iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Anita Meier @anitafmeier.bsky.social · 14/09/2026

For years I've been wondering why I see DNA blobs in the cytosol of HSV-1 infected cells! A new study shows that HSV-1 infections trigger the shedding of nuclear DNA into the cytoplasm possibly through cellular mechanosensing. This blebbing might activate IFN signaling through cGAS.

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Benjamin Ambrose @single-mole.bsky.social · 01/07/2026

KymoSketch started out as a GUI for our kymotracker script, but after I added DeepDiffusion to it I got suggestions to add more features and it’s since become a more fleshed out analysis platform (1/6)

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Anita Meier @anitafmeier.bsky.social · 16/06/2026

Rotavirus (RV) is the leading cause of severe childhood diarrhea. To enter the host cell, RV must first activate its spike protein. This occurs when trypsin, a digestive enzyme found in the intestine, cleaves specific regions of the spike protein. Hence, ensuring tissue specificity.

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Anita Meier @anitafmeier.bsky.social · 20/04/2026

Herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) tightly packages its DNA within the capsid and creates a pressure of ~20 atm that is used to inject the genome into the cell nucleus. Check out this beautiful structure of the capsid and portal vertex:

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Anita Meier @anitafmeier.bsky.social · 10/03/2026

We partially originate from viruses! This week I found out that part of the mitochondrial replication machinery (polymerase and helicase-primase) has its ancestry in bacteriophages. 🤯

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Anita Meier @anitafmeier.bsky.social · 27/02/2026

Most viruses rely on the host to provide the entire translation machinery. However, giant viruses have evolved to encode part of the machinery themselves. Latest discovery: mimivirus (APMV) encodes its own initiation factor (vIF4F) and specifically promotes translation of viral mRNA!

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Anita Meier @anitafmeier.bsky.social · 19/02/2026

Check it out if you are at Imperial! The AWA always hosts great events!!

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Anita Meier @anitafmeier.bsky.social · 16/01/2026

Studying viruses helps us understand cellular processes: the breakthrough discovery of RNA splicing in 1977 was achieved by studying adenovirus (AdV) biology. They used mRNA/ DNA hybridization and electron microscopy.

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Anita Meier @anitafmeier.bsky.social · 16/12/2025

Excited for my new chapter at ETHZ

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D-BSSE, ETH Zurich @bsse.ethz.ch · 16/12/2025

Meet #postdocs who recently joined the D-BSSE @ethz.ch: Mélanie Roschewitz | lab of @michaelmoor.bsky.social advancing medical image analysis using AI tools > u.ethz.ch/auXVR & Anita Meier @anitafmeier.bsky.social | lab of #MartinFussenegger working on gene therapies > u.ethz.ch/8dFrx

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Anita Meier @anitafmeier.bsky.social · 02/12/2025

Some of the weirdest viruses: Multipartite viruses have segmented genomes that are enclosed in different capsids, which are independently transmitted. All segments have to meet in the same host cell for complementation. The evolutionary benefit for this lifestyle is unclear.

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Anita Meier @anitafmeier.bsky.social · 11/11/2025

Zika virus induces nanotube formation 👾 in the host cell to facilitate viral spread. ZIKV even uses them to acquire mitochondria from neighbouring uninfected cells!

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Anita Meier @anitafmeier.bsky.social · 14/08/2025

Epstein-Barr virus encodes a protein called EBNA1, which physically tethers 🤝 the viral DNA to the host chromosome so it doesn't get lost during mitosis. www.cell.com/cell/fulltex...

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Sonja Schmid @scisonja.bsky.social · 31/07/2025

💥 We have 3 positions open in my lab in Basel, Switzerland🇨🇭: #nanopores #smFRET #biomolecular #dynamics #singleMolecules We’re looking for talented & ambitious new colleagues enthusiastic about biomolecular dynamics & single-molecule tech. Please share broadly, thank you!🤝 schmid.chemie.unibas.ch

schmid.chemie.unibas.ch

Home | Research Group Schmid | University of Basel

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Vicki Metzis @vmetzis.bsky.social · 01/08/2025

Application deadline for up to 5 @mrc-lms.bsky.social postdoc positions in developmental epigenetics closes soon - don’t miss out! Positions across both experimental and computational projects. Come and join our fantastic team science community!

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Anita Meier @anitafmeier.bsky.social · 27/06/2025

Don't forget to sign up to reserve your spot! 🍿🥂🍪Signing up now will also ensure that we order enough drinks and snacks!

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Anita Meier @anitafmeier.bsky.social · 27/06/2025

Herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) infections dramatically change the architecture of the host nucleus. HSV-1 specifically recruits certain host factors (e.g. RNAPII) to promote its replication. HSV-1 actively rewires the human genome! 😲Look at how the host genome gets squeezed!!

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Sjors Scheres @sjorsscheres.bsky.social · 25/06/2025

We have a 3-year funded postdoc position to work on structures of #amyloid filaments. If you are an expert in protein biochemistry, structural biology or #cryoEM / #cryoET, this could be for you! Feel free to email me with any questions. Come join us! 🤩 www.nature.com/naturecareer...

nature.com

Postdoctoral Scientist - Structural Studies - Dr Sjors Scheres - LMB 2640 - Cambridgeshire job with MRC Laboratory of Molecular Biology (LMB) | 12840844

Postdoctoral Scientist Starting Salary: £41,344 Fixed term: 3 years MRC Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Cambridge, UK We are looking for a postdoc...

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Louise Fets @louisefets.bsky.social · 25/06/2025

#JobAlert! We have an opening for a postdoctoral scientist in #CancerMetabolism in my lab @mrc-lms.bsky.social. If you're interested in the role of metabolism in drug response and resistance in cancer, and would like to work in a fun and friendly team, check it out: lms.mrc.ac.uk/work/vacanci...

lms.mrc.ac.uk

MRC Postdoctoral Research Scientist - MRC Laboratory of Medical Sciences

The MRC Laboratory of Medical Sciences (LMS) is a biomedical research institute where scientists and clinicians collaborate to advance the understanding of biology and its application to medicine. LMS...

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Anita Meier @anitafmeier.bsky.social · 18/06/2025

💥Our next AWA event is all about networking, mentorship and how to do it in a way that is right for you.😌 Sign up and come along. Everyone from Imperial/ MRC welcome! Limited spaces available, drinks and snacks included 🥂🧀

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Ilaria Belluomo @ilabell.bsky.social · 18/06/2025

🌟 The next event of the Academic Women Association (AWA) is happening! Registration and details here: www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/academic-w...

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Anita Meier @anitafmeier.bsky.social · 14/06/2025

This is a tupanvirus, ~450nm in diameter ~1.2um in length, clearly one of the giant viruses. It encodes for the most complete translational machinery found in viruses with only the ribosome lacking. Most (non-giant) viruses don't encode any components required for translation. It's so fluffy!! 😱

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Anita Meier @anitafmeier.bsky.social · 11/06/2025

Blows my mind 🤯 that it is possible to capture the structural dynamics of viral capsid contraction by thawing and re-freezing the ice within the electron microscope! Anyone interested in microsecond time-resolved cryo-EM should check out this paper: www.nature.com/articles/s41...

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Anita Meier @anitafmeier.bsky.social · 07/05/2025

Weird virus fact: Bacteriophage 29 (Phi29) uses RNA to help package genomic DNA 🤯. This so-called packaging RNA (pRNA) is an essential part of the packaging motor, which is part of the newly formed viral capsid. Check out the pRNA (pink) in the beautiful structure: www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...

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Anita Meier @anitafmeier.bsky.social · 06/05/2025

Weird virus fact: Papillomaviruses can make their host cell immortal 🧟‍♂️ by activating telomerase (together with other mechanisms). The viral protein E6 regulates and directly interacts with hTERT and telomeric DNA.

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Anita Meier @anitafmeier.bsky.social · 25/04/2025

Weird virus fact: Adeno-associated viruses (AAV) can only replicate if the same host cell is infected with a helper virus. AAV will remain in the host cell (latently infecting it) until a helper virus such as HSV or AdV comes along. www.mdpi.com/1999-4915/12...

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Anita Meier @anitafmeier.bsky.social · 13/04/2025

Weird virus fact: HIV-1 and other retroviruses hijack cellular tRNA and use it as primer to initiate reverse transcription of their RNA genome. They exploit the same tRNA terminal 3′-OH group used by the host for aminoacylation and peptidyl transfer.

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Anita Meier @anitafmeier.bsky.social · 03/04/2025

Weird virus fact: In order to overcome the end replication problem, adenovirus DNA replication starts at a protein, rather than an RNA primer. The viral polymerase couples the first nucleotide (dCTP) to a serine on the terminal protein, which assures full replication by a jump-back mechanism. 😎

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Anita Meier @anitafmeier.bsky.social · 02/04/2025

I fear the consequences of this move...

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Anita Meier @anitafmeier.bsky.social · 20/03/2025

Weird virus fact: The SV40 polyomavirus dsDNA genome is wrapped around cellular histones within the viral capsid. Most #viruses don't contain histones in their virions. www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti... Image credit: viralzone.expasy.org/148

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Anita Meier @anitafmeier.bsky.social · 18/03/2025

Great opportunity for people at Imperial/ LMS too meet and network. Sign up if interested!

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Anita Meier @anitafmeier.bsky.social · 16/03/2025

Weird virus fact: Herpesvirus (HSV-1) assimilates the cellular motor kinesin-1 to travel within the cell. HSV-1 takes it up into the tegument to use it for future infection: www.nature.com/articles/s41...

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MRC Laboratory of Molecular Biology @mrclmb.ac.uk · 14/03/2025

There’s still time to apply to the LMB’s Rising Talent Fellowship for Black heritage scientists. With this 3-year postdoc position we want to enable scientists of Black heritage to learn & grow their experience. Application deadline: 23 March More info: www2.mrc-lmb.cam.ac.uk/recruitment/...

Apply now!
LMB Rising Talent Fellowship
3-year postdoctoral fellowship for Black heritage scientists
Visit www.mrc-lmb.cam.ac.uk for more information

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Erin E. Cutts @eecutts.bsky.social · 10/03/2025

Anyone looking for a PhD: the second deadline of the Yorkshire DTP closes this Friday, the 14th. Get in touch asap if you are interested in working with me on condensin complexes! www.findaphd.com/phds/project...

findaphd.com

Developing Imaging Solutions to Study the Dynamics of Human Condensin I at University of Sheffield on FindAPhD.com

PhD Project - Developing Imaging Solutions to Study the Dynamics of Human Condensin I at University of Sheffield, listed on FindAPhD.com

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Anita Meier @anitafmeier.bsky.social · 06/03/2025

Scary... “For all this talk about free speech, this is direct censorship of scientific research.” Lisa Fazio

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Nature @nature.com · 06/03/2025

In an unprecedented move, the US National Institutes of Health has begun mass terminations of research grants that fund active scientific projects because they no longer meet “agency priorities”. go.nature.com/4bpG2It

go.nature.com

Exclusive: NIH to terminate hundreds of active research grants

Studies that touch on LGBT+ health, gender identity and DEI in the biomedical workforce could be terminated, according to documents obtained by Nature.

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Anita Meier @anitafmeier.bsky.social · 18/02/2025

Are you at #bps2025 and want to hear about: HSV-1 DNA replication, DNA looping, #smFRET, TIRF, optical tweezers or cryoEM? Come and talk to me at my poster B175 on Wed, 10.30am!

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Erin E. Cutts @eecutts.bsky.social · 03/02/2025

For anyone that was too busy at the end of last year to think about PhDs or are still looking for the right project/place, I have a project available in the second round of the Yorkshire Biosciences DTP scheme looking at the dynamics of human condensin: www.findaphd.com/phds/project...

findaphd.com

Developing Imaging Solutions to Study the Dynamics of Human Condensin I at University of Sheffield on FindAPhD.com

PhD Project - Developing Imaging Solutions to Study the Dynamics of Human Condensin I at University of Sheffield, listed on FindAPhD.com

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