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Julie A. K. McDonald

@julieakmcdonald.bsky.social
204 followers 172 following 29 posts

Associate Professor at the CBRB at Imperial College London. Studying how gut microbiota-mediated colonisation resistance protects the host against infections. www.imperial.ac.uk/people/julie.mcd…

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Reposted by Julie A. K. McDonald
Microbiology Society @microbiologysociety.org · 10/08/2026
Join us in Nottingham for the Biotic Control of Bacteria meeting with spyridonmegremis.bsky.social from University of Leicester! Connect with experts on bacteriophages, microbial warfare and more. Register by 17 August: microb.io/4w3BQHG 🦠 #MGen #ScientificConference #Microbiology
Poster for Biotic Control of Bacteria event at Nottingham Trent University on 8 September 2026 with registration open notice.
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Professor Lesley Hoyles @bugsinyourguts.bsky.social · 29/07/2026
🎉 New preprint. First piece of work from us looking at how Klebsiella spp. use gut microbiome-associated metabolites present in urine. Very much v1 but we wanted it out for feedback, and to support lead author @devarsh1917.bsky.social as he applies for PhDs. #microSky
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Alan McNally @alanmcn1.bsky.social · 16/03/2026
A couple of new papers driven by Zong this week. both on the dominant Klebsiella lineage in China - ST11 1 - The enhanced ability of ST11 to utilise alternative carbon sources gives it a competitive advantage in gut colonisation www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
sciencedirect.com
Enhanced ability to utilize alternative carbon sources drives a competitive advantage for a successful lineage of Klebsiella pneumoniae
Carbapenem-resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae (CRKP) poses critical threats to public health, with sequence type 11-capsular type 64 (ST11-KL64) CRKP dom…
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Reposted by Julie A. K. McDonald
Professor Lesley Hoyles @bugsinyourguts.bsky.social · 07/01/2026
🎉🎉🎉 New preprint to start the new year 🎉🎉🎉 Patients recovering from bowel surgery may have stomas formed to divert the flow of faeces to the opening on the skin, away from healing intestinal tissue. The visible sign of this process is an ileostomy or colostomy bag. /1 #surgerysky #medsky
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Andy Edwards @bugsinblood.bsky.social · 03/12/2025
We're advertising for a bacteriology technician and a post-doc to work on AI-guided antibiotic development as part of a large multidisciplinary Fleming Initiative project: www.imperial.ac.uk/jobs/search-... www.imperial.ac.uk/jobs/search-...
imperial.ac.uk
Description
Please note that job descriptions are not exhaustive, and you may be asked to take on additional duties that align with the key responsibilities ment...
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Reposted by Julie A. K. McDonald
Alan McNally @alanmcn1.bsky.social · 27/11/2025
Absolutely brilliant #MicroEvo25 some great talks and talent that has me thinking about our research. And great to catch up with @brockhurstlab.bsky.social @craigmaclean.bsky.social @paulhoskisson.bsky.social @lore-fermar.bsky.social @julieakmcdonald.bsky.social @lucyweinert.bsky.social and more
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Andy Edwards @bugsinblood.bsky.social · 29/09/2025
Now published! www.nature.com/articles/s41... Very nice collaboration with Hoogenboom ( @ucl.ac.uk ) and Bonev ( @uniofnottingham.bsky.social ) labs.
nature.com
Polymyxin B lethality requires energy-dependent outer membrane disruption - Nature Microbiology
The antibiotic polymyxin B requires bacterial metabolic activity to cause sufficient damage to the outer membrane to access the inner membrane, which it permeabilizes via an energy-independent mechanism to kill the cell.
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Claudia Contini @continiclau.bsky.social · 19/09/2025
I am looking for a motivated #Postdoctoral #Researcher to join my group at Imperial @imperialcollegeldn.bsky.social @imperiallifesci.bsky.social. The project focuses on #Antimicrobial #Materials & #Biomimetic #Interfaces Please repost! @imperialsci.bsky.social www.imperial.ac.uk/jobs/search-...
imperial.ac.uk
Description
Please note that job descriptions are not exhaustive, and you may be asked to take on additional duties that align with the key responsibilities ment...
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Joe Wanford @jwanford.bsky.social · 15/09/2025
🎉 Delighted to share the first pre-print from my lab where we demonstrate that intergenic DNA repeats mediate phase variation of the mucoid phenotype in hypervirulent Klebsiella pneumoniae: www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1... #klebclub
biorxiv.org
Simple Sequence Repeats Mediate Phase Variation of the Mucoid Phenotype in Hypervirulent Klebsiella pneumoniae
Hypervirulent Klebsiella pneumoniae (HVKp) express a thick mucoid capsular polysaccharide which is essential for virulence and survival in the bloodstream but inhibits epithelial adhesion and invasion...
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Reposted by Julie A. K. McDonald
Professor Lesley Hoyles @bugsinyourguts.bsky.social · 13/09/2025
If you are UK-based and working on any aspect of microbiomes (human, plant, insect, soil, animal, ...), please do sign up to Microbiome-Net for details of networking, funding and training opportunities. forms.office.com/pages/respon...
forms.office.com
Microsoft Forms
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Reposted by Julie A. K. McDonald
Ben Mullish @bhmullish.bsky.social · 11/09/2025
Honoured to speak on #FMT #LBPs at the #EHMSG meeting today in session with Nicolas Benech and Jens Walter. Thanks to Gianluca Ianiro for organising, and for even getting a @nobelprize.bsky.social winner for Physics to speak to us, Giorgio Parisi! @imperialmdr.bsky.social #microbiomeclinicians
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Julie A. K. McDonald @julieakmcdonald.bsky.social · 13/08/2025
Read about our recently published paper on vancomycin-resistant enterococci and the gut microbiome in this news article from @imperiallifesci.bsky.social www.imperial.ac.uk/news/267313/...
imperial.ac.uk
Gut bacteria could help block the rise of antibiotic-resistant superbugs | Imperial News | Imperial College London
New research shows antibiotics upset the gut microbiome, allowing drug-resistant pathogens to spread, but restoring microbial balance could stop them.
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Reposted by Julie A. K. McDonald
Ben Mullish @bhmullish.bsky.social · 29/07/2025
Very pleased to see this out in @cmijournal.bsky.social - what non-antimicrobial options are there for recurrent #UTI, and what might be the role for #FMT? www.clinicalmicrobiologyandinfection.com/article/S119... @rohmaghani.bsky.social @imperialmdr.bsky.social @imperialbrc.bsky.social #MicroSky
clinicalmicrobiologyandinfection.com
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Emma Allen-Vercoe @emmaallen-vercoe.bsky.social · 29/07/2025
New paper from my amazing lab, led by my incredible postdoc, @bdmicro.bsky.social A Canadian study that is highly relevant to beekeepers everywhere. Check it out! www.nature.com/articles/s41...
nature.com
Impacts of antibiotic use, air pollution and climate on managed honeybees in Canada - Nature Sustainability
Antibiotic use in managed bee populations prevents losses from infectious diseases but can lead to the emergence of antibiotic resistance. Here the authors study the impact of recent regulatory restri...
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Julie A. K. McDonald @julieakmcdonald.bsky.social · 22/07/2025
In case you missed it, check out our latest paper describing how vancomycin-resistant enterococci exploit antibiotic-mediated killing of gut commensals to grow in nutrient-enriched and metabolite-depleted intestines: doi.org/10.1038/s414... #AMR #GutMicrobiome
doi.org
Vancomycin-resistant enterococci utilise antibiotic-enriched nutrients for intestinal colonisation - Nature Communications
Here, the authors show that vancomycin-resistant enterococci grow in the antibiotic-treated gut microbiome by utilising enriched nutrients in the presence of reduced concentrations of inhibitory micro...
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Ben Mullish @bhmullish.bsky.social · 18/07/2025
Great to see this work from Shiv Radhakrishnan and colleagues out in #GutMicrobes - using network analysis to explore #microbiome #metabolome interactions in an #IBD inception cohort: doi.org/10.1080/1949... @imperialmdr.bsky.social @imperialhepatology.bsky.social #IBDSky #GISky
doi.org
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Gabriele Pollara @gpollara.bsky.social · 11/07/2025
V nice study this. VRE growth in gut microbiome relies on different short chain fatty acids, which are themselves modulated by antibiotic exposure. Complex but important to understand how antibiotic resistant bacteria persist in microbiome @natcomms.nature.com 🧪 #AMR #ClinMicro #IDSky #UTISky
nature.com
Vancomycin-resistant enterococci utilise antibiotic-enriched nutrients for intestinal colonisation - Nature Communications
Here, the authors show that vancomycin-resistant enterococci grow in the antibiotic-treated gut microbiome by utilising enriched nutrients in the presence of reduced concentrations of inhibitory micro...
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Reposted by Julie A. K. McDonald
ᐯIᑕTOᖇ ᑎIᘔET, ᗰᗪ @nizet.bsky.social · 11/07/2025
Vancomycin-resistant 𝙀𝙣𝙩𝙚𝙧𝙤𝙘𝙤𝙘𝙘𝙪𝙨 𝙛𝙖𝙚𝙘𝙞𝙪𝙢 (VRE) thrives in the antibiotic-perturbed gut VRE gobbles up enriched sugars and amino acids, and loss of short-chain fatty acids (acetate, propionate, butyrate) eliminates natural growth brakes Therapeutic angle: Prebiotic SCFA mixtures block VRE growth!
nature.com
Vancomycin-resistant enterococci utilise antibiotic-enriched nutrients for intestinal colonisation - Nature Communications
Here, the authors show that vancomycin-resistant enterococci grow in the antibiotic-treated gut microbiome by utilising enriched nutrients in the presence of reduced concentrations of inhibitory micro...
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Ben Mullish @bhmullish.bsky.social · 10/07/2025
A great privilege to work with @julieakmcdonald.bsky.social lab on this new paper, now out in @natureportfolio.nature.com Communications - how #antibiotic-related changes in gut #nutrients and #metabolites promote #VRE colonisation: doi.org/10.1038/s414... @imperialmdr.bsky.social
doi.org
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Julie A. K. McDonald @julieakmcdonald.bsky.social · 14/07/2025
So excited to share a new paper from my lab just published in Nature Communications! We showed that vancomycin-resistant enterococci (VRE) occupied distinct intestinal niches in the antibiotic-treated intestine. doi.org/10.1038/s414... Amazing work by first author Olivia King and colleagues!
doi.org
Vancomycin-resistant enterococci utilise antibiotic-enriched nutrients for intestinal colonisation - Nature Communications
Here, the authors show that vancomycin-resistant enterococci grow in the antibiotic-treated gut microbiome by utilising enriched nutrients in the presence of reduced concentrations of inhibitory micro...
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Reposted by Julie A. K. McDonald
Microbiology Society @microbiologysociety.org · 01/07/2025
Today, Professor Donal Wall, @uofglasgow.bsky.social attended a pitch session as part of the Science, Innovation and Technology Committee's 'Under the Microscope' inquiry to explain why they should be interested in microbiomes.
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Institute of Microbiology and Infection @imibirmingham.bsky.social · 30/06/2025
Newly published study by Prof Lindsay Hall @halllab.bsky.social and Prof Willem van Schaik @wvschaik.bsky.social finding that antibiotic resistant Staphylococcus haemolyticus bacteria are common in premature babies www.birmingham.ac.uk/news/2025/wi...
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Casey Theriot @theriotmicrobe.bsky.social · 17/06/2025
We are looking for a new postdoctoral fellow to join our team at NC State University College of Veterinary Medicine, near Research Triangle Park. If you are interested please DM me and or also apply here: jobs.ncsu.edu/postings/219...
jobs.ncsu.edu
PostDoc Research Fellow - Gut Microbiology - Theriot Lab
A postdoctoral scientist position (1+ years) is available in Prof. Casey Theriot’s group at North Carolina State University College of Veterinary Medicine (NCSU CVM).Duties and ResponsibilitiesThe suc...
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Reposted by Julie A. K. McDonald
Andreas Bäumler @abaumler.bsky.social · 14/03/2025
🔬🦠 How to make sense of the taxonomic complexity & interpersonal variability of the gut microbiota? We propose that beneath this complexity lies a hierarchy of factors that control gut microbiota assembly. Read more! #Microbiome #GutHealth authors.elsevier.com/a/1km32_,2Ci...
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Jose Bengoechea @josebengoechea.bsky.social · 06/02/2025
New pre print! We establish an ex vivo blood vessel model to investigate the effect of infection on vascular physiology in real time. We show Klebsiella inhibits vasodilation in a T6SS-dependent manner by targeting eNOs. Superb work by @safimicro.bsky.social www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
biorxiv.org
Klebsiella pneumoniae disrupts vasodilation by targeting eNOS post translational modifications via the type VI secretion system and the capsule polysaccharide
Vasodilation is a crucial protective response to inflammation and infection. Endothelial cells control vasodilation through the bioavailability of eNOS-produced nitric oxide (NO), and the generation o...
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Ákos T Kovács @evolvedbiofilm.bsky.social · 08/01/2025
9 more days to apply to the #PostDoc position to join our @microclockerc.bsky.social ERC Synergy project if you have background in high throughput cloning and genetic modification of model bacteria Expertise with liquid handling robots, HTP screening, cloning is preferred! tinyurl.com/2d2c8fe5
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Ben Mullish @bhmullish.bsky.social · 13/12/2024
Great to work with the lab of @julieakmcdonald.bsky.social and see this preprint out on @biorxivpreprint.bsky.social, looking at how nutrient availability and microbial #metabolites impact #VRE colonisation in the #antibiotic treated gut: www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1... #MicroSky #GastroSky
biorxiv.org
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Julie A. K. McDonald @julieakmcdonald.bsky.social · 13/12/2024
I’m excited to share a new preprint from our lab! We showed that vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus (VRE) colonise antibiotic-treated intestines by occupying distinct nutrient- and metabolite-defined intestinal niches. www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
biorxiv.org
Vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus colonise the antibiotic-treated intestine by occupying distinct nutrient- and metabolite-defined intestinal niches
Antibiotic treatment significantly disrupts the gut microbiome and promotes vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus (VRE) intestinal colonisation. These disruptions lead to the intestine acting as a reservo...
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colinhillucc.bsky.social @colinhillucc.bsky.social · 04/12/2024
Feel like this paper slipped under the radar on ‘the other platform’ so giving it another airing here. Phage can significantly remodel the bacteriome in faecal samples - yet another confounder 🙄 www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
sciencedirect.com
Dynamic nature of viral and bacterial communities in human faeces
Bacteriophages are a major component of the gut microbiome and are believed to play a role in establishment and stabilization of microbial communities…
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Alan McNally @alanmcn1.bsky.social · 29/11/2024
Job Fairy Our MRC UK-China AMR project DETECTIVE-II needs a post doc. Please reach out if you are interested edzz.fa.em3.oraclecloud.com/hcmUI/Candid...
edzz.fa.em3.oraclecloud.com
Research Fellow - Department of Microbes, Infection and Microbiomes - 104952 - Grade 7
To take a lead role in the development and delivery of an MRC funded UK-China research network on antimicrobial resistance epidemiology
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Peter Graystock @pgraystock.bsky.social · 14/11/2024
Please Share. Postdoc available with me on Pollinator Microbiomes. To develop/engineer microbial communities that protect bees from stressors. Collaborating with Quinn McFrederick (UCR) & Marc-Emmanuel Dumas (Imperial). www.imperial.ac.uk/jobs/search-jobs/description/index.php?jobId=21816
imperial.ac.uk
Description
Please note that job descriptions are not exhaustive, and you may be asked to take on additional duties that align with the key responsibilities ment...
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Elisa Granato @prokaryota.bsky.social · 10/11/2023
UK research fellowship interview season is upon us - here are some tips to help you prepare! Featuring a list of 100(!) popular Q&A questions elisagranato.com/how-to-apply...
elisagranato.com
How to apply for a (UK) postdoc fellowship - Elisa Granato
How to apply for a (UK) postdoc fellowship Disclaimer: this guide was written based on my experience applying for (and being awarded) a BBSRC Discovery Fellowship in 2020/2021. Some of this might appl...
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Ben Mullish @bhmullish.bsky.social · 13/11/2024
Great to have our new review out - what we do and don't know about how clinical, biological and procedural considerations impact the efficacy of #IMT #FMT in repairing the #GutMicrobiome: www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.... … a great team effort
tandfonline.com
Faecal (or intestinal) microbiota transplant: a tool for repairing the gut microbiome
Faecal/intestinal microbiota transplant (FMT/IMT) is an efficacious treatment option for recurrent Clostridioides difficile infection, which has prompted substantial interest in FMT’s potential rol...
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Fiona J Whelan @whelanfj.bsky.social · 24/09/2024
🚨 The Whelan lab is hiring! 🚨 We're looking for a Research Assistant to join our lab at U of Manchester. We're seeking someone with experience in microbiology & microbiome to support our growing group. Note this isn't a postdoc role (though keep 👀 for those announcements soon!) #Microsky 🧪 🧬 💻
jobs.manchester.ac.uk
Research Assistant - Impact Of Microbe-Pathogen Interactions On The Health Of Individuals With Cystic Fibrosis:Oxford Road
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Professor Lesley Hoyles @bugsinyourguts.bsky.social · 17/05/2024
Anybody interested in applying for a postdoctoral fellowship to study the Klebsiella oxytoca species complex using systems biology approaches, please contact me. marie-sklodowska-curie-actions.ec.europa.eu/calls/msca-p... #MicroSky
marie-sklodowska-curie-actions.ec.europa.eu
MSCA Postdoctoral Fellowships 2024
MSCA Postdoctoral Fellowships are open to excellent researchers of any nationality. They enhance the creative and innovative potential of researchers holding a PhD and who wish to acquire new skills a...
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Professor Lesley Hoyles @bugsinyourguts.bsky.social · 17/05/2024
The first East Midlands Microbiome Research Network (EMMRN) Research Day is being held on 3 July 2024. Sign up to attend in-person or online! Registration is free. Big thanks to the Microbiology Society for sponsoring the event.
eventbrite.co.uk
East Midlands Microbiome Research Network (EMMRN) Research Day 2024
Inaugural EMMRN One-Health Research Day, exploring the latest microbiome-related research and policy developments.
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Professor Lesley Hoyles @bugsinyourguts.bsky.social · 04/04/2024
Come and work with me (NTU) and Ellis O'Neill (Nottingham) on a BBSRC DTP-funded PhD. October 2024 start. UK and international students welcome to apply. Identifying the novel natural products in the Klebsiella oxytoca complex using genomic and metabolomic techniques #MicroSky
nottingham.ac.uk
Our research areas - The University of Nottingham
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Alan McNally @alanmcn1.bsky.social · 04/03/2024
Latest paper with the amazing Zong now live in Lancet Microbe. A systematic review of the use of phages for bacterial decolonisation www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
sciencedirect.com
Safety and efficacy of phage application in bacterial decolonisation: a systematic review
Colonisation by bacterial pathogens typically precedes invasive infection and seeds transmission. Thus, effective decolonisation strategies are urgent…
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Alan McNally @alanmcn1.bsky.social · 08/02/2024
Examining the human microbiome in  33 deceased subjects (1600 samples, 53 sites, 7 organs). Differences between mucosa and lumen samples, highlighting the importance of niches in humans! www.nature.com/articles/s41...
nature.com
Defining the biogeographical map and potential bacterial translocation of microbiome in human ‘surface organs’ - Nature Communications
Given that the human body is composed of many microbial niches, and there have been few reports on the biogeography of the microbiome, the authors analyse the intra-individual inter-organ and intra-organ microbiome of seven surface organs of deceased individuals.
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Julie A. K. McDonald @julieakmcdonald.bsky.social · 29/01/2024
Two postdoc positions available in my lab for a Wellcome Trust funded project to investigate nutrient competition and metabolite inhibition by the gut microbiota to restrict MDR pathogen growth. Deadline 21 Feb 2024, apply here! www.imperial.ac.uk/jobs/descrip...
imperial.ac.uk
Research Associate in Microbiomics and Metabonomics (2 posts)
We are looking to appoint a Research Associate in Microbiomics and Metabonomics to join Dr Julie McDonald’s laboratory within the Department of Life Sciences and the and the Centre for Bacterial Res...
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Tami Lieberman @contaminatedsci.bsky.social · 21/12/2023
Please add microbiome-related conferences for 2024 in this thread. Thanks.
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Alan McNally @alanmcn1.bsky.social · 18/10/2023
Our latest paper is out now. The brilliant Chris Connor’s entire PhD in one paper. And I hope a new avenue of research opened in MDR E. coli journals.plos.org/plosbiology/... 1/n
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