Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Asher Leeks @asherleeks.bsky.social · 2d

I gave a talk last year at TEDxNewEngland aimed at introducing the idea of viral sociality to a general audience, including implications for evolution & virology. Video now available online below.

#socialviruses #evosky #virosky 🧪

The social lives of viruses | Asher Leeks | TEDxNewEngland

YouTube video by TEDx Talks

www.youtube.com

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Curtis Suttle @virosphere.bsky.social · 6d

Come join us at UBC!

ubcphas.bsky.social @ubcphas.bsky.social · 6d

The Department of Physics and Astronomy in the Faculty of Science at the University of British Columbia in Vancouver seeks an emerging research leader for a Tier 2 Canada Research Chair position in Medical Physics. academicjobsonline.org/ajo/jobs/307... @science.ubc.ca @ubcmedicine.bsky.social

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ubcphas.bsky.social @ubcphas.bsky.social · 6d

The Department of Physics and Astronomy in the Faculty of Science at the University of British Columbia in Vancouver seeks an emerging research leader for a Tier 2 Canada Research Chair position in Medical Physics. academicjobsonline.org/ajo/jobs/307... @science.ubc.ca @ubcmedicine.bsky.social

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Curtis Suttle @virosphere.bsky.social · 9d

Another casualty of the time, after nearly four decades, the Arctic Research Consortium of the United States (ARCUS) is shutting down www.youtube.com/watch?v=jDtm....

ARCUS Final ARCUS Community Call

YouTube video by Arctic Research Consortium of the United States

www.youtube.com

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UBC Oceans @ubcoceans.bsky.social · 10d

As the government finalizes its plan to transition away from open-net pen #salmon farming in B.C., it is crucial that decision-makers have a clear pathway to receive robust #science advice - Dr. Gideon Mordecai vancouversun.com/opinion/op-e... via @vancouversun.bsky.social @science.ubc.ca

Opinion: DFO’s flawed science leaves wild salmon vulnerable to disease

As government finalizes plan to transition away from open-net pen salmon farming in B.C., decision-makers must receive robust science advice

vancouversun.com

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Michael Le Page @mjflepage.bsky.social · 17d

In as much as a third of flu infections, parasitic "cheating" viruses 🦠 come to outnumber normal viruses - which helps limit the severity of infections 🧪

That's what @asherleeks.bsky.social and co have found by analysing sequencing data

www.newscientist.com/article/2496...

Some viruses like to cheat – and that may be good for our health

Mutations can result in viruses that infect cells, but can't copy themselves without help from other viruses - now it seems these cheats may outnumber normal viruses in a third of influenza cases, red...

www.newscientist.com

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Curtis Suttle @virosphere.bsky.social · 20d

Are you a recent PhD interested in a postdoc in Canada? Up to 20% of NSERC Postdoc Fellowships (70k/y for 2y) will be awarded to International applicants, who did their PhD outside of Canada. Deadline is 17 October. See: www.nserc-crsng.gc.ca/Students-Etu...

NSERC - Canada Postdoctoral Research Award program

www.nserc-crsng.gc.ca

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Curtis Suttle @virosphere.bsky.social · 21d

Two covers for papers published on the same day www.pnas.org/toc/pnas/122... & www.nature.com/natecolevol/.... Proud of the team, especially #MelaniePrentice & @kevinzhong2006.bsky.social with @ubcbiodiversity.bsky.social, @eoas.ubc.ca, @ubcoceans.bsky.social, @hakai.org and @science.ubc.ca

Table of Contents — August 19, 2025, 122 (33) | PNAS

View the Table of Contents for Volume 122, Issue 33

www.pnas.org

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Wilhelm Lab at the University of Tennessee @tn-marine-micro.bsky.social · 23d

Come join us in Knoxville. Faculty position looking for those interested in the quantitative aspects of phototroph-microbe interactions.

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Curtis Suttle @virosphere.bsky.social · Sep 10

Come join us at UBC, and flex your pedagogical vision!

UBC Statistics @stat.ubc.ca · Sep 9

@science.ubc.ca is hiring a Black scholar for a tenure-stream Assistant Professor of Teaching! Seeking applicants in data, computer, computational, environmental sciences, or stats.

❗Deadline: Oct 15, 2025❗

🔗Details: tinyurl.com/4xxt5nww

@cs.ubc.ca @ubcoceans.bsky.social

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UBC Statistics @stat.ubc.ca · Sep 9

@science.ubc.ca is hiring a Black scholar for a tenure-stream Assistant Professor of Teaching! Seeking applicants in data, computer, computational, environmental sciences, or stats.

❗Deadline: Oct 15, 2025❗

🔗Details: tinyurl.com/4xxt5nww

@cs.ubc.ca @ubcoceans.bsky.social

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Curtis Suttle @virosphere.bsky.social · Sep 9

Coffee and snacks! 😲

UBC EOAS @eoas.ubc.ca · Sep 9

Colloquium is back!!

8 of our profs, with experience from over 20 years to under 2 weeks in the job.

Each with 8 minutes to weave a compelling scientific tale - not one to miss!

12pm for snacks, 12:30 for science. Tomorrow in ESB 5104 - see you there!

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UBC EOAS @eoas.ubc.ca · Sep 9

Colloquium is back!!

8 of our profs, with experience from over 20 years to under 2 weeks in the job.

Each with 8 minutes to weave a compelling scientific tale - not one to miss!

12pm for snacks, 12:30 for science. Tomorrow in ESB 5104 - see you there!

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Curtis Suttle @virosphere.bsky.social · Sep 4

Congratulations! What a great group of researchers!

UBC Science @science.ubc.ca · Sep 4

Congratulations to the UBC Science researchers named Fellows of the Royal Society of Canada: Drs. William Cheung, Tamara Munzner, Ingrid Stairs, Allan Bertram & Joanna McGrenere. @src-rsc.bsky.social @ubcphas.bsky.social @chem.ubc.ca @cs.ubc.ca ubcoceans.bsky.social‬science.ubc.ca/news/2025-09...da

Five UBC Science researchers join Royal Society of Canada

Five UBC Science professors have been named Fellows of the Royal Society of Canada (RSC) for their research in the fields of atmospheric aerosols, marine ecosystems and fisheries, fast radio bursts, c...

science.ubc.ca

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Curtis Suttle @virosphere.bsky.social · Sep 4

Great opportunity to sharpen your climate chops, and get free pizza!

UBC EOAS @eoas.ubc.ca · Sep 4

Sign up now at the link in bio for the Certificate in Climate Studies and Action Welcome event next Thursday!

- Meet other students
- Learn about the program
- 18 Credits, open to any students from any undergraduate program who are interested in climate change
- Pizza! 🍕

See you there :)

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UBC EOAS @eoas.ubc.ca · Sep 4

Sign up now at the link in bio for the Certificate in Climate Studies and Action Welcome event next Thursday!

- Meet other students
- Learn about the program
- 18 Credits, open to any students from any undergraduate program who are interested in climate change
- Pizza! 🍕

See you there :)

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UBC Science @science.ubc.ca · Sep 4

Congratulations to the UBC Science researchers named Fellows of the Royal Society of Canada: Drs. William Cheung, Tamara Munzner, Ingrid Stairs, Allan Bertram & Joanna McGrenere. @src-rsc.bsky.social @ubcphas.bsky.social @chem.ubc.ca @cs.ubc.ca ubcoceans.bsky.social‬science.ubc.ca/news/2025-09...da

Five UBC Science researchers join Royal Society of Canada

Five UBC Science professors have been named Fellows of the Royal Society of Canada (RSC) for their research in the fields of atmospheric aerosols, marine ecosystems and fisheries, fast radio bursts, c...

science.ubc.ca

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Curtis Suttle @virosphere.bsky.social · Aug 19

@kevinzhong2006.bsky.social shows that Vibrio pectenicida strain FHCF-3 has the genetic potential to produce aerolysin-like toxins journals.asm.org/doi/10.1128/... that could be involved in SSWD that killed billions of seastars www.nature.com/articles/s41...

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Curtis Suttle @virosphere.bsky.social · Aug 19

We cannot definitively say that it was the cause, but we can show its association with a mass mortality event. This week we will collect more samples to see if it is associated with an ongoing mortality event.

Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences @pnas.org · Aug 18

Pacific oysters in British Columbia died in a mass mortality event in 2020. A study identifies the cause: Pacific Oyster Nidovirus 1. The virus possesses one of the largest reported genomes for an RNA virus at 64,331 base pairs. In PNAS: www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/...

Pacific oysters (C. (M.) gigas).
CREDIT: Amy M. Chan, University of British Columbia

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Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences @pnas.org · Aug 18

Pacific oysters in British Columbia died in a mass mortality event in 2020. A study identifies the cause: Pacific Oyster Nidovirus 1. The virus possesses one of the largest reported genomes for an RNA virus at 64,331 base pairs. In PNAS: www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/...

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Curtis Suttle @virosphere.bsky.social · Aug 13

Biology would be great, but in many instances the viruses currently cannot be cultured, and of course many instances where hosts have not been cultured. Yet, we can definitively state that a particular uncultured viruses is infecting a specific hosts. In many cases, ERVs and EVEs can be identified.

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Curtis Suttle @virosphere.bsky.social · Aug 13

The taxonomic landscape has become extremely complicated and too dynamic. That said, there are many instances in which viruses that are only known from sequences are seen repeatedly, are clearly infecting their hosts, and should be classified. I'm not sure of a tractable resolution.

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Curtis Suttle @virosphere.bsky.social · Aug 7

Join a fantastic educational leadership team in @science.ubc.ca. Tenure-track Assistant Professor of Teaching in STEM Public Engagement, a joint appointment in @ubcmicroimmuno.bsky.social and the Michael Smith Laboratories. See full details academicjobsonline.org/ajo/events/3...

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UBC Science @science.ubc.ca · Aug 5

#UBC scientists have discovered a previously unknown virus in farmed Pacific oysters during a mass die-off in B.C., Canada.
The discovery serves as a reminder that growers should exercise caution when moving young oysters internationally and domestically: science.ubc.ca/news/2025-08...

New mega RNA virus may hold the key to mass oyster die-offs

Scientists have discovered a previously unknown virus in farmed Pacific oysters during a mass die-off in B.C., Canada.

science.ubc.ca

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Curtis Suttle @virosphere.bsky.social · Aug 5

Very proud of the work from lab members and collaborators that coincidentally came out today www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/... and www.nature.com/articles/s41.... A bacterial and viral pathogen associated with mass mortality in seastars and oysters. @kevinzhong2006.bsky.social @rhizalyssa.bsky.social

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Curtis Suttle @virosphere.bsky.social · Aug 5

B.C. scientists discover new oyster virus, solve mystery of sea star epidemic www.timescolonist.com/local-news/b...

B.C. scientists discover new oyster virus, solve mystery of sea star epidemic

Researchers at a University of British Columbia lab have discovered a virus 'strongly associated' with mass die-offs of farmed Pacific oysters and, in a separate study, the bacteria that wiped out bil...

www.timescolonist.com

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Mya Breitbart @viromegirl.bsky.social · Aug 1

Do you love phage? I have an opening for a postdoc in my lab at the University of South Florida College of Marine Science (@cmarinescience.bsky.social) looking at interactions between marine phage and iron, which is an important limiting trace metal in the oceans (1/5) 🧵#phagesky 🦠🌊

Electron micrograph of two phage infecting a host cell side-by-side, with hearts between them

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Monir Moniruzzaman @giantvirus.bsky.social · Sep 26

Just published - our latest review in FEMS Microbiology reviews on the incredible array of 'virologs' in diverse giant viruses- pushing the limit of viral mimicry! Sincere thanks to all the co-authors and Monir Lab students who have participated!

academic.oup.com/femsre/advan...

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Rob Edwards @linsalrob.bsky.social · Jun 25

Need a #phage or #virus #bioinformatics tool?

Have a #phage or #virus #bioinformatics tool to share?

Check out this Google doc with >150 tools in 40 different categories

#phagesky #microsky 💻🧬

docs.google.com/spreadsheets...

Viral Bioinformatics Tools

Sheet1 Name,Category,Individual, multiple, or virome,Phage, Virus, or Both,Methods,Citation,Google Scholar Link to Cluster Representing the Paper,URL,Last update (YYYMMDD),Notes,Install from conda,In...

docs.google.com

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Patchen Barss @patchenbarss.bsky.social · Aug 28

Interested in creativity, inspiration, physics, impossible objects, and/or questions about who gets to be a genius? Join me in Oxford on November 12 for a launch event for The Impossible Man: Roger Penrose and the Cost of Genius. 🧪📚🔭

Patchen Barss 'The Impossible Man: Roger Penrose and the Cost of Genius'

Patchen Barss will be joining us to discuss his moving new biography of Nobel Prize winning Mathematician and Physicist, Roger Penrose.

www.eventbrite.co.uk

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