Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

ASM @asm.org · 9h

Dr. Jacinda Abdul-Mutakabbir (JAM), an antimicrobial researcher and assistant professor at the University of California, provides insights on communicating complex scientific topics as a community educator. youtu.be/giyAR9XIEO0

Change Clothes and Go: Viral Mutations and the Remix of Infection

YouTube video by American Society for Microbiology

youtu.be

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ASM @asm.org · 13h

It’s time to let your creativity grow! Submit your entry for this year’s Agar Art Contest: Microbes Make the World Go Round. From food and health to climate and beyond, microbes shape our lives—now show us your story in agar! Submit by Oct. 26: asm.social/2Dt

Pain palette with microbes as the paint swatches.

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ASM @asm.org · 14h

In a new opinion piece in @statnews.com ASM member Sarah Stanley, Ph.D., emphasizes that safe gain-of-function research is essential to identifying new treatments for diseases like tuberculosis—yet the NIH has imposed unfounded stops: www.statnews.com/2025/10/06/g...

The NIH ordered me to stop my ‘dangerous’ gain-of-function research. It isn’t dangerous at all

Safe gain-of-function research is necessary to identify new treatments for diseases like for tuberculosis — but the NIH has imposed unfounded stops.

www.statnews.com

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ASM @asm.org · 1d

Many mammalian diseases (e.g., Alzheimer's) involve the abnormal accumulation of host protein assemblies. In #MMBRJournal, researchers review the structural biology, transmissibilities, spreading mechanisms & detection of proteopathic aggregates. asm.social/2Do

Folding, misfolding, and aggregation of proteins into amyloid fibrils using mouse prion protein (PrP) as an example of an infectious amyloid

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ASM @asm.org · 1d

Join us on Oct 22 from 1-2 p.m. ET for a live interview with Dr. Marlene Belfort, renowned microbiologist & author of "Mommy, Can Boys Also Be Doctors?" Belfort will share her personal journey navigating work-life integration in #STEM. Register now: asm.social/2Dp

Image of the cover of the book "Mommy, can boys also be doctors?"

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Reposted by ASM

George O'Toole (he/him/his) @geiselbiofilm.bsky.social · 1d

New in JB: Singh, Chattopadhyay et al. review the many roles of the hemolysin/cytolysin of V. cholerae in host-pathogen interactions.
journals.asm.org/doi/10.1128/...
@asm.org #JBacteriology

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ASM @asm.org · 2d

Are you a PhD candidate, postdoc or lab-based researcher—or know someone whose work deserves recognition? 🌟 Nominate for possible inclusion in #IAIJournal’s 2026 Emerging Voices in Microbiology Minireview Collection! ⏰ Deadline is Oct. 20: asm.social/2Dm

Nominate a Ph.D. candidate, postdoc or lab-based researcher for IAI's newest series, "Emerging Voices in Microbiology" Deadline: Oct. 20.

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Reposted by ASM

George O'Toole (he/him/his) @geiselbiofilm.bsky.social · 2d

New in JB: Bedree, He & colleagues identify essential genes in the CPR basibiont Schaalia odontolytica using a TnSeq-based approach.
journals.asm.org/doi/10.1128/...
@asm.org #JBacteriology

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ASM @asm.org · 2d

Curious about creating agar art? 🎨Join Assistant Prof. Sebahat Öztekin’s workshop at Bayburt University in Turkey (Oct. 8–10) to learn how it’s done! Then, submit your art to the ASM #AgarArt contest—open until Oct. 26. Register for the workshop if you're in the area! docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1F...

Agar Art Workshop Oct. 8-10, 2025. QR code linking to registration form

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Reposted by ASM

George O'Toole (he/him/his) @geiselbiofilm.bsky.social · 7d

New in JB: Fung, Visick et al. show that a single SNP can impact biofilm formation and colonization of its squid host by V. fischeri.
journals.asm.org/doi/10.1128/...
@asm.org #JBacteriology

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ASM @asm.org · 7d

Science is evolving fast—and so are the people driving it.

The ASM Corporate Council unites leaders across industry, academia & public health to shape the future of microbial sciences.

Join the 2025–26 cycle today: asm.social/2CR

ASM Corporate Council - Partnership between the public and private sectors is key to true advancement in the microbial sciences.

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ASM @asm.org · 7d

Congress must end the government shutdown and enact funding that provides robust investments in federal science agencies and public health. Read our statement: asm.social/2CS

Congress must work together to open the government and fund federal research by passing full-year appropriations legislation that provides robust funding for federal science research and public health programs.

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ASM @asm.org · 8d

🧫 Got a group of related clinical cases? Now you can turn them into a Case Series, a new article type from #ASMCaseReports!

📚 Learn about Case Series: asm.social/2CM

🔗 Submit your Case Series article: asm.social/2CL

#ASMJournals #CaseSeries

Submit a Case Series to ASM Case Reports (ASMCR)! A new article type from ASMCR.

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ASM @asm.org · 8d

Join us Oct. 1 at 3 p.m. ET for an engaging webinar that explores the diverse and rewarding career paths in clinical & public health microbiology. Learn how the field contributes to patient care, disease prevention and public safety.

Register for free: asm.org/webinars/cli...

Clinical and Public Health Microbiology Careers 101

This webinar will explore the diverse career paths in clinical and public health microbiology. Learn how professionals in these fields contribute to patient care, disease prevention and public safety.

asm.org

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ASM @asm.org · 8d

Are you a microbiologist looking to drive change & foster collaboration? Apply to become an ASM Country Ambassador! Join a global network of influential leaders, support your country's scientists & elevate your career. Submit your application by Nov. 1! asm.social/2CE

Virus particles with text in front. Text says "ASM Ambassadors. Deadline: November 1, 2025. Submit your application."

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ASM @asm.org · 9d

In Haemophilus influenzae, beta-lactam antibiotics reproducibly selected mutants with increased MICs, but evolutionary pathways and resulting phenotypes remain unpredictable, highlighting the complexity of resistance evolution. Read in #AACJournal: asm.social/2Cy

Increasing number of mutations and changes in beta-lactam minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) in six evolution experiments. Number of mutations (black) and minimum inhibitory concentration fold increase compared to the parental strain Rd KW20 for ampicillin (Amp, red), cefotaxime (Ctx, green), and ceftriaxone (Cro, blue) in selected clones over 20 passages (two or five clones per passage). Bacterial population (A) without antibiotic exposure and exposed to increasing concentrations of (B) ampicillin, (C) cefotaxime, (D) ceftriaxone replicate 1, (E) ceftriaxone replicate 2, and (F) ceftriaxone replicate 3. Shaded areas represent the 95% confidence interval.

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ASM @asm.org · 9d

#MicrobiologyMonday: Can bird song shape your microbiome? 🐦Scientists propose that interactions with nature may influence gut microbiome composition, suggesting it is shaped not just by direct microbial exposure, but by multisensory experiences. #mSystem asm.social/2Cx

Beyond direct microbial colonization: multisensory experiences in nature and their potential to indirectly influence the gut microbiome via multiple biological systems and axes. For example, stress can impair gut immunity in part by downregulating NLRP6 activity, a key regulator of the inflammasome and microbial balance (42); elevated cortisol increases gut permeability (43), and nature walks (and listening to nature sounds) reduce cortisol (44) and increase parasympathetic tone (45, 46). Exposure to natural biodiverse materials can reduce pro-inflammatory cytokines (27, 28). All of these processes can influence the gut environment, composition, and dynamics.

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ASM @asm.org · 9d

🍽️ Food safety education starts with Food Microbiology: An Introduction 5e! 📘Get the book + explore author insights in “A Conversation with the Authors” & a Meet the Microbiologist episode—all in the "Hear from Our Authors" section at asm.social/2Co #NFSEM

Check out recent Food Microbiology: An Introduction, 5th Edition author insights!

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ASM @asm.org · 12d

Sexually transmitted infections (STIs) often are easily treated when diagnosed, but many people don’t realize they’re infected. These undiagnosed infections may have serious, life-long consequences. asm.social/2Ci #SexualHealthMonth

The Dangers of Undiagnosed Sexually Transmitted Infections | ASM.org

Sexually transmitted infections (STIs) often are easily treated when diagnosed, but many people don’t realize they’re infected. These undiagnosed infections may have serious, life-long consequences.

asm.social

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ASM @asm.org · 12d

Leaders in antimicrobial resistance—your voice is needed! Registration is now open for #IMARI26! Join us Jan 28–30, 2026 in Las Vegas for the premier interdisciplinary meeting tackling #AMR, hosted by @idsainfo.bsky.social and ASM. Register now, space is limited: imari.org/registration/

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ASM @asm.org · 13d

Since the late 19th century, microbiologists have relied on agar and its derivatives for growing and separating microbes. However, how many of us really know the story of how this ingredient changed science? The remarkable story of Fanny Angelina Hesse youtu.be/qyTjqIKTQLo

Fanny Angelina Hesse and the Discovery of Agar

YouTube video by American Society for Microbiology

youtu.be

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ASM @asm.org · 13d

Nasal vaccines trigger both mucosal and systemic immune responses to protect against respiratory infections. However, developing them involves navigating challenges both inside and outside the nose.

Read the article: asm.org/articles/202...

Depiction of immune response to nasal vaccine

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ASM @asm.org · 13d

Looking to boost your professional skills? Whether you're in community college, undergrad, postbac, grad school or are a postdoc, ASM's October free webinar series has something for you! Explore sessions by educational/career stage and register today asm.org/webinars/pro...

BOOST YOUR SKILLS WITH ASM'S FREE PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT WEBINAR SERIES
Upcoming October 2025 Webinars
For Community College, Undergraduate, & Postbaccalaureate Students
October 2 | Guiding Principles for High-Impact Poster Design.
For All Trainees and Postdoctoral Scientists
October 7 | Navigating Uncertainty in Research.
For Graduate Students and Postdoctoral Scientists
October 16 | AI in Scientific Writing and Publishing.
Register Today!

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ASM @asm.org · 14d

In #mBio, dive into story behind the 1989 discovery of Helicobacter pylori CagA, the first tumorigenic bacterial protein. This article recounts the early steps in the investigative process and relates some of the unexpected discoveries that ensued. asm.social/2C1

Gel of the initial cloned cagA product in λgt11 on 20 July 1989.

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ASM @asm.org · 14d

ASM Microbe 2026 = 3 new meetings, 1 shared experience. asm.social/2BY

Tell us: what’s been your #ASMicrobe Story?

✨ Session that shaped your research.
🌍 Connection that built your career.
🤝 Collab that started at Microbe.

Drop your story in the comments.

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