MSU MGI
@msumgi.bsky.social
The official Bluesky account of the Department of Microbiology, Genetics, & Immunology of Michigan State University.
This week's MGI Research Seminar was given - virtually, no less - by Dr. Jannell Bazurto of the Univ. of Minnesota. She spoke about "Formaldehyde Homeostasis: Do or Die." Thank you for a fantastic talk!
February 12, 2026 at 7:04 PM
This week's MGI Research Seminar was given - virtually, no less - by Dr. Jannell Bazurto of the Univ. of Minnesota. She spoke about "Formaldehyde Homeostasis: Do or Die." Thank you for a fantastic talk!
She is currently training with Dr. Annette Rowe, learning how to use electrochemical techniques to enrich these alkali-loving microbes, and she plans to apply this research to engineer more high-powered microbial fuel cells.
February 10, 2026 at 10:53 PM
She is currently training with Dr. Annette Rowe, learning how to use electrochemical techniques to enrich these alkali-loving microbes, and she plans to apply this research to engineer more high-powered microbial fuel cells.
Kasumi Nakagawa is a visiting researcher in the Rowe Lab @electromicrowe.bsky.social who gave a Work in Progress seminar this week.
Nakagawa studies electricity-producing bacteria derived from traditional Japanese indigo (Aizome) vats.
Nakagawa studies electricity-producing bacteria derived from traditional Japanese indigo (Aizome) vats.
February 10, 2026 at 10:53 PM
Kasumi Nakagawa is a visiting researcher in the Rowe Lab @electromicrowe.bsky.social who gave a Work in Progress seminar this week.
Nakagawa studies electricity-producing bacteria derived from traditional Japanese indigo (Aizome) vats.
Nakagawa studies electricity-producing bacteria derived from traditional Japanese indigo (Aizome) vats.
By inserting unique DNA “barcodes,” and by tracking these barcodes after environmental and/or DNA changes, he can see which lineages thrive or decline and how chance, history, and environment shape their evolution.
February 9, 2026 at 9:37 PM
By inserting unique DNA “barcodes,” and by tracking these barcodes after environmental and/or DNA changes, he can see which lineages thrive or decline and how chance, history, and environment shape their evolution.
Pranesh Rao, an MGI doctoral student in the Barrick Lab, presented a Work in Progress seminar today.
Rao's project aims to study the long-term E. coli evolution experiment to link specific DNA changes to how well bacteria grow.
Rao's project aims to study the long-term E. coli evolution experiment to link specific DNA changes to how well bacteria grow.
February 9, 2026 at 9:37 PM
Pranesh Rao, an MGI doctoral student in the Barrick Lab, presented a Work in Progress seminar today.
Rao's project aims to study the long-term E. coli evolution experiment to link specific DNA changes to how well bacteria grow.
Rao's project aims to study the long-term E. coli evolution experiment to link specific DNA changes to how well bacteria grow.
BPS is a winter wonderland today!
February 6, 2026 at 3:40 PM
BPS is a winter wonderland today!
In these pictures, we see brain cells treated with gut-derived metabolites, brain cells in enriched media, and the last slide shows some characteristics of brain-infiltrating macrophage that he discussed during his talk.
February 5, 2026 at 5:08 PM
In these pictures, we see brain cells treated with gut-derived metabolites, brain cells in enriched media, and the last slide shows some characteristics of brain-infiltrating macrophage that he discussed during his talk.
Abdul-Halim Osman of the Giri Lab at Henry Ford Health is studying how phenylalanine and gut microbes shape immune responses that ultimately affect the brain in diseases like multiple sclerosis. He presented his work at this week's Work in Progress Seminar.
February 5, 2026 at 5:08 PM
Abdul-Halim Osman of the Giri Lab at Henry Ford Health is studying how phenylalanine and gut microbes shape immune responses that ultimately affect the brain in diseases like multiple sclerosis. He presented his work at this week's Work in Progress Seminar.
This work is important because uncovering the function of these novel genes could help illuminate this unusual form of metabolism.
February 5, 2026 at 4:16 PM
This work is important because uncovering the function of these novel genes could help illuminate this unusual form of metabolism.
It's unknown how S. oneidensis is able to transfer these electrons to its electron transport chain to produce energy, but with the help of a large genetic screen, they found a few previously unstudied genes that may be involved.
February 5, 2026 at 4:16 PM
It's unknown how S. oneidensis is able to transfer these electrons to its electron transport chain to produce energy, but with the help of a large genetic screen, they found a few previously unstudied genes that may be involved.
His work focuses on the bacterium Shewanella oneidensis and its unique ability to uptake electrons from an external source, such as an electrode, & use them for energy production.
February 5, 2026 at 4:16 PM
His work focuses on the bacterium Shewanella oneidensis and its unique ability to uptake electrons from an external source, such as an electrode, & use them for energy production.
MGI grad student Chris Chavtur (@crchavtur97.bsky.social) of the Rowe Lab (@electromicrowe.bsky.social) gave one of this week's Work in Progress seminars.
February 5, 2026 at 4:16 PM
MGI grad student Chris Chavtur (@crchavtur97.bsky.social) of the Rowe Lab (@electromicrowe.bsky.social) gave one of this week's Work in Progress seminars.
MGI PhD students Camille Boucaud & Briana Tell of the Heath-Heckman lab (@drheathheckman.bsky.social) recently presented research posters at the SICB conference in Portland, OR. Boucaud's attendance was made possible in part by the SICB Charlotte Magnum Travel Award she received. Great work!
January 29, 2026 at 9:55 PM
MGI PhD students Camille Boucaud & Briana Tell of the Heath-Heckman lab (@drheathheckman.bsky.social) recently presented research posters at the SICB conference in Portland, OR. Boucaud's attendance was made possible in part by the SICB Charlotte Magnum Travel Award she received. Great work!
Congratulations to Josh Lensmire, this year's recipient of the MGI Early Career Award! Yesterday, he delivered a wonderful research seminar, and today he is giving a seminar entitled "Beyond the PhD" about careers in industry.
January 28, 2026 at 4:19 PM
Congratulations to Josh Lensmire, this year's recipient of the MGI Early Career Award! Yesterday, he delivered a wonderful research seminar, and today he is giving a seminar entitled "Beyond the PhD" about careers in industry.
Her goal is to understand how the biofilms allow the microbes to survive in these extremes, who the key players are inside the biofilm community, and what mechanisms they are using.
January 26, 2026 at 9:10 PM
Her goal is to understand how the biofilms allow the microbes to survive in these extremes, who the key players are inside the biofilm community, and what mechanisms they are using.
Henao studies bacterial communities that grow as biofilms and thrive under extreme conditions including high pH, high temperature and high UV-radiation.
January 26, 2026 at 9:10 PM
Henao studies bacterial communities that grow as biofilms and thrive under extreme conditions including high pH, high temperature and high UV-radiation.
By combining insights from natural microbial adaptations with synthetic biology approaches, her work aims to develop sustainable strategies for recovering critical metals from wastes, supporting clean energy technologies while reducing environmental harm.
January 26, 2026 at 9:10 PM
By combining insights from natural microbial adaptations with synthetic biology approaches, her work aims to develop sustainable strategies for recovering critical metals from wastes, supporting clean energy technologies while reducing environmental harm.
Guzman studies how bacteria from deep-sea environments interact with valuable metals that are essential for clean energy and modern technologies. Her research focuses on how these microbes naturally trap and transform metals using specialized structures.
January 26, 2026 at 9:10 PM
Guzman studies how bacteria from deep-sea environments interact with valuable metals that are essential for clean energy and modern technologies. Her research focuses on how these microbes naturally trap and transform metals using specialized structures.
Today's Work in Progress seminars were given by Maria Guzman of the Reguera Lab (@microgem.bsky.social) and Sarah Gonzalez Henao of the Schrenk Lab.
Join us each Monday at noon in 1425 BPS to hear our grad students talk about their research!
Join us each Monday at noon in 1425 BPS to hear our grad students talk about their research!
January 26, 2026 at 9:10 PM
Today's Work in Progress seminars were given by Maria Guzman of the Reguera Lab (@microgem.bsky.social) and Sarah Gonzalez Henao of the Schrenk Lab.
Join us each Monday at noon in 1425 BPS to hear our grad students talk about their research!
Join us each Monday at noon in 1425 BPS to hear our grad students talk about their research!
Next up in our Micro Biography series is Bobby Zuniga, MGI's first graduate student working in a lab at @henryfordhealth.bsky.social!
Read about Bobby and his research here: mgi.natsci.msu.edu/people/micro...
Read about Bobby and his research here: mgi.natsci.msu.edu/people/micro...
January 26, 2026 at 4:22 PM
Next up in our Micro Biography series is Bobby Zuniga, MGI's first graduate student working in a lab at @henryfordhealth.bsky.social!
Read about Bobby and his research here: mgi.natsci.msu.edu/people/micro...
Read about Bobby and his research here: mgi.natsci.msu.edu/people/micro...
Join us for our latest "Moment of Science" with MGI undergrad Drew Johnson of the Waters Lab. Here he shows us how to culture cholera in a low-tech lab environment.
January 23, 2026 at 2:26 PM
Join us for our latest "Moment of Science" with MGI undergrad Drew Johnson of the Waters Lab. Here he shows us how to culture cholera in a low-tech lab environment.
This week's MGI Research Seminar by given by our very own Aretha Fiebig. Her talk, entitled "Microbial Physiology in an Ecosystem Context," was delivered to a standing-room-only crowd.
January 21, 2026 at 9:31 PM
This week's MGI Research Seminar by given by our very own Aretha Fiebig. Her talk, entitled "Microbial Physiology in an Ecosystem Context," was delivered to a standing-room-only crowd.
Good morning! Thank you for your patience while I asked around. Here's what Dr. Jonathan Hardy said - he was one of the attendees at the seminar:
January 21, 2026 at 1:51 PM
Good morning! Thank you for your patience while I asked around. Here's what Dr. Jonathan Hardy said - he was one of the attendees at the seminar:
Thank you to Dr. Kevin Theis of Wayne State University for delivering today's MGI Research Seminar. His talk was entitled "The hologenomics of reproduction."
January 13, 2026 at 6:18 PM
Thank you to Dr. Kevin Theis of Wayne State University for delivering today's MGI Research Seminar. His talk was entitled "The hologenomics of reproduction."