Newest preprint from the group on megaplasmids in E. coli led by @assemblerag.bsky.social. In addition to our findings in metagenomic datasets, we identified an RNA-seq project from a giant panda gut sample with evidence of megaplasmids. We would like to include the data creators in our study.

The 2025 Banfield Retreat was fantastic 🦠 so many talented scientists in one place is a sure way to come up with some great ideas! @banfieldlab.bsky.social

🚨 Fresh from the press! We created and analyzed over 100 in vitro cyanobacterial consortia using well-characterized model cyanobacterial hosts to better understand how cyanobacteria recruit and interact with their microbiomes. Check it out: doi.org/10.1093/isme...

manuscript here! www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...

Many of you gave me so much encouragement when I posted here earlier about my 10 year long passion project to make a microbial map of the ocean. Pinch me because I can't believe I get to update you that today that research was published in the journal SCIENCE! @science.org

Out now: Structure of an archaeal ribosome reveals a divergent active site and hibernation factor @jhdcate.bsky.social @banfieldlab.bsky.social @diptinayak.bsky.social & co #microsky www.nature.com/articles/s41...

In a recent paper, IGI's @jenniferdoudna.bsky.social @doudna-lab.bsky.social and Jill Banfield @banfieldlab.bsky.social collaborate with UCLA's @jacobsenucla.bsky.social to create a new, tiny #CRISPR tool for quicker, easier plant genome editing! Read more in this Q&A with Steve: ow.ly/6Szs50VGElf

Most plasmids described in E. coli are small compared to the megaplasmids we identified here! Check out the preprint if you want to learn about these mysterious large elements and their potential functions 🧬. I’m very grateful to have had the opportunity to work on this in @banfieldlab.bsky.social

Excited to share new research led by our very own @lingdong-shi.bsky.social showing that many archaeal 23S rRNAs are circularized in active ribosomes. Check out the preprint below.

Genomes from long-read metagenomic assemblies contain rampant errors, highlighting the pressing need for stricter evaluation methods in long-read assembly algorithms. Read more in our paper with the Eren group. @floriantrigodet.bsky.social @merenbey.bsky.social