I think we all need some good news for global health and infectious diseases!

Remarkably, this phosphate-limitation response does not kill the bacterium, suggesting it is reversible and functionally equivalent. Electron microscopy by Max Gutierrez @maxgg.bsky.social and colleagues shows a structured and ~10% thicker cell envelope associated with this remodeling.

These findings highlight that decades of research have focused on an artificial lipid profile, shaped by the high phosphate content of Middlebrook media and likely modestly relevant for infection. The data also reveals a high degree of plasticity in the composition of Mtb cell envelope.

We’re excited to share our latest study that reshapes our understanding of Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb) lipid composition, with major implications for drug discovery, immunity, and vaccine development. www.nature.com/articles/s41... A thread.

Two pieces of fun news: 1. We've launched a new website for our lab: www.brysonlab.org 2. With some new funding, we are recruiting for new postdocs and graduate students. The projects build upon our previous studies of antigen presentation and phagosome biology and go into new exciting dimensions!

The pipeline of scientists is cracked at every level now: recent grads can't get jobs/research experience because we're all conservative about hiring in this climate, fewer grad school spots, killing many fellowship pipelines, and now the early career investigators are disproportionately impacted.

Such a lovely way of explaining why global solidarity matters!

TIL about a memorial ceremony in Iceland in 2019 to mark the end of a glacier, changing the place name from Okjökull to Ok (jökull = glacier). Uncompromising wording on the bronze plaque: "This is to acknowledge that we know what is happening and what needs to be done. Only you know if we did it".

Check out our new paper with @nelson-lab.bsky.social. We used scRNAseq to profile the function of Mtb peptide-specific T cells from NHP and human lung granulomas. Beyond IFNγ, Mtb-specific T cells make a bunch of unexpected stuff, and human and NHP cell are really similar.

Hey friends. I’m looking for a postdoc interested in studying host-pathogen interactions and immunology of tuberculosis. Send me some good people! We have a great group here! Email me [email protected]. Thanks!

Thanks @robcaliff.bsky.social and 11 other prior FDA Commissioners for weighing in on vaccines, evidence, appropriate policy in today's @nejm.org www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.... www.statnews.com/2025/12/03/f...

@peterhotezmdphd.bsky.social Vaccines do not cause Autism 11.20.25 940 pm ET PART 2

@peterhotezmdphd.bsky.social Vaccines do not cause Autism 11.20.25 940 pm ET PART 1

Doctor Simon Mendelsohn will present an oral abstract titled: TBS08-25 Universal screening for asymptomatic TB among adults with household exposure to a patient with pulmonary TB" at the Union World Conference on Lung Health. Time 9H28 in the Auditorium. conf2025.theunion.org

👇👇Last days to submit your abstract to be considered for a short talk! Deadline 24 November!https://www.keystonesymposia.org/conferences/conference-listing/meeting/travel/c42026

Brilliant, inspiring opening to the @theunion.org conference on TB by @johngreensbluesky.bsky.social today!

Epstein-Barr virus may drive autoimmunity in lupus by infecting and reprogramming memory B cells, according to a new #ScienceTranslationalMedicine analysis of patient-derived blood samples. https://scim.ag/49orb21

Cape Town’s fynbos plant kingdom showing off this morning

For children and teens, heart and blood vessel complications of Covid overshadow the very rare and short-term risk of vaccinations, a new report from nearly 14 million kids www.thelancet.com/journals/lan...

Humanity has missed the 1.5 C climate target Our politicians, oligarchs and fossil fuel lobbyists are still denying, debating and both-siding

South Africa's become the first African country to approve the groundbreaking twice-a-year anti-HIV jab, lenacapavir (LEN). Our @miamalan.bsky.social spoke to CapeTalk to explain why the country what's next. Click the link to listen to the full interview: omny.fm/shows/the-jo...

Can we advance our understanding of asymptomatic TB from inflammatory biomarkers? Our latest preprint. www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...

New comment: Tuberculosis and undernutrition: improving estimates to reinforce the policy imperative www.thelancet.com/journals/lan...

Nature research paper: SARS-CoV-2 mRNA vaccines sensitize tumours to immune checkpoint blockade go.nature.com/477I3sj

Humanity has missed 1.5C climate target And with climate change denialism peaking, I fear the worst www.theguardian.com/environment/...

Well, this is a brilliant #IDSky article that cuts close to the bone! 😬 Reframes #academia as an infection for which the causative organism may be less easy to define, but that can be just as insidious on affected individuals (clinical academics)! #AcademicSky #MedSky 🧪 @cidjournal.bsky.social

“Moderna is still developing the CMV vaccine for patients undergoing a bone marrow transplant.” www.statnews.com/2025/10/22/m...

Given the absolutely insane levels of disinformation and growing attacks on science and scientists, all scientists must be taught - how to communicate effectively - how to engage the public - how to engage politicians and policy makers - how to engage with the media - how to counter misinformation

Brimstone canary on pincushion flowers this morning

A paper in Nature Communication reports on a new method to produce strong, biodegradable plastic from bamboo. The bioplastic resembles oil-based plastics in strength, shapeability, and thermal stability but can biodegrade in soil within 50 days. go.nature.com/4h1xv0X 🧪

Understanding patterns of #TB exposure and transmission is needed for targeted prevention strategies. In our latest pre-print, @petedodd24.bsky.social and I estimated the proportion of TB exposure to and transmission from sex and age groups for 177 countries. bit.ly/4nbV492

Check out our new paper in @lancetmicrobe.bsky.social In this IPD-MA we show that single-gene transcripts are equivalent to multi-gene signatures to Dx subclinical TB They perform consistently across settings + show potential clinical utility to stratify therapy #IDsky #TBsky bit.ly/47jU7GN

We are inviting applications for postdoctoral fellows in immunology of TB at the South African Tuberculosis Vaccine Initiative, University of Cape Town. For more information see the attached ad: idm.uct.ac.za/media/739223

Despite political obstacles, officials are on track to disburse all of the research funds allocated to the NIH go.nature.com/46Mxycw

Good question to reflect on, as we start the week

$630 billion annually on bombs, tanks and missiles But no money for universal health coverage

We are looking to hire post-docs to work on T cell responses to M. tuberculosis infection using murine and NHP models. If you know T cells and wanna work on the top global infectious killer check us out. BSL3 experience not required. The NIH intramural program in Bethesda MD is an amazing place!

Operation Warp Speed was arguably one of the most successful policy initiatives in recent history, accelerating vaccine delivery that saved millions of lives. It’s remarkable to see some now urging the leaders who backed it to disown the achievement.

As we see ANOTHER huge drop in the cost of curing tuberculosis, I am reminded that 1. drugs are not expensive because they're made of platinum or something, and 2. the fruits of activism are often harvested over many years. Thanks to all the folks who made this happen. www.stoptb.org/news/breakin...

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

The Playbook Used to ‘Prove’ Vaccines Cause Autism www.nytimes.com/interactive/...

Scientists’ role in defending democracy www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...

Some positive stories 👇🏾 “Countries with widespread HPV vaccination and regular cervical cancer screenings are already seeing dramatic reductions in cancer rates. They demonstrate that it’s possible to effectively eliminate the disease” @scientificdiscovery.dev ourworldindata.org/hpv-vaccinat...

@bengern.bsky.social et al. show that the early interplay between #neutrophils & CD4 T cells is pivotal in determining #TB pathology, and that depleting neutrophils can improve outcomes even at late timepoints, which has therapeutic relevance rupress.org/jem/article/...

Are vaccines safe? What’s actually in them? In this episode of Science in 5, WHO’s Dr. Kate O’Brien breaks down how vaccines are tested, approved, and monitored even after they reach the public. She also explains what happens if a safety concern is flagged. www.youtube.com/watch?v=mqur...

Every country is warming. Every country is experiencing more extreme weather events because of climate change, mainly caused by burning fossil fuels. www.ShowYourStripes.info Time to #ShowYourStripes and start climate conversations to prompt actions to reduce emissions, personally & collectively.

Meet the antivax whisperer trying to turnaround Britain's child vaccine slump one family at a time. How does she do it? What does she say? Interview with Professor Elizabeth Whittaker: www.thetimes.com/article/26a8...