the archaea that are very close to home–the ones that can live in and on us! In the second part...

rss.com

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Ana Maria Porras, Ph.D. @anamaporras.bsky.social · May 27

I currently have a Ph.D. student and an exchange visitor ready to join is in the next 1-3 months. All they need now are their visas. They were the most qualified candidates. Like mine, many many labs will be affected. Making scientific progress is really hard right now!

George Pearkes @peark.es · May 27

*US ORDERS HALT TO STUDENT VISA INTERVIEWS: POLITICO

Trump team orders stop to new student visa interviews, as it weighs expanding social media vetting

The directive came in a Tuesday cable obtained by POLITICO.

www.politico.com

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Reposted by Ana Maria Porras, Ph.D.

Carolyn Bertozzi @carolynbertozzi.bskyverified.social · May 19

If people of means are interested in establishing a 2025 “Institute for Advanced Study” for displaced/defunded biomedical scientists, I know many people who will help, including myself.
@mcuban.bsky.social
@arcadiascience.com
@arcinstitute.org

John Skiles Skinner @skiles.blue · May 14

Let's talk about these two department store owners: brother and sister Louis Bamberger and Caroline Bamberger Fuld. From Newark, New Jersey.

They are random people, basically. But in the late 1920s, with fascism taking over Europe, they made a choice that profoundly changed the world: 🧵

A photograph of Louis Bamberger, seated on the right, wearing a mustache and bowler hat, and his sister Caroline Bamberger Fuld, standing on the left, wearing a fur hat and shawl

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Reposted by Ana Maria Porras, Ph.D.

Arghavan Salles, MD, PhD @arghavansallesmd.medsky.social · May 15

The wellness industry is so out of control that someone could argue cancer is good for you, actually, sort of a make cancer great again strategy, and A LOT of people would believe them.

The devaluation of expertise has real consequences, and belief in nonsensical remedies is one of them.

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Ana Maria Porras, Ph.D. @anamaporras.bsky.social · May 14

LOVE this! I also read it at first: "see a manatee at noon" and bc I live in FL, where you can indeed go see manatees at noon. I was like - that sounds AMAZING 🤣

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Ana Maria Porras, Ph.D. @anamaporras.bsky.social · May 14

I am so sorry to hear this. Your team’s science is so thorough and important

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Ana Maria Porras, Ph.D. @anamaporras.bsky.social · Apr 28

NYC friends and #StoryCollider fans - we will celebrate the 15th anniversary this June 3rd with an amazing show and wonderful storytellers! You don't want to miss it! Tickets on sale now to attend in person OR virtually: events.humanitix.com/the-story-co...

The Story Collider 15 Year Anniversary Show

This June 3, 2025 The Story Collider will be celebrating its 15 Year Anniversary!

events.humanitix.com

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Ana Maria Porras, Ph.D. @anamaporras.bsky.social · Apr 14

Bravoooooo

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Ana Maria Porras, Ph.D. @anamaporras.bsky.social · Apr 12

Yes, lots of cats and rodents (squirrells, hamsters, mice, etc..) on mine but I just realized I don't think I have ever clicked on the "Discover" feed before so I'm not sure if it is abnormal? I also think this might be my first Saturday on here

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Reposted by Ana Maria Porras, Ph.D.

Sean Gibbons 🦠💩 @gibbological.bsky.social · Apr 11

Microbial community-scale metabolic models (MCMMs) map gut microbiome composition & dietary context to functional outputs, at scale.

Here, we describe these emerging tools & their utility to both basic & translational microbiome research. @natmicrobiol.nature.com

www.nature.com/articles/s41...

Moving from genome-scale to community-scale metabolic models for the human gut microbiome - Nature Microbiology

In this Perspective, Deiner, Gibbons and colleagues describe the current strengths and limitations of microbial community-scale metabolic models in microbiome research.

www.nature.com

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Reposted by Ana Maria Porras, Ph.D.

Vaughn Cooper @vscooper.micropopbio.org · Apr 8

I'm delighted to share a useful FREE web-based app portal of powerful bioinformatics tools for microbial genomes and shotgun microbiome sequences!

It's called Micromics and is built by Middle Author Bioinformatics, led by co-founder @ironark.bsky.social
omix.midauthorbio.com

Microbial Omics

A suite of bioinformatics tools for microbial genome and metagenome analysis.

omix.midauthorbio.com

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Ana Maria Porras, Ph.D. @anamaporras.bsky.social · Apr 9

If you aren't watching this show, what are you waiting for?!

Should be required viewing for anyone remotely close to the biomedical sciences

Alexandra Gallant-Lee @alexandragallant.com · Apr 9

You can feel this with every minute of The Pitt and my appreciation for that fact runs deep. They’ve managed to thread that needle of being incredibly compelling while still highlighting these vital tenets in a way that feels ambient, it’s remarkable.

From this: variety.com/2025/tv/news...

"These people sacrifice so much in the service of others that I find it absolutely infuriating that their expertise is being called into question," he says, leavening his irritation with a chuckle, his voice never growing louder than his usual calming timbre. "I find it infuriating that we still can't
come to a consensus that masks cut down on transmission of disease. I find it infuriating
that we still won't acknowledge that vaccines are an important way of eradicating disease. I find it all infuriating that we are where we are right now. So I wanted to make a show that brings back into sharp focus what an objective medical fact is."

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Ana Maria Porras, Ph.D. @anamaporras.bsky.social · Apr 8

I am pretty sure department Chairs don't have access to the SEVIS portal - but International Centers do and many are indeed checking one or twice a day now :(

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Reposted by Ana Maria Porras, Ph.D.

Jeff Saucerman @jsauce7.bsky.social · Apr 7

Terrific paper by post-doc @aclark.bsky.social in @plos.org
Comp Biol. This tutorial enables students and biologists to simulate biological networks with our tool Netflux, no programming required! #sysbio #cardiosky 🧪

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Reposted by Ana Maria Porras, Ph.D.

Kat Hubert @cripple-vs-stem.bsky.social · Mar 25

Welcome to the home of #labdaptations ! My name is Kat and I am a Genetics PhD student, navigating science with a disability. Early in my grad school journey, I discovered that accessible lab equipment/tools were lacking, making it difficult for me to perform experiments.

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Ana Maria Porras, Ph.D. @anamaporras.bsky.social · Mar 26

Excited to see what you are going to share! Always looking to learn how I can make my lab more accessible

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Reposted by Ana Maria Porras, Ph.D.

Timothy McBride @mcbridetd.bsky.social · Mar 24

Opinion: Five years ago, early career researchers needed help to survive the pandemic. Now they need it again www.statnews.com/2025/03/24/e...

Five years ago, early career researchers needed help to survive the pandemic. Now they need it again

A generation of scientists and their future work will be lost if the U.S. doesn’t act now.

www.statnews.com

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Ana Maria Porras, Ph.D. @anamaporras.bsky.social · Mar 24

Me enorgullece TANTO saber que el legado de mi papá en la #UIS siempre será el de haber dignificado lo público: www.youtube.com/watch?v=4zeS...

La otra historia, esa que no le han contado - En Santander forman nuevos héroes de la salud

YouTube video by Presidencia de la República - Colombia

www.youtube.com

Reposted by Ana Maria Porras, Ph.D.

WHO @who.int · Mar 24

Today is #WorldTBDay.

#Tuberculosis - or TB - is caused by bacteria Mycobacterium tuberculosis that mainly affects the lungs.

Common symptoms include
❗️ Cough
❗️ Chest pains
❗️ Weight loss
❗️ Fever
❗️ Night sweats

Learn more about TB 👉 bit.ly/3yYNwzx #EndTB

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Reposted by Ana Maria Porras, Ph.D.

Annika Hausmann @hausmannannika.bsky.social · Mar 23

I am very excited to share our latest publication on the effect of systemic #endotoxin on intestinal #microbiota spearheaded by the brilliant Sanne Kroon at the Hardt lab @eth-dbiol.bsky.social @ethzurich.bsky.social @naturecomms.bsky.social

👉🏼 rdcu.be/eelLn

Sublethal systemic LPS in mice enables gut-luminal pathogens to bloom through oxygen species-mediated microbiota inhibition

Nature Communications - Acute systemic immune activation may affect gut-luminal colonisation dynamics. Here, the authors show that LPS exposure in mice elevates gut-luminal oxygen species levels,...

rdcu.be

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