Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Krista Freeman @kfreeman.bsky.social · 25d

Wooo tried again at a different pharmacy last night and got it - and the flu jab, too. Glad it worked this time! Feeling relieved, if still angry that a repeat attempt was necessary. Nobody should have to jump through hoops to protect themselves and their community.

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Krista Freeman @kfreeman.bsky.social · Sep 5

Well, I just was denied the COVID vaccine in Cleveland, Ohio. I can’t begin to express the rage I feel at being barred from protecting my vulnerable loved ones. My “senators” just got voicemails - I will keep calling until access to these safe and effective vaccines is restored. My body, my choice.

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Reposted by Krista Freeman

Chrystal Starbird @drstarbird.bsky.social · Aug 21

Join me in donating to ABRCMS. For many of us early in our careers (and for many of us now), this is THE conference. Let’s make sure future generations get the same experience.

I was told if each poster judge donated $25, their goal would be quickly met, but I think we can do better! 🙏🏾💪🏾

Katie Wilkinson @drkwilkinson.bsky.social · Aug 21

Calling all @apsphysiology.bsky.social members: let’s help raise some money to support ABRCMS student presentation awards! Goal is $1200/discipline to support 12 awards by Sept 30th! 🧪 abrcms.org/donate/stude...

ABRCMS Fundraising - Student Presentation Awards - ABRCMS

Judges – Help Us Raise Funds for Student Presentation Awards Thank you for your service as a judge at ABRCMS. Your dedication has helped shape the future of countless student scientists, and we’re dee...

abrcms.org

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Reposted by Krista Freeman

ASM @asm.org · May 2

Together with leading science organizations, ASM filed an amicus brief calling for immediate restoration of NIH grants supporting early-career scientists. Read the press release: asm.org/press-releas...

Four Leading Science Organizations File Amicus Brief Supporting Funding Restoration

ASM joined leading life science organizations in an amicus brief filed in support of a suit calling for immediate funding restoration.

asm.org

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Reposted by Krista Freeman

Cell - a Cell Press journal @cp-cell.bsky.social · Apr 15

Now online! Structure and infection dynamics of mycobacteriophage Bxb1

Structure and infection dynamics of mycobacteriophage Bxb1

Cryo-EM and cryo-ET reveal the structural details and conformational dynamics of mycobacteriophage Bxb1 as it infects its Mycobacterium smegmatis host.

dlvr.it

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Reposted by Krista Freeman

Vivek Mutalik @vivekmutalik.bsky.social · Apr 17

#phage #phagesky

Krista Freeman @kfreeman.bsky.social · Apr 16

Hurray, it is finally out! Meet bacteriophage Bxb1 - the subject of my first full-phage cryo-EM study. My structures are beautifully complemented by the Park Lab’s cryo-ET analysis, shedding light on mycobacteriophage structural changes during infection.

www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...

Structure and infection dynamics of mycobacteriophage Bxb1

Mycobacteriophage Bxb1 is a well-characterized virus of Mycobacterium smegmatis with double-stranded DNA and a long, flexible tail. Mycobacteriophages…

www.sciencedirect.com

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Reposted by Krista Freeman

Ben Engel @cellarchlab.com · Apr 18

Some eye-catching #TeamTomo work here. Congrats to @kfreeman.bsky.social and all the authors! 🧪🧶🧬🔬

ᐯIᑕTOᖇ ᑎIᘔET, ᗰᗪ @nizet.bsky.social · Apr 18

Krista Freeman et al 𝘊𝘌𝘓𝘓

stunning atomic-level imaging (Cryo-EM, cryo-ET) reveals how 𝐛𝐚𝐜𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐨𝐩𝐡𝐚𝐠𝐞 Bxb1 reshapes its tail tip to breach the mycobacterial cell wall and deliver DNA to the cytoplasm

can inform precise targeted phage therapies for TB and NTM infections

www.cell.com/cell/fulltex...

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Reposted by Krista Freeman

ᐯIᑕTOᖇ ᑎIᘔET, ᗰᗪ @nizet.bsky.social · Apr 18

Krista Freeman et al 𝘊𝘌𝘓𝘓

stunning atomic-level imaging (Cryo-EM, cryo-ET) reveals how 𝐛𝐚𝐜𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐨𝐩𝐡𝐚𝐠𝐞 Bxb1 reshapes its tail tip to breach the mycobacterial cell wall and deliver DNA to the cytoplasm

can inform precise targeted phage therapies for TB and NTM infections

www.cell.com/cell/fulltex...

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Krista Freeman @kfreeman.bsky.social · Apr 17

Thanks, Vivek! The biggest challenge now is deciding which phage to tackle next. Hope all is well!

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Krista Freeman @kfreeman.bsky.social · Apr 17

It was a pleasure to collaborate with you all! Here’s to many more fun projects in the coming years 🥂

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Reposted by Krista Freeman

Sudipta Mondal @sudipta-cryoet.bsky.social · Apr 17

Host invasion by a mycobacteriophage—visualized in action! 🦠✨
Thrilled to have contributed to this exciting work! Great collaboration with the amazing Krista @kfreeman.bsky.social & Graham Hatfull lab. Huge thanks to the Park lab for this fantastic opportunity 🙌 #CryoEM #CryoET #phage #mycobacteria

Krista Freeman @kfreeman.bsky.social · Apr 16

Hurray, it is finally out! Meet bacteriophage Bxb1 - the subject of my first full-phage cryo-EM study. My structures are beautifully complemented by the Park Lab’s cryo-ET analysis, shedding light on mycobacteriophage structural changes during infection.

www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...

Structure and infection dynamics of mycobacteriophage Bxb1

Mycobacteriophage Bxb1 is a well-characterized virus of Mycobacterium smegmatis with double-stranded DNA and a long, flexible tail. Mycobacteriophages…

www.sciencedirect.com

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Krista Freeman @kfreeman.bsky.social · Apr 16

Thanks :)
Structural biology is equal parts art and science, for sure!

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Reposted by Krista Freeman

Katie Wetzel @kswetzel1.bsky.social · Apr 16

Do you love phages? Other viruses? Cool science done by cool people? Check out this paper by my former bay mate @kfreeman.bsky.social and colleagues that sheds light on the cool molecular machines that are phage tails.

Krista Freeman @kfreeman.bsky.social · Apr 16

Hurray, it is finally out! Meet bacteriophage Bxb1 - the subject of my first full-phage cryo-EM study. My structures are beautifully complemented by the Park Lab’s cryo-ET analysis, shedding light on mycobacteriophage structural changes during infection.

www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...

Structure and infection dynamics of mycobacteriophage Bxb1

Mycobacteriophage Bxb1 is a well-characterized virus of Mycobacterium smegmatis with double-stranded DNA and a long, flexible tail. Mycobacteriophages…

www.sciencedirect.com

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Krista Freeman @kfreeman.bsky.social · Apr 16

Huge thanks to our many collaborators, near and far, who helped push the science to the next level.

And, especially in these times, thank you to the NIH for funding this research and me as an early career scientist. It has made a world of difference in my life.

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Krista Freeman @kfreeman.bsky.social · Apr 16

I delighted in every step of this project, from cesium-banding the phages to choosing a color scheme and polishing the figures. What a treat that I get to do this for the rest of my career!

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Krista Freeman @kfreeman.bsky.social · Apr 16

Hurray, it is finally out! Meet bacteriophage Bxb1 - the subject of my first full-phage cryo-EM study. My structures are beautifully complemented by the Park Lab’s cryo-ET analysis, shedding light on mycobacteriophage structural changes during infection.

www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...

Structure and infection dynamics of mycobacteriophage Bxb1

Mycobacteriophage Bxb1 is a well-characterized virus of Mycobacterium smegmatis with double-stranded DNA and a long, flexible tail. Mycobacteriophages…

www.sciencedirect.com

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Reposted by Krista Freeman

Sasha Larsen Akins @akinssasha.bsky.social · Jan 21

Excited about progress we are making to build a system for preclinical interrogation of #phages for #Tb

#TBSKY

virologyj.biomedcentral.com/articles/10....

Evaluation of host immune responses to Mycobacteriophage Fionnbharth by route of delivery - Virology Journal

For much of the last decade, tuberculosis (TB) was the leading cause of mortality due to an infectious pathogen (Mycobacterium tuberculosis, M.tb). Approximately 1.3 million deaths in 2023 worldwide w...

virologyj.biomedcentral.com

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Reposted by Krista Freeman

Phage papers @phagepapers.bsky.social · Dec 5

Use of epigenetically modified bacteriophage and dual beta-lactams to treat a Mycobacterium abscessus sternal wound infection.

DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-54666-4

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/39609405/

Use of epigenetically modified bacteriophage and dual beta-lactams to treat a Mycobacterium abscessus sternal wound infection - PubMed

Nontuberculous mycobacterium (NTM) infections are challenging to manage and are frequently non-responsive to aggressive but poorly-tolerated antibiotic therapies. Immunosuppressed lung transplant patients are susceptible to NTM infections and poor patient outcomes are common. Bacteriophages present …

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

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Reposted by Krista Freeman

Ben Monreal @benmonreal.bsky.social · Nov 19

Come join us at CWRU Physics! We're hiring in Condensed Matter Experiment at assistant professor level. 🧪⚛️

case.edu/academic-car...

Assistant Professor (tenure-track) in Experimental Condensed Matter Physics - Department of Physics | Academic Careers | Case Western Reserve University

The Department of Physics at Case Western Reserve University invites applications for a tenure-track faculty position at the rank of Assistant Profes...

case.edu

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Krista Freeman @kfreeman.bsky.social · Nov 17

Thanks for making this starter pack, Joscelyn! Awesome to see so many MOSAIC scholars assembling here in the bluer skies. So happy to connect!

Joscelyn Mejías, PhD @jcmejias.bsky.social · Nov 17

I started a list of MOSAIC scholars to help find and support each other. I'm sure I've missed many people, lmk if you want to be added!
go.bsky.app/9Ui711k

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Krista Freeman @kfreeman.bsky.social · Oct 31

Yeah, I did indeed assume these were eukaryotic viruses… thanks for the nudge to look again! Phage diversity just blew my mind again!

Definitely hope to see some tailed phages represented soon too. Long & flexible, short & stubby, contractile… so much room for creativity!

A cartoon of an enveloped icosahedral virus courtesy of NIH BioArt.

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Krista Freeman @kfreeman.bsky.social · Oct 31

Oooo maybe I missed them (I just searched “phage” in the search bar) - let me look again! Thanks!

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Krista Freeman @kfreeman.bsky.social · Oct 30

LOVING the NIH BioArt effort! BUT… where are the phages?? Hoping to see some in the official release! Anyone know if there’s a mechanism to request additions?

#PhageSky

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Krista Freeman @kfreeman.bsky.social · Jul 29

Thanks!

I, too, love phages and am eternally grateful that my autocorrect has learned that about me!

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Krista Freeman @kfreeman.bsky.social · Jul 29

I’m pleased to share that I’ll be joining Case Western Reserve University as an Assistant Professor of Physics, starting July 2025! Looking forward to returning to my Physics roots while continuing to investigate the wonderful world of phages. :)

A smiling woman (me!) wearing a Case Western Reserve University hat and pointing to the “Physics” sign above the door of the CWRU Physics department’s building.

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