iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Reposted by Judith Behnsen

ASM @asm.org · 24/08/2026

⏰ Time is running out! Know a rising star in host-microbe interactions? Nominate an exceptional early-career scientist to author a minireview in #IAIJournal’s 2027 New Voices in Microbiology Collection. Submit your nomination by Aug. 31: asm.social/33z

Nominate a rising star in the field of host-microbe interactions by August 31!

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Judith Behnsen @judith-behnsen.bsky.social · 12/08/2026

Infection and Immunity has an open call for manuscripts on Bacterial Antagonism, open until March 2027. If you are working in this general area, consider contributing original research, commentaries, or minireviews. journals.asm.org/journal/iai/...

journals.asm.org

Bacterial Antagonism & Microbial Competition

Explore bacterial antagonism and microbial competition, from T6SS and bacteriocins to microbiome engineering and pathogen control.

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Reposted by Judith Behnsen

ISME - International Society for Microbial Ecology @isme-microbes.bsky.social · 27/05/2026

Meet the editorial team of ISME Host Microbe! Led by EiCs Mike Taylor, Nichole Broderick and Arturo Casadevall, and supported by senior editors with expertise across e.g. microbial ecology and host-associated interactions. We are excited to invite your submissions! lnkd.in/eTe9rJjw

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Reposted by Judith Behnsen

Teresa O'Meara @teresaomeara.bsky.social · 20/01/2026

Candida albicans is usually hanging out with bacterial neighbors, so what happens to the fungus during co-culture? The bacteria secrete metabolites that induce massive cell wall remodeling that change immune recognition and drug resistance. Read more in our new paper: www.cell.com/current-biol...

graphical abstract. Left is a fungal cell surrounded by bacteria, and the Hog1 cascade is turned on. Right is a fungal cell covered in mannan fibrils that prevent IgA and caspofungin and increase CLR recognition by macrophages

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Reposted by Judith Behnsen

Mark A. Hanson @hansonmark.bsky.social · 11/11/2025

We wrote the Strain on scientific publishing to highlight the problems of time & trust. With a fantastic group of co-authors, we present The Drain of Scientific Publishing: a 🧵 1/n Drain: arxiv.org/abs/2511.04820 Strain: direct.mit.edu/qss/article/... Oligopoly: direct.mit.edu/qss/article/...

A table showing profit margins of major publishers. A snippet of text related to this table is below.

1. The four-fold drain
1.1 Money
Currently, academic publishing is dominated by profit-oriented, multinational companies for
whom scientific knowledge is a commodity to be sold back to the academic community who
created it. The dominant four are Elsevier, Springer Nature, Wiley and Taylor & Francis,
which collectively generated over US$7.1 billion in revenue from journal publishing in 2024
alone, and over US$12 billion in profits between 2019 and 2024 (Table 1A). Their profit
margins have always been over 30% in the last five years, and for the largest publisher
(Elsevier) always over 37%.
Against many comparators, across many sectors, scientific publishing is one of the most
consistently profitable industries (Table S1). These financial arrangements make a substantial
difference to science budgets. In 2024, 46% of Elsevier revenues and 53% of Taylor &
Francis revenues were generated in North America, meaning that North American
researchers were charged over US$2.27 billion by just two for-profit publishers. The
Canadian research councils and the US National Science Foundation were allocated US$9.3
billion in that year.

A figure detailing the drain on researcher time.

1. The four-fold drain

1.2 Time
The number of papers published each year is growing faster than the scientific workforce,
with the number of papers per researcher almost doubling between 1996 and 2022 (Figure
1A). This reflects the fact that publishers’ commercial desire to publish (sell) more material
has aligned well with the competitive prestige culture in which publications help secure jobs,
grants, promotions, and awards. To the extent that this growth is driven by a pressure for
profit, rather than scholarly imperatives, it distorts the way researchers spend their time.
The publishing system depends on unpaid reviewer labour, estimated to be over 130 million
unpaid hours annually in 2020 alone (9). Researchers have complained about the demands of
peer-review for decades, but the scale of the problem is now worse, with editors reporting
widespread difficulties recruiting reviewers. The growth in publications involves not only the
authors’ time, but that of academic editors and reviewers who are dealing with so many
review demands.
Even more seriously, the imperative to produce ever more articles reshapes the nature of
scientific inquiry. Evidence across multiple fields shows that more papers result in
‘ossification’, not new ideas (10). It may seem paradoxical that more papers can slow
progress until one considers how it affects researchers’ time. While rewards remain tied to
volume, prestige, and impact of publications, researchers will be nudged away from riskier,
local, interdisciplinary, and long-term work. The result is a treadmill of constant activity with
limited progress whereas core scholarly practices – such as reading, reflecting and engaging
with others’ contributions – is de-prioritized. What looks like productivity often masks
intellectual exhaustion built on a demoralizing, narrowing scientific vision.

A table of profit margins across industries. The section of text related to this table is below:

1. The four-fold drain
1.1 Money
Currently, academic publishing is dominated by profit-oriented, multinational companies for
whom scientific knowledge is a commodity to be sold back to the academic community who
created it. The dominant four are Elsevier, Springer Nature, Wiley and Taylor & Francis,
which collectively generated over US$7.1 billion in revenue from journal publishing in 2024
alone, and over US$12 billion in profits between 2019 and 2024 (Table 1A). Their profit
margins have always been over 30% in the last five years, and for the largest publisher
(Elsevier) always over 37%.
Against many comparators, across many sectors, scientific publishing is one of the most
consistently profitable industries (Table S1). These financial arrangements make a substantial
difference to science budgets. In 2024, 46% of Elsevier revenues and 53% of Taylor &
Francis revenues were generated in North America, meaning that North American
researchers were charged over US$2.27 billion by just two for-profit publishers. The
Canadian research councils and the US National Science Foundation were allocated US$9.3
billion in that year.

The costs of inaction are plain: wasted public funds, lost researcher time, compromised
scientific integrity and eroded public trust. Today, the system rewards commercial publishers
first, and science second. Without bold action from the funders we risk continuing to pour
resources into a system that prioritizes profit over the advancement of scientific knowledge.

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Reposted by Judith Behnsen

Toby Baril @tobybarilbio.bsky.social · 29/10/2025

1/ Ever needed to annotate TEs in a fungal genome, but didn't know where to start? We have released #MycoMobilome, a community-focused non-redundant database of transposable element consensus sequences for the fungal kingdom, constructed from >4,000 fungal genomes! www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...

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Reposted by Judith Behnsen

Heran Darwin, PhD @heran.bsky.social · 07/10/2025

We're hiring! Check out our ad and please re-post or forward to interested #Microbiology parties: apply.interfolio.com/174783

apply.interfolio.com

Apply - Interfolio {{$ctrl.$state.data.pageTitle}} - Apply - Interfolio

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Reposted by Judith Behnsen

Shabaana Khader @khadershabaana.bsky.social · 05/10/2025

Dear #microbiology and #immunology community- I took a break from social media after I deleted my Twitter account, but am back here. Please help me rebuild my community by following me and amplifying this message- I will follow you back. Thank you and I look forward to our many interactions!

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Reposted by Judith Behnsen

Mark Mandel @markjmandel.bsky.social · 05/10/2025

Another great @mmpconference.bsky.social wraps up… 👏 to organizers Jonathan Allen and Abby Kroken! @akroken.bsky.social

Opening session of the MMPC conference with Abby Kroken and Jonathan Allen on stage and a slide displayed.

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Reposted by Judith Behnsen

Leibniz-HKI @leibniz-hki.de · 26/09/2025

Dose makes the difference! #Candidaalbicans uses the toxin #candidalysin not only to cause infections but also to quietly colonize the mouth – too little fails, too much triggers immune defense. @natmicrobiol.nature.com @mpm-hki.bsky.social picture credits: Erik Böhm, @leibniz-hki.de

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Reposted by Judith Behnsen

Jeremy Berg @jeremymberg.bsky.social · 26/09/2025

This paper does a great job with a "It's a Wonderful Life" scenario about NIH, supposing the consequences of the bottom 40% of the funding NIH grants never existed. www.science.org/doi/10.1126/... tl:dr The world would lose a lot, but directly and indirectly

science.org

What if NIH had been 40% smaller?

Replaying history with less NIH funding shows widespread impacts on drug-linked research

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Reposted by Judith Behnsen

Joanne Flynn @joanneflynn19.bsky.social · 20/08/2025

We are hiring! The Dept of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics is looking for faculty at the Assistant or Associate professor level (tenure track). Please consider joining our vibrant microbiology and immunology community at the University of Pittsburgh School of medicine

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Reposted by Judith Behnsen

Igor Brodsky @brodskyigorlab.bsky.social · 22/09/2025

Abstract submissions are open for the Midwinter Conference of Immunologists @midwinter-immun.bsky.social!! www.midwconfimmunol.org The Early Bird Registration deadline is Nov 14, 2025. There will be lots of Selected Abstract talks so submit an abstract to be considered!

midwconfimmunol.org

Midwinter Conference of Immunologists

The Midwinter Conference of Immunologists was founded in 1961 by a small group of Immunologists, among them Drs. Dan Campbell and Ray Owen. The goal of the Midwinter Conference is to provide a forum w...

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Judith Behnsen @judith-behnsen.bsky.social · 03/09/2025

Excited to share our new publication, out today in Nature! www.nature.com/articles/s41.... @kanchanj.bsky.social led this fascinating fungal-bacterial interaction project. We are grateful for our wonderful collaborators Brian Peters and David Underhill.

nature.com

Commensal yeast promotes Salmonella Typhimurium virulence - Nature

Commensal Candida albicans enhances the virulence and dissemination of Salmonella enterica subsp. enterica serovar Typhimurium.

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Reposted by Judith Behnsen

Slavica Janevska @slavi-jan.bsky.social · 27/08/2025

A little more than 2 weeks to apply for a Postdoc position in our lab @leibniz-hki.de 👇🏻

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Reposted by Judith Behnsen

Nature Microbiology @natmicrobiol.nature.com · 26/08/2025

#News&Views A mycovirus drives the fitness of the lung-infecting fungus Aspergillus fumigatus under stress, helping it to survive within immune cells, and thus shaping its pathogenesis. #MicroSky www.nature.com/articles/s41...

nature.com

Mycoviruses steer fungal fitness - Nature Microbiology

A mycovirus drives the fitness of the lung-infecting fungus Aspergillus fumigatus under stress, helping it to survive within immune cells, and thus shaping its pathogenesis.

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Reposted by Judith Behnsen

Mark A. Hanson @hansonmark.bsky.social · 14/08/2025

A reminder you/your lab can support FlyBase at Cambridge through the following link. Every bit helps. Please share if you yourself can't donate. www.philanthropy.cam.ac.uk/give-to-camb...

philanthropy.cam.ac.uk

Drosophila Genetic Database

The Drosophila Genetic Database, FlyBase, is on the brink of collapse due to the sudden termination of the FlyBase NIH grant, which includes salaries for 5 literature curators based at the University ...

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Reposted by Judith Behnsen

Lauren Palmer @laurenpalmer.bsky.social · 04/08/2025

Super excited to share our paper online 🚨today🚨 in Cell Host & Microbe‬! Xiaomei Ren @xiaomeiren.bsky.social and Mason Clark @rmasonclark.bsky.social‬ co-led discovery of ecological factors for Acinetobacter baumannii carriage in the gut, a reservoir for pathogen spread. 🎉 tinyurl.com/443kfefk

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Reposted by Judith Behnsen

Andreas Bäumler @abaumler.bsky.social · 22/07/2025

Infection and Immunity is now welcoming nominations for highly promising scientists at the assistant professor level (or equivalent) to submit research to the next New Voices in Microbiology Collection! Please nominate by the August 18 deadline using the below link: app.asm.org/account/logi...

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Reposted by Judith Behnsen

The MRC Centre for Medical Mycology @mrccmm.bsky.social · 22/07/2025

Join us this week for #MycoTalks with James Konopka @jkonopka.bsky.social and Jane Usher @jusher.bsky.social 📅 Thursday 24 July 🕓 16:00 (UK time) 💻 Via Zoom Register for FREE here: universityofexeter.zoom.us/webinar/regi...

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Reposted by Judith Behnsen

Andreas Bäumler @abaumler.bsky.social · 26/06/2025

The new open access policy of NIH will take effect next week (July 1st). All NIH funded research 🔬🧪🧬accepted after July 1st must be open access upon publication. Worried about fees? 💸 Check out how IAI stacks up against other journals—you might be surprised. #OpenAccess #SciComm #Microbiology

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Reposted by Judith Behnsen

Abby Kroken, PhD @akroken.bsky.social · 01/05/2025

MMPC was the first conference I attended as a new graduate student. Hard to believe I'm serving as a co-chair for it this year! Hoping Jon Allen and the rest of our micro faculty here at Loyola can put on a great event for all of you... and that future MMPC chairs are among the attendees! 😊

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Reposted by Judith Behnsen

Leigh Knodler @leighknodler.bsky.social · 03/06/2025

Just a few spots remaining for the GRC Salmonella Biology and Pathogenesis meeting to be held in August. The final program is now online. www.grc.org/salmonella-b... Apply now to hear about the latest scientific discoveries about Salmonella, meet up with old friends, make new friends......

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Reposted by Judith Behnsen

Tim Clancy @viewfromarchstreet.com · 30/05/2025

The full FY 2026 budget request for the National Science Foundation was released this afternoon. Proposed cuts to NSF research directorates range from -75% to -43%. NSF education -75% [pdf] full request here: nsf-gov-resources.nsf.gov/files/00-NSF...

National Science Foundation Summary Table
FY 2026 Budget Request to Congress

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Reposted by Judith Behnsen

Felipe H Santiago-Tirado @felipehst.bsky.social · 22/05/2025

Dear Midwest friends and colleagues, please save the day for #MNID25 to be held August 22-23 at Case Western Reserve University. More info here: biology.case.edu/2025mnid/

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Reposted by Judith Behnsen

Dr. Michael D. L. Johnson @copperbae.bsky.social · 01/05/2025

Are you able to mentor a summer student and have a good project that can be virtually administered, sign up to be an NSURP mentor today! If you can't, hit that share button please and thank you! #NoLabNoProblem #NSURP uarizona.co1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_...

uarizona.co1.qualtrics.com

Online Survey Software | Qualtrics Survey Solutions

The most powerful, simple and trusted way to gather experience data. Start your journey to experience management and try a free account today.

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Reposted by Judith Behnsen

Marine Biological Laboratory @mblscience.bsky.social · 03/03/2025

What made the fungus such a good friend? 🤔 He had great morels 🍄 Calling all fungal folks—there may not be mushroom left on your calendars, but save some time to apply for the MBL's 2025 Molecular Mycology course! Read more: bit.ly/41m0JAq #ScienceStartsHere

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Reposted by Judith Behnsen

Alt US Coast Guard @altcoast.altgov.info · 26/02/2025

(1/5) Updated Suicide Prevention Resources - please reach out if you're struggling! National Crisis Line: 988 For Veterans: 988, press 1 National Text Line: text "HOME" to 741741 The above lines are the only ones tied into the National 988 network. All the rest in this thread are not.

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Heran Darwin, PhD @heran.bsky.social · 02/03/2025

And this one, too #StandUpforScience

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Indivisible Chicago Alliance ❌👑 @indivisiblechicago.bsky.social · 26/02/2025

🗽🔬 STAND UP FOR SCIENCE. Chicago joins the nationwide movement to demand that our government fully support scientific research, which employs people, benefits our economy, and SAVES LIVES Join Indivisible Chicago & @standupforscience.bsky.social on Fri, March 7th, 12pm, Federal Plaza. Info/Sign-up:

mobilize.us

Stand up for Science · Indivisible Chicago

Science is for everyone–and benefits everyone. When the federal government supports scientific research through taxpayer funding, it fuels innovation, creates jobs, and sustains the world we live in...

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Reposted by Judith Behnsen

Jeremy Berg @jeremymberg.bsky.social · 02/03/2025

NIH has been intentionally holding up grants including non-competitive renewals. This “pause” should be evident in Reporter data over the next week, but I posted about the beginning of it yesterday. This is now ending because “NIH” has put a process in place to evaluate grants. 2/n

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Josh Marshall @joshtpm.bsky.social · 28/02/2025

If you’re a Dem elected and you’re not mentioning the massive cuts to cancer cure and social security funding in every public appearance you’re just not doing your job.

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Amy Klobuchar @amyklobuchar.com · 01/03/2025

During Rare Disease Week, patients and advocates were in D.C. for an event with the NIH, FDA, and HHS to highlight work being done on treatments and cures. It was abruptly canceled. Why? The administration fired the people organizing this important event and advancing this work.

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Jeremy Berg @jeremymberg.bsky.social · 01/03/2025

Here are the data for non-competitive renewals, downloaded today. The last awards in NIH Reporter are on 2/22. Given the lag in posting in Reporter, I think this pause is real and this is supported by inside sources who indicate that folks are being told not to issue NoAs.

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Chrystal Starbird @drstarbird.bsky.social · 17/02/2025

An initiative led by brave graduate students and leaders to fight for science!

Stand up for Science March 7th flyer with more info at standupforscience2025.org

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Reposted by Judith Behnsen

Cell Chemical Biology @cp-cellchembiol.bsky.social · 16/01/2025

🗣️Voices: New opportunities in mechanistic and functional microbiome studies by Judith Behnsen, KC Huang, Matthew Sorbara, Meng Wang, , Jun Yu, and Melody Zeng @melodyzeng dlvr.it/THPVr7

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Rachel Poretsky @rporetsky.bsky.social · 12/12/2024

The BV-BRC @bvbrc.bsky.social team will be offering a Bioinformatics Workshop on Feb 24-28, 2025, at Argonne National Lab near Chicago, IL. Learn to analyze and explore bacterial and viral pathogen data. Register and/or share! www.bv-brc.org/docs/news/20... 🧬 🖥️

Flyer promoting the upcoming BV-BRC workshop https://www.bv-brc.org/docs/news/2024/2024-11-25-anl-workshop.html

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Reposted by Judith Behnsen

Matthew Lawrenz @lawrenzlab.bsky.social · 04/12/2024

Last call! Abstracts are due Dec. 8 for the 2025 Mid-Atlantic Microbial Pathogenesis Meeting (MAMPM), which will be held Feb. 2-4, 2025. Lot's of short talk opportunities for trainees. Join us at the wonderful Wintergreen Resort for two days of great science! Please repost!

mampm.org

MAMPM

February 2-4, 2025 Wintergreen Resort, Virginia

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Judith Behnsen @judith-behnsen.bsky.social · 25/11/2024

Excited to share that we are hiring a Bridge to Faculty Postdoc in Microbiology and Immunology at the University of Illinois Chicago. Please reach out if you have any questions about the program. And please share broadly. uic.csod.com/ux/ats/caree...

uic.csod.com

Bridge to Faculty Postdoctoral Research Associate in Microbiology and Immunology

Bridge to Faculty Postdoctoral Research Associate in Microbiology and ImmunologyThe Department of Microbiology and Immunology (MI) at the University o...

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