Pilhofer Lab 🦠❄️🔬
@pilhoferlab.bsky.social
Microbial cell-cell interactions | contractile injection systems | cytoskeleton | evolution | multiscale imaging | ETH Zürich
- run by lab members -
- run by lab members -
Pinned
Asgard archaea have actin - but what about microtubules? Where do they come from? 🧐 Our new paper www.cell.com/cell/fulltex... by @xujwet.bsky.social & @florianwollweber.bsky.social, in collaboration with the Schleper & Wieczorek labs, describes tiny Asgard microtubules! #TeamTomo #ArchaeaSky 1/6
Reposted by Pilhofer Lab 🦠❄️🔬
Open Postdoc position in our lab!
#actin #Huntingtin #cryoET #cellbio
If you enjoy working at the interface of cell biology, structural biology, and quantitative imaging, this could be an excellent fit.
ista.ac.at/en/job/postd...
Please share and feel free to reach out if there are questions!
#actin #Huntingtin #cryoET #cellbio
If you enjoy working at the interface of cell biology, structural biology, and quantitative imaging, this could be an excellent fit.
ista.ac.at/en/job/postd...
Please share and feel free to reach out if there are questions!
Postdoc Research Group Schur
The Schur lab at the Institute of Science and Technology Austria (ISTA) has an open postdoc position for a highly motivated candidate to be part of our ERC-funded project ActinID.
Our Group
...
ista.ac.at
February 13, 2026 at 3:50 PM
Open Postdoc position in our lab!
#actin #Huntingtin #cryoET #cellbio
If you enjoy working at the interface of cell biology, structural biology, and quantitative imaging, this could be an excellent fit.
ista.ac.at/en/job/postd...
Please share and feel free to reach out if there are questions!
#actin #Huntingtin #cryoET #cellbio
If you enjoy working at the interface of cell biology, structural biology, and quantitative imaging, this could be an excellent fit.
ista.ac.at/en/job/postd...
Please share and feel free to reach out if there are questions!
Reposted by Pilhofer Lab 🦠❄️🔬
New paper from my group in @science.org : "A small polymerase ribozyme that can synthesise itself and its complementary strand" www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
Outstanding work by @edogia.bsky.social
Outstanding work by @edogia.bsky.social
February 13, 2026 at 10:57 AM
New paper from my group in @science.org : "A small polymerase ribozyme that can synthesise itself and its complementary strand" www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
Outstanding work by @edogia.bsky.social
Outstanding work by @edogia.bsky.social
Reposted by Pilhofer Lab 🦠❄️🔬
The ISME20 abstract submission deadline has been extended to 22 February. Microbial ecologists worldwide are invited to submit abstracts for oral, short talk, or poster presentations and contribute to the ISME20 programme.
isme-microbes.org/isme20-abstr...
#ISME20 #MicrobialEcology
isme-microbes.org/isme20-abstr...
#ISME20 #MicrobialEcology
February 12, 2026 at 12:00 PM
The ISME20 abstract submission deadline has been extended to 22 February. Microbial ecologists worldwide are invited to submit abstracts for oral, short talk, or poster presentations and contribute to the ISME20 programme.
isme-microbes.org/isme20-abstr...
#ISME20 #MicrobialEcology
isme-microbes.org/isme20-abstr...
#ISME20 #MicrobialEcology
Reposted by Pilhofer Lab 🦠❄️🔬
Proud and excited to share our work with the community! Helen @helenfoster.bsky.social Foster et al. study how #cilia axonemes are built. 👀 Don't miss the gorgeous and insightful movies by @margotriggi.bsky.social, they really show our discoveries in full action!
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.6...
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.6...
February 9, 2026 at 8:03 PM
Proud and excited to share our work with the community! Helen @helenfoster.bsky.social Foster et al. study how #cilia axonemes are built. 👀 Don't miss the gorgeous and insightful movies by @margotriggi.bsky.social, they really show our discoveries in full action!
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.6...
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.6...
Reposted by Pilhofer Lab 🦠❄️🔬
Honored to be a finalist for the 2026 Blavanik Awards in the UK in Life Sciences. I’m grateful to past and present lab members, collaborators, colleagues and mentors, who made it possible. It’s even better to share this from
Vietnam while celebrating the Tet holidays with family.
Vietnam while celebrating the Tet holidays with family.
@kellythd-nguyen.bsky.social, Group Leader in the Structural Studies Division, has been announced as a Finalist in the 2026 Blavatnik Awards for her work on telomerase.
Congratulations to Kelly and to all the other Finalists!
Read more here: blavatnikawards.org/news/items/y...
#LMBintheNews
Congratulations to Kelly and to all the other Finalists!
Read more here: blavatnikawards.org/news/items/y...
#LMBintheNews
February 10, 2026 at 10:19 AM
Honored to be a finalist for the 2026 Blavanik Awards in the UK in Life Sciences. I’m grateful to past and present lab members, collaborators, colleagues and mentors, who made it possible. It’s even better to share this from
Vietnam while celebrating the Tet holidays with family.
Vietnam while celebrating the Tet holidays with family.
Reposted by Pilhofer Lab 🦠❄️🔬
Long in the making, but happy to present the Chlamydomonas chlororibosome!
Cryo-ET🔬reveals a large new domain on the small subunit, built from multiple extensions in conserved ribosomal proteins.
bioRxiv 📖: shorturl.at/q44tG
This suggests greater chlororibosome diversity than expected!
1/n 🧵
Cryo-ET🔬reveals a large new domain on the small subunit, built from multiple extensions in conserved ribosomal proteins.
bioRxiv 📖: shorturl.at/q44tG
This suggests greater chlororibosome diversity than expected!
1/n 🧵
February 10, 2026 at 8:35 AM
Long in the making, but happy to present the Chlamydomonas chlororibosome!
Cryo-ET🔬reveals a large new domain on the small subunit, built from multiple extensions in conserved ribosomal proteins.
bioRxiv 📖: shorturl.at/q44tG
This suggests greater chlororibosome diversity than expected!
1/n 🧵
Cryo-ET🔬reveals a large new domain on the small subunit, built from multiple extensions in conserved ribosomal proteins.
bioRxiv 📖: shorturl.at/q44tG
This suggests greater chlororibosome diversity than expected!
1/n 🧵
Reposted by Pilhofer Lab 🦠❄️🔬
We’re hiring: Research Group Leader in computational biology.
Are you generating more research ideas than you can explore? Lead cutting-edge AI & biology research at EMBL-EBI.
Apply by 11 April 2026: embl.wd103.myworkdayjobs.com/en-US/EMBL/j...
#ScienceCareers @ewaldlab.org @embl.org
Are you generating more research ideas than you can explore? Lead cutting-edge AI & biology research at EMBL-EBI.
Apply by 11 April 2026: embl.wd103.myworkdayjobs.com/en-US/EMBL/j...
#ScienceCareers @ewaldlab.org @embl.org
February 10, 2026 at 11:31 AM
We’re hiring: Research Group Leader in computational biology.
Are you generating more research ideas than you can explore? Lead cutting-edge AI & biology research at EMBL-EBI.
Apply by 11 April 2026: embl.wd103.myworkdayjobs.com/en-US/EMBL/j...
#ScienceCareers @ewaldlab.org @embl.org
Are you generating more research ideas than you can explore? Lead cutting-edge AI & biology research at EMBL-EBI.
Apply by 11 April 2026: embl.wd103.myworkdayjobs.com/en-US/EMBL/j...
#ScienceCareers @ewaldlab.org @embl.org
Reposted by Pilhofer Lab 🦠❄️🔬
Postdoc position on Asgard archaea in Thiago’s new lab for someone well trained in biochemistry, cloning, and protein purification:
international.au.dk/about/profil...
international.au.dk/about/profil...
Postdoc in Archaea Microbiology - Vacancy at Aarhus University
Vacancy at Department of Biology - Microbiology, Aarhus University
international.au.dk
February 10, 2026 at 2:36 PM
Postdoc position on Asgard archaea in Thiago’s new lab for someone well trained in biochemistry, cloning, and protein purification:
international.au.dk/about/profil...
international.au.dk/about/profil...
Reposted by Pilhofer Lab 🦠❄️🔬
Preprint on the permeability of Gram+ bacterial cell wall from a few months ago. Intriguing findings, elegant methodology. Cell wall is largely impermeable to molecule sizes of mNeonGreen (27kDa) and above. How do larger secreted proteins get through? www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1... #microsky
www.biorxiv.org
February 9, 2026 at 11:30 AM
Preprint on the permeability of Gram+ bacterial cell wall from a few months ago. Intriguing findings, elegant methodology. Cell wall is largely impermeable to molecule sizes of mNeonGreen (27kDa) and above. How do larger secreted proteins get through? www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1... #microsky
Reposted by Pilhofer Lab 🦠❄️🔬
Up to 15-fold improvement in protein labeling for DNA-PAINT 🧬🔬. We are excited to present our latest work published in @angewandtechemie.bsky.social!
onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/...
onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/...
Dynamic Binder Exchange Improves Protein Labeling Efficiency in DNA‐PAINT up to 15‐Fold
Dynamic Binder Exchange (DyBE) leverages transient binder–target interactions to enhance labeling efficiency by up to 15-fold in super-resolution microscopy. DyBE maps nanoscale receptor tyrosine kin...
onlinelibrary.wiley.com
February 7, 2026 at 8:52 AM
Up to 15-fold improvement in protein labeling for DNA-PAINT 🧬🔬. We are excited to present our latest work published in @angewandtechemie.bsky.social!
onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/...
onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/...
Reposted by Pilhofer Lab 🦠❄️🔬
Extremophile alert!
Registration is OPEN for the 2026 EMBO Archaeal workshop in Cambridge.
Spaces are limited, so register soon with an abstract if you’d like to give a talk.
If you can’t come in person, we are welcoming virtual attendees. So join us online where all talks will be screened!
Registration is OPEN for the 2026 EMBO Archaeal workshop in Cambridge.
Spaces are limited, so register soon with an abstract if you’d like to give a talk.
If you can’t come in person, we are welcoming virtual attendees. So join us online where all talks will be screened!
Sign up now for the EMBO Workshop "#MolecularBiology of #Archaea: Life Through the Prism of Archaea" in Cambridge, UK, 6–10 July 2026.
Deadline: 15 April
https://meetings.embo.org/event/26-archaea
#EMBOArchaeaBiology #EMBOevents #CellBiology #StructuralBiology #ecology #evolution #biophysics 🧪
Deadline: 15 April
https://meetings.embo.org/event/26-archaea
#EMBOArchaeaBiology #EMBOevents #CellBiology #StructuralBiology #ecology #evolution #biophysics 🧪
February 5, 2026 at 3:58 PM
Extremophile alert!
Registration is OPEN for the 2026 EMBO Archaeal workshop in Cambridge.
Spaces are limited, so register soon with an abstract if you’d like to give a talk.
If you can’t come in person, we are welcoming virtual attendees. So join us online where all talks will be screened!
Registration is OPEN for the 2026 EMBO Archaeal workshop in Cambridge.
Spaces are limited, so register soon with an abstract if you’d like to give a talk.
If you can’t come in person, we are welcoming virtual attendees. So join us online where all talks will be screened!
Reposted by Pilhofer Lab 🦠❄️🔬
🌀 How do spirochete bacteria swim through thick fluids like champions?
We solved T. denticola flagella structure - asymmetric proteins expand one side, compress the other for perfect corkscrew motion!
@debnathghosal.bsky.social
🔗 doi.org/10.64898/202...
#StructuralBiology #CryoEM #Microbiology
We solved T. denticola flagella structure - asymmetric proteins expand one side, compress the other for perfect corkscrew motion!
@debnathghosal.bsky.social
🔗 doi.org/10.64898/202...
#StructuralBiology #CryoEM #Microbiology
February 5, 2026 at 6:37 AM
🌀 How do spirochete bacteria swim through thick fluids like champions?
We solved T. denticola flagella structure - asymmetric proteins expand one side, compress the other for perfect corkscrew motion!
@debnathghosal.bsky.social
🔗 doi.org/10.64898/202...
#StructuralBiology #CryoEM #Microbiology
We solved T. denticola flagella structure - asymmetric proteins expand one side, compress the other for perfect corkscrew motion!
@debnathghosal.bsky.social
🔗 doi.org/10.64898/202...
#StructuralBiology #CryoEM #Microbiology
Reposted by Pilhofer Lab 🦠❄️🔬
New preprint: “Proteomic stress response by a novel methanogen enriched from the Great Salt Lake”, first author William Christian. TLDR: we enriched a novel, euryarchaeotal, methyl-dismutating methanogen that grows at 16% salinity. biorxiv.org/content/10.64898/2026.01.29.702513v2 🧵 🦠 #microsky
February 3, 2026 at 4:37 PM
New preprint: “Proteomic stress response by a novel methanogen enriched from the Great Salt Lake”, first author William Christian. TLDR: we enriched a novel, euryarchaeotal, methyl-dismutating methanogen that grows at 16% salinity. biorxiv.org/content/10.64898/2026.01.29.702513v2 🧵 🦠 #microsky
Reposted by Pilhofer Lab 🦠❄️🔬
Apply now! The 2026 call for the EMBO Installation Grants Programme is now open with a deadline of 15 April 12:00 midday CEST. 🧪
More information can be found here:
https://www.embo.org/funding/fellowships-grants-and-career-support/installation-grants/
#LifeSciences #research #funding
More information can be found here:
https://www.embo.org/funding/fellowships-grants-and-career-support/installation-grants/
#LifeSciences #research #funding
February 4, 2026 at 7:10 AM
Apply now! The 2026 call for the EMBO Installation Grants Programme is now open with a deadline of 15 April 12:00 midday CEST. 🧪
More information can be found here:
https://www.embo.org/funding/fellowships-grants-and-career-support/installation-grants/
#LifeSciences #research #funding
More information can be found here:
https://www.embo.org/funding/fellowships-grants-and-career-support/installation-grants/
#LifeSciences #research #funding
Reposted by Pilhofer Lab 🦠❄️🔬
Apply now! The 2026 call for the EMBO Young Investigator Programme is now open with a deadline of 1 April 12:00 midday CEST. 🧪
More info here:
https://www.embo.org/funding/fellowships-grants-and-career-support/young-investigator-programme/
#LifeSciences #research #funding
More info here:
https://www.embo.org/funding/fellowships-grants-and-career-support/young-investigator-programme/
#LifeSciences #research #funding
February 2, 2026 at 9:15 AM
Apply now! The 2026 call for the EMBO Young Investigator Programme is now open with a deadline of 1 April 12:00 midday CEST. 🧪
More info here:
https://www.embo.org/funding/fellowships-grants-and-career-support/young-investigator-programme/
#LifeSciences #research #funding
More info here:
https://www.embo.org/funding/fellowships-grants-and-career-support/young-investigator-programme/
#LifeSciences #research #funding
Reposted by Pilhofer Lab 🦠❄️🔬
Join us on Monday 9 February to discuss how important microbes are for our planet, with our guest Prof Shinichi Sunagawa @ethz.ch.
Registration: www.meetup.com/meetup-group-wfwyoubr
Registration: www.meetup.com/meetup-group-wfwyoubr
February 2, 2026 at 11:10 AM
Join us on Monday 9 February to discuss how important microbes are for our planet, with our guest Prof Shinichi Sunagawa @ethz.ch.
Registration: www.meetup.com/meetup-group-wfwyoubr
Registration: www.meetup.com/meetup-group-wfwyoubr
Reposted by Pilhofer Lab 🦠❄️🔬
Excited to share this detailed biophysical study of #PhaseSeparation in the Pyrenoid, an algal microcompartment that fixes a third of the Earth's #CO2 🌏. We combine methods across scales, in vitro 🧪 and in vivo 🦠
Thanks for the very fun collaboration! 🤗
#PlantScience 🌾 #TeamTomo 🔬 #LivingPhysics 🧬🧶
Thanks for the very fun collaboration! 🤗
#PlantScience 🌾 #TeamTomo 🔬 #LivingPhysics 🧬🧶
How does molecular valency shape condensate assembly and function? We used the CO2-fixing organelle in algae—the pyrenoid—to find out… 🧵
Preprint here!:
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.6...
@cellarchlab.com @phaips.vd.st @biologyatyork.bsky.social
#Rubisco #PhaseSeparation #Condensates #Pyrenoid
Preprint here!:
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.6...
@cellarchlab.com @phaips.vd.st @biologyatyork.bsky.social
#Rubisco #PhaseSeparation #Condensates #Pyrenoid
January 30, 2026 at 3:50 PM
Excited to share this detailed biophysical study of #PhaseSeparation in the Pyrenoid, an algal microcompartment that fixes a third of the Earth's #CO2 🌏. We combine methods across scales, in vitro 🧪 and in vivo 🦠
Thanks for the very fun collaboration! 🤗
#PlantScience 🌾 #TeamTomo 🔬 #LivingPhysics 🧬🧶
Thanks for the very fun collaboration! 🤗
#PlantScience 🌾 #TeamTomo 🔬 #LivingPhysics 🧬🧶
Reposted by Pilhofer Lab 🦠❄️🔬
New Article! Integrated fluorescence light microscopy-guided cryo-focused ion beam-milling for in situ montage cryo-ET
Integrated fluorescence light microscopy-guided cryo-focused ion beam-milling for in situ montage cryo-ET
Nature Protocols, Published online: 30 January 2026; doi:10.1038/s41596-025-01284-zA protocol for cryogenic 3D correlative focused ion beam milling using an integrated fluorescence light microscope and montage cryo-ET for nonadherent and adherent mammalian cells, as well as primary Drosophila melanogaster neurons.
dlvr.it
January 30, 2026 at 11:25 AM
New Article! Integrated fluorescence light microscopy-guided cryo-focused ion beam-milling for in situ montage cryo-ET
Reposted by Pilhofer Lab 🦠❄️🔬
The origin of eukaryotic cells continues to be one of the greatest mysteries in biology.
EMBL Grenoble is excited to welcome Florian Wollweber, who will use cutting-edge imaging techniques to study Asgard archaea — microbes closely related to our earliest ancestors. 🦠🔬
www.embl.org/news/people-...
EMBL Grenoble is excited to welcome Florian Wollweber, who will use cutting-edge imaging techniques to study Asgard archaea — microbes closely related to our earliest ancestors. 🦠🔬
www.embl.org/news/people-...
January 28, 2026 at 10:56 AM
The origin of eukaryotic cells continues to be one of the greatest mysteries in biology.
EMBL Grenoble is excited to welcome Florian Wollweber, who will use cutting-edge imaging techniques to study Asgard archaea — microbes closely related to our earliest ancestors. 🦠🔬
www.embl.org/news/people-...
EMBL Grenoble is excited to welcome Florian Wollweber, who will use cutting-edge imaging techniques to study Asgard archaea — microbes closely related to our earliest ancestors. 🦠🔬
www.embl.org/news/people-...
Reposted by Pilhofer Lab 🦠❄️🔬
Our paper on the structural and functional basis of the human dimeric OS9–SEL1L–HRD1 ERAD complex, together with @qilabuva.bsky.social, is now out! Huge congratulations to Leo, Emir, and Elina!
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
January 27, 2026 at 8:24 PM
Our paper on the structural and functional basis of the human dimeric OS9–SEL1L–HRD1 ERAD complex, together with @qilabuva.bsky.social, is now out! Huge congratulations to Leo, Emir, and Elina!
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
Reposted by Pilhofer Lab 🦠❄️🔬
New on the CryoET Data Portal: ~27,000 tomograms of affinity-captured lysosomes from HEK293T cells across 4 physiological states. Includes raw data, AreTomo3 reconstructions & Membrain-Seg annotations. Openly available for reuse!
cryoetdataportal.czscience.com/depositions/...
cryoetdataportal.czscience.com/depositions/...
January 27, 2026 at 7:59 PM
New on the CryoET Data Portal: ~27,000 tomograms of affinity-captured lysosomes from HEK293T cells across 4 physiological states. Includes raw data, AreTomo3 reconstructions & Membrain-Seg annotations. Openly available for reuse!
cryoetdataportal.czscience.com/depositions/...
cryoetdataportal.czscience.com/depositions/...
Reposted by Pilhofer Lab 🦠❄️🔬
A reminder to sign up for the 2026 EMBO archaeal meeting im Cambridge: meetings.embo.org/event/26-arc.... Registration is open. We are looking forward to hosting you!
Molecular Biology of Archaea: Life Through the Prism of Archaea
In 1977, Woese and colleagues revealed Archaea as a distinct domain of life. Building on this insight, the discovery of Asgard archaea has strengthened the view that many hallmarks of eukaryotic cell…
meetings.embo.org
January 23, 2026 at 8:15 AM
A reminder to sign up for the 2026 EMBO archaeal meeting im Cambridge: meetings.embo.org/event/26-arc.... Registration is open. We are looking forward to hosting you!
Reposted by Pilhofer Lab 🦠❄️🔬
A new paper from the lab on virus-like particles called eCISs www.nature.com/articles/s41...
How bacteria evolved thousands of precision nanoinjectors?
Some bacteria don’t secrete toxins — they inject them using phage-derived machines called extracellular contractile injection systems (eCISs).
How bacteria evolved thousands of precision nanoinjectors?
Some bacteria don’t secrete toxins — they inject them using phage-derived machines called extracellular contractile injection systems (eCISs).
A comprehensive catalogue of receptor-binding domains in extracellular contractile injection systems - Nature Communications
Extracellular contractile injection systems (eCISs) are bacteriophage tail-derived toxin delivery complexes that are present in many prokaryotes. Here, the authors present an analysis of eCIS tail fib...
www.nature.com
January 26, 2026 at 1:26 PM
A new paper from the lab on virus-like particles called eCISs www.nature.com/articles/s41...
How bacteria evolved thousands of precision nanoinjectors?
Some bacteria don’t secrete toxins — they inject them using phage-derived machines called extracellular contractile injection systems (eCISs).
How bacteria evolved thousands of precision nanoinjectors?
Some bacteria don’t secrete toxins — they inject them using phage-derived machines called extracellular contractile injection systems (eCISs).
Reposted by Pilhofer Lab 🦠❄️🔬
SAVE THE DATE!
The next instalment of the long-running Bacterial and Archaeal Cell Division Conference will take place at www.marriott.com/en-us/hotels..., Italy from the 20th to 23rd of April 2027.
Organisers: me, @s-lab.bsky.social, @awehenkel.bsky.social.
More info soon.
#MicroSky
The next instalment of the long-running Bacterial and Archaeal Cell Division Conference will take place at www.marriott.com/en-us/hotels..., Italy from the 20th to 23rd of April 2027.
Organisers: me, @s-lab.bsky.social, @awehenkel.bsky.social.
More info soon.
#MicroSky
www.marriott.com
January 26, 2026 at 1:14 PM
SAVE THE DATE!
The next instalment of the long-running Bacterial and Archaeal Cell Division Conference will take place at www.marriott.com/en-us/hotels..., Italy from the 20th to 23rd of April 2027.
Organisers: me, @s-lab.bsky.social, @awehenkel.bsky.social.
More info soon.
#MicroSky
The next instalment of the long-running Bacterial and Archaeal Cell Division Conference will take place at www.marriott.com/en-us/hotels..., Italy from the 20th to 23rd of April 2027.
Organisers: me, @s-lab.bsky.social, @awehenkel.bsky.social.
More info soon.
#MicroSky
Reposted by Pilhofer Lab 🦠❄️🔬
www.findaphd.com/phds/project... interested in bacterial antagonism? PhD opportunity in our team, see below. Please repost!
Characterising antibacterial toxins in the food-borne pathogen Listeria monocytogenes at Newcastle University on FindAPhD.com
PhD Project - Characterising antibacterial toxins in the food-borne pathogen Listeria monocytogenes at Newcastle University, listed on FindAPhD.com
www.findaphd.com
January 23, 2026 at 10:33 AM
www.findaphd.com/phds/project... interested in bacterial antagonism? PhD opportunity in our team, see below. Please repost!