Alain Kohl
@alainkohlvirology.bsky.social
Chair in Virology and Emerging Infectious Diseases, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine.
Arboviruses, emerging viruses, viruses of parasites!
Arboviruses, emerging viruses, viruses of parasites!
Reposted by Alain Kohl
What role will structural modeling play in the future of phylogenetics?
Find out at the Australasian Protein Structural Phylogenetics Meeting (APSPM).
Find out at the Australasian Protein Structural Phylogenetics Meeting (APSPM).
Registration for #APSPM2026 closes soon.
Everyone’s welcome! whether you study evolution, structure, or computational methods, join us in Brisbane (and online) Feb 16–18, 2026 to learn how protein structure meets phylogenetics.
biosig.lab.uq.edu.au/strphy26
@official-smbe.bsky.social
Everyone’s welcome! whether you study evolution, structure, or computational methods, join us in Brisbane (and online) Feb 16–18, 2026 to learn how protein structure meets phylogenetics.
biosig.lab.uq.edu.au/strphy26
@official-smbe.bsky.social
November 24, 2025 at 2:50 PM
What role will structural modeling play in the future of phylogenetics?
Find out at the Australasian Protein Structural Phylogenetics Meeting (APSPM).
Find out at the Australasian Protein Structural Phylogenetics Meeting (APSPM).
Reposted by Alain Kohl
In addition to nearly 200,000 experimentally-determined PDB structures, RCSB.org now offers access to ~1 million Computed Structure Models (CSMs) from AlphaFoldDB and RoseTTAFold (from Model Archive)
Register for the Nov 24 Virtual Office Hour on Exploring CSMs at RCSB PDB
Learn how to use RCSB PDB features to navigate 3D Computed Structure Models from AlphaFold DB and ModelArchive
Learn how to use RCSB PDB features to navigate 3D Computed Structure Models from AlphaFold DB and ModelArchive
PDB101: Register for the Nov 24 Virtual Office Hour on Exploring CSMs at RCSB.org
PDB-101: Training, Outreach, and Education portal of RCSB PDB
pdb101.rcsb.org
November 21, 2025 at 9:57 AM
In addition to nearly 200,000 experimentally-determined PDB structures, RCSB.org now offers access to ~1 million Computed Structure Models (CSMs) from AlphaFoldDB and RoseTTAFold (from Model Archive)
Reposted by Alain Kohl
Our fully funded, four-year MRC Doctoral Training Partnership (DTP) is now open for applications for an October 2026 start.
We welcome applications from exceptional candidates from a broad range of academic disciplines who are passionate about global and public health.
Find out more : lstm.ac/PhD
We welcome applications from exceptional candidates from a broad range of academic disciplines who are passionate about global and public health.
Find out more : lstm.ac/PhD
November 21, 2025 at 7:47 AM
Our fully funded, four-year MRC Doctoral Training Partnership (DTP) is now open for applications for an October 2026 start.
We welcome applications from exceptional candidates from a broad range of academic disciplines who are passionate about global and public health.
Find out more : lstm.ac/PhD
We welcome applications from exceptional candidates from a broad range of academic disciplines who are passionate about global and public health.
Find out more : lstm.ac/PhD
Reposted by Alain Kohl
The agency this week quietly changed its official language to suggest vaccines may cause autism, a claim that scientists say has no basis in evidence
CDC Vaccine Website Promotes Anti-Science Claims of Autism Ties
The agency this week quietly changed its official language to suggest vaccines may cause autism, a claim that scientists say has no basis in evidence
www.scientificamerican.com
November 20, 2025 at 4:21 PM
The agency this week quietly changed its official language to suggest vaccines may cause autism, a claim that scientists say has no basis in evidence
Reposted by Alain Kohl
France: Local chikungunya cases top 800 in 2025
open.substack.com/pub/outbreak...
open.substack.com/pub/outbreak...
France: Local chikungunya cases top 800 in 2025
French health authorities, in an update today, report a total of 804 locally acquired chikungunya cases year to date.
open.substack.com
November 19, 2025 at 11:46 PM
France: Local chikungunya cases top 800 in 2025
open.substack.com/pub/outbreak...
open.substack.com/pub/outbreak...
Reposted by Alain Kohl
Researchers say they have found RNA molecules within woolly mammoths mummified for millennia in Siberian permafrost. https://scim.ag/3LMfet4
Mammoth mummies up to 50,000 years old yield oldest RNA yet found
Ancient RNA promises to shed light on how genes functioned in extinct animals
scim.ag
November 20, 2025 at 9:40 PM
Researchers say they have found RNA molecules within woolly mammoths mummified for millennia in Siberian permafrost. https://scim.ag/3LMfet4
As a European I want us to wake up, and start investing more into science and development. But we need to act on the Draghi report. And in times of crisis look beyond the nation state. But I will also stand with my colleagues in US academia and research. This presidency is a disaster for all of us.
You will forgive my boundless optimism, but I am beginning to think that Trump's presidency is a blessing, a historic opportunity, a wake-up call for Europe to assert itself and bypass the big tech companies.
November 19, 2025 at 11:53 AM
As a European I want us to wake up, and start investing more into science and development. But we need to act on the Draghi report. And in times of crisis look beyond the nation state. But I will also stand with my colleagues in US academia and research. This presidency is a disaster for all of us.
Reposted by Alain Kohl
Worrisome: HIghly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI, likely H5N1) was reported in a poultry farm (62 thousand layer hens) in Terschuur, The Netherlands. This farm is located in the poultry-dense Gelder Valley, with 195 other poultry farms in a 10-km radius. (1/3)
www.rijksoverheid.nl/actueel/nieu...
www.rijksoverheid.nl/actueel/nieu...
November 18, 2025 at 5:19 AM
Worrisome: HIghly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI, likely H5N1) was reported in a poultry farm (62 thousand layer hens) in Terschuur, The Netherlands. This farm is located in the poultry-dense Gelder Valley, with 195 other poultry farms in a 10-km radius. (1/3)
www.rijksoverheid.nl/actueel/nieu...
www.rijksoverheid.nl/actueel/nieu...
Reposted by Alain Kohl
Excellent if worrying from @angierasmussen.bsky.social on the latest trends on flu in the states and canada. Highlighting how difficult it is with the cuts to CDC for monitoring viruses and testing human infections.
The Real Subtypes of the 2025 Flu Season
Have you ever been to a party where you sensed the messiness before it happened?
open.substack.com
November 17, 2025 at 5:10 PM
Excellent if worrying from @angierasmussen.bsky.social on the latest trends on flu in the states and canada. Highlighting how difficult it is with the cuts to CDC for monitoring viruses and testing human infections.
The surroundings have changed quite a bit since!
137 years ago today 🎂 Institut Pasteur opened in Paris (Nov 14, 1888 🏛️)
Funded by 100K+ donors after the rabies vaccine success, it launched a scientific legacy:
🔬 10 Nobel Prizes
🌍 32 Pasteur Network Institutes
💉 Countless lives saved
From rabies to COVID-19, the mission continues.
Funded by 100K+ donors after the rabies vaccine success, it launched a scientific legacy:
🔬 10 Nobel Prizes
🌍 32 Pasteur Network Institutes
💉 Countless lives saved
From rabies to COVID-19, the mission continues.
November 14, 2025 at 5:30 PM
The surroundings have changed quite a bit since!
Reposted by Alain Kohl
In decades to come, we will look back at 2025 - following the most devastating pandemic in a century - as the year we turned back hard-earned progress on combating infectious diseases.
That means the comeback of preventable diseases. And the emergence of new ones.
www.science.org/content/arti...
That means the comeback of preventable diseases. And the emergence of new ones.
www.science.org/content/arti...
The Trump administration is dismantling efforts to fight the next pandemic
A retreat from investments in drugs and vaccines leaves U.S. less prepared for the next viral scourge, experts warn
www.science.org
November 13, 2025 at 10:06 PM
In decades to come, we will look back at 2025 - following the most devastating pandemic in a century - as the year we turned back hard-earned progress on combating infectious diseases.
That means the comeback of preventable diseases. And the emergence of new ones.
www.science.org/content/arti...
That means the comeback of preventable diseases. And the emergence of new ones.
www.science.org/content/arti...
Reposted by Alain Kohl
Nice looking review by @ben-parker.bsky.social Paul Rozo-Lopez "Heritable Viruses as Hidden Drivers of Insect Phenotypes and Evolution" doi.org/10.1146/annu...
November 14, 2025 at 8:02 AM
Nice looking review by @ben-parker.bsky.social Paul Rozo-Lopez "Heritable Viruses as Hidden Drivers of Insect Phenotypes and Evolution" doi.org/10.1146/annu...
Reposted by Alain Kohl
so excited to share our article in @nature.com Immunology on the many challenges of climate change has for our immune function, infection susceptibility and disease and the need for new ways to research this. Will do a thread later! 🧪 @lydiabeckeriii.bsky.social @exposomeimmunology.bsky.social
The role of ecoimmunology in tackling the emerging threats of climate change and the exposome
Nature Immunology - Climate change creates a multitude of challenges over the human life-course, influencing our exposomes and shaping immune function — requiring researchers to consider...
urldefense.com
November 14, 2025 at 11:17 AM
so excited to share our article in @nature.com Immunology on the many challenges of climate change has for our immune function, infection susceptibility and disease and the need for new ways to research this. Will do a thread later! 🧪 @lydiabeckeriii.bsky.social @exposomeimmunology.bsky.social
Reposted by Alain Kohl
With current funding climates and pervasive desperation, I worry that academic research is more vulnerable than ever to genuinely predatory “philanthropists” - with agendas ranging from the paternalistically benevolent to the selfish to the downright evil.
November 14, 2025 at 3:38 AM
With current funding climates and pervasive desperation, I worry that academic research is more vulnerable than ever to genuinely predatory “philanthropists” - with agendas ranging from the paternalistically benevolent to the selfish to the downright evil.
Reposted by Alain Kohl
For the first time, scientists have documented an unusual defense: Some species of arachnids build giant doppelgängers on their webs, creating a frightening deception that scares off would-be killers. https://scim.ag/487Myn0
November 12, 2025 at 5:08 PM
For the first time, scientists have documented an unusual defense: Some species of arachnids build giant doppelgängers on their webs, creating a frightening deception that scares off would-be killers. https://scim.ag/487Myn0
Reposted by Alain Kohl
🚨New preprint🚨
In a multidisciplinary tour-de-force, @itingtu.bsky.social shows that, because #H5N1 flu is now routinely infecting seals and sealions in Peru, it's also spilling over into the vampire bats that feed from beaches...
🦭🦠🦇
(1/2)
In a multidisciplinary tour-de-force, @itingtu.bsky.social shows that, because #H5N1 flu is now routinely infecting seals and sealions in Peru, it's also spilling over into the vampire bats that feed from beaches...
🦭🦠🦇
(1/2)
My 1st first-author paper is out as a preprint! Excited to share the fascinating story of marine-feeding vampire bats 🌊🦇 We found that marine-diet bats were exposed to #H5#AvianFlu 🦠 from marine wildlife and could potentially spread it to livestock via blood feed🩸
doi.org/10.1101/2025.11.09.686930
doi.org/10.1101/2025.11.09.686930
November 12, 2025 at 11:33 AM
🚨New preprint🚨
In a multidisciplinary tour-de-force, @itingtu.bsky.social shows that, because #H5N1 flu is now routinely infecting seals and sealions in Peru, it's also spilling over into the vampire bats that feed from beaches...
🦭🦠🦇
(1/2)
In a multidisciplinary tour-de-force, @itingtu.bsky.social shows that, because #H5N1 flu is now routinely infecting seals and sealions in Peru, it's also spilling over into the vampire bats that feed from beaches...
🦭🦠🦇
(1/2)
Reposted by Alain Kohl
Psyched to say that Mike Diamond is talking at our next seminar. THURSDAY 20th Nov. All welcome!
World leading #virology not to be missed - just email us for a Zoom link.
Please help us with a re-post to get the word out 👍
World leading #virology not to be missed - just email us for a Zoom link.
Please help us with a re-post to get the word out 👍
November 13, 2025 at 10:28 AM
Psyched to say that Mike Diamond is talking at our next seminar. THURSDAY 20th Nov. All welcome!
World leading #virology not to be missed - just email us for a Zoom link.
Please help us with a re-post to get the word out 👍
World leading #virology not to be missed - just email us for a Zoom link.
Please help us with a re-post to get the word out 👍
Reposted by Alain Kohl
🦟 "Future geographical distribution of #Aedes albopictus in #China under #ClimateChange scenarios" by Jianjun Xu et al. in @plosone.org
journals.plos.org/plosone/arti...
journals.plos.org/plosone/arti...
November 11, 2025 at 1:50 PM
🦟 "Future geographical distribution of #Aedes albopictus in #China under #ClimateChange scenarios" by Jianjun Xu et al. in @plosone.org
journals.plos.org/plosone/arti...
journals.plos.org/plosone/arti...
Reposted by Alain Kohl
📢 @ukhsa.bsky.social is #hiring for a Senior Medical #Entomologist position. Closing date 19 November 2025! 🦟🪰🕷️
apps.trac.jobs/job-advert/7...
apps.trac.jobs/job-advert/7...
Senior Medical Entomologist | Job advert | Trac
apps.trac.jobs
November 11, 2025 at 1:19 PM
📢 @ukhsa.bsky.social is #hiring for a Senior Medical #Entomologist position. Closing date 19 November 2025! 🦟🪰🕷️
apps.trac.jobs/job-advert/7...
apps.trac.jobs/job-advert/7...
Reposted by Alain Kohl
Northward expansion of Aedes albopictus-associated arbovirus transmission risk in Europe
www.thelancet.com/journals/lan...
www.thelancet.com/journals/lan...
Northward expansion of Aedes albopictus-associated arbovirus transmission risk in Europe
Since 2007, outbreaks of chikungunya and dengue have become increasingly frequent
and large scale in Europe. The frequency and size of these episodes suggest a concerning
trend. In 2025 alone, there h...
www.thelancet.com
November 10, 2025 at 10:38 AM
Northward expansion of Aedes albopictus-associated arbovirus transmission risk in Europe
www.thelancet.com/journals/lan...
www.thelancet.com/journals/lan...
Reposted by Alain Kohl
The obituary of someone who gained widespread fame through remarkable achievements at a young age and then expected to be taken seriously for anything he said thereafter.
James Watson, Co-Discoverer of the Structure of DNA, Is Dead at 97
www.nytimes.com
November 7, 2025 at 7:45 PM
The obituary of someone who gained widespread fame through remarkable achievements at a young age and then expected to be taken seriously for anything he said thereafter.
Reposted by Alain Kohl
Fantastic opportunity (available for both UK and international students) to do a PhD on the assembly of RNA viruses with @artisplicer.bsky.social - please share (and/or apply)!
www.findaphd.com/phds/project...
www.findaphd.com/phds/project...
Funded PhD SWBio DTP- (STANDARD) Genome packaging as a driving force of RNA virus assembly at University of Bristol on FindAPhD.com
PhD Project - Funded PhD SWBio DTP- (STANDARD) Genome packaging as a driving force of RNA virus assembly at University of Bristol, listed on FindAPhD.com
www.findaphd.com
November 7, 2025 at 11:50 AM
Fantastic opportunity (available for both UK and international students) to do a PhD on the assembly of RNA viruses with @artisplicer.bsky.social - please share (and/or apply)!
www.findaphd.com/phds/project...
www.findaphd.com/phds/project...
Reposted by Alain Kohl
New paper out from the MosSI group. Started this work in 2017 so great to finally get it out!
TL;DR - Microbiome interactions with ZIKV - host background matters!
animalmicrobiome.biomedcentral.com/articles/10....
TL;DR - Microbiome interactions with ZIKV - host background matters!
animalmicrobiome.biomedcentral.com/articles/10....
Mosquito host background impacts microbiome-Zika virus interactions in field- and laboratory-reared Aedes aegypti - Animal Microbiome
Mosquito microbiota abundance and composition are modulated by a variety of factors, including pathogen exposure. The microbiome can also influence pathogen infection of the host and thus harbours con...
animalmicrobiome.biomedcentral.com
November 5, 2025 at 7:02 PM
New paper out from the MosSI group. Started this work in 2017 so great to finally get it out!
TL;DR - Microbiome interactions with ZIKV - host background matters!
animalmicrobiome.biomedcentral.com/articles/10....
TL;DR - Microbiome interactions with ZIKV - host background matters!
animalmicrobiome.biomedcentral.com/articles/10....
Reposted by Alain Kohl
Great work by Nicola De Maio and Nick Goldman - not just scaleable to "pandemic scale" trees but - if I have got this right - arguably more valid than traditional column based bootstrap in the context of very tight evolution.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, the millions of viral genomes coming in overwhelmed traditional methods for data analysis.
Find out how SPRTA, a new tool, provides a fast, scalable way to measure confidence of phylogenetic trees, helping scientists track outbreaks.
www.ebi.ac.uk/about/news/t...
Find out how SPRTA, a new tool, provides a fast, scalable way to measure confidence of phylogenetic trees, helping scientists track outbreaks.
www.ebi.ac.uk/about/news/t...
SPRTA: a smarter way to measure evolution uncertainty
A new method from EMBL-EBI and collaborators offers fast, easy-to-interpret confidence scores for phylogenetic trees for pandemic preparedness.
www.ebi.ac.uk
November 5, 2025 at 10:33 PM
Great work by Nicola De Maio and Nick Goldman - not just scaleable to "pandemic scale" trees but - if I have got this right - arguably more valid than traditional column based bootstrap in the context of very tight evolution.
Reposted by Alain Kohl
Check out our paper in @natcomms.nature.com !
We explored the link between pre-existing neutralizing antibody (nAb) titers and dengue disease protection & how different cell substrate and virus maturation state influences the measurement of nAb titers
rdcu.be/eOfXW
We explored the link between pre-existing neutralizing antibody (nAb) titers and dengue disease protection & how different cell substrate and virus maturation state influences the measurement of nAb titers
rdcu.be/eOfXW
Protection against symptomatic dengue infection by neutralizing antibodies varies by infection history and infecting serotype
Nature Communications - There is still a need to improve understanding of dengue-specific immunity. Here, by analyzing the antibody response in a pediatric cohort the authors show that the...
rdcu.be
November 4, 2025 at 4:57 PM
Check out our paper in @natcomms.nature.com !
We explored the link between pre-existing neutralizing antibody (nAb) titers and dengue disease protection & how different cell substrate and virus maturation state influences the measurement of nAb titers
rdcu.be/eOfXW
We explored the link between pre-existing neutralizing antibody (nAb) titers and dengue disease protection & how different cell substrate and virus maturation state influences the measurement of nAb titers
rdcu.be/eOfXW