Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Reposted by Rebee

Roni Odai @rodai.bsky.social · 7d

Viral AlphaFold Database (VAD) is live in Science Advances

~27,000 predicted viral protein monomers & homodimers

Conserved folds across bacteria, archaea & eukaryotic viruses

New toxin–antitoxin system KreTA uncovered

Vast “functional darkness” remains uncharted

www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...

The Viral AlphaFold Database of monomers and homodimers reveals conserved protein folds in viruses of bacteria, archaea, and eukaryotes

VAD is a Viral AlphaFold Database of protein monomers and homodimers from viruses infecting hosts across the tree of life.

www.science.org

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Microbiology Society @microbiologysociety.org · 18h

Following recent decisions by pharmaceutical companies to scale back investment, the UK Parliament’s Science, Innovation and Technology Committee is seeking written evidence on the competitiveness of the UK’s life sciences sector.

Image shows a background with the United Kingdom flag with a vaccine in the foreground.

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Luis Pedro Coelho @luispedrocoelho.bsky.social · 20d

Full thread will come later, but @annacusco.bsky.social's preprint on the dog pet gut microbiome is out!

Using ONT+Illumina, we get better MAGs than to corresponding species representative in public databases

doi.org/10.1101/2025...

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APPG on Diversity & Inclusion in STEM @stemdandiappg.bsky.social · 20d

Our year-long project on Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (#EDI) strategies in the UK’s science and tech sectors has drawn to a close with a new report exploring data collection, analysis and insight.

Read our findings and recommendations >>

www.britishscienceassociation.org/News/report-...

Report highlights disconnect between data collection and action on EDI in UK science and tech sector

A year-long project on Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) strategies in the UK’s science sector – led by the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Diversity and Inclusion in STEM – has drawn to a clos...

www.britishscienceassociation.org

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Elisabeth Bik - Perpetrator 5, a fraudulent microbiologist @elisabethbik.bsky.social · 23d

Is there anyone here at one of the universities in Wellington, NZ, who would want to host me to give a talk around November 10th?

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Zeynep Baharoglu @zeynepbaharoglu.bsky.social · 24d

🧬 Fresh RNA modifications newsletter out now: viral tRNA hijacking, hidden rRNA mods, dynamic Ψ, antibiotic resistance & more.

👉 open.substack.com/pub/rnamodif...

#RNAsky #Epitranscriptomics #microsky #ribosome

✨ RNA Modifications Newsletter – September 15, 2025

issue #3

open.substack.com

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Antiviral Roller Skating @antiviral-rskating.bsky.social · 26d

We are still buzzing from our show! Here’s some snaps of what you missed… in case you were wondering….

Huge thank you to the whole production team and the people who made this happen!

@microbiologysociety.org @britsciassoc.bsky.social @emmottlab.bsky.social @livuninews.bsky.social
#BSF25

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Ed Emmott @edemmott.bsky.social · 26d

The British science festival 2025 has started in Liverpool and @idb-virology.bsky.social and the team are looking forward to welcoming visitors to the Unity theatre this evening for some antiviral roller skating! @antiviral-rskating.bsky.social www.unitytheatreliverpool.co.uk/whats-on/ant...

Antiviral roller skating! | British Science Festival 2025 - Unity Theatre

Run time: 18.30 – 19:15 Throwback: it’s summer 2020, lockdowns are looming, you’ve bought yourself a pair of roller skates to cure your boredom… Swoop over to see the Liverpool Roller Birds dance agai...

www.unitytheatreliverpool.co.uk

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Research@LivUni @livuniresearch.bsky.social · 26d

Looking forward to @antiviral-rskating.bsky.social this evening @unitytheatre.bsky.social! In partnership with Liverpool Roller Birds, a team from @livunihls.bsky.social will demonstrate how antivirals are designed... on wheels! Book your tickets now! bit.ly/46jQ4Zs. #BSF25
Photo: @reebeesnaps

Girl wearing white t-shirt waving a yellow ribbon

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British Science Association @britsciassoc.bsky.social · 27d

TODAY! #BSF25

Research@LivUni @livuniresearch.bsky.social · Aug 22

🛼 BSF25 presents Antiviral Roller Skating!

Explore viruses & immunity through science + skating fun @liverpooluni.bsky.social

Fri 12 Sept
18.30 - 19:15
Unity Theatre - Unity One

@britsciassoc.bsky.social

Free/Book now 👉

britishscienceassociation-tickets.ticketsolve.com/ticketbooth/...

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Rebee @rebee.bsky.social · 27d

I‘m on social media duty today 😇
Keep your eyes peeled for updates… and if you’re free and in Liverpool… come to the show!!!

#BSF25

Antiviral Roller Skating @antiviral-rskating.bsky.social · 27d

TODAY IS THE DAY!!!
Let’s get this show on the roll 🦠🛼

@britsciassoc.bsky.social
#BritishScienceFestival

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Antiviral Roller Skating @antiviral-rskating.bsky.social · 29d

Happy DAY 1 of the British Science Festival to all who celebrate! What activity are you kicking it off with? 🤩🧬🦠🧪🔭🔬🥼🧫🔭⚗️!! #BSF25 #scicomm #microsky #sciart

that also means its just TWO DAYS until ✨️🦠🛼Antiviral Roller Skating🛼🦠✨️ hits the stage @unitytheatre.bsky.social Tickets still available!

British Science Association @britsciassoc.bsky.social · 29d

It's Wednesday. It's DAY ONE of the BRITISH SCIENCE FESTIVAL! 🙌🏻 #BSF25

British Science Association @britsciassoc.bsky.social · Aug 28

The British Science Festival 2025 in #Liverpool with @liverpooluni.bsky.social and @ljmuofficial.bsky.social is just around the corner! #BSF25

With nearly 100 FREE events, our brand-new event guide is here to help you choose!

Check it out below!

britishsciencefestival.org/event-guide

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Rebee @rebee.bsky.social · 29d

THIS WEEK!!!!!

Come learn about viruses 🦠😍

@antiviral-rskating.bsky.social
@livuni-ismib.bsky.social
@livuni-ives.bsky.social
@britsciassoc.bsky.social

Antiviral Roller Skating @antiviral-rskating.bsky.social · Sep 4

Just over ONE WEEK to go and things are really coming together!
Here's a look at some fun we've been having preparing for #BSF25 next week! 🎀🧬🦠✨️
📸: @rebee.bsky.social

@britsciassoc.bsky.social
@livuninews.bsky.social
@microbiologysociety.bsky.social

#scicomm
#rollerderby
#rollerskating

Greyscale virus background with a photo in a lilac border in the middle showing Debs waving a yellow ribbon emphatically whilst three other skaters, Elle, Helen and Hannah (left to right) in the background giggles. A white speech bubble from Hannah is in the top right saying "She's at it with the ribbon again. guys"

Greyscale virus background with a photo in a purple border with Hannah, wearing all black, laughing and holding a purple and a yellow ribbon in each hand. Lynn is in the background laughing with her hand over her mouth. A white speech bubble is coming from Hannah saying "Oh wait, guys, aive seen the light. Ribbon joy forever!"

A greyscale background with Debs and Imogen both smiling with their eyes closed and hands on their hips, facing each other. 3 purple cartoon viruses are dotted around the photo and a white text bubble coming from Imogen says "wow, can't believe we get to have so much fun learning about viruses & antivirals!" Beneath the photo it says "this could be you at..." followed by a lilac and white sketch style arrow pointing right to the next slide.

A greyscale background with a photo of Ani leading the choreography of a group of five skaters holding hands in a circle. The text above the photo reads "Antiviral Roller Skating @ British Science Festival 2025. Below the photo the text reads "Friday 12th September, 18:30, Unity Theatre - Theatre One

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Jordan Ray @jordanray.bsky.social · 29d

I am excited to share my graduate work in the Sabatini and @bartellab.bsky.social labs. Since their discovery, we have known lysosomes possess RNase activity; however, their substrates were not known. Surprisingly we find specific RNAs are targeted for degradation! www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...

Lysosomal RNA profiling reveals targeting of specific types of RNAs for degradation

Autophagy targets a wide variety of substrates for degradation within lysosomes. While lysosomes are known to possess RNase activity, the role of lysosomal RNA degradation in post-transcriptional gene...

www.biorxiv.org

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Rebee @rebee.bsky.social · Sep 8

The human RNome project meeting report is now live!

Prepared by myself and fellow ECRs @bennetthenzeler.bsky.social and @ramibechara.bsky.social

Check it out 🧬

humanrnomeproject.org/2025-worksho...

#RNAmodifications #MassSpec #nanopore

Human RNome Project

Our mission is to advance RNA science to impact human health, food security and boost biomanufacturing.

humanrnomeproject.org

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dnarnaresearch.bsky.social @dnarnaresearch.bsky.social · Sep 8

CoBRA: Compound Binding Site Prediction using RNA Language Model
doi.org/10.1101/2025...

CoBRA: Compound Binding Site Prediction using RNA Language Model

Ribonucleic acid (RNA) molecules perform a variety of functions within cells and thus implicated in various human diseases such as cancer. The fact that the proteins constitute a small portion of mRNA...

doi.org

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Research@LivUni @livuniresearch.bsky.social · Aug 22

🛼 BSF25 presents Antiviral Roller Skating!

Explore viruses & immunity through science + skating fun @liverpooluni.bsky.social

Fri 12 Sept
18.30 - 19:15
Unity Theatre - Unity One

@britsciassoc.bsky.social

Free/Book now 👉

britishscienceassociation-tickets.ticketsolve.com/ticketbooth/...

4 3

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Humanities & Social Sciences, UoL @livunihss.bsky.social · Aug 28

Antiviral roller skating! It's the sports / science crossover event we've been waiting for! Part of British Science Festival, Liverpool Roller Birds will show you just what Coronavirus can do, and how science stops it. 12 Sept britishscienceassociation-tickets.ticketsolve.com/ticketbooth/... #BSF25

Graphic of roller-skaters in front of a coronavirus

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Antiviral Roller Skating @antiviral-rskating.bsky.social · Sep 4

Just over ONE WEEK to go and things are really coming together!
Here's a look at some fun we've been having preparing for #BSF25 next week! 🎀🧬🦠✨️
📸: @rebee.bsky.social

@britsciassoc.bsky.social
@livuninews.bsky.social
@microbiologysociety.bsky.social

#scicomm
#rollerderby
#rollerskating

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Josh Luke Davis 🏳️‍🌈 @joshlukedavis.com · Sep 3

woah this is genuinely, utterly WILD

Ant queens of one species produce males of another species, so she can then mate with them and produce hybrid workers!

This is so gloriously weird I can't quite compute it 🤯🧪🐜
www.nature.com/articles/d41...

‘Almost unimaginable’: these ants are different species but share a mother

Ant queens of one species clone ants of another to create hybrid workers that do their bidding.

www.nature.com

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Rebee @rebee.bsky.social · Sep 2

How are people formatting/writing about their public engagement activities on their academic CVs? Looking for some inspo #publicengagement #sciencecommunication

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Lars Velten @larsplus.bsky.social · Sep 2

New method from my former lab - combining targeted RNA-seq and DNA-seq from the same cell on the @missionbio.bsky.social platform. Congrats!
It can also be combined with targeted methylation profiling and clonal tracing.
www.nature.com/articles/s41...

Functional phenotyping of genomic variants using joint multiomic single-cell DNA–RNA sequencing - Nature Methods

This study introduces SDR-seq, a droplet-based single-cell DNA–RNA sequencing platform, enabling the study of gene expression profiles linked to both noncoding and coding variants.

www.nature.com

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TransActual @transactualuk.bsky.social · Aug 28

A researcher is looking for participants to take part in research about improving access to healthcare for LGBTQ+ people living with chronic illness.

Please see the poster for more information. If you would like to participate, please email him directly [email protected]

#LGBTQResearch

Text Reads: I am seeking participants for research exploring ways to improve access to healthcare for LGBTQ+ people living with chronic illness in England.
I am looking to speak to people who: are 18+ and live in England; identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, nonbinary, queer, or/and as part of the LGBTQ+ community; consider yourself to live with one or more chronic illness.
What is involved? Taking part involves two online conversations (interviews) and a creative task. Your participation in the project can be spread over several weeks.
Who is carrying out the research? I am a PhD student based at Liverpool Hope University. I am trans and bisexual and I live with multiple chronic illnesses.
Interested? Please visit https://bit.ly/4hNcIx4 or email Vickery Stamp (he/him or they/them) at 17002702@hope.ac.uk for more information or to express interest
The poster is illustrated with an image of a megaphone, a health zine and a set of coloured pencils.

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RNA Society Journal @rnajournal.bsky.social · Aug 27

Spatiotemporal NAIL-MS analysis shows that ALKBH5 does not affect global m6A turnover in human mRNA across subcellular compartments under standard growth conditions bit.ly/4lvVtC6

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Rebee @rebee.bsky.social · Aug 30

link.springer.com/protocol/10....

Bisulfite Sequencing to Map 5-Methylcytosine Sites in Human Respiratory Syncytial Virus RNA

Viral epigenetic modification is an emerging field. As an obligate intracellular parasite, viral genetic material is exposed to host RNA-modifying enzymes. Currently, more than 180 types of RNA modifi...

link.springer.com

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