Harry Chown
@chownbioinf.bsky.social
Research Associate, Imperial College London 🍄 Fungal genomics and bioinformatics
Reposted by Harry Chown
PhD position available to study the immune response to the terbinafine resistant dermatophyte T. Indotinea. www.surrey.ac.uk/wessex-one-h...
@mrccmm.bsky.social @youngecmm.bsky.social @ishamycology.bsky.social @britsocimm.bsky.social @britmycolsoc.org.uk
@mrccmm.bsky.social @youngecmm.bsky.social @ishamycology.bsky.social @britsocimm.bsky.social @britmycolsoc.org.uk
November 25, 2025 at 7:01 PM
PhD position available to study the immune response to the terbinafine resistant dermatophyte T. Indotinea. www.surrey.ac.uk/wessex-one-h...
@mrccmm.bsky.social @youngecmm.bsky.social @ishamycology.bsky.social @britsocimm.bsky.social @britmycolsoc.org.uk
@mrccmm.bsky.social @youngecmm.bsky.social @ishamycology.bsky.social @britsocimm.bsky.social @britmycolsoc.org.uk
Reposted by Harry Chown
Exciting day at London’s Science Museum for the #InnovationforGrowth meeting where we’re showing off AirSeq technology from @earlhaminst.bsky.social and @nhm.org
Meeting organised by @ukri.org to highlight the importance of research and innovation for economic growth.
Meeting organised by @ukri.org to highlight the importance of research and innovation for economic growth.
November 24, 2025 at 1:29 PM
Exciting day at London’s Science Museum for the #InnovationforGrowth meeting where we’re showing off AirSeq technology from @earlhaminst.bsky.social and @nhm.org
Meeting organised by @ukri.org to highlight the importance of research and innovation for economic growth.
Meeting organised by @ukri.org to highlight the importance of research and innovation for economic growth.
Reposted by Harry Chown
Fungal friends: The University of Minnesota is hiring a tenure track medical mycologist, with emphasis on emergence of pathogens, genomics and evolution!
www.nature.com/naturecareer...
www.nature.com/naturecareer...
New Assistant Professor: Tenure Track - Fungal Biology/Medical Mycology - Minneapolis, Minnesota job with University of Minnesota - Medical School | 12848307
About the Job: The Department of Microbiology & Immunology and the Institute on Infectious Diseases (UMIID) at the University of Minnesota Medical ...
www.nature.com
November 23, 2025 at 11:42 AM
Fungal friends: The University of Minnesota is hiring a tenure track medical mycologist, with emphasis on emergence of pathogens, genomics and evolution!
www.nature.com/naturecareer...
www.nature.com/naturecareer...
Reposted by Harry Chown
We're looking for a PhD student! If you're interested in #fungal #genomics & #TEs, meiotic drive, or pathogens, please consider applying. The project is about toxin/antidote genes in the human fungal pathogen A. fumigatus. uu.varbi.com/en/what:job/...
November 19, 2025 at 9:20 AM
We're looking for a PhD student! If you're interested in #fungal #genomics & #TEs, meiotic drive, or pathogens, please consider applying. The project is about toxin/antidote genes in the human fungal pathogen A. fumigatus. uu.varbi.com/en/what:job/...
Reposted by Harry Chown
Whilst this research is available currently as a preprint only www.researchsquare.com/article/rs-7... I would like to acknowledge all the researchers on this study who have made this possible. It's great to see the fruition of collaborative science! Thank you 🙏
Recent European origin of azole resistance in the critical priority fungal pathogen Aspergillus fumigatus
Resistance to azole antifungals in Aspergillus fumigatus, a WHO Critical Priority fungal pathogen, is rising worldwide and threatens the efficacy of frontline therapies for invasive aspergillosis. Thi...
www.researchsquare.com
November 13, 2025 at 12:48 PM
Whilst this research is available currently as a preprint only www.researchsquare.com/article/rs-7... I would like to acknowledge all the researchers on this study who have made this possible. It's great to see the fruition of collaborative science! Thank you 🙏
Reposted by Harry Chown
“Bin Chicken” is now published in Nature Methods! It substantially improves genome recovery through rational coassembly 🧬🖥️. Applied to public 🌍 metagenomes, we recovered 24,000 novel species 🦠, including 6 new phyla.
doi.org/10.1038/s415...
@benjwoodcroft.bsky.social @rhysnewell.bsky.social
🧵1/6
doi.org/10.1038/s415...
@benjwoodcroft.bsky.social @rhysnewell.bsky.social
🧵1/6
November 13, 2025 at 10:09 AM
“Bin Chicken” is now published in Nature Methods! It substantially improves genome recovery through rational coassembly 🧬🖥️. Applied to public 🌍 metagenomes, we recovered 24,000 novel species 🦠, including 6 new phyla.
doi.org/10.1038/s415...
@benjwoodcroft.bsky.social @rhysnewell.bsky.social
🧵1/6
doi.org/10.1038/s415...
@benjwoodcroft.bsky.social @rhysnewell.bsky.social
🧵1/6
Reposted by Harry Chown
A great genomics paper from my friend and colleague @drandiwilson.bsky.social on the expansion of heat stress related proteins in Rhizina undulata bmcgenomics.biomedcentral.com/articles/10....
Thermotolerance and post-fire growth in Rhizina undulata is associated with the expansion of heat stress-related protein families - BMC Genomics
Background Rhizina undulata is an important tree pathogen, infecting a wide variety of conifer species, including those in the genus Pinus. The fungus relies on heat shock-mediated activation of its a...
bmcgenomics.biomedcentral.com
November 13, 2025 at 12:10 PM
A great genomics paper from my friend and colleague @drandiwilson.bsky.social on the expansion of heat stress related proteins in Rhizina undulata bmcgenomics.biomedcentral.com/articles/10....
Reposted by Harry Chown
🔥 At conferences, who asks the questions shapes who gets seen. Across 24 ID&CM meetings, women were 55% of delegates but asked 36% of questions.
💬 When women moderate or speak first, others follow.
Let’s change the pattern
bit.ly/47VL0eH
🙏 @maudsalmona.bsky.social & MicroID EmpowHERment consortium
💬 When women moderate or speak first, others follow.
Let’s change the pattern
bit.ly/47VL0eH
🙏 @maudsalmona.bsky.social & MicroID EmpowHERment consortium
November 13, 2025 at 9:48 AM
🔥 At conferences, who asks the questions shapes who gets seen. Across 24 ID&CM meetings, women were 55% of delegates but asked 36% of questions.
💬 When women moderate or speak first, others follow.
Let’s change the pattern
bit.ly/47VL0eH
🙏 @maudsalmona.bsky.social & MicroID EmpowHERment consortium
💬 When women moderate or speak first, others follow.
Let’s change the pattern
bit.ly/47VL0eH
🙏 @maudsalmona.bsky.social & MicroID EmpowHERment consortium
Reposted by Harry Chown
A quick tutorial blog on a method I haven't seen before to plot gene gain/loss from e.g. CAFE5 across a phylogeny - and clearly shows I always have fungi on the mind 🤓🍄
#rstats #ggplot2
rowena-h.github.io/data-visuali...
#rstats #ggplot2
rowena-h.github.io/data-visuali...
Mushroom plots to visualise gain and loss on a phylogenetic tree
A tutorial on how to visualise gene gain and loss on a phylogenetic tree
rowena-h.github.io
November 7, 2025 at 3:41 PM
A quick tutorial blog on a method I haven't seen before to plot gene gain/loss from e.g. CAFE5 across a phylogeny - and clearly shows I always have fungi on the mind 🤓🍄
#rstats #ggplot2
rowena-h.github.io/data-visuali...
#rstats #ggplot2
rowena-h.github.io/data-visuali...
Reposted by Harry Chown
How do GWAS and rare variant burden tests rank gene signals?
In new work @nature.com with @hakha.bsky.social, @jkpritch.bsky.social, and our wonderful coauthors we find that the key factors are what we call Specificity, Length, and Luck!
🧬🧪🧵
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
In new work @nature.com with @hakha.bsky.social, @jkpritch.bsky.social, and our wonderful coauthors we find that the key factors are what we call Specificity, Length, and Luck!
🧬🧪🧵
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
Specificity, length and luck drive gene rankings in association studies - Nature
Genetic association tests prioritize candidate genes based on different criteria.
www.nature.com
November 7, 2025 at 12:05 AM
How do GWAS and rare variant burden tests rank gene signals?
In new work @nature.com with @hakha.bsky.social, @jkpritch.bsky.social, and our wonderful coauthors we find that the key factors are what we call Specificity, Length, and Luck!
🧬🧪🧵
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
In new work @nature.com with @hakha.bsky.social, @jkpritch.bsky.social, and our wonderful coauthors we find that the key factors are what we call Specificity, Length, and Luck!
🧬🧪🧵
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
Reposted by Harry Chown
Exciting news! I have two positions open in my lab at the UoManchester: one PDRA and one Research Tech.
Join our team to study evolutionary mycology and help us understand antifungal resistance in fungal pathogens. A fantastic opportunity to join the brilliant Manchester Fungal Infection Group!
Join our team to study evolutionary mycology and help us understand antifungal resistance in fungal pathogens. A fantastic opportunity to join the brilliant Manchester Fungal Infection Group!
November 5, 2025 at 3:35 PM
Exciting news! I have two positions open in my lab at the UoManchester: one PDRA and one Research Tech.
Join our team to study evolutionary mycology and help us understand antifungal resistance in fungal pathogens. A fantastic opportunity to join the brilliant Manchester Fungal Infection Group!
Join our team to study evolutionary mycology and help us understand antifungal resistance in fungal pathogens. A fantastic opportunity to join the brilliant Manchester Fungal Infection Group!
Reposted by Harry Chown
SWBio DTP PhD (Univ Exeter): Will global warming speed up antifungal resistance? Work with Prof Gabriel Yvon-Durocher, Prof Neil Gow & team. Experimental evolution, multi-omics & modelling on medical/crop pathogens. Apply: bpb-eu-w2.wpmucdn.com/blogs.bristo... #PhD #AMR #ClimateChange #Mycology
November 5, 2025 at 11:40 AM
SWBio DTP PhD (Univ Exeter): Will global warming speed up antifungal resistance? Work with Prof Gabriel Yvon-Durocher, Prof Neil Gow & team. Experimental evolution, multi-omics & modelling on medical/crop pathogens. Apply: bpb-eu-w2.wpmucdn.com/blogs.bristo... #PhD #AMR #ClimateChange #Mycology
Reposted by Harry Chown
🚨New #PhD #adverts alert🚨
I currently have two PhD studentships being advertised on environmental #AMR ⬇️
More being advertised soon 👀
@ukceh.bsky.social @ukceh-moleco.bsky.social
I currently have two PhD studentships being advertised on environmental #AMR ⬇️
More being advertised soon 👀
@ukceh.bsky.social @ukceh-moleco.bsky.social
October 31, 2025 at 10:45 AM
🚨New #PhD #adverts alert🚨
I currently have two PhD studentships being advertised on environmental #AMR ⬇️
More being advertised soon 👀
@ukceh.bsky.social @ukceh-moleco.bsky.social
I currently have two PhD studentships being advertised on environmental #AMR ⬇️
More being advertised soon 👀
@ukceh.bsky.social @ukceh-moleco.bsky.social
Reposted by Harry Chown
New research in #GENETICS suggests accessory chromosomes in #fungi #fusarium might be maintained because of Spok genes and not because of their beneficial effects on virulence.
Learn more about this work from @fungage-lab.bsky.social and colleagues: buff.ly/R2CRa3O
Learn more about this work from @fungage-lab.bsky.social and colleagues: buff.ly/R2CRa3O
November 4, 2025 at 9:02 PM
New research in #GENETICS suggests accessory chromosomes in #fungi #fusarium might be maintained because of Spok genes and not because of their beneficial effects on virulence.
Learn more about this work from @fungage-lab.bsky.social and colleagues: buff.ly/R2CRa3O
Learn more about this work from @fungage-lab.bsky.social and colleagues: buff.ly/R2CRa3O
Reposted by Harry Chown
Bernabeu, @microbiobits.bsky.social and @tonigabaldon.bsky.social use simulations to test for the robustness of inferred relative timings of gene transfers in the lineage leading to the ancestor of eukaryotes
🔗 doi.org/10.1093/gbe/evaf190
#genome #evolution
🔗 doi.org/10.1093/gbe/evaf190
#genome #evolution
Phylogeny-aware Simulations Suggest a Low Impact of Unsampled Lineages in the Inference of Gene Flow During Eukaryogenesis
Abstract. The topologies of gene trees are broadly used to infer horizontal gene transfer events and characterize the potential donor and acceptor partners
doi.org
November 3, 2025 at 4:23 PM
Bernabeu, @microbiobits.bsky.social and @tonigabaldon.bsky.social use simulations to test for the robustness of inferred relative timings of gene transfers in the lineage leading to the ancestor of eukaryotes
🔗 doi.org/10.1093/gbe/evaf190
#genome #evolution
🔗 doi.org/10.1093/gbe/evaf190
#genome #evolution
Reposted by Harry Chown
Our new paper maps the tRNA modification landscape in Vibrio cholerae! 💫
We describe differences from E. coli and discuss links to decoding of stress-related codons 🦠
Huge thanks to amazing co-authors and collaborators!
@plos.org #rnasky #microsky #tRNAmodifications
We describe differences from E. coli and discuss links to decoding of stress-related codons 🦠
Huge thanks to amazing co-authors and collaborators!
@plos.org #rnasky #microsky #tRNAmodifications
The tRNA epitranscriptomic landscape and RNA modification enzymes in Vibrio cholerae
Author summary This study charts the first genome-wide map of transfer RNA (tRNA) modifications in the cholera pathogen, Vibrio cholerae, revealing how chemical marks on tRNAs shape translation and st...
journals.plos.org
November 3, 2025 at 11:58 PM
Our new paper maps the tRNA modification landscape in Vibrio cholerae! 💫
We describe differences from E. coli and discuss links to decoding of stress-related codons 🦠
Huge thanks to amazing co-authors and collaborators!
@plos.org #rnasky #microsky #tRNAmodifications
We describe differences from E. coli and discuss links to decoding of stress-related codons 🦠
Huge thanks to amazing co-authors and collaborators!
@plos.org #rnasky #microsky #tRNAmodifications
Reposted by Harry Chown
Government has published one of those quiet but important documents that might get overlooked as it is not 'newsy'. The headline finding is that £1 of public R&D investment generates £8 in net economic benefits for the UK over the long term
www.gov.uk/government/p...
www.gov.uk/government/p...
The value of public R&D
www.gov.uk
October 30, 2025 at 1:28 PM
Government has published one of those quiet but important documents that might get overlooked as it is not 'newsy'. The headline finding is that £1 of public R&D investment generates £8 in net economic benefits for the UK over the long term
www.gov.uk/government/p...
www.gov.uk/government/p...
Reposted by Harry Chown
NEW EPISODE #ScienceInContext! This week @eonore.bsky.social speaks with @chownbioinf.bsky.social about fungal disease, Aspergillus fumigatus and interactions with the soil it lives in. Harry shares his passions and insights from his work - one to watch 👇
youtu.be/ariW8UKVv-M
youtu.be/ariW8UKVv-M
Ep 134 Science in Context Fungal disease with Dr Harry Chown
YouTube video by MRC Centre for Global Infectious Disease Analysis
youtu.be
October 24, 2025 at 3:43 PM
NEW EPISODE #ScienceInContext! This week @eonore.bsky.social speaks with @chownbioinf.bsky.social about fungal disease, Aspergillus fumigatus and interactions with the soil it lives in. Harry shares his passions and insights from his work - one to watch 👇
youtu.be/ariW8UKVv-M
youtu.be/ariW8UKVv-M
Reposted by Harry Chown
1/6 Movi 2 is here: faster and more space-efficient for pangenome queries. Its fastest mode uses half the memory of Movi 1 while running ~30% faster. github.com/mohsenzakeri...
GitHub - mohsenzakeri/Movi: Fast, Cache-Efficient, and Scalable Queries on Pangenomes
Fast, Cache-Efficient, and Scalable Queries on Pangenomes - mohsenzakeri/Movi
github.com
October 21, 2025 at 8:00 PM
1/6 Movi 2 is here: faster and more space-efficient for pangenome queries. Its fastest mode uses half the memory of Movi 1 while running ~30% faster. github.com/mohsenzakeri...
Reposted by Harry Chown
OK, here it is. Come work with me at the University of Liverpool making ALL THE AI models from ALL THE prokaryote pangenome data. Heck, we will make models from ALL the pangenomes, even eukaryotes!!! (link below👇) 1/4
September 25, 2025 at 9:49 AM
OK, here it is. Come work with me at the University of Liverpool making ALL THE AI models from ALL THE prokaryote pangenome data. Heck, we will make models from ALL the pangenomes, even eukaryotes!!! (link below👇) 1/4
Reposted by Harry Chown
Each year, @unibirmingham.bsky.social offers three scholarships to international students who wish to pursue a PhD in microbiology in my department, School of Biosciences.
Interested?
Deadline is 7th January 2026! Message any group leader in School of Biosciences to discuss your application
Interested?
Deadline is 7th January 2026! Message any group leader in School of Biosciences to discuss your application
September 25, 2025 at 12:07 PM
Each year, @unibirmingham.bsky.social offers three scholarships to international students who wish to pursue a PhD in microbiology in my department, School of Biosciences.
Interested?
Deadline is 7th January 2026! Message any group leader in School of Biosciences to discuss your application
Interested?
Deadline is 7th January 2026! Message any group leader in School of Biosciences to discuss your application
Reposted by Harry Chown
Heads up: ignore samtools dot org, similarly minimap2 dot com and likely others. It's owned by a known phishing site and while the binaries they offer look valid currently (but note they may be serving us different binaries to others), that could change.
Ie: it's not us (Samtools team)! Be warned
Ie: it's not us (Samtools team)! Be warned
September 15, 2025 at 8:40 AM
Heads up: ignore samtools dot org, similarly minimap2 dot com and likely others. It's owned by a known phishing site and while the binaries they offer look valid currently (but note they may be serving us different binaries to others), that could change.
Ie: it's not us (Samtools team)! Be warned
Ie: it's not us (Samtools team)! Be warned
Yesterday, after 11hrs cycling and 4hrs of breaks, I completed my "Tour de Fungi" — over 200km from London to Norwich — raising funds for @aspertrust.bsky.social and attending @bsmm-meeting.bsky.social. Thanks to all who’ve donated! Still time to give: justgiving.com/page/harry-chown-2
September 7, 2025 at 12:51 PM
Yesterday, after 11hrs cycling and 4hrs of breaks, I completed my "Tour de Fungi" — over 200km from London to Norwich — raising funds for @aspertrust.bsky.social and attending @bsmm-meeting.bsky.social. Thanks to all who’ve donated! Still time to give: justgiving.com/page/harry-chown-2
Last practice ride completed at the weekend. 162km from Carlisle to Glasgow 🎉 There's still time to donate!
In just a weeks time @chownbioinf.bsky.social is cycling over 200km to the @bsmm-meeting.bsky.social in Norwich, to raise money for @aspertrust.bsky.social
This is a huge feat, and for such a great cause. Please consider sponsoring Harry! www.justgiving.com/page/harry-c...
This is a huge feat, and for such a great cause. Please consider sponsoring Harry! www.justgiving.com/page/harry-c...
September 1, 2025 at 8:47 AM
Last practice ride completed at the weekend. 162km from Carlisle to Glasgow 🎉 There's still time to donate!
Reposted by Harry Chown
www.journalofinfection.com/article/S016... 🚨🚨🍄🍄 new research from Washington University Mycoses Group (WUMG) reveals that Invasive aspergillosis & mucormycosis show broad geographic distribution across the U.S. Regions with higher incidence report lower associated mortality. @fungaldoc.bsky.social
Geographic distribution and associated mortality of invasive aspergillosis and mucormycosis among Medicare enrollees in the United States (2008-2015)
Invasive aspergillosis and mucormycosis are widely distributed in the United States,
with certain regions experiencing significantly higher incidences. For invasive aspergillosis,
each increase of 5 c...
www.journalofinfection.com
August 4, 2025 at 12:32 PM
www.journalofinfection.com/article/S016... 🚨🚨🍄🍄 new research from Washington University Mycoses Group (WUMG) reveals that Invasive aspergillosis & mucormycosis show broad geographic distribution across the U.S. Regions with higher incidence report lower associated mortality. @fungaldoc.bsky.social