We are happy to share our recent results on conjugation surface exclusion with a chromosomal twist. Must mention Chloe’s and Sophia’s incredible contributions. Cryo-EM structure and evolutionary history of the conjugation surface exclusion protein TraT biorxiv.org/content/10.110…

Finally, our work developing a model to allow simultaneous co-culture of anaerobic microbes with oxygen-requiring human cells has been published. journals.plos.org/plosone/articl…

Most food-borne illnesses are on the rise. Given that most of these pathogens are carriers of antimicrobial resistance, and that several of the them are linked to risk of chronic disease like #IBD, more needs to be done to control their spread.

Delighted to announce I will be joining Trinity College Dublin TCD Genetics & Microbiology as an Assistant Professor in Microbiology this September. Owe a huge thanks to everyone Microbiology UCC and UCC Medicine & Health for supporting me over the past 3 years! So excited for the future of my research group! 🤩

Delighted to share our work led by IrishResearch GoI PG Scholar Fergal Hamrock: Global analysis of the RNA–RNA interactome in Acinetobacter baumannii AB5075 uncovers a small regulatory RNA repressing the virulence-related outer membrane protein CarO academic.oup.com/nar/article/do…

Open PhD positions in the lab: nature.com/naturecareers/… Email for more infos.

Our analysis of the PglX methyltransferase from BREX phage defence is now out! We were able to rationally engineer DNA sequence recognition to target new phages, meaning PglX is the specificity factor for BREX methylation and defence. tinyurl.com/yc2jnrjk

Salmonella breaks colonization resistance Salmonella overcomes colonization resistance w/intact microbiota by disrupting epithelial hypoxia. Outgrowth fueled by catabolizing simple sugars via combo of aerobic respiration & mixed acid fermentation Andreas Baumler cell.com/cell-host-micr…

H-NS is a bacterial transposon capture protein David Grainger Charles Cooper & colleagues show that this DNA-binding protein not only silences horizontally acquired genes, it also drives transposon insertion into the silenced genes and away from essential genes! nature.com/articles/s4146…

We determined gene essentiality in 13 Enterobacteriaceae including E. coli, Salmonella and Klebsiella strains, and find ~1/3 of the essential genome is variable -- but! there's no evidence for genus-specific essential genes, implying rapid turnover journals.asm.org/doi/10.1128/mb…

Latest from the lab! PICI and prophage-encoded Tai proteins protect cells by blocking phage tail assembly. Prophages counter with a mechanism allowing tail formation after induction. Defence and counter-defence genes are organised for expression. nature.com/articles/s4146…

Looks like a brilliant symposium

Interesting. Looking forward to reading this. Gut bacterial type III secretion systems aggravate colitis in mice and serve as biomarkers of Crohn’s disease thelancet.com/journals/ebiom…

Paper 1: Human milk microbiota, HMO profiles, and infant gut microbiome in preterm infants diagnosed with necrotizing enterocolitis cell.com/cell-reports-m… Led by Andrea Chiara Masi in collaboration with Lauren Beck Greg Young Lars Bode Nick Embleton 🦋🤱🎓🌎🌈🩺🔬🧪 GN Neonatal Biobank

Paper 2: Impact of probiotics on gut microbiome of extremely preterm or extremely low birthweight infants nature.com/articles/s4139… Led by Lauren Beck and GN Neonatal Biobank

Register now for this new ⁦Microbiology Society⁩ organised online symposium focused on “innovative in vitro infection models”. Fantastic line up of speakers and super accessible on-lime format. Should be a great session, so get involved! Please RT microbiologysociety.org/event/society-…

New MenT toxin-antitoxin paper for perusal! There are multiple routes to inhibit MenT toxins. Whilst phosphorylation was previously identified, the mechanism was unknown. We present a model wherein the antitoxin causes auto-phosphorylation of the toxin nature.com/articles/s4146…

The MMI Department is excited to launch the Inaugural Rod Welch Distinguished Lecture this Friday with two keynote talks! Harry Mobley & Jim Kaper

A postdoctoral position is available in our lab, available immediately. Ideal candidate will have experience with membrane proteins and an interest in bacterial immunity. RTs appreciated! jobs.ac.uk/job/DJO275/res…

Congratulations to all of these outstanding microbiologists