Libusha Kelly

Microbial diversity as a foundation for biological AI - EMBO Reports EMBO Reports - The diversity of microbes reflects how cells adapt, interact and evolve across diverse environmental contexts and represents an unparalleled resource for training biological AI...

Zach Flamholz and I discuss microbial diversity as a foundation for biological AI link.springer.com/article/10.1... in @emboreports.org

Ubercool.
Toxin-antitoxin systems were discovered 40 years ago in E. coli, and later on in many genomes including in euks.
Now the 1st TA system is reported in the mouse genome!
It affects embryo killing. Amazing distribution of a simple yet efficient genetic system
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.6...

How to set up and manage a microbiome research facility The increasing number of therapeutic intervention studies in the microbiome field has sparked broad interest among clinicians and scientists to incorp…

Paper 🚨: in this Narrative Review we describe the challenges and opportunity of a microbiome research facility, based on our experiences at LUMC with Center for Microbiome Analyses and Therapeutics (CMAT) www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti... #ESGHAMI @escmid.bsky.social @cmijournal.bsky.social

Stochastic resilience enables particle foraging in oligotrophic marine environments www.pnas.org/doi/abs/10.1... #jcampubs 🌊

Bacterial Schlafen proteins mediate phage defence - Nature Microbiology This study highlights that Schlafens are ancient, mechanistically conserved immune effectors that mediate antiviral immunity in organisms ranging from humans to bacteria.

Bacterial Schlafen proteins mediate phage defence www.nature.com/articles/s41... #jcampubs

Please spread the word: the Structural Studies Division @mrclmb.bsky.social is looking for a new tenure-track, independent group leader with an exciting plan in any area of Structural (Molecular & Cell) biology, in discovery biology and/or methods development. 🥳

mrc.tal.net/vx/mobile-0/...

Pls re-post: My department @oxfordbiochemistry.bsky.social are recruiting for several new faculty positions (links below). Broad search in molecular biology/biochemistry, across prokaryotes and eukaryotes. Interested in understanding life at the molecular level, this job might be for you!
1/n

After >10 years of our lab studying bacterial cGAS-like enzymes, @hobbslabutah.bsky.social finally reconstitutes viral sensing in vitro and discovers how these ancient receptors sense phage protease enzymes to detect virion assembly and activate antiviral immunity

www.biorxiv.org/content/10.6...

Reporter, Nature News Job Title: Reporter, Nature Location: Washington DC or New York (Hybrid Working Model) Application Deadline: March 27, 2026 About Springer Nature Springer Nature is one of the leading publishers of research in the world. We publish the largest number of journals and books and are a pioneer in open research. Through our leading brands, trusted for more than 180 years, we provide technology-enabled products, platforms and services that help researchers to uncover new ideas and share their discoveries, health professionals to stay at the forefront of medical science, and educators to advance learning. We are proud to be part of progress, working together with the communities we serve to share knowledge and bring greater understanding to the world. For more information, please visit https://go.https://go.https://go.nature.com/4lh1cNV/4lh1cNV/4leI0jL and follow @SpringerNature About the Brand Nature Portfolio’s high-quality journals and services across the life, physical, chemical and applied sciences help move science and society forward. Nature Portfolio is home to the leading, international weekly journal of science, Nature – founded in 1869. It is also home to the Nature research and Nature Reviews journals, the leading open access multidisciplinary journal Nature Communications, and open access journals including Scientific Reports. Together, these journals publish some of the world's most significant scientific discoveries. Online, nature.com provides over nine million unique visitors per month with content, including news and comment from the Nature journal, and the leading scientific jobs board, Nature Careers. As part of Springer Nature, Nature Portfolio also offers a range of researcher services, including online and in-person training. For more information, please visit nature.com and follow @NaturePortfolio About the Role As a Nature News Reporter, you will pitch and write news articles about science and the research community each week for publication in print and online. You will also regularly pitch and write news features, contribute to multimedia, and advise the wider magazine on coverage of your beat. This role will be based in the United States and will have a focus on reporting on the United States and the Americas, with an emphasis on physical sciences, energy and the environment, and technology, including AI. The successful candidate will be comfortable writing stories from any region and interviewing scientists anywhere, and will be an all-rounder with the enthusiasm and curiosity to report across the sciences. Responsibilities Pitch, report, and write a stream of original news and features articles that appeal to Nature’s global audience of working scientists Write clear, accurate, and compelling prose; deliver copy to tight deadlines Regularly find exclusive, original story ideas that appeal to Nature’s audience and drive traffic and engagement Use insights gleaned from audience analytics to guide pitches and framing of stories Keep on top of the global news agenda and suggest angles that will appeal to Nature’s audience of working researchers Build a network of trusted sources leading to exclusive stories Work collaboratively with a team of reporters and editors spread around the world Experience, Skills & Qualifications Essential Experience reporting and writing on scientific developments, science policy or the research community Ability to grasp scientific concepts quickly and write about them clearly Understanding of journalistic values and best practices Bachelor's degree required in journalism or science related fields Desirable Experience writing about physical sciences, energy and the environment, and technology, including AI Knowledge of the US science landscape and/or more broadly that of the Americas Experience working to fast daily deadlines Experience using audience analytics to understand audience interests and drive pitches Understanding of the challenges and opportunities facing working scientists Knowledge in an array of science topics and fields Experience reporting stories in multimedia formats, such as podcast and video To apply please submit: Your updated resume A cover letter explaining your interest in the post, and why you are qualified 3-5 clips that showcase your writing and reporting skills (please submit PDFs - not just links.) Application Deadline: March 27, 2026 Springer Nature Skills associated with this Job Profile include: SN-Publishing Workflows & Systems, SN-Storytelling, SN-Writing Skills, SN-Adaptability, SN-Communicates Effectively, SN-Interpersonal Awareness, SN-Cultivates Innovation, SN-Global Perspective, SN-Governance, Risk and Compliance Management, SN-Social Media Savvy, SN-Journalistic Skills Springer Nature US provides a comprehensive and competitive benefits package which includes the benefit offerings listed below: Medical, Dental and Vision 401(k) with company match and contribution Hybrid office working policy, Summer Hours, and paid time off Flexible Spending and Commuter programs Multiple Life insurance options Disability coverage Tuition Assistance Voluntary benefits: Identity Theft Protection, Pet Insurance, and Legal Assistance Insurance Employee Assistance Program Family friendly benefits and a variety of employee discounts An array of Employee Social Networks US Annualized Base Salary Range: $85,000 - $100,000. The salary offer may vary based on work experience, education, skill level, and equity. The US salary range does not align with the salary ranges in other countries when converted to the currency of that country. Springer Nature is an Equal Opportunity Employer that complies with the laws and regulations set forth in the following https://go.nature.com/4lgJhXp poster. At Springer Nature, our mission is to be part of progress – and that begins with inclusion: of people, perspectives, and ideas. We believe that diverse perspectives drive progress, and we are committed to creating an environment where people and ideas can flourish. If you have any access needs related to disability, neurodivergence or a chronic condition, please contact us so we can make all necessary accommodation. Find out more about our DEI work here: https://go.nature.com/4lmCkUY For more information about career opportunities in Springer Nature please visit https://go.nature.com/4rV8Z6f #LI-EG1 Job Posting End Date: 28-03-2026 We are an ambitious and dynamic organisation, and home to some of the best-known names in research, educational and professional publishing. Working at the heart of a changing industry, we are always looking for great people who care about delivering quality to our customers and the communities we work alongside. In return, you will find that we open the doors to discovery for all our employees – offering opportunities to learn from some of the best in the business, with a culture that encourages curiosity and empowers people to find solutions and act on their instincts. Whether you are at the beginning of your career or are an experienced professional, we invite you to find out more about the roles we offer and explore our current vacancies. We are a global and progressive business, founded on a heritage of trusted and respected brands – including Springer, founded in 1842, Macmillan, founded in 1843 and Nature, first published in 1869. Nearly two centuries of progress and advancement in science and education have helped shape the business we are today. Research and learning continues to be the cornerstone of progress, and we will continue to open doors to discovery through trusted brands and innovative products and services. Springer Nature Group was created in May 2015 through the combination of Nature Publishing Group, Macmillan Education and Springer Science+Business Media.

We're hiring at Nature! Our US News team is looking for a reporter based in New York or Washington DC. You'll need reporting and writing experience, along with knowledge of the US science landscape. Apply by March 27 via the link below

go.nature.com/3N8UkFA

Deltaviruses spread through a viral Trojan Horse Hepatitis D-like satellite viruses, known as deltaviruses, have been recently discovered in a wide range of animals. These viruses are thought to expr…

We found a viral Trojan Horse: a virus can hide inside another virus.This one surprised us: deltaviruses don’t just borrow a helper virus. They can travel inside it.
A literal Trojan Horse “virus-in-a-virus” route into cells. 🤯 Kudos to 1st author @viroscope.bsky.social and co-authors !

Out today: We discovered new viral proteins that target immune signaling molecules, solely based on their AlphaFold-predicted shapes

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

Congrats Nitzan Tal and coauthors! Thank you Kranzusch lab for the fun collaboration!

Linking below previous thread on our findings

A new preprint with Matthew Schmitt, @kiseokmicro.bsky.social and Vincenzo Vitelli makes a huge step forward in learning functional groups of components in complex biological systems. It's dimension reduction that speaks to biological function. www.biorxiv.org/content/10.6...

Leipzig U and the MPI for Evolutionary Anthropology (MPI-EVA) have an open faculty position (W2) in evolutionary population genetics! This position is tenured and comes with generous core funding. We are eager to welcome a new colleague! Deadline March 11.
www.uni-leipzig.de/en/newsdetai...

Call for Applications - Max Planck Postdoc Program, apply now!

The Max Planck #PostdocProgram offers top emerging talents a range of attractive measures and opportunities. The current call for applications is open from March 1st until April 13th, 2026. Please share or consider applying! 🙏
www.mpg.de/en/max-planc... #careerinscience #sciencecareer

🚨🧬🚨

We're looking for a specialized Research Assistant to spearhead a project aimed at exploring new RNA therapeutics in diabetes and other metabolic disorders.

Junior or Senior, we're hoping to recruit a highly motivated and self-driven scientist interested in both basic and applied science. 🦄

Epistasis and co-adaptation in bacterial genome evolution Nature Reviews Genetics - Bacterial genome evolution is shaped by epistasis, which can constrain or promote specific evolutionary paths. The authors review how integrating the effects of epistatic...

I’ve spent a lot of time over the past two years thinking about genome evolution and how recent research revealing complex gene-gene interactions has complicated traditional ‘gene-centric’ genomic approaches to evolution. So here is a review that consolidates these thoughts!

rdcu.be/e6pHY

So I pleased to announce the conceptual spawn of FigTree: PearTree (acronym still to be finalised). If you want to dive right in it is hosted as a web app here: artic-network.github.io/peartree (click the “Example...” button for immediate candy and then click every button you can find).

Posting again!

Final version @nature.com of our paper describing unconventional multicellular development in a choanoflagellate inhabiting an extreme environment. A ton of new data since the first @biorxivpreprint.bsky.social preprint (which we've kept updating).

A brief 🧵 (carried over from the old place)

One of my favorite papers of past few years!

Paralog interference contributes to the preservation of genetic redundancy Duplicated self-interacting proteins can interact and interfere with each other’s function. Cisneros, Mattenberger, et al. show that selection against interfering loss-of-function alleles extends the ...

New paper alert: Paralog interference contributes to the preservation of genetic redundancy www.cell.com/current-biol...

Join us as Assistant/Associate/Full Professor Computational Biology at Institute of Biology Leiden (IBL) / @leidenscience.bsky.social / @unileiden.bsky.social

Application deadline on 15 March 2026
👇
careers.universiteitleiden.nl/job/Assistan...

Our new preprint introduces #kineochelins, a new group of #siderophores produced by the Antarctic soil actinomycete 🦠🔬🧫 #Actinokineospora sp. UV203

Kudos to the amazing Stanislava Králová & a fantastic team of collaborators 🤩
#microbiomesky

www.biorxiv.org/content/10.6...

Ad for Postdoctoral Scientist Position in Burmeister Lab on Bacteria-Phage Coevolution. Full document available here: https://arburmeister.weebly.com/uploads/1/9/9/9/19990727/burmeister_lab_postdoc_position_2026.pdf

Postdoc position on phage-bacteria coevolution available in the @aburmeister.bsky.social lab at University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee #phage #evosky #MicroSky #VirEvol 🦠 🔬 #microbiology

arburmeister.weebly.com/join-the-lab...

In case you missed it: our review titled "Spatial structure: shaping the ecology and evolution of microbial communities" is out! 🚨

Let me hit you with some highlights on why spatial structure matters. (and why you should care!)

Sharing is appreciated 🙏 🧵👇

doi.org/10.1093/fems...

We are excited to be recruiting a new tenure track group leader in the Structural Studies Division at MRC LMB! It is an amazing place to start your own lab.
@mrclmb.bsky.social

Please get in touch if you have any questions.
www.nature.com/naturecareer...

This image depicts a nematode with fluorescently labeled bacteria in its intestine (left), illustrating microbial metabolic input. On the right, fluorescently marked epidermal lysosomes (top), intestinal lysosomes (middle), and lipid droplets (bottom) highlight the organelles engaged in lysosome-dependent lipid degradation. Together, the image visualizes a microbiota–lysosome axis through which bacterial tryptophan metabolism reprograms host lipid homeostasis. Image Credit: Kenan Zhang

Microbial metabolites can influence host physiology. This study shows that #microbial production of #indole from #bacterial #tryptophan catabolism enhances #lysosomal acidification & lipase activity in nematodes & mammalian hepatocytes @plosbiology.org 🧪 plos.io/3ZZAsaI

Genomic Perplexity and the Evolution of Context-Dependent Function Abstract. The fundamental principle that selection acts on a gene’s function often assumes implicitly that this function is fixed and intrinsic. However, e

New paper out in MBE! 🧵
"Genomic Perplexity and the Evolution of Context-Dependent Function"
The big idea: genes don't have fixed functions. Function emerges from context - genomic, cellular, environmental. And we can quantify this. academic.oup.com/mbe/article/...

Call for applications, pls share!

2026 Evolutionary Medicine Summer Institute (EMSI) advances research in a frontier of evolutionary medicine. They provide training in methods needed to address cutting edge questions in that frontier.

2026 focus: Climate Change and Health

sites.duke.edu/emsi/