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Cat Baker

@catcsb10.bsky.social
35 followers 48 following 3 posts

Occasionally taking photos of cool things 🌌 Molecular microbiologist at the University of Oxford @modmedmicro.bsky.social Optimizing whole genome sequencing of TB to predict AMR & improve diagnostics 🦠

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Cat Baker @catcsb10.bsky.social · 25/08/2026
Happy to share my first paper! We developed an optimised #ONT workflow for sequencing mycobacteria directly from positive MGIT cultures, achieving 98.3% agreement with Illumina for species identification, with reliable results often within 6 hours. #PathogenGenomics #TB @modmedmicro.bsky.social
journals.asm.org
Validation of an optimized Oxford Nanopore sequencing workflow versus Illumina for mycobacteria from primary MGIT culture | Microbiology Spectrum
Rapid genomic characterization of mycobacterial infections is important for timely patient management, infection control, and public health surveillance. However, many diagnostic laboratories rely on ...
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Bash the bug @bashthebug.net · 28/05/2026
Thanks to the team for all their hardwork preparing and delivering the activities, especially in this heatwave! 🌞🌞🌞
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Bash the bug @bashthebug.net · 28/05/2026
We had an amazing time in Westgate, Oxford today! We had many attempts to 'bash the bug' and get the high score for the day on our dance mat 💃🕺 where overusing antibiotics causes resistance so you have to be careful what you're prescribing!💊 #AMR #ScienceOutreach #Microbiology #Oxford
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Bash the bug @bashthebug.net · 27/05/2026
Come see us at the @oxfordbrc.bsky.social showcase! We'll be in Westgate, Oxford 10-3.30. We'll be bringing the dance mat so come and try to beat the germs with antibiotics and claim the high score💃🕺 #AMR #PublicOutreach @ox.ac.uk
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Modernising Medical Microbiology @modmedmicro.bsky.social · 24/03/2026
Our recent preprint shows that Oxford Nanopore sequencing, combined with improved DNA extraction and amplification, can deliver rapid and reliable genomic characterisation directly from clinical cultures — helping move toward real-time TB diagnostics. Read more: www.biorxiv.org/content/10.6...
biorxiv.org
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Modernising Medical Microbiology @modmedmicro.bsky.social · 24/03/2026
On #WorldTBDay, it’s important to reflect on the scale of the challenge we’re facing. In 2024 alone, tuberculosis (TB) caused 1.23 million deaths worldwide, remaining the leading cause of death from a single infectious agent, according to WHO @ndm.ox.ac.uk
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Bash the bug @bashthebug.net · 16/03/2026
It was fantastic to see so many people getting involved, asking great questions, and learning about microbiology in the sunshine. Thanks to everyone who came to say hello, and to our brilliant team for all their enthusiasm! #BashTheBug #Microbiology #PublicOutreach #ATOMFestival
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Bash the bug @bashthebug.net · 16/03/2026
We had a brilliant time this weekend at ATOM Festival in Abingdon! ☀️🦠 We brought along our favourite interactive activities to help people learn about antimicrobial resistance #AMR, including our dance mat game where you fight germs with antibiotics, and we tested everyone’s handwashing skills!
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Modernising Medical Microbiology @modmedmicro.bsky.social · 11/02/2026
International Day of Women and Girls in Science 👩‍🔬 Proud to work alongside the scientists in our #microbiology lab whose work in antimicrobial resistance, public health and diagnostics has real-world impact! #WomenInScience #AMR #PublicHealth @medsci.ox.ac.uk @ox.ac.uk @oxfordbrc.bsky.social
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Modernising Medical Microbiology @modmedmicro.bsky.social · 09/02/2026
MMM has an exciting UNIQ+ project running this summer -apply now! Bacteria, microplastics & resistance — what’s the connection? #Microplastics are everywhere, even in hospitals. But what happens when bacteria stick to them? Come and find out! @afswinkels.bsky.social @nstoesser.bsky.social
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Cat Baker @catcsb10.bsky.social · 08/02/2026
Happy our preprint is out🦠: "Evaluation of an Oxford Nanopore sequencing workflow for mycobacteria from primary MGIT culture" We developed and tested a workflow for long-read sequencing of #mycobacteria, including optimising DNA extraction and assessing how #ONT performs compared with #Illumina.
biorxiv.org
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Cat Baker @catcsb10.bsky.social · 08/07/2025
An amazing Ukrainian doctor who goes into war zones to treat women who no longer have access to healthcare 🇺🇦 Read the article or listen to the interview with @keiligh.bsky.social on Radio 4 (listen from 37m35s).
bbc.co.uk
The World Tonight - Texas floods kill 91 - BBC Sounds
27 children and staff are known to have died at a girls’ summer camp
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Keiligh @keiligh.bsky.social · 08/07/2025
Since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, Dr Baksheiev has treated more than 1,000 women throughout front line areas in his kitted out mobile clinic - named 'The Feminine Shuttle'. You can read my interview with him here: www.bbc.com/news/article...
bbc.com
The doctor fighting for women's health on Ukraine's front line
Dr Baksheiev, a gynaecologist, travels to front-line areas in his kitted out mobile clinic.
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Superbugs 🦠🔬🏫🧒🏽 @superbugs.bsky.social · 02/06/2025
We have officially moved in. Our Pop-Up Science Shop will be open to the public from 7th July until 3rd August 3025. Find us in the St David's shopping centre in Cardiff near John Lewis, Zara and Apple. Learn about the microbial world in, on and around us. Including the black death.
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European Society of Mycobacteriology @esmyco.bsky.social · 27/06/2025
And that's a wrap on #ESM2025! A huge thank you to our incredible community of scientists, speakers, and organizers who made this week unforgettable. The future of mycobacteriology is bright! See you all in 2026! 👋 #Tuberculosis #Science
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Modernising Medical Microbiology @modmedmicro.bsky.social · 19/06/2025
Come and help us develop and validate genetic pipelines for processing pathogens in collaboration with @eitoxford.bsky.social Senior Bioinformatic Engineer bit.ly/4ecl0hF Senior Biostatistical Researcher bit.ly/4kRfZxI Grade 8 or 7, depending on experience closing date: noon Wednesday 2 July
bit.ly
Job Details
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NIHR Biomedical Research Centre: Oxford @oxfordbrc.bsky.social · 30/05/2025
Many thanks to everyone – exhibitors and members of the public – who came to our Health Research Showcase yesterday. It was fantastic to see so many people eager to find out about our research oxfordbrc.nihr.ac.uk/westgate-vis... @ouhospitals.bsky.social @oxhealthbrc.bsky.social @nihr.bsky.social
oxfordbrc.nihr.ac.uk
Westgate visitors learn about Oxford’s world-class research | NIHR Oxford Biomedical Research Centre
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Bash the bug @bashthebug.net · 29/05/2025
Come and play our dance mat game named after me! Outside John Lewis in the Westgate as part of the @oxfordbrc.bsky.social showcase!
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Bash the bug @bashthebug.net · 29/05/2025
Come and find @modmedmicro.bsky.social at the Westgate in Oxford as part of the @oxfordbrc.bsky.social showcase!
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University of Oxford @ox.ac.uk · 01/05/2025
View from Magdalen Tower this morning. Over 16,000 people attended this year's event 👏 📸 Instagram | BethStenlake #MayDay
View of a large crowd of people on a street in Oxford, viewed through a decorative stone archway from Magdalen Tower. 

In the background, historic buildings and the cityscape extending into the distance during sunset can be seen.
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Superbugs 🦠🔬🏫🧒🏽 @superbugs.bsky.social · 18/02/2025
Fun fact: did you know that the slime bacterium Myxococcus llanfairpwllgwyngyllgogerychwyrndrobwllllantysiliogogogochensis holds the record for having the longest scientific name of any living or fossil organism? No joke, this species really exists! 🦠🧫🔬🧐
superbugs.online
Longest name — Superbugs - The microbial world in, on and around us
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NIHR Biomedical Research Centre: Oxford @oxfordbrc.bsky.social · 24/03/2025
#Tuberculosis kills over a million people each year, but research can change that. The following seminar shows how our scientists are developing new vaccines and treatments, while a former patient shares her experience youtu.be/vky73AhyjEc?... #WorldTBDay @modmedmicro.bsky.social @ndm.ox.ac.uk
youtu.be
Tuberculosis: vaccines, diagnostics and experience
YouTube video by Oxford BRC
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Philip Fowler @philipwfowler.bsky.social · 24/03/2025
Today is World TB day TB still kills more people every year than any other pathogen (except during the SC2 pandemic) Proud of the research I do which is helping @eitoxford.bsky.social to make better use of genetics to diagnose TB. To try it out, head to bit.ly/4iWPDcg
bit.ly
Mycobacterium Turberculosis
Enabling researchers and public health teams to better address the growing Tuberculosis crisis Mycobacterium tuberculosis (TB) remains a significant global health threat, ranking among the top ten cau...
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