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Johan Van Weyenbergh

@johanvawe.bsky.social
1.9K followers 893 following 288 posts

Immunologist curious about viruses, cancer, evolution and all things human Likes all #systems thinking and still working out all the #omics 🤓 #immunosky #medsky #idsky

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Reposted by Johan Van Weyenbergh
Margot Finn @eicathomefinn.bsky.social · 16h
'England’s strong performance at the latest PISA results has been widely put down to recent reforms. But that explanation ignores a striking finding: children from immigrant backgrounds outperformed their native-background peers.'
blogs.lse.ac.uk
England’s strong performance of immigrant children in PISA
England's strong performance at the PISA results has been attributed to reforms. But one finding stands out: immigrant children outperformed their native peers.
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Denis - The COVID Info Guy @thecovidinfoguy.bsky.social · 23h
"Repeated Flu And Covid-19 Infections Linked To Higher Parkinson’s Risk, CCMB Study Finds" Dr Swasti Raychaudhuri said "not every viral infection leads to Parkinson's disease." However, she warned that "the risk increases significantly with repeated infections" as biochemical reactions can change.
etvbharat.com
Repeated Flu And Covid-19 Infections Linked To Higher Parkinson’s Risk, CCMB Study Finds
Dr Swasti Raychaudhuri, who led the research, noted that although cells possess protective mechanisms, biochemical reactions can undergo changes depending on the circumstances.
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Philippe Smet @pfsmet.bsky.social · 18h
Het zal niet verbazen dat ook september (in Ukkel) warmer was dan gemiddeld: +2.2°C tov de periode 1991-2020 en 3.2°C tov 1900-1950. Daarmee lijkt 2026 (bovenste grafiek) goed op weg om het warmste jaar sinds heel, heel lang te worden. Tot nu was elke maand ook warmer dan het gemiddelde 1991-2020.
Grafiek met de afwijking van elke gemiddelde maandtemperatuur dit jaar tov het gemiddelde 1900-1950 en gemiddelde 1991-2020. Elke maand was tot nu toe in 2026 warmer dan die referentie periodes, gemiddeld 2 en 3.4°C. Bovenaan een scatterplot (afwijking maandtemperatuur tov 1900-1950, jaartal), waar de datapunten opschuiven naar hogere afwijking (= warmer) van 1950 tot nu.
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Waggoner Lab @labwaggoner.bsky.social · 30/09/2026
An IL-21 cytokine mimic induced long-term, durable cancer remission via cDC2s-primed IFN-γ CD4 T that promote macrophage-mediated phagocytosis of tumor cells @cellcellpress.bsky.social @danafarber.bsky.social @harvardmed.bsky.social www.cell.com/cell/fulltex...
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Reposted by Johan Van Weyenbergh
Waggoner Lab @labwaggoner.bsky.social · 30/09/2026
Direct cell-to-cell transmission of retrotransposons @cellcellpress.bsky.social www.cell.com/cell/fulltex...
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Wim Van Lancker @wimvanlancker.be · 30/09/2026
De Vlaamse regering besliste dat er bespaard wordt op het groeipakket. Ze bespaart daarmee op de periode die het cruciaalst is voor het verdere leven (de geboorte) en op de periode die het duurst is voor gezinnen (de jongvolwassenheid). Het zijn vooral de grote gezinnen die daar de dupe van zijn.
standaard.be
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The Sick Times @thesicktimes.org · 29/09/2026
The current COVID-19 picture remains varied by region: as the summer wave continues into early fall, cases are trending up in the Northeast and parts of the West and down in the South. And an upcoming gap between CDC contracts will further restrict available data. thesicktimes.org/2026/09/29/n...
Graphic from The Sick Times sharing the latest COVID-19 trends for September 29, 2026. The graphic presents trends for three metrics: WastewaterSCAN category for SARS-CoV-2, which is "high" (represented with red) and slightly decreasing (represented with a diagonal down arrow); CDC wastewater viral activity level for SARS-Cov-2, which is "low*" (darker yellow) and stable (side to side arrow); and CDC COVID-19 test positivity, which is moderate (darker yellow) and slightly decreasing. Text below these metrics reads: "*CDC wastewater viral activity levels are calculated based on measurements in the last two years only. They do not account for the lower spread that could be possible with more widespread precautions."

The current COVID-19 picture remains varied by region: as the summer wave continues into early fall, cases are trending up in the Northeast and parts of the West and down in the South. And an upcoming gap between CDC contracts will further restrict available data.
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Johan Van Weyenbergh @johanvawe.bsky.social · 30/09/2026
🧪 Fed up with Brazil’s politicians not listening, a #climate scientist runs for office | Science | AAAS www.science.org/content/arti...
science.org
Fed up with Brazil’s politicians not listening, a climate scientist runs for office
Luciana Gatti, who studies carbon uptake in the Amazon, aims to join Brazil’s lower house in this weekend’s elections
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Reposted by Johan Van Weyenbergh
Adam @abrokenbattery.bsky.social · 30/09/2026
“Physically, Long COVID has absolutely just ruined my life.” “Doctors just don’t know what to do with you.” “There’s no help coming your way.” People living with #LongCovid describe how the illness has changed their lives. Highlights from a PBS NewsHour report aired in 2023.
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Johan Van Weyenbergh @johanvawe.bsky.social · 27/09/2026
🧪 Little-known arm of immune system could be key to better #vaccines, #cancer therapies | Science | AAAS www.science.org/content/arti...
science.org
Little-known arm of immune system could be key to better vaccines, cancer therapies
The CD1 system responds to lipids, not proteins, driving reactions to bee stings, bacteria, and possibly poison ivy
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Johan Van Weyenbergh @johanvawe.bsky.social · 27/09/2026
🧪 Research at gunpoint #biodiversity #endangered | Science www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
science.org
Research at gunpoint
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Pieter T. L. Beck @ptrbck.bsky.social · 25/09/2026
My article arguing that Nathan Cofnas's race realism is rightly labelled as pseudoscience is now also published at @skeptic.org.uk. Honoured to have it up there.
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conifergirl.bsky.social @conifergirl.bsky.social · 27/09/2026
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Daniel Kierzkowski @kierzkowskilab.bsky.social · 12/09/2026
🌱We are looking for an Assistant Professor in Plant Molecular Genetics @irbv.bsky.social If you are passionate about genetics, molecular biology, or imaging, this is your chance to join a community of researchers working on plant development, cell biology, evolution, ecology, and biodiversity. 👇
rh-carriere-dmz-eng.synchro.umontreal.ca
Careers
Through your undergraduate and graduate-level teaching, and your research activities, you will contribute to the faculty’s pursuit of excellence. Furthermore, you will promote your discipline and actively participate in the daily activities of a renowned institution. As such, you will:
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Reposted by Johan Van Weyenbergh
The Washington Post @washingtonpost.com · 26/09/2026
Three Florida counties have declared states of emergency as a growing outbreak of dengue has infected hundreds across the state this year.
washingtonpost.com
Florida counties declare emergency over ‘wildly unusual’ dengue outbreak
Mosquito-borne disease has infected hundreds statewide and killed one woman in Tampa.
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Aurigny.bsky.social @aurigny.bsky.social · 27/09/2026
🌎🧪 #environment #climateemergency #mosquito
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Hoodlum 🇺🇸 @nothoodlum.bsky.social · 27/09/2026
Denmark is trolling Trump.
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Natacha @natacha.bsky.social · 26/09/2026
PSA
Imagine 200 Americans. In this crowd,
24 live in poverty.
18 have no health insurance.
42 are illiterate.
45 have untreated mental illnesses.
35 have an
untreated addiction.
134 live paycheck to paycheck.
23 have experienced homelessness.
59 are victims of domestic violence.
20 have experienced discrimination for their age, race, gender, or religion.
1 is transexual.
Some people would have you believe that this 1 person is the greatest threat and the biggest concern for everyone else in the crowd. How does that make sense?
BY ASHLEY WYATT
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Global Virus Network @globalvirusnews.bsky.social · 27/09/2026
#GVNMilestones During and beyond COVID-19, GVN convened global experts to advance scientific collaboration on SARS-CoV-2, innate immunity, Long COVID, vaccines, therapeutics, and pandemic preparedness. Explore the GVN Milestones: gvn.org/gvn-milestones
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Allison Gill @muellershewrote.com · 26/09/2026
This is an entirely new phenomenon because before the vaccine, most women who survived measles were immune because they had it when they were young. But now, idiots who refuse to get vaccinated are giving birth to babies with measles. Two babies have died. www.nbcnews.com/health/healt...
nbcnews.com
America had wiped out measles. Now babies are infected at birth.
Congenital measles has rarely been seen in the U.S. That’s changing as vaccination declines and more pregnant women become infected.
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In Otter News @in-otter-news.bsky.social · 26/09/2026
After a long day at the aquarium, the otters help tidy their toys away. Payment is made promptly and entirely in ice cubes.
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Johan Van Weyenbergh @johanvawe.bsky.social · 27/09/2026
🧪 Early warning for #outbreaks #AI #pandemicpreparedness #Brazil www.nature.com/articles/s43...
nature.com
Healthcare occupancy data as an early warning indicator of infectious disease surges in São Paulo - Communications Medicine
Araújo, Silva, et al. analyze passively collected occupancy data from public urgent care units in São Paulo to assess its potential as an early warning signal for infectious disease surges. Occupancy ...
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Johan Van Weyenbergh @johanvawe.bsky.social · 27/09/2026
U.S. Rejects #UN Declaration on Preparing for Future #Pandemics (gift article from The New York Times) www.nytimes.com/2026/09/25/u...
nytimes.com
U.S. Rejects U.N. Declaration on Preparing for Future Pandemics (Gift Article)
Most member nations spoke in support of the declaration, but some rich countries had strong objections.
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C.H. Romatowski @chromatowski.bsky.social · 25/09/2026
New RCT of a valacyclovir, celecoxib, and nirmatrelvir/ritonavir combo for Long Covid starting at Mount Sinai. Phase 2, enrolling 150 people. Builds on this open-label case series: www.frontiersin.org/journals/imm...
markets.businessinsider.com
PridCor Therapeutics Advances Phase 2 SHIELD Study of a Combination Antiviral Regimen for Long COVID Toward Enrollment
TUSCALOOSA, Ala., Sept. 24, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- PridCor Therapeutics, LLC, a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company developing combinatio...
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Cedric Feschotte @cedricfeschotte.bsky.social · 24/09/2026
Thrilled to see this published today! Truly special because we made the initial discovery >15 yrs ago! We found two copies of a human gene called BC200 embedded in a human poxvirus. BC200 blurs the line between gene & transposon—both functional & mutagenic! www.science.org/doi/10.1126/... 🧵1/n
science.org
Escape of the BC200 gene to a human poxvirus reveals its persistent transposition in primates
Transposable elements mobilize within and occasionally between genomes, including from host to virus. We identified two insertions of the human BC200 noncoding RNA gene in the poxvirus molluscum conta...
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Le Monde in English @english.lemonde.fr · 25/09/2026
Amnesty International calls for ICE to be abolished
lemonde.fr
Amnesty International calls for ICE to be abolished
In a report titled 'We Had Whistles, They Had Guns,' the NGO documents widespread human rights violations committed by ICE in the United States.
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Johan Van Weyenbergh @johanvawe.bsky.social · 24/09/2026
🧪 All the ways a #cell can die — and why the variety matters www.nature.com/articles/d41...
nature.com
All the ways a cell can die — and why the variety matters
Scientists are poking holes in established ideas about how cells live and die, and are harnessing these discoveries to fight diseases from cancer to autoimmune conditions.
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Reposted by Johan Van Weyenbergh
George Monbiot @georgemonbiot.bsky.social · 24/09/2026
Here's today's column on the astonishing, ongoing mistreatment of people with #ME/CFS. Please spread it far and wide: the only thing which can break the media's wall of indifference is seeing an article about the issue go viral. Thank you. 1/2 www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
theguardian.com
Abandoned, dismissed and gaslighted: there is no excuse for the way ME sufferers have been betrayed | George Monbiot
Changes in guidance and science seem to have little impact on millions of devastated lives. It’s a social crisis playing out behind closed doors, says Guardian columnist George Monbiot
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Trump Action Tracker @trumpactiontracker.bsky.social · 23/09/2026
The Trump administration is holding back Covid vaccines for all children in at least 11 states and one US territory, and officials have not indicated when or whether the shots will become available. It’s the latest step by top officials to restrict vaccines in America – ... TAT: [Attacking science]
theguardian.com
Delays in Covid shots for kids is latest bid by Trump officials to restrict vaccines
Administration is holding back Covid vaccines for all children in at least 11 states and one US territory
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Johan Van Weyenbergh @johanvawe.bsky.social · 24/09/2026
🧪 Cross-reactive #Bundibugyo antibody responses in Guinean survivors of #Ebola virus and recipients of rVSVΔG-ZEBOV-GP (Ervebo) in an #outbreak setting - The Lancet Infectious Diseases www.thelancet.com/journals/lan...
thelancet.com
Cross-reactive Bundibugyo antibody responses in Guinean survivors of Ebola virus and recipients of rVSVΔG-ZEBOV-GP (Ervebo) in an outbreak setting
Control of the ongoing outbreak of Bundibugyo virus (BDBV) in DR Congo, already the largest on record, has been hindered by the absence of licensed vaccines. Although BDBV-specific vaccines are under ...
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The Lancet Microbe @lancetmicrobe.bsky.social · 24/09/2026
New personal view article Metabolism as a missing link between #diabetes, #tuberculosis, and drug resistance? www.thelancet.com/journals/lan... #IDSky #ClinMicro #MicroSky #TBSky #AMR #OpenAccess #OA
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BK. Titanji @boghuma.bsky.social · 23/09/2026
A great reflection post by Dr. Paul Sax on three recent studies which have examined very different approaches to addressing LongCOVID. We do not have a home run yet but it is a good thing that we are casting a wide net to find answers for the many affected. voices.nejm.org/doi/full/10....
voices.nejm.org
Three Very Different Ways to Treat Long Covid
Two that are promising, and one that is difficult to talk about
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Rich Meisel @richmeisel.bsky.social · 24/09/2026
We're hiring an Assistant or Associate Professor in Evolutionary Biology in my department at the university of Houston @uh-ecoevo.bsky.social Come be my colleague careers.uh.edu/jobs/assista...
careers.uh.edu
Assistant or Associate Professor - Evolutionary Biology - Houston, Texas, United States
Department: Biology and Biochemistry Salary: Commensurate with experience Description: The Department of Biology and Biochemistry at the University of Houston seeks to hire an evolutionary biolog...
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The Brussels Times @brusselstimes.com · 24/09/2026
From a French town serving 50% organic school meals to an Irish farm slashing emissions, the EU Organic Awards spotlight bold efforts driving sustainable agriculture.
brusselstimes.com
EU honours innovators from seven countries in 2026 Organic Awards
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Johan Van Weyenbergh @johanvawe.bsky.social · 23/09/2026
🧪 The #anthropogenic fingerprint on emerging infectious diseases #virus #outbreaks #onehealth rdcu.be/pFvnAGtjbwAa
rdcu.be
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Johan Van Weyenbergh @johanvawe.bsky.social · 23/09/2026
🧪 Single #wildfire #smoke exposure causes lasting harm, monkey study suggests | Science | AAAS www.science.org/content/arti...
science.org
Single wildfire smoke exposure causes lasting harm, monkey study suggests
Infant macaques showed immune changes and signs of faster aging years after inhaling smoke
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Leana Hosea @leanahosea.bsky.social · 19/09/2026
In New York, as air pollution fell, the toddlers' cognitive processing improved, the study found. In London, ULEZ coincided with improved lung health in children. When elected representatives take action to clean up air, our children benefit from better health: share.google/rnnWnmxNOzWF...
share.google
Improved air quality linked to better mental development in toddlers, study finds
Long-term research in New York shows efforts to reduce air pollution associated with higher cognitive test scores
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Ben Hale @benhale.bsky.social · 21/09/2026
Congrats to Samira Schiefer on her new paper in Science Advances! We analysed 70 natural human IFNB1 variants & found both loss- & gain-of-function IFNβ proteins, revealing unexpected diversity in antiviral immunity. Great effort with Dave Jones & Florence Kwaschik! www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
science.org
Functional diversity of natural human IFNB1 variants in innate immunity
Human interferon-β (IFN-β), a type I IFN, is critical for effective innate immunity and is also an approved disease-modifying therapeutic. While genetic variations in several components of the type I ...
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David Bikard @dbikard.bsky.social · 21/09/2026
New paper from the lab, out in Nature Microbiology. We ran CRISPRi screens to ask what genes E. coli needs in order to live in a gut and what this can tell us about the gut environment itself. doi.org/10.1038/s41564-026-02471-8
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The Washington Post @washingtonpost.com · 22/09/2026
Fatigue is not just an inevitable result of aging and can be a sign of a health condition that requires treatment. Roughly 1 in 6 respondents said that they felt very tired or exhausted “most days” or “every day,” according to a CDC report. wapo.st/4hlolgu
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WHO @who.int · 22/09/2026
Equity is not an act of charity. It is the foundation of global health security. The Pandemic Agreement is a promise that no country will be left behind in the next crisis. #UNGA81
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Tamara Munzner @munzner.bsky.social · 22/09/2026
We're hiring at UBC CS in our tenure-track teaching stream. We're in search of systems expertise: our greatest needs are in operating systems and computer architecture; also networking, distributed systems, database systems, cloud computing, and systems security www.cs.ubc.ca/our-departme...
cs.ubc.ca
Assistant Professor of Teaching in Systems – Tenure Track
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Mark Faghy @profmarkfaghy.bsky.social · 22/09/2026
Our short animation to descirbe the results and findings.
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Harmit Singh Malik @harmitmalik.bsky.social · 21/09/2026
If you have questions about this search, please contact me or @suebiggins.bsky.social by email. In addition to the Bezos Scholar position, we're also hiring at the Assistant (starting) and Associate Professor levels in any area of fundamental biology: apply.interfolio.com/190640 Please repost!
apply.interfolio.com
Apply - Interfolio {{$ctrl.$state.data.pageTitle}} - Apply - Interfolio
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Tom Kindlon @tomkindlon.bsky.social · 21/09/2026
Press release from Karolinska Institutet (a medical university) "Brain blood flow linked to fatigue after COVID-19" news.ki.se/brain-blood-... Paper: www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti... #LongCovid #NeuroPASC #COVIDBrain #PASC #PwLC #postcovid #postcovid19
Published: 15-09-2026 11:56 | Updated: 16-09-2026 13:37
Brain blood flow linked to fatigue after COVID-19
An AI-generated image depicting a woman holding her head in pain, surrounded by a crowd of people in rush-hour traffic.
The image was generated using an AI tool. Photo: Sonia Miri Hedberg,AI-genererad bild
People with post-COVID-19 condition reported higher levels of fatigue and showed slower reaction times than healthy individuals. A new study from Karolinska Institutet, published in NeuroImage: Reports, also found lower blood flow in several parts of the brain, which may be linked to the cognitive difficulties experienced by many people after COVID-19.
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Marc Veldhoen @marcveld.bsky.social · 21/09/2026
Nearly 3m more lives could be saved in next pandemic if vaccines are shared more fairly, says report
theguardian.com
Nearly 3m more lives could be saved in next pandemic if vaccines are shared more fairly, says report
Move would mean deaths would rise in wealthier nations, according to NUS-Lancet Prime commission – which modelled a response to a flu pandemic based on population size, not purchasing power
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Sue Biggins @suebiggins.bsky.social · 21/09/2026
Here it is! @basicsci.fredhutch.org is searching for an associate or senior faculty member!
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The Brussels Times @brusselstimes.com · 20/09/2026
Each tonne of incorrectly sorted waste costs about €1,000 in extra processing.
brusselstimes.com
Findings in Flanders show about 1 of 7 kg of PMD waste sorted incorrectly
Findings in Flanders show about 1 of 7 kg of PMD waste sorted incorrectly
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HHMI @hhmi-science.bsky.social · 20/09/2026
Snakes evolved resistance to their own venom over millions of years — & now #HHMIInvestigator Sean Carroll & collaborators are harnessing vipers' toxin-blocking proteins to build a better antivenom. In lab tests, optimized combinations were ~10x more potent than current treatments bit.ly/4bzdwW5
Western diamondback rattlesnake, courtesy of Sean Carroll.
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