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Reposted by MERMan Research Group (University of Manchester)

Michael Brockhurst @brockhurstlab.bsky.social · 13d

Recent paper from the lab studying predictors of phage cocktail efficacy against complex clinical Pseudomonas populations

royalsocietypublishing.org/doi/epdf/10....

Led by Rosanna Wright with extraordinary MSc (PhD) student Maisie Czernuska

Bacteria–phage infection network structure and genomic defence system content predict efficacy of a phage therapy cocktail against Pseudomonas aeruginosa from chronic lung infections

royalsocietypublishing.org

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MERMan Research Group (University of Manchester) @mermanchester.bsky.social · 7d

This weeks seminars from PhD students Maisie Czernuszka and Victor Carneiro da Cunha Martirelli!

Special thank you to @microbesng.bsky.social for sponsoring refreshments!

Title slide of Maisies seminar on engineering phages.

Victors title slide on electricity and Ecoli

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MERMan Research Group (University of Manchester) @mermanchester.bsky.social · 14d

Great MERMan seminar today from NSERC PhD visiting researcher @simonjeanneau.bsky.social from @usherbrooke.bsky.social ! Also our first seminar with refreshments sponsored by @microbesng.bsky.social , many thanks for the productive chats over nibbles! 🍪 🧪

Simon next to his title slide. If I was a better Canadian, this alternative text would be in French too. :(

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MERMan Research Group (University of Manchester) @mermanchester.bsky.social · 21d

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MERMan Research Group (University of Manchester) @mermanchester.bsky.social · 21d

Two great talks today from MERMan PhD students @mattjago.bsky.social (mutation spectrum) and @amarquiegui98.bsky.social (bioremediation by microbial communities)

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MERMan Research Group (University of Manchester) @mermanchester.bsky.social · 29d

MERMan seminars are back! Last week, @zahraaalbaqsami.bsky.social presented her #Thermophiles2025 talk which generated a lot of buzz & Qs from the group!

The title slide of Zahraa's talk: Do mutation rates in a thermophile constrain adaptation to different temperatures?

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David Sünderhauf @davvi36.bsky.social · Sep 2

PhD opportunity, please share:

We are looking for a prospective PhD student to start in October 2026 who is excited about bacteria (Klebsiella pneumoniae), how they interact, and how they exchange DNA.
All details can be found on the funder website 👉 gw4biomed.ac.uk/developing-c...

Developing CRISPR-Cas antimicrobials to tackle antibiotic resistance spread in Klebsiella pneumoniae - GW4 BioMed MRC DTP

Project Code MRCIIAR26Ex van Houte Project Type Wet lab Research Theme Infection, Immunity, Antimicrobial Resistance and Repair Project Summary Download Summary Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) poses a ...

gw4biomed.ac.uk

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Michael Manhart @michaelmanhart.bsky.social · Sep 2

I am recruiting a Ph.D. student in microbial ecology, evolution, and systems biology for fall 2026. Please share!
Details: qevomicrolab.org/Documents/Gr...
Apply by October 1 here: forms.gle/38pPS1Ky84HB...

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Cancer Research UK Manchester Institute @cruk-mi.bsky.social · Sep 1

Today we are delighted to welcome Professor Samra Turajlić (@turajliclab.bsky.social) as our new Institute Director!

Her work - spanning basic, translational & cancer research - has advanced our understanding of cancer biology & treatment

Read more here: www.cruk.manchester.ac.uk/news/profess...

A photograph of Professor Samra Turajlić in the Paterson Building, standing next to the door of her new office which is slightly ajar and has the name plate "CRUK MI Director"

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NERC Digital Solutions Hub @nercdsh.bsky.social · Sep 1

Analyse and tell stories with 40+ petabytes of environmental data on the NERC Digital Solutions Hub 📝

📩 Sign up to our mailing list to be one of the first to test the Hub and see for yourself how incremental the DSH is in transforming geospatial: digital-solutions.uk/index.php/si...

The text on this graphic reads 'Analyse data from trusted sources, as well as your own integrated data, easily in the Hub.'

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Will Smith @willpjsmith.bsky.social · Aug 31

Does your lab perform killing assays?
TL;DR: we’ve identified a problem that can bias the outcome of killing assays, making antagonism look stronger than it really is.
Adding a simple extra step can mitigate this bias!

Out now at #MicrobioJ www.microbiologyresearch.org/content/jour...

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Type VI secretion system activity at lethal antibiotic concentrations leads to overestimation of weapon potency

Competition assays are a mainstay of modern microbiology, offering a simple and cost-effective means to quantify microbe–microbe interactions in vitro. Here, we demonstrate a key weakness of this meth...

www.microbiologyresearch.org

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MERMan Research Group (University of Manchester) @mermanchester.bsky.social · Aug 18

Antimutator E. coli due to altered nucleotide sanitation systems. Congratulations to recent MERMan graduate Rowan Green on his second PhD paper!

Rowan Green @rowancallumg.bsky.social · Aug 18

New paper out @molbioevol.bsky.social on antimutator Ecoli, mutational spectra and the distribution of fitness effects of antibiotic resistance with @knightjar.bsky.social @rokkrasovec.bsky.social and others @mermanchester.bsky.social doi.org/pzfm
Read🧵for highlights and fun stats (1/13)

Antimutator and Mutational Spectrum Effects Can Combine to Reduce Evolutionary Potential in Escherichia coli ΔnudJ

Abstract. The rate of spontaneous mutation is a key factor in determining the capacity of a population to adapt to a novel environment, for example, a bact

doi.org

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MERMan Research Group (University of Manchester) @mermanchester.bsky.social · Jul 29

Last week, MERMan went on our annual countryside hike! Fresh air and good science colleagues, what more could one ask for? Maybe the ruins of an old cotton mill... Thanks to @mattjago.bsky.social for organising.

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Michael Brockhurst @brockhurstlab.bsky.social · Jul 7

Fresh from peer review a new and improved version of @taoranfu.bsky.social’s paper out today in @asm.org mSystems
journals.asm.org/eprint/8NWNW...

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Reposted by MERMan Research Group (University of Manchester)

Taoran Fu @taoranfu.bsky.social · Jul 8

Thrilled to see this out!

#microsky #mevosky

Michael Brockhurst @brockhurstlab.bsky.social · Jul 7

Fresh from peer review a new and improved version of @taoranfu.bsky.social’s paper out today in @asm.org mSystems
journals.asm.org/eprint/8NWNW...

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Reposted by MERMan Research Group (University of Manchester)

Microbiology Society @microbiologysociety.org · Jul 8

There’s still time to submit your abstract for Microbiology Society Annual Meeting in Ireland 2025. Submit your abstract now, before 1 August 2025 - microb.io/IrelandMeeti... #MicrobioIrish25

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Mike Bottery @mbottery.bsky.social · Jul 8

Thrilled to announce I've been awarded a @wellcometrust.bsky.social Career Development Award at @fbmh-uom.bsky.social , University of Manchester! My research will investigate the remarkable adaptability of Aspergillus fumigatus, a deadly fungal pathogen, to help combat drug resistance.

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Will Smith @willpjsmith.bsky.social · Jul 2

Go Team! Deeply honoured that the MERMan lab reps won an @manchester.ac.uk‬ "FMBH heroes" award - thanks ‪@fbmh-uom.bsky.social‬ and @mermanchester.bsky.social for nominating us ❤️❤️❤️

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MERMan Research Group (University of Manchester) @mermanchester.bsky.social · Jun 5

This week postdoc Dr. Dolan Evans from the Tank group is presenting on organ-on-a-chip for women's health
@raveentank.bsky.social

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MERMan Research Group (University of Manchester) @mermanchester.bsky.social · May 29

PhD candidate Deniz Ozbilek speaking today about in silico epistasis modelling in bacterial RNA polymerase

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MERMan Research Group (University of Manchester) @mermanchester.bsky.social · May 22

This week, PhD student Deepanshi Karwall is telling us about her project with Unilever on microbial-based cleaning products 🧹🧼

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MERMan Research Group (University of Manchester) @mermanchester.bsky.social · May 15

Magdalena's Pint of Science Talk is happening Monday 19 May! #Pint25
Get your tickets here:
pintofscience.co.uk/event/tiny-t...

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MERMan Research Group (University of Manchester) @mermanchester.bsky.social · May 1

Today we're hearing from PhD student Amal Alkhafaji about the role of host organism on mutation rates in bacteriophage 🦠🧫

Photo of Amal Alkhafaji and her title slide

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Michael Brockhurst @brockhurstlab.bsky.social · Apr 16

New preprint with nice detective work by PhD student Khadija Hanga: gain of pOXA MDR plasmid is facilitated by chromosomal mutations affecting OmpF which act synergistically with the plasmid’s carbapenamase to give high level resistance. Led by @mbottery.bsky.social www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...

Chromosomal resistance mutations facilitate acquisition of multidrug-resistance plasmids in Escherichia coli

Bacteria can gain multiple resistance mechanisms in a single step by the acquisition of multidrug-resistance (MDR) plasmids, but it is unclear how antibiotic selection during the acquisition of MDR pl...

www.biorxiv.org

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Kevin Maringer (he/they) 🏳️‍🌈♾️ @maringerlab.bsky.social · Apr 3

Enjoy #microbio25? Read about how the Members Panel made @microbiologysociety.org events more accessible and inclusive. Proud of our achievements and honoured I get to work with inspirational #microbiologists as Co-Chair of the Panel, representing historically marginalised members. shorturl.at/Pch7c

Building an inclusive culture at scientific meetings: foundations for future progress

Scientific meetings and conferences are crucial in knowledge dissemination, fostering collaborations, professional development and inspiring innovative research. However, their traditional structure and organization have remained largely unchanged, perpetuating barriers that continue to exclude scientists from historically marginalized backgrounds. In response, the Microbiology Society has begun its journey to address these longstanding challenges, redesigning its meetings to create a more inclusive culture and a welcoming environment for all participants.

shorturl.at

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