Fabienne Benz
@fabbenz.bsky.social
Working on the spread of antibiotic-resistance plasmids and the role of plasmid-encoded CRISPR-Cas currently postdoc @institut pasteur previously phd @ ETH
Reposted by Fabienne Benz
Hot off the press! Our latest paper led by @fernpizza.bsky.social, understanding how plasmids evolve inside cells. These small, self-replicating DNA circles live inside bacteria and carry antibiotic resistance genes, but also compete with one another to replicate. 1/
www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
Intracellular competition shapes plasmid population dynamics
From populations of multicellular organisms to selfish genetic elements, conflicts between levels of biological organization are central to evolution. Plasmids are extrachromosomal, self-replicating g...
www.science.org
November 20, 2025 at 9:42 PM
Hot off the press! Our latest paper led by @fernpizza.bsky.social, understanding how plasmids evolve inside cells. These small, self-replicating DNA circles live inside bacteria and carry antibiotic resistance genes, but also compete with one another to replicate. 1/
www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
Reposted by Fabienne Benz
PhD studentship opportunity! Join us at St Andrews to study the factors controlling plasmid transmission in the gut. Competition-funded as part of the EASTBIO DTP, co-supervised with Dr Jaclyn Pearson. Please share & pass on to anyone interested! 🦠🧫 Deadline 15th December👇
www.findaphd.com
November 18, 2025 at 11:41 AM
PhD studentship opportunity! Join us at St Andrews to study the factors controlling plasmid transmission in the gut. Competition-funded as part of the EASTBIO DTP, co-supervised with Dr Jaclyn Pearson. Please share & pass on to anyone interested! 🦠🧫 Deadline 15th December👇
Reposted by Fabienne Benz
🚨#PhD studentship opportunity! Plasmids provide bacteria with antimicrobial resistance, but do they have more fundamental effects on behaviour? 🧫🦠💫🧟♂️
Apply for a 4y funded MRC DiMeN position with me and Jamie Wheeler @livuni-ives.bsky.social www.findaphd.com/phds/project...
Apply for a 4y funded MRC DiMeN position with me and Jamie Wheeler @livuni-ives.bsky.social www.findaphd.com/phds/project...
MRC DiMeN Doctoral Training Partnership: Resistant zombies: how drug-resistance plasmids manipulate the behaviour of the opportunistic pathogen Pseudomonas aeruginosa at University of Liverpool on Fin...
PhD Project - MRC DiMeN Doctoral Training Partnership: Resistant zombies: how drug-resistance plasmids manipulate the behaviour of the opportunistic pathogen Pseudomonas aeruginosa at University of Li...
www.findaphd.com
November 18, 2025 at 9:38 AM
🚨#PhD studentship opportunity! Plasmids provide bacteria with antimicrobial resistance, but do they have more fundamental effects on behaviour? 🧫🦠💫🧟♂️
Apply for a 4y funded MRC DiMeN position with me and Jamie Wheeler @livuni-ives.bsky.social www.findaphd.com/phds/project...
Apply for a 4y funded MRC DiMeN position with me and Jamie Wheeler @livuni-ives.bsky.social www.findaphd.com/phds/project...
Reposted by Fabienne Benz
Can we exploit past phage infection events (prophages) to decipher the specificity of phage receptor-binding proteins such as depolymerases?🔎 Happy to share our recent work at @natcomms.nature.com 🔽 #microsky #phagesky
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
Unlocking data in Klebsiella lysogens to predict capsular type-specificity of phage depolymerases - Nature Communications
Here, the authors exploit the genetic information encoded in Klebsiella prophages to model the interplay between bacteria, prophages, and their depolymerases, using a directed acyclic graph-model and a sequence clustering-based model.
www.nature.com
October 8, 2025 at 8:59 AM
Can we exploit past phage infection events (prophages) to decipher the specificity of phage receptor-binding proteins such as depolymerases?🔎 Happy to share our recent work at @natcomms.nature.com 🔽 #microsky #phagesky
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
Reposted by Fabienne Benz
Come and be my colleague at the Dunn School! It‘s a brilliant place to work and exciting to be building up our immunology team. Do apply. Do pass on the news 💉🧬🦠🔬🧫
We're hiring (again)!
We are looking for an associate professor in cell and molecular biology, with a particular focus on immunology (defined broadly)
If you have a great record and exciting plans, consider joining our thriving and welcoming department
www.path.ox.ac.uk/vacancy/asso...
We are looking for an associate professor in cell and molecular biology, with a particular focus on immunology (defined broadly)
If you have a great record and exciting plans, consider joining our thriving and welcoming department
www.path.ox.ac.uk/vacancy/asso...
September 10, 2025 at 8:11 PM
Come and be my colleague at the Dunn School! It‘s a brilliant place to work and exciting to be building up our immunology team. Do apply. Do pass on the news 💉🧬🦠🔬🧫
Reposted by Fabienne Benz
Exciting times ahead!
Today marks the first day of the Loeff Lab at Leiden University Medical Center in the Netherlands 🇳🇱. I’m thrilled to begin this new adventure and continue exploring microbial defense mechanisms and their applications through an integrative structural biology approach.
Today marks the first day of the Loeff Lab at Leiden University Medical Center in the Netherlands 🇳🇱. I’m thrilled to begin this new adventure and continue exploring microbial defense mechanisms and their applications through an integrative structural biology approach.
August 18, 2025 at 2:54 PM
Exciting times ahead!
Today marks the first day of the Loeff Lab at Leiden University Medical Center in the Netherlands 🇳🇱. I’m thrilled to begin this new adventure and continue exploring microbial defense mechanisms and their applications through an integrative structural biology approach.
Today marks the first day of the Loeff Lab at Leiden University Medical Center in the Netherlands 🇳🇱. I’m thrilled to begin this new adventure and continue exploring microbial defense mechanisms and their applications through an integrative structural biology approach.
Reposted by Fabienne Benz
Happy to finally share this! Read here about the best strategy the the persistence of low-copy plasmids. @mariosanter.bsky.social @iwangtoknow.bsky.social doi.org/10.1038/s414...
The combination of active partitioning and toxin-antitoxin systems is most advantageous for low-copy plasmid fitness - Nature Communications
Effe et al. evaluate how specific plasmid traits influence plasmid fitness; they provide mechanistic insight into the persistence of large conjugative plasmids, including those that disseminate antibi...
doi.org
August 3, 2025 at 10:46 AM
Happy to finally share this! Read here about the best strategy the the persistence of low-copy plasmids. @mariosanter.bsky.social @iwangtoknow.bsky.social doi.org/10.1038/s414...
Reposted by Fabienne Benz
Do plasmids evolve faster 🐇, slower 🐢, or just like chromosomes 🧬?
In our new paper, we tackled this question using theory, simulations, bioinformatics, and experiments!
👇 Check out all the details in Paula’s thread!
Hint: 🐇 (most of the time)
In our new paper, we tackled this question using theory, simulations, bioinformatics, and experiments!
👇 Check out all the details in Paula’s thread!
Hint: 🐇 (most of the time)
July 22, 2025 at 3:05 PM
Do plasmids evolve faster 🐇, slower 🐢, or just like chromosomes 🧬?
In our new paper, we tackled this question using theory, simulations, bioinformatics, and experiments!
👇 Check out all the details in Paula’s thread!
Hint: 🐇 (most of the time)
In our new paper, we tackled this question using theory, simulations, bioinformatics, and experiments!
👇 Check out all the details in Paula’s thread!
Hint: 🐇 (most of the time)
Reposted by Fabienne Benz
Excited 🥳 to share our latest work on gut phages!
Big thanks to @epcrocha.bsky.social, Erick D, Camille d'H, @fplazaonate.bsky.social, Quentin LB, and all others involved for support and contributions! 🙌
Out in Cell Reports @cp-cellreports.bsky.social
doi.org/10.1016/j.ce...
Here's what we found 🤓
Big thanks to @epcrocha.bsky.social, Erick D, Camille d'H, @fplazaonate.bsky.social, Quentin LB, and all others involved for support and contributions! 🙌
Out in Cell Reports @cp-cellreports.bsky.social
doi.org/10.1016/j.ce...
Here's what we found 🤓
July 28, 2025 at 8:41 AM
Excited 🥳 to share our latest work on gut phages!
Big thanks to @epcrocha.bsky.social, Erick D, Camille d'H, @fplazaonate.bsky.social, Quentin LB, and all others involved for support and contributions! 🙌
Out in Cell Reports @cp-cellreports.bsky.social
doi.org/10.1016/j.ce...
Here's what we found 🤓
Big thanks to @epcrocha.bsky.social, Erick D, Camille d'H, @fplazaonate.bsky.social, Quentin LB, and all others involved for support and contributions! 🙌
Out in Cell Reports @cp-cellreports.bsky.social
doi.org/10.1016/j.ce...
Here's what we found 🤓
Reposted by Fabienne Benz
Due to some server issues, some applications have been lost, particularly the ones submitted within 12h of the announcement, if that’s your case, it’s better to resubmit, sorry everyone 🙏🏻
I am super excited to announce that I will be starting my lab at the Department of Pharmacology of the University of Zurich in Switzerland next year!
July 26, 2025 at 1:50 PM
Due to some server issues, some applications have been lost, particularly the ones submitted within 12h of the announcement, if that’s your case, it’s better to resubmit, sorry everyone 🙏🏻
Reposted by Fabienne Benz
Here's our new broad review on the extended mobility of plasmids, about all mechanisms driving and limiting their transfer. From conjugation to conduction, phage-plasmids to hitchers, molecular to evolutionary dynamics, ecology to biotech. The state of affairs. 1/9 academic.oup.com/nar/article/...
July 23, 2025 at 7:35 AM
Here's our new broad review on the extended mobility of plasmids, about all mechanisms driving and limiting their transfer. From conjugation to conduction, phage-plasmids to hitchers, molecular to evolutionary dynamics, ecology to biotech. The state of affairs. 1/9 academic.oup.com/nar/article/...
Reposted by Fabienne Benz
🚨🚨New paper out in @natcomms.nature.com!!
Come for the first large-scale analysis of plasmid copy number across species,
stay for one of the most intriguing results of my lab: universal scaling laws in plasmid biology! 📈🧬
👉 www.nature.com/articles/s41...
Come for the first large-scale analysis of plasmid copy number across species,
stay for one of the most intriguing results of my lab: universal scaling laws in plasmid biology! 📈🧬
👉 www.nature.com/articles/s41...
Universal rules govern plasmid copy number - Nature Communications
Plasmids exhibit a broad range of sizes and copies per cell, and these two parameters appear to be negatively correlated. Here, Ramiro-Martínez et al. analyse the copy number of thousands of diverse b...
www.nature.com
July 2, 2025 at 11:08 AM
🚨🚨New paper out in @natcomms.nature.com!!
Come for the first large-scale analysis of plasmid copy number across species,
stay for one of the most intriguing results of my lab: universal scaling laws in plasmid biology! 📈🧬
👉 www.nature.com/articles/s41...
Come for the first large-scale analysis of plasmid copy number across species,
stay for one of the most intriguing results of my lab: universal scaling laws in plasmid biology! 📈🧬
👉 www.nature.com/articles/s41...
Reposted by Fabienne Benz
I created a list of researchers working at the @institutpasteur.bsky.social
DM me if you'd like to be added to it.
bsky.app/profile/did:...
DM me if you'd like to be added to it.
bsky.app/profile/did:...
June 25, 2025 at 3:32 PM
I created a list of researchers working at the @institutpasteur.bsky.social
DM me if you'd like to be added to it.
bsky.app/profile/did:...
DM me if you'd like to be added to it.
bsky.app/profile/did:...
Reposted by Fabienne Benz
The BIGSdb-Pasteur project, running under my supervision since 20 years, is looking for a project manager - great opportunity to contribute to this high-profile international resource in the field of reference strain taxonomies, genomic epidemiology and antimicrobial resistance surveillance
Project manager: Genomic taxonomy of bacterial strains, epidemiological surveillance and antimicrobial resistance - Research
We are looking for a project manager to develop our activities around the genomic taxonomy of bacterial strains and the corresponding platform at https://bigsdb.pasteur.fr/. The project manager’s main...
research.pasteur.fr
June 12, 2025 at 2:46 PM
The BIGSdb-Pasteur project, running under my supervision since 20 years, is looking for a project manager - great opportunity to contribute to this high-profile international resource in the field of reference strain taxonomies, genomic epidemiology and antimicrobial resistance surveillance
‼️ Great Postdoc opportunity ‼️
In pathogen interactions with Rolf Kümmerli at the University of Zurich
In pathogen interactions with Rolf Kümmerli at the University of Zurich
We are looking for a highly motivated postdoc to work on pathogen interactions. Please send in your application via
jobs.uzh.ch/job-vacancie...
jobs.uzh.ch/job-vacancie...
UZH: Postdoctoral researcher in microbiology
The Department of Quantitative Biomedicine is an interdisciplinary biomedical research unit that combines basic science with biotechnological and medical research, using both experimental and computat...
jobs.uzh.ch
June 11, 2025 at 2:36 PM
‼️ Great Postdoc opportunity ‼️
In pathogen interactions with Rolf Kümmerli at the University of Zurich
In pathogen interactions with Rolf Kümmerli at the University of Zurich
Reposted by Fabienne Benz
Working on #klebsiella genomes? ✅
Want to collaborate globally to advance Klebs genomic epi? ✅
Please join us via the KlebNET-GSP Epidemiology consortium ⬇️
#microsky #AMR
Want to collaborate globally to advance Klebs genomic epi? ✅
Please join us via the KlebNET-GSP Epidemiology consortium ⬇️
#microsky #AMR
We are pleased to launch the KlebNET Genomic Epidemiology Consortium!
We aim to build a public metadata repository; systematic risk framework for global genomic surveillance; and genomic epi reviews for high-impact #Klebsiella clones.
Join us here:
klebnet.org/klebnet-gsp-...
#ABPHM25
We aim to build a public metadata repository; systematic risk framework for global genomic surveillance; and genomic epi reviews for high-impact #Klebsiella clones.
Join us here:
klebnet.org/klebnet-gsp-...
#ABPHM25
KlebNET-GSP
klebnet.org
May 22, 2025 at 1:55 AM
Working on #klebsiella genomes? ✅
Want to collaborate globally to advance Klebs genomic epi? ✅
Please join us via the KlebNET-GSP Epidemiology consortium ⬇️
#microsky #AMR
Want to collaborate globally to advance Klebs genomic epi? ✅
Please join us via the KlebNET-GSP Epidemiology consortium ⬇️
#microsky #AMR
Reposted by Fabienne Benz
I will be recruiting new postdocs with start dates end 2025 - early 2026. If you'd like to work at the Pasteur Institute in the heart of Paris surrounded by amazing scientists, reach out to discuss possible projects on SynBio / Bacterial Immunity!
May 18, 2025 at 3:20 PM
I will be recruiting new postdocs with start dates end 2025 - early 2026. If you'd like to work at the Pasteur Institute in the heart of Paris surrounded by amazing scientists, reach out to discuss possible projects on SynBio / Bacterial Immunity!
Reposted by Fabienne Benz
Very happy to have this comprehensive review published. Well done Fabienne for leading the charge on this 👏
ICYMI: CRISPR–Cas therapies targeting bacteria
May 15, 2025 at 2:54 PM
Very happy to have this comprehensive review published. Well done Fabienne for leading the charge on this 👏
Reposted by Fabienne Benz
Massive effort lead by the amazing @fabbenz.bsky.social to discuss the present and future of CRISPR-based antimicrobials ⚡
ICYMI: CRISPR–Cas therapies targeting bacteria
CRISPR–Cas therapies targeting bacteria
Nature Reviews Bioengineering, Published online: 13 May 2025; doi:10.1038/s44222-025-00311-8CRISPR–Cas tools can be designed to kill or modify specific bacteria. This Review explores the engineering of CRISPR–Cas tools and corresponding delivery strategies for the treatment of bacterial infections and modification of the microbiome.
www.nature.com
May 15, 2025 at 8:36 AM
Massive effort lead by the amazing @fabbenz.bsky.social to discuss the present and future of CRISPR-based antimicrobials ⚡
Reposted by Fabienne Benz
Reposted by Fabienne Benz
An excellent and insightful review! Congratulations to all authors!
ICYMI: CRISPR–Cas therapies targeting bacteria
May 15, 2025 at 8:01 AM
An excellent and insightful review! Congratulations to all authors!
ICYMI: CRISPR–Cas therapies targeting bacteria
CRISPR–Cas therapies targeting bacteria
Nature Reviews Bioengineering, Published online: 13 May 2025; doi:10.1038/s44222-025-00311-8CRISPR–Cas tools can be designed to kill or modify specific bacteria. This Review explores the engineering of CRISPR–Cas tools and corresponding delivery strategies for the treatment of bacterial infections and modification of the microbiome.
www.nature.com
May 15, 2025 at 6:53 AM
Reposted by Fabienne Benz
Heey! ✋
If you missed the live session of the ISPB Virtual Seminar Series, there's still time to catch up and enjoy the great work of Zhengqing Zhou and Alicia Calvo Villamañán.
Huge thanks to the speakers and the organizers!! 🫂
If you missed the live session of the ISPB Virtual Seminar Series, there's still time to catch up and enjoy the great work of Zhengqing Zhou and Alicia Calvo Villamañán.
Huge thanks to the speakers and the organizers!! 🫂
May 14, 2025 at 8:31 PM
Heey! ✋
If you missed the live session of the ISPB Virtual Seminar Series, there's still time to catch up and enjoy the great work of Zhengqing Zhou and Alicia Calvo Villamañán.
Huge thanks to the speakers and the organizers!! 🫂
If you missed the live session of the ISPB Virtual Seminar Series, there's still time to catch up and enjoy the great work of Zhengqing Zhou and Alicia Calvo Villamañán.
Huge thanks to the speakers and the organizers!! 🫂
Reposted by Fabienne Benz
#NatureMicroPicks
Microbial integrons in focus 🦠🧬
Two studies showing microbial integrons encoding phage defense systems
#MicroSky
www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
Microbial integrons in focus 🦠🧬
Two studies showing microbial integrons encoding phage defense systems
#MicroSky
www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
Mobile integrons encode phage defense systems
Integrons are bacterial genetic elements that capture, stockpile, and modulate the expression of genes encoded in integron cassettes. Mobile integrons (MIs) are borne on plasmids, acting as a vehicle ...
www.science.org
May 14, 2025 at 3:55 PM
#NatureMicroPicks
Microbial integrons in focus 🦠🧬
Two studies showing microbial integrons encoding phage defense systems
#MicroSky
www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
Microbial integrons in focus 🦠🧬
Two studies showing microbial integrons encoding phage defense systems
#MicroSky
www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...