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Thulani Makhalanyane

@thuls.bsky.social
1.4K followers 559 following 55 posts

African microbiomes| Professor and Chair: Stellenbosch University | Editor in Chief: @ISMEJournal| Senior Editor: mSystems

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Reposted by Thulani Makhalanyane
Craig MacLean @craigmaclean.bsky.social · 14h
Postdoc position available in my group to work on ERC funded project on evolutionary biology of antibiotic resistance. Looking for someone with expertise in bacterial genetics, AMR, and evolutionary biology. www.jobs.ac.uk/job/DSZ416/p...
jobs.ac.uk
Postdoctoral Research Associate at University of Oxford
Explore an exciting academic career as a Postdoctoral Research Associate. Don't miss out on other academic jobs. Click to apply and explore more opportunities.
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Moi Expósito-Alonso (MOILAB) @mexpositoalonso.bsky.social · 21/09/2026
Fantastic Asst Professor positions open across multiple UC Berkeley departments @ucberkeleyofficial.bsky.social Plant/Algae/Microb aprecruit.berkeley.edu/JPF05522 Plant/Env aprecruit.berkeley.edu/JPF05382 Gen/Dev/Evo aprecruit.berkeley.edu/JPF05481 Eco aprecruit.berkeley.edu/JPF05489
aprecruit.berkeley.edu
Assistant Professor – Plant or Macroalgae-Associated Microbial Communities and Interactions - Plant and Microbial Biology
University of California, Berkeley is hiring. Apply now!
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Nature Reviews Microbiology @natrevmicro.nature.com · 16/09/2026
New online! Clostridioides difficile rewires the infant gut
dlvr.it
Clostridioides difficile rewires the infant gut
Nature Reviews Microbiology, Published online: 16 September 2026; doi:10.1038/s41579-026-01375-yIn this study, Semon and colleagues examine the role of Clostridioides difficile colonization in early life and its lasting effects on host development.
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Reposted by Thulani Makhalanyane
Dr. Sue Ishaq @drsueishaq.bsky.social · 16/09/2026
UMaine Orono seeks an Assistant Professor of Precision & Performance Nutrition!! Must have experience with athletes, a PhD, Credentialed Registered Dietitian Nutritionist (RDN), and obtain a state of Maine Licensed Dietitian (LD). Info: fa-ewca-saasfaprod1.fa.ocs.oraclecloud.com/hcmUI/Candid...
fa-ewca-saasfaprod1.fa.ocs.oraclecloud.com
Assistant Professor of Precision & Performance Nutrition
The University of Maine is a community of more than 11,900 undergraduate and graduate students, and 2,500 employees located on the Orono campus, the regional campus in Machias, and throughout the stat...
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Reposted by Thulani Makhalanyane
Joshua Weitz @joshuasweitz.bsky.social · 18/08/2026
New #ISMEJ commentary on joint work on interactions of phage & spore-forming bacteria (@jaytlennon.bsky.social) "What, at first glance, appears to be a clear bacterial victory, halting phage invasion with a ring of dormant spores, reveals itself as a far more nuanced evolutionary trade‑off."
academic.oup.com
Phage Triggers Spatial Sporulation Defense Trade-offs
Mengjie Wu, Zhonghua Cai, Jin Zhou; Phage Triggers Spatial Sporulation Defense Trade-offs, The ISME Journal, , wrag209, https://doi.org/10.1093/ismejo/wrag
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Thulani Makhalanyane @thuls.bsky.social · 05/08/2026
Antibiotic resistance is spreading through South Africa’s water systems: study explains how theconversation.com/antibiotic-r...
theconversation.com
Antibiotic resistance is spreading through South Africa’s water systems: study explains how
After harmful bacteria are removed by water treatment, the genetic information that enables antimicrobial resistance can persist.
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Reposted by Thulani Makhalanyane
Thomas Ott @ottlab.bsky.social · 08/07/2026
Hey plant colleagues out there! 3 days to go to apply for the plant biotechnology professorship. Great colleagues @biologyunifreiburg.bsky.social, amazing atmosphere @dompsfr.bsky.social, lovely city to settle. And great support by @cibss.bsky.social. www.nature.com/naturecareer...
nature.com
W3 Professorship for Plant Biotechnology - Freiburg im Breisgau, Baden-Württemberg (DE) job with University of Freiburg (Uni Freiburg) | 12859402
The future position holder will lead an internationally recognized research program that combines excellent basic research with clear perspectives for
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Cameron Thrash @jcamthrash.bsky.social · 18/06/2026
Dimethylsulfoniopropionate metabolism shapes microbial ecology and physiological adaptation during the austral winter in Southern Ocean sea ice and seawater www.nature.com/articles/s41... #jcampubs 🌊
nature.com
Dimethylsulfoniopropionate metabolism shapes microbial ecology and physiological adaptation during the austral winter in Southern Ocean sea ice and seawater - Nature Communications
Researchers reveal microbial metabolic pathways driving high levels of a climate-relevant sulfur compound in Antarctic sea ice and identify key microbes that may shape sulfur cycling and cli...
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Thulani Makhalanyane @thuls.bsky.social · 19/06/2026
Cool to see Mayibongwe Buthelezi’s paper on DMSP in Southern Ocean sea-ice online. Please check it out and help us spread the word! www.nature.com/articles/s41...
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Thulani Makhalanyane @thuls.bsky.social · 08/06/2026
Persistence of high-risk antimicrobial resistance genes in extracellular DNA along an urban wastewater-river continuum: Cell Reports www.cell.com/cell-reports...
cell.com
Persistence of high-risk antimicrobial resistance genes in extracellular DNA along an urban wastewater-river continuum
Inadequate wastewater treatment may accelerate the spread of antimicrobial resistance (AMR). Makumbi et al. show that extracellular DNA (exDNA) in wastewater and river systems is an overlooked but imp...
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Reposted by Thulani Makhalanyane
Thulani Makhalanyane @thuls.bsky.social · 19/05/2026
theconversation.com/gut-health-w...
theconversation.com
Gut health: why food alone won’t fix childhood stunting
Microbiomes influence how efficiently a child’s body extracts and uses nutrients from food for growth and development.
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Thulani Makhalanyane @thuls.bsky.social · 06/06/2026
We are recruiting! The DSTI-NRF SARChI in African Microbiome Innovation at Stellenbosch University is seeking a highly motivated Postdoctoral Research Fellow to join us. #Postdoc #Microbiome #AfricanMicrobiome #ResearchJobs #AcademicCareers #HumanHealth #GutMicrobiome #StellenboschUniversity
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Thulani Makhalanyane @thuls.bsky.social · 31/05/2026
capeargus.co.za/weekend-argu...
capeargus.co.za
Unveiling Africa's microbial richness: The African Microbiome Project
Africa's spectacular biodiversity is overshadowed by a critical knowledge gap in microbial science. Discover how the African Microbiome Project, led by Stellenbosch University, aims to transform our u...
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Thulani Makhalanyane @thuls.bsky.social · 19/05/2026
theconversation.com/gut-health-w...
theconversation.com
Gut health: why food alone won’t fix childhood stunting
Microbiomes influence how efficiently a child’s body extracts and uses nutrients from food for growth and development.
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Thulani Makhalanyane @thuls.bsky.social · 18/05/2026
www.backabuddy.co.za/campaign/hel...
backabuddy.co.za
Help me go to an international science con... | BackaBuddy
My name is Nobuhle Kaylee Kambunga, and I am a second-year master's student at Stellenbosch University in South Africa. I have recently been accepted...
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Basecamp Research @basecamp-research.bsky.social · 09/04/2026
Welcoming Dr. Thulani Makhalanyane as an advisor to the Trillion Gene Atlas — bringing his experience leading the African Microbiome Project to a global effort to expand known genetic diversity 100x and accelerate discovery for public & ecosystem health. #TrillionGeneAtlas #Microbiome
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Ákos T Kovács @evolvedbiofilm.bsky.social · 09/04/2026
Scientific breakthrough versus successful startup: teaching scientists to navigate bench to business Stanford’s BioEntrepreneurship Bootcamp -in @cp-trendsbiotech.bsky.social www.cell.com/trends/biote...
cell.com
Scientific breakthrough versus successful startup: teaching scientists to navigate bench to business
Scientific breakthroughs infrequently translate into startups without structured training. Stanford’s BioEntrepreneurship Bootcamp teaches a practical framework for navigating bench-to-business transl...
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Reposted by Thulani Makhalanyane
Ira Blader @bladerlab.bsky.social · 01/04/2026
Pls share this poll with others. @asm.org
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Thulani Makhalanyane @thuls.bsky.social · 31/03/2026
Persistence of high-risk antimicrobial resistance genes in extracellular DNA along an urban wastewater-river continuum www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
sciencedirect.com
Persistence of high-risk antimicrobial resistance genes in extracellular DNA along an urban wastewater-river continuum
Inadequate wastewater treatment can drive the spread of antimicrobial resistance (AMR), threatening ecosystems and human health. Extracellular DNA (ex…
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Reposted by Thulani Makhalanyane
Nichole Broderick, PhD @nabroderick.bsky.social · 20/03/2026
Excited to announce our new journal from @isme-microbes.bsky.social ISME Host Microbe is live and now accepting submissions. Look forward to receiving your papers! #Microsky 🧫 🦠
Image of the cover of the 1st volume of ISME Host Microbe a new official journal of the International Society for Microbial Ecology. Cover images shows a plant stomata with bacteria around and entering.
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Guillaume Méric @gmeric.bsky.social · 11/03/2026
🚨 New paper! Very excited to have been part of this collaborative work looking at the effect of antibiotics on the gut microbiota even years after prescription. Amazing effort led by Gabriel @tovefall.bsky.social and many others published today in Nature Medicine! 🔗 www.nature.com/articles/s41...
nature.com
Antibiotic use and gut microbiome composition links from individual-level prescription data of 14,979 individuals - Nature Medicine
Using individual-level data from the Swedish Prescribed Drug Register and fecal metagenomes of 14,979 individuals in Sweden, the authors examined the association between oral antibiotic use over 8 yea...
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Ákos T Kovács @evolvedbiofilm.bsky.social · 25/02/2026
See our newest manuscript dissecting emergent functions in a multispecies biofilm (metabolite cross-feeding, siderophore induction and cross-species utilization) that translates to plant growth promotion Great work by @jiyuxie.bsky.social and Xinli Sun www.biorxiv.org/content/10.6...
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Thulani Makhalanyane @thuls.bsky.social · 22/02/2026
Work never stops (somehow) but some weekends are just perfect. Great weather, beautiful South African beaches, with amazing company.
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Ákos T Kovács @evolvedbiofilm.bsky.social · 10/02/2026
Spatial structure: Shaping the ecology and evolution of microbial communities @femsjournals.bsky.social Microbiology Review by @marcelbaecker.bsky.social et al from @bedutilh.bsky.social @bramvandijk.bsky.social academic.oup.com/femsre/advan...
academic.oup.com
Spatial structure: Shaping the ecology and evolution of microbial communities
Abstract. Most microbes grow in spatially structured communities, and this profoundly shapes their ecology and evolution. At the microscale, short interact
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Reposted by Thulani Makhalanyane
Ákos T Kovács @evolvedbiofilm.bsky.social · 01/02/2026
Discovery and cultivation of prokaryotic taxa in the age of metagenomics and artificial intelligence #ISMEJournal from @alexrosado.bsky.social academic.oup.com/ismej/advanc...
academic.oup.com
Discovery and cultivation of prokaryotic taxa in the age of metagenomics and artificial intelligence
Abstract. Despite advances in sequencing, microbial genomics, and cultivation techniques, the vast majority of prokaryotic species remain uncultured, which
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Reposted by Thulani Makhalanyane
Patrick R. Secor @prsecor.bsky.social · 28/01/2026
Friends, please help spread the word about our microbiology REU program at Montana State University. www.montana.edu/mbi/reu/ Each student receives a stipend ($7000 for 10 wks). Travel compensation, room, and board are also provided. Details in the attached pic--Feb 14 deadline 🧫🧪🦠#microsky
This Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REU) program is funded by the National Science Foundation to create "points of entry" for students interested in research. Students apply from across the country to spend 10 weeks in Bozeman, Montana this summer (May 26, 2026 - August 1, 2026). Admitted students are paired with a faculty mentor, who serves as an advisor for a student's summer project. Each student receives a stipend ($7000 for 10 wks). Travel compensation, room, and board are also provided.

Our program leverages MSU’s unique microbiology expertise, focusing specifically on microbes living with little or no oxygen (like those in the hot springs of nearby Yellowstone). Low oxygen microbes are essential to human and ecosystem health. They influence (or control) such processes as the breakdown of food in the GI tract, removal of toxins from our bodies and the environment, and production of greenhouse gases. They are also models for understanding the origins of life on this planet, and the potential for life on other planets.

A key goal of our program is to recruit students from schools with limited research infrastructure. Being in Montana, a state with a vibrant Native American community, we are particularly interested in applications from students at tribal colleges. However, ANYONE with an interest in microbiology - or biology/science in general - can and should apply.

If willing and able, please share/tweet/spread the word far and wide. Applications are due February 14, 2026. Full details can be found through our website http://www.montana.edu/mbi/reu/
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Cameron Thrash @jcamthrash.bsky.social · 21/01/2026
Stressor Combinations Shift Soil Microbial Communities From Rare to Unknown Taxa and Alter Genomic Strategies onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/... #jcampubs
onlinelibrary.wiley.com
Stressor Combinations Shift Soil Microbial Communities From Rare to Unknown Taxa and Alter Genomic Strategies
Effects of environmental stressor factor number on soil common, rare, and unknown taxa. High-stressor numbers reduce the abundance and diversity of rare taxa but increase unknown taxa and had no effe...
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Reposted by Thulani Makhalanyane
Ioanna Chatzigiannidou @ioannachatzig.bsky.social · 20/01/2026
Gut microbiota has previously been linked to immune developement and allergies. But what is the mechanism behind? Find more about the role of Bifidobacteria 🦠, aromatic lactates and immune resilience in babies 👶 in the recent paper from our group @natmicrobiol.nature.com shorturl.at/peaI1 #microsky
nature.com
Early-life colonization by aromatic-lactate-producing bifidobacteria lowers the risk of allergic sensitization - Nature Microbiology
Vaginal birth, exclusive breastfeeding and early contact with siblings promote colonization of the infant gut with bifidobacteria capable of producing aromatic lactates, a microbial and metabolite sig...
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Cameron Thrash @jcamthrash.bsky.social · 13/01/2026
Habitat and Hydrodynamics Influence Coral Reef and Seagrass Microbial and Exometabolite Dynamics www.biorxiv.org/content/10.6... #jcampubs
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Nature Microbiology @natmicrobiol.nature.com · 05/01/2026
Nature Microbiology turns 10! 🎂 As a special treat, we take you back to the editorial team that started it all and then fast forward to take a peek into the future of microbiology through some brilliant microbiologists. #MicroSky 🦠 www.nature.com/nmicrobiol/v...
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Nature Portfolio @natureportfolio.nature.com · 02/01/2026
Precious Matsoso, a public-health official based in Pretoria, South Africa, brokered the world’s first pandemic-preparedness treaty after years of hard-fought negotiations. She’s part of Nature’s 10 for 2025. 🧪
go.nature.com
The first global pandemic treaty — and the woman who made it happen
Precious Matsoso is part of Nature’s 10, a list of people who shaped science in 2025.
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Noah Fierer @noahfierer.bsky.social · 06/01/2026
New paper up - inspired by the periodic table of the elements, we attempted to organize bacterial diversity in genome-inferred trait space academic.oup.com/ismej/advanc...
academic.oup.com
Constructing a “periodic table” of bacteria to map diversity in trait space
Abstract. Despite an ever-expanding number of bacterial taxa being discovered, many of these taxa remain uncharacterized with unknown traits and environmen
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Reposted by Thulani Makhalanyane
Simon Roux @simrouxvirus.bsky.social · 09/12/2025
🧬🦠🚨 Another new paper alert, this time led by @maureenbug.bsky.social ! In collaboration with the Emerson lab and @titus.idyll.org lab (@taylorreiter.bsky.social), both at UC Davis. Asking the question: what are we missing in short-read metagenome assembly, and why ? doi.org/10.1093/narg...
doi.org
Comparison of short-read and long-read metagenome assemblies in a natural soil community highlights systematic bias in recovery of high-diversity populations
Abstract. Comparisons of long-read and short-read (meta)genome assemblies typically show that short-read sequence assemblies are less error-prone, but stru
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Hiro Imachi @hiro-imachi.bsky.social · 04/06/2025
Would you like to work with us? At JAMSTEC, we are recruiting postdoctoral researchers through the Young Research Fellow program. This program allows fellows to independently pursue their own research projects. www.jamstec.go.jp/recruit/e/jy...
jamstec.go.jp
JAMSTEC Young Research Fellow (JYRF) | JAMSTEC - JAPAN AGENCY FOR MARINE-EARTH SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
JAMSTEC Young Research Fellow (JYRF)
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Roey Angel @roeyangel.bsky.social · 02/12/2025
The position is still open. Please apply here: jobs.bc.cas.cz/en/detail/277
jobs.bc.cas.cz
JOBS.BC.CAS
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Thulani Makhalanyane @thuls.bsky.social · 25/11/2025
This week, we’re in Addis Ababa for an important symposium and workshop. Great to interact with such enthusiastic and exceptional participants. Thanks @amiposts.bsky.social and @isme-microbes.bsky.social for supporting this event!
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Sebastian Schmidt @tsbschm.bsky.social · 20/11/2025
Congrats @fullam.bsky.social @pangenomics.bsky.social @borklab.bsky.social & team(s). Great to see this published! proGenomes4: providing 2 million accurately and consistently annotated high-quality prokaryotic genomes: academic.oup.com/nar/article/...
academic.oup.com
proGenomes4: providing 2 million accurately and consistently annotated high-quality prokaryotic genomes
Abstract. The pervasive availability of publicly available microbial genomes has opened many new avenues for microbiology research, yet it also demands rob
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Reposted by Thulani Makhalanyane
Roland Hatzenpichler @environmicrobio.bsky.social · 17/11/2025
Clone-FISH paper out: Manuscript/resource alert #microsky 🦠 We present a collection of 30 E. coli (CloneFISH) cultures, each carrying a plasmid for the heterologous expression of a (near) full-length 16S rRNA gene from one of 30 lineages of archaea, including 17 yet uncultured ones.
List of available culturesEcoli cells (Dapi, on left) expressing bacterial (center) and archaeal 16S rRNA.
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Thulani Makhalanyane @thuls.bsky.social · 06/11/2025
EndolithComparative genomics reveals adaptive traitsin novel Antarctic lithic cyanobacteria link.springer.com/article/10.1...
link.springer.com
Comparative genomics reveals adaptive traits in novel Antarctic lithic cyanobacteria - BMC Genomics
Terrestrial polar cyanobacteria persist at the cold limits of life, enduring a suite of extreme stressors including sub-zero temperatures, frequent freeze–thaw cycles, oligotrophic soils, variable lig...
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A. Murat Eren (Meren) @merenbey.bsky.social · 22/10/2025
Please share this with anyone who may be interested in a post-doc in Germany: jobs.awi.de/Vacancies/20... This is quite an exciting opportunity to push the boundaries of what is known regarding the molecular basis of the formation and demise of photosymbiotic relationships in marine habitats.
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The New York Times @nytimes.com · 14/10/2025
A new UN report found that to meet various international climate, biodiversity and land restoration goals, annual global spending needs to triple to $300 billion by 2030.
nyti.ms
To Meet Pledges to Save Forests Spending Must Triple, U.N. Report Says
Four years after a global pledge to end deforestation, the amount of money going toward conserving and restoring forests is not enough, the analysis found.
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Ákos T Kovács @evolvedbiofilm.bsky.social · 03/10/2025
Soil microbes: below-ground defenders against desertification @cp-trendsecolevo.bsky.social Forum by Ademir Araujo et al www.cell.com/trends/ecolo...
cell.com
Soil microbes: below-ground defenders against desertification
Soil microbes act as below-ground defenders against desertification by several mechanisms, such as rhizosheath formation, necromass accumulation, biological soil crusts, exopolysaccharide (EPS) produc...
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Prof Braj Singh @prof-braj-singh.bsky.social · 02/10/2025
We are searching for a 4- year postdoctoral fellow to work us on Microbial Ecology and Crop Disease Management. More details below. The position will start next year. Please circulate and repost. jobs.smartrecruiters.com/WesternSydne...
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Rebecca R Helm @rebeccarhelm.bsky.social · 24/09/2025
I get that the news cycle is packed right now, but I just heard from a colleague at the Smithsonian that this is fully a GIANT SQUID BEING EATEN BY A SPERM WHALE and it’s possibly the first ever confirmed video according to a friend at NOAA 10 YEAR OLD ME IS LOSING HER MIND (a thread 🧵)
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Ákos T Kovács @evolvedbiofilm.bsky.social · 24/09/2025
Stenotrophomonas maltophilia impedes Bacillus biocontrol of tomato wilt disease by degrading its lipopeptide antibiotics -in #ISMEJournal academic.oup.com/ismej/advanc...
academic.oup.com
Stenotrophomonas maltophilia impedes Bacillus biocontrol of tomato wilt disease by degrading its lipopeptide antibiotics
Abstract. Harnessing antibiotic-producing microorganisms that antagonize pathogens represents a sustainable approach for plant disease management. However,
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Thulani Makhalanyane @thuls.bsky.social · 13/09/2025
Eco-evolutionary strategies drive viral diversification in nutrient-poor soils across elevation gradients academic.oup.com/nsr/advance-...
academic.oup.com
Validate User
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George O'Toole (he/him/his) @geiselbiofilm.bsky.social · 07/09/2025
Postdoc position available - pls share- to investigate molecular mechanisms of protein homeostasis during S. during infection. Send a CV, list of publications, and a statement about why you would like to join the laboratory. Eduardo Groisman Yale Med eduardo.groisman@yale.edu
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Thulani Makhalanyane @thuls.bsky.social · 02/09/2025
Enjoyed being back at the University of Pretoria to celebrate graduations. We had two PhDs (Drs. Mayibongwe Buthelezi and John Paul Makumbi) and a masters student (Michelle Bekker) at this ceremony. Congratulations to the graduates and wishing you all the very best in the next phase of your careers.
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AnniZLab: [🦠, 🧬 , ✨] @annizlab.bsky.social · 01/09/2025
NTU shared our DNA alignment tool designed for microbes 🦠🧬☰! #Microbiomesky #Microsky blogs.ntu.edu.sg/science/2025...
blogs.ntu.edu.sg
A new algorithm for DNA sequence alignment | Science @ NTU
  A team of scientists from the Singapore Centre for Environmental Life Sciences Engineering (SCELSE) and NTU School of Biological Sciences ...
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Richard Sever @richardsever.bsky.social · 01/08/2025
How do we correct preprints? Caveat emptor, revisions & withdrawals - what this means for the scientific record. My presentation to the National Academies 1/n vimeo.com/1102568612?s...
vimeo.com
Day 2-Corrections and Retractions: Upgrading the Scientific Record
This is "Day 2-Corrections and Retractions: Upgrading the Scientific Record" by The National Academies on Vimeo, the home for high quality videos and the…
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