STCmicrobeblog
@stcmicrobeblog.bsky.social
A blog that aims to share appreciation for the width & depth of microbial activities.
Posts by Christoph, not necessarily the opinion of all team members of Small Things Considered (STC) https://smallthingsconsidered.blog/
Posts by Christoph, not necessarily the opinion of all team members of Small Things Considered (STC) https://smallthingsconsidered.blog/
𝘐𝘯𝘤𝘦𝘯𝘥𝘪𝘢𝘮𝘰𝘦𝘣𝘢 𝘤𝘢𝘴𝘤𝘢𝘥𝘦𝘯𝘴𝘪𝘴 at 63°C 🔥 sure enough, wheels on fire... and faaast like the ayrton senna of amoebae
November 25, 2025 at 9:01 PM
𝘐𝘯𝘤𝘦𝘯𝘥𝘪𝘢𝘮𝘰𝘦𝘣𝘢 𝘤𝘢𝘴𝘤𝘢𝘥𝘦𝘯𝘴𝘪𝘴 at 63°C 🔥 sure enough, wheels on fire... and faaast like the ayrton senna of amoebae
(bacterial) chromosome segregationists & SMC aficionadas/os take note 👇
(stephan, you can bypass the obstacle of tagging your post with #MicroSky yourself, easily. just do it, unhinged 🙂)
(stephan, you can bypass the obstacle of tagging your post with #MicroSky yourself, easily. just do it, unhinged 🙂)
The hinge bypass gate paper is finally out! doi.org/10.1038/s414...
We show how loop-extruding SMC complexes can maintain DNA entrapment while bypassing obstacles on DNA — including transcription machinery & potentially other SMCs.
A lucky convergence of 3 projects lead to the initial discovery!
We show how loop-extruding SMC complexes can maintain DNA entrapment while bypassing obstacles on DNA — including transcription machinery & potentially other SMCs.
A lucky convergence of 3 projects lead to the initial discovery!
The SMC Hinge is a Selective Gate for Obstacle Bypass - Nature Communications
SMC complexes are ring-shaped motors that fold DNA by extruding loops, but how they navigate large DNA obstacles is unclear. Here, Liu et al., show that SMC complexes bypass obstacles by threading obs...
doi.org
November 25, 2025 at 7:16 PM
(bacterial) chromosome segregationists & SMC aficionadas/os take note 👇
(stephan, you can bypass the obstacle of tagging your post with #MicroSky yourself, easily. just do it, unhinged 🙂)
(stephan, you can bypass the obstacle of tagging your post with #MicroSky yourself, easily. just do it, unhinged 🙂)
Reposted by STCmicrobeblog
Every biologist knows the story of Fleming's chance discovery of penicillin. But is it true?
Here, with @asimovpress.bsky.social, I write about inconsistencies in the canonical story, and explore a few alternative theories about what really happened in that St. Mary's lab in the summer of 1928.
Here, with @asimovpress.bsky.social, I write about inconsistencies in the canonical story, and explore a few alternative theories about what really happened in that St. Mary's lab in the summer of 1928.
The Penicillin Myth
Competing theories seek to explain inconsistencies surrounding Alexander Fleming’s famed discovery.
press.asimov.com
November 24, 2025 at 5:00 PM
Every biologist knows the story of Fleming's chance discovery of penicillin. But is it true?
Here, with @asimovpress.bsky.social, I write about inconsistencies in the canonical story, and explore a few alternative theories about what really happened in that St. Mary's lab in the summer of 1928.
Here, with @asimovpress.bsky.social, I write about inconsistencies in the canonical story, and explore a few alternative theories about what really happened in that St. Mary's lab in the summer of 1928.
ribosomologists (bacteria dept.) take note 👇
Evolutionary Flexibility of Ribosome Biogenesis in Bacteria | Molecular Biology and Evolution | Oxford Academic https://academic.oup.com/mbe/article/42/11/msaf288/8340222?login=false
Evolutionary Flexibility of Ribosome Biogenesis in Bacteria
Abstract. Ribosomes are essential for protein synthesis and require ribosome biogenesis factors for assembly. To uncover the evolutionary diversity of ribo
dx.doi.org
November 24, 2025 at 11:44 PM
ribosomologists (bacteria dept.) take note 👇
Reposted by STCmicrobeblog
While waiting for a new episode of #MattersMicrobial...I am #TWiMAdjacent once again! With bonus images of Jenny Quinn and her beloved aurora. It was such a fun session! Thanks to everyone at MicrobeTV: Vincent Racaniello, Michael Schmidt, Michele Swanson, and Petra Levin.
youtu.be/cweU4Nrxwks?...
youtu.be/cweU4Nrxwks?...
November 24, 2025 at 8:11 PM
While waiting for a new episode of #MattersMicrobial...I am #TWiMAdjacent once again! With bonus images of Jenny Quinn and her beloved aurora. It was such a fun session! Thanks to everyone at MicrobeTV: Vincent Racaniello, Michael Schmidt, Michele Swanson, and Petra Levin.
youtu.be/cweU4Nrxwks?...
youtu.be/cweU4Nrxwks?...
Reposted by STCmicrobeblog
do you enjoy traveling to islands? perhaps even volcanic islands? are you interested in microbiology? Then this old STC post might be of interest to you...
#MicroSky
#MicroSky
Island Stories and Venus's Hair
by Christoph — El Hierro is the last in a row of islands in the Canary archipelago, Atlantic Ocean: the farthest west and farthest south, the smallest, and youngest. Its geographic coordinates 27°…
smallthingsconsidered.blog
November 24, 2025 at 12:14 PM
do you enjoy traveling to islands? perhaps even volcanic islands? are you interested in microbiology? Then this old STC post might be of interest to you...
#MicroSky
#MicroSky
The Cost of Forgetting
by Chelsi — Vaccines have made a world that is safer and healthier. But, vaccines have made us comfortable enough to forget.
by Chelsi — Vaccines have made a world that is safer and healthier. But, vaccines have made us comfortable enough to forget.
The Cost of Forgetting
by Chelsi — Vaccines have made a world that is safer and healthier. But, vaccines have made us comfortable enough to forget.
smallthingsconsidered.blog
November 24, 2025 at 9:00 AM
The Cost of Forgetting
by Chelsi — Vaccines have made a world that is safer and healthier. But, vaccines have made us comfortable enough to forget.
by Chelsi — Vaccines have made a world that is safer and healthier. But, vaccines have made us comfortable enough to forget.
Reposted by STCmicrobeblog
‼️🚨🗓️ CONTAMCALENDAR 2026 🗓️🚨‼️
Excited to say the ContamCalendar is back for its fifth edition! We’ve created a fresh new design, folding out for an A3 monthly spread. It’s our best yet, we hope you’ll love it 🗓️🦠🧫🍄
Get yours here ➡️ www.contam.club ⬅️
Excited to say the ContamCalendar is back for its fifth edition! We’ve created a fresh new design, folding out for an A3 monthly spread. It’s our best yet, we hope you’ll love it 🗓️🦠🧫🍄
Get yours here ➡️ www.contam.club ⬅️
November 21, 2025 at 3:30 PM
‼️🚨🗓️ CONTAMCALENDAR 2026 🗓️🚨‼️
Excited to say the ContamCalendar is back for its fifth edition! We’ve created a fresh new design, folding out for an A3 monthly spread. It’s our best yet, we hope you’ll love it 🗓️🦠🧫🍄
Get yours here ➡️ www.contam.club ⬅️
Excited to say the ContamCalendar is back for its fifth edition! We’ve created a fresh new design, folding out for an A3 monthly spread. It’s our best yet, we hope you’ll love it 🗓️🦠🧫🍄
Get yours here ➡️ www.contam.club ⬅️
Reposted by STCmicrobeblog
For the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to be effective, the public needs to trust its recommendations. Confidence that policies are being guided by science—not politics—is at the heart of that trust. Our statement: asm.org/press-releas...
November 21, 2025 at 3:51 PM
For the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to be effective, the public needs to trust its recommendations. Confidence that policies are being guided by science—not politics—is at the heart of that trust. Our statement: asm.org/press-releas...
🚨Preprint alert - this is a big one! We transfer the revolutionary power of TnSeq to bacteriophages.
Our HIDEN-SEQ links the "dark matter" genes of your favorite phage to any selectable phenotype, guiding the path from fun observations to molecular mechanisms.
A thread 1/8
Our HIDEN-SEQ links the "dark matter" genes of your favorite phage to any selectable phenotype, guiding the path from fun observations to molecular mechanisms.
A thread 1/8
November 21, 2025 at 5:19 PM
My first #AquaticHyphomycetes sample. Lots of photos, no idea about the species yet 😅.
November 20, 2025 at 2:46 PM
Napoleon’s Retreat
Noteworthy — Ancient DNA reveals the likely cause behind the devastating downfall of Napoleon's army as it retreated from Russia in 1812.
Noteworthy — Ancient DNA reveals the likely cause behind the devastating downfall of Napoleon's army as it retreated from Russia in 1812.
Napoleon’s Retreat
Noteworthy — Ancient DNA reveals the likely cause behind the devastating downfall of Napoleon's army as it retreated from Russia in 1812.
smallthingsconsidered.blog
November 20, 2025 at 9:15 AM
Napoleon’s Retreat
Noteworthy — Ancient DNA reveals the likely cause behind the devastating downfall of Napoleon's army as it retreated from Russia in 1812.
Noteworthy — Ancient DNA reveals the likely cause behind the devastating downfall of Napoleon's army as it retreated from Russia in 1812.
Hey folks, we (the School of Life Sciences at Arizona State University) are looking for an Assistant Teaching Professor in microbiology and immunology. Please pass this on to anyone you think might be interested, or check it out if you are interested yourself!
apply.interfolio.com/176994
apply.interfolio.com/176994
Apply - Interfolio
{{$ctrl.$state.data.pageTitle}} - Apply - Interfolio
apply.interfolio.com
November 19, 2025 at 7:45 PM
published in 2018 and meanwhile seven years old(!), but still a highlight: wiggling 𝘝𝘪𝘣𝘳𝘪𝘰 𝘤𝘩𝘰𝘭𝘦𝘳𝘢𝘦 competence pilus catching DNA for uptake/transformation. found during the repair of our archive. written by @racheldiner.bsky.social . #MicroSky
Shining a light on Vibrio DNA uptake
by Rachel Diner — Vibrio cholerae is "kind of a big deal" in the bacterial world and a popular topic here on STC. Beyond being the causative agent for the disease cholera, it's a model bacterium f…
smallthingsconsidered.blog
November 19, 2025 at 5:53 PM
published in 2018 and meanwhile seven years old(!), but still a highlight: wiggling 𝘝𝘪𝘣𝘳𝘪𝘰 𝘤𝘩𝘰𝘭𝘦𝘳𝘢𝘦 competence pilus catching DNA for uptake/transformation. found during the repair of our archive. written by @racheldiner.bsky.social . #MicroSky
Two unrelated Pseudomonas aeruginosa phages require the exopolysaccharide Psl for infection
NPJ Biofilms and Microbiomes from Courtney Reichhardt and @micheleleroux.bsky.social and colleagues
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
NPJ Biofilms and Microbiomes from Courtney Reichhardt and @micheleleroux.bsky.social and colleagues
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
Two unrelated Pseudomonas aeruginosa phages require the exopolysaccharide Psl for infection - npj Biofilms and Microbiomes
npj Biofilms and Microbiomes - Two unrelated Pseudomonas aeruginosa phages require the exopolysaccharide Psl for infection
www.nature.com
November 19, 2025 at 11:23 AM
Two M. tuberculosis RelE toxins don’t cut mRNA, they slice 16S rRNA itself, shutting down translation in a totally unexpected way, new study reveals.
A big leap in understanding TB’s survival tricks and new angles for therapies.
📖 shorturl.at/Z8MVX
✍️ @genevauxpierre.bsky.social & coll.
#MicroSky
A big leap in understanding TB’s survival tricks and new angles for therapies.
📖 shorturl.at/Z8MVX
✍️ @genevauxpierre.bsky.social & coll.
#MicroSky
November 18, 2025 at 9:06 PM
it could hardly be stated more clearly. it must be stated.
November 18, 2025 at 9:03 PM
it could hardly be stated more clearly. it must be stated.
Reposted by STCmicrobeblog
Cellular structure self-organizes through an interplay between internal mechanisms and external cues. The single-celled suctorian P. collini builds a trap structure to capture large prey using microtubule feeding tentacles, creating feedback between cell morphology and prey availability.
November 18, 2025 at 4:15 PM
Cellular structure self-organizes through an interplay between internal mechanisms and external cues. The single-celled suctorian P. collini builds a trap structure to capture large prey using microtubule feeding tentacles, creating feedback between cell morphology and prey availability.
Reposted by STCmicrobeblog
Very happy to see this out there ! Amazing work by @zjmaggiexu.bsky.social @amyweeks.bsky.social & @cellraiser.bsky.social!
All #ProtistsOnSky are amazing, but when I bumbed into @zjmaggiexu.bsky.social & her poster 2y ago at a #GRC conference, I got the urge to attempt #ExpnasionMicroscopy!
n/1
All #ProtistsOnSky are amazing, but when I bumbed into @zjmaggiexu.bsky.social & her poster 2y ago at a #GRC conference, I got the urge to attempt #ExpnasionMicroscopy!
n/1
How do cells adapt morphology to function? In a 🔥 preprint by @zjmaggiexu.bsky.social , with @dudinlab.bsky.social and @amyweeks.bsky.social , we identify a self-organizing single-cell morphology circuit that optimizes the feeding trap structure of the suctorian P. collini. 🧵 tinyurl.com/4k8nv926
November 18, 2025 at 5:19 PM
Very happy to see this out there ! Amazing work by @zjmaggiexu.bsky.social @amyweeks.bsky.social & @cellraiser.bsky.social!
All #ProtistsOnSky are amazing, but when I bumbed into @zjmaggiexu.bsky.social & her poster 2y ago at a #GRC conference, I got the urge to attempt #ExpnasionMicroscopy!
n/1
All #ProtistsOnSky are amazing, but when I bumbed into @zjmaggiexu.bsky.social & her poster 2y ago at a #GRC conference, I got the urge to attempt #ExpnasionMicroscopy!
n/1
Can anyone help me out with a question that came up in class today? In general discussion of the stability of naked compared to enveloped viruses, I pointed out that almost all enteric viruses are non-enveloped. The question is, what is special about enteric corona/toroviruses?
November 18, 2025 at 8:50 PM
...when your grain stalk (𝘚𝘦𝘤𝘢𝘭𝘦 𝘤𝘦𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘭𝘦) is simply too damn long to print out its image or display it on a screen.
November 18, 2025 at 10:35 AM
...when your grain stalk (𝘚𝘦𝘤𝘢𝘭𝘦 𝘤𝘦𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘭𝘦) is simply too damn long to print out its image or display it on a screen.
how to breathe oxygen at a distance? the cable bacteria apparently know the trick: wired...
#MicroSky
#MicroSky
Metal scaffolds turn bacteria into live wires
Mud-dwelling cable bacteria construct metal organic frameworks to grow
www.science.org
November 17, 2025 at 5:39 PM
how to breathe oxygen at a distance? the cable bacteria apparently know the trick: wired...
#MicroSky
#MicroSky
New video on Nested Symbiosis in extreme environments out on my YouTube Channel. Give it a watch if you can, a great paper by @mkrupovic.bsky.social
Original Paper: doi.org/10.1038/s415...
youtu.be/OQR5obtf7-4
Original Paper: doi.org/10.1038/s415...
youtu.be/OQR5obtf7-4
Nested Symbiosis in Extreme Environments
YouTube video by Archaeal Adventures
youtu.be
November 17, 2025 at 5:19 PM
Sensing the World
Octopuses provide clues as to how we can sense microbes in complex environments.
Octopuses provide clues as to how we can sense microbes in complex environments.
Sensing the World
Octopuses provide clues as to how we can sense microbes in complex environments.
smallthingsconsidered.blog
November 17, 2025 at 9:00 AM
Sensing the World
Octopuses provide clues as to how we can sense microbes in complex environments.
Octopuses provide clues as to how we can sense microbes in complex environments.