Steve Diggle

Was a pleasure hosting @billhanage.bsky.social for our @cmdi.bsky.social MicrobeATL event where he discussed the importance of the accessory genome in bacteria.

A four-panel figure showing scanning electron micrographs of Pseudomonas biofilm on the surface of pig lung tissue. Aggregates of bacteria sit on top of a network of collagen fibrils, with some bacterial cells penetrating the collagen mesh.

Paper out! We used RNAseq to track changes in P. aeruginosa gene expression over 7 days of #biofilm infection in our #CysticFibrosis lung model. www.microbiologyresearch.org/content/jour... #MicroSky (1/n)

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External Event Grant Awards of up to £750 are available for eligible members to use towards the registration, travel and accommodation costs to attend events between 1 May–31 August 2026. Apply before 15 March at 23:59 GMT: vhttps://microb.io/4qEISPC

Studying adaptation at the invisible scale | PNAS In order to understand adaptation by natural selection, it is necessary to observe organisms in their natural habitat. For this reason, the field o...

Thank you to Doug Emlen and Matthias Fischer for the wonderful images we used in this figure, illustrating the parallels of studying adaptation across scales of visibility: scarab beetles and giant viruses www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/... @stuwest.bsky.social

Microbial Primer: Bacterial DNA supercoiling DNA in most bacterial cells is maintained in an underwound state. The DNA double helix responds to underwinding by adopting a minimum energy conformation through the supercoiling of the duplex, the fo...

Check out the latest Microbial Primer on DNA supercoiling www.microbiologyresearch.org/content/jour...

<i>Microbiology</i> Editors: Call for expressions of interest

It’s the final week to apply for the Microbiology Editor role. We're looking for passionate experts to help shape the future of research. Submit your CV and cover letter by February 16: https://microb.io/4qKdgJ6

A cartoon showing the various targets of reconstructed eyesalve against Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria. It targets the cell membrane, as well as several intracellular targets including nucleotide biosynthesis. In S. aureus, it also affect quorum sensing.

Remember the medieval remedy we reconstructed years ago? We've now dissected the various ways it attacks and kills bacteria! Preprinted & submitted, led by @tosinorababa.bsky.social & Jess Furner-Pardoe w/ many collaborators #MicroSky #Ancientbiotics www.biorxiv.org/content/10.6...

<i>Microbiology</i> Editors: Call for expressions of interest

Only 2 weeks left to apply for the Microbiology journal's Editorial Board. Contribute to high-quality research and engage with the scientific community. Find out more and apply by February 16: https://microb.io/4qKdgJ6

Microbial Primer: Ancientbiotics – making modern antimicrobials from historical infection remedies The modern antibiotic era began in the early twentieth century, but humans have long used materials from the natural world to attempt to treat the symptoms of infection. In this primer, we will discus...

New primer alert! Microbial primer discussing 'ancientbiotics': the search for 'new' antimicrobials from ancient remedies. @microbiologysociety.org @friendlymicrobe.bsky.social www.microbiologyresearch.org/content/jour...

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Microbial Primer: Ancientbiotics – making modern antimicrobials from historical infection remedies The modern antibiotic era began in the early twentieth century, but humans have long used materials from the natural world to attempt to treat the symptoms of infection. In this primer, we will discus...

Why should microbiologists be interested in historical infection remedies, and how can we best investigate them for antimicrobial discovery? Thoroughly enjoyed co-writing this Microbiology Primer with @tosinorababa.bsky.social www.microbiologyresearch.org/content/jour... #MicroSky #Ancientbiotics

<i>Microbiology</i> Editors: Call for expressions of interest

Do you want to be a journal editor and help shape the future of the @microbiologysociety.org? If so, check out this link Come and help shape the future of the journal Microbiology microbiologysociety.org/news/society...

Improving a Tn7-based luciferase reporter system for promoter activity studies Single-copy chromosomal integration systems are essential tools for stable gene expression in bacteria, minimizing variability associated with plasmid-based systems. The Tn7 transposon-based system is...

New paper alert! An improved Tn7 lux reporter construct with basal lux expression eliminated. @microbiologysociety.org www.microbiologyresearch.org/content/jour...

Clinical isolates from chronic wounds reveal strain-specific, alkyl-quinolone-independent competition in Pseudomonas aeruginosa- Staphylococcus aureus biofilms - PubMed <span><b>Introduction.</b> Chronic wounds are notoriously difficult to treat and are associated with decreased limb function, reduced quality of life and significant morbidity. Their recurrent nature, despite aggressive antibiotic therapy, is due in part to the presence of polymicrobial biofilms. <i>Pseud</i></span> …

Studies of clinical isolates show that P. aeruginosa and S. aureus interact in strain-specific ways. Surprisingly, competition doesn't always rely on usual chemical signals (AQs), highlighting the complexity of infections.

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/41533460/

#Microbiology #Biofilms #HealthScience

From infestation to infection: a systematic review of arthropod-mediated microbial transmission in hospitals - PubMed Arthropods in healthcare environments commonly harbor clinically relevant and antimicrobial-resistant microbes, and limited but compelling evidence supports their potential role in patient transmission. Strengthened pest management and environmental hygiene are essential components of infection prev …

Insects in hospitals are potential disease vectors! 🪳🪰

A new systematic review shows that cockroaches, flies, and ants often carry drug-resistant bacteria and can transmit pathogens to patients. 🏥

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/41562025/

#InfectionPrevention #PublicHealth #Microbiology

Rothia similimucilaginosa sp. nov., isolated from the human nasal cavity Four strains of a Gram-stain-positive, coccoid, catalase-positive, non-motile bacterium were recovered from nasal lavage samples collected from children in Wisconsin during the Spring of 2008. These s...

My lab has published our first paper! We previously showed that Rothia are associated with healthy nasal microbiomes and inhibit the pathobiont Moraxella catarrhalis. We now describe the novel species Rothia similimucilaginosa. Check it out here: www.microbiologyresearch.org/content/jour...

Clinical isolates from chronic wounds reveal strain-specific, alkyl-quinolone-independent competition in Pseudomonas aeruginosa–Staphylococcus aureus biofilms Introduction. Chronic wounds are notoriously difficult to treat and are associated with decreased limb function, reduced quality of life and significant morbidity. Their recurrent nature, despite aggr...

P. aeruginosa can outcompete S. aureus in chronic wounds through strain-specific, alkyl-quinoline-independent mechanisms. This highlights why clinical isolates are key to understanding these infections. 🧬🧫 #Microbiology #Biofilms #Microsky www.microbiologyresearch.org/content/jour...

Jobs View the current job vacancies at the Microbiology Society.

📢 We’re looking for Senior Editors to guide MGen's 'Pathogens and Epidemiology' section and promote high-quality research while representing the Microbiology Society. Apply by Monday 19 January 2026: microb.io/Vacancies
#MGen

Our new review highlights that ants, cockroaches, and flies carry antimicrobial-resistant bacteria and fungi in hospitals. Better pest management is key to infection prevention. #ASHEJournal #microsky www.cambridge.org/core/journal...

Manchester Institute of Biotechnology is looking for a new Professor. There are a few priority areas including microbial engineering (broadly defined, from pathways to cells to microbiomes). Closing 12 Jan.
Join us in the best city in the UK 😜
www.jobs.manchester.ac.uk/Job/JobDetai...

Society Event Grant – Annual Conference 2026 Awards of up to £350 (UK) and £650 (International) are available for eligible members wishing to attend the Annual Conference in Belfast. Application deadline is midnight GMT 02/01/26.

🔗Link here: microb.io/AC26Grant

#Microbio26 #Microbiology #MiM26

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The Staphylococcus aureus LXG-domain toxins EsxX and SAR0287 do not promote virulence in a zebrafish larval infection model The Staphylococcus aureus type VIIb secretion system (T7SSb) is a multiprotein secretion system that secretes toxins with antibacterial activity, but which is also required for full virulence in anima...

New paper alert! Insight into the type 7 secretion system of Staph aureus, including locus type similarities and role in virulence. @microbiologysociety.org @proftracypalmer.bsky.social www.microbiologyresearch.org/content/jour...

Animal modelling with the Francisella tularensis subspecies holarctica strain OR96-0246 Tularemia is a zoonotic disease caused by Francisella tularensis. Most human cases are caused by F. tularensis ssp. tularensis (type A) or F. tularensis ssp. holarctica (type B), with the former consi...

New paper alert! Establishing the infection properties of a type B Francisella tularensis strain. @microbiologysociety.org www.microbiologyresearch.org/content/jour...

Strain-dependent contribution of the AcrAB-TolC efflux pump to Klebsiella pneumoniae physiology Klebsiella pneumoniae is a prominent opportunistic pathogen increasingly associated with multidrug resistance and virulence. One of the main mechanisms of antimicrobial resistance in K. pneumoniae is ...

New paper alert! Acr/Tol efflux has strain-specific roles in physiology in Klebsiella pneumoniae. @microbiologysociety.org @ilyasalav.bsky.social www.microbiologyresearch.org/content/jour...

Jobs View the current job vacancies at the Microbiology Society.

📢 We’re looking for Editors to join Microbial Genomics! We’re seeking Editors with some previous editorial experience to support our to help ensure the publication of high-quality, impactful research. Find out more and apply by 19 January 2026: microb.io/Vacancies

Check out the Microbial Primers page. Short articles written to help people new to a field to get quickly up to speed. @microbiologysociety.org

www.microbiologyresearch.org/content/micr...