Dr Alison Peel
@alibat.bsky.social
🦇 disease ecologist & veterinarian, Horizon Fellow at Sydney Uni, using One Health approaches to study #viralspillover from bats #TeamHB7 She/her.
Reposted by Dr Alison Peel
I will try to do a tweetorial about this paper when I have more energy but this is really important data. It looks (tentatively, preliminarily) that COVID-19 mRNA vaccines might significantly enhance the effectiveness of cancer immunotherapy (subject to many caveats).
SARS-CoV-2 mRNA vaccines sensitize tumours to immune checkpoint blockade
Nature - mRNA vaccines targeting SARS-CoV-2 also sensitize tumours to immune checkpoint inhibitors.
rdcu.be
October 25, 2025 at 5:53 PM
Reposted by Dr Alison Peel
Our paper on the phenomenon of persistence and latency in Ebola virus in an unobserved reservoir is finally out in preprint: www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
Evidence of latency reshapes our understanding of Ebola virus reservoir dynamics
Ebola virus (EBOV) has caused severe outbreaks of haemorrhagic fever in Central and West Africa since the first observed zoonotic epidemic in the late 1970s. While recent outbreaks have revealed much ...
www.biorxiv.org
October 19, 2025 at 11:36 AM
Our paper on the phenomenon of persistence and latency in Ebola virus in an unobserved reservoir is finally out in preprint: www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
Reposted by Dr Alison Peel
Dunno if youse are across this... but it's forecast that in Sydney on Wednesday the temp will be 38C. (100 F)
It's OCTOBER! That's FIFTEEN DEGREES ABOVE AVERAGE!
Our Government and fossil fuel companies are determined to cook us alive! Boil the oceans. Kill our forests. Turn habitat to ash.🥺😩
It's OCTOBER! That's FIFTEEN DEGREES ABOVE AVERAGE!
Our Government and fossil fuel companies are determined to cook us alive! Boil the oceans. Kill our forests. Turn habitat to ash.🥺😩
October 18, 2025 at 4:57 AM
Dunno if youse are across this... but it's forecast that in Sydney on Wednesday the temp will be 38C. (100 F)
It's OCTOBER! That's FIFTEEN DEGREES ABOVE AVERAGE!
Our Government and fossil fuel companies are determined to cook us alive! Boil the oceans. Kill our forests. Turn habitat to ash.🥺😩
It's OCTOBER! That's FIFTEEN DEGREES ABOVE AVERAGE!
Our Government and fossil fuel companies are determined to cook us alive! Boil the oceans. Kill our forests. Turn habitat to ash.🥺😩
Reposted by Dr Alison Peel
… today, a group of 160 scientists from 23 countries is announcing that the planet has already reached its first major tipping point: the widespread death of warm-water coral reefs.
Corals are disappearing, pushing Earth to its first major ‘tipping point’
A new report says Earth has reached a dire milestone with the widespread death of warm-water coral reefs. It's not too late to save what remains.
grist.org
October 13, 2025 at 8:31 PM
… today, a group of 160 scientists from 23 countries is announcing that the planet has already reached its first major tipping point: the widespread death of warm-water coral reefs.
Reposted by Dr Alison Peel
I don’t know who needs to hear this but the CDC is being eviscerated right now. America is not going to have any kind of outbreak response capacity after tonight. Americans’ health data is no longer secure. Say goodbye to federal public health in any capacity. It’s a disaster. We won’t recover.
October 11, 2025 at 3:05 AM
I don’t know who needs to hear this but the CDC is being eviscerated right now. America is not going to have any kind of outbreak response capacity after tonight. Americans’ health data is no longer secure. Say goodbye to federal public health in any capacity. It’s a disaster. We won’t recover.
Reposted by Dr Alison Peel
An ode to the written word.
Here's a great Shot debut from David Rayfield. "Writing has nothing to fear from AI – just from those who support it"
Writing has nothing to fear from AI - just from those who support it - The Shot
“We’re seeing a year-on-year decline on text,” said Facebook VP for Europe, Middle East and Africa, Nicola Mendelsohn, in a...
theshot.net.au
October 11, 2025 at 7:41 AM
An ode to the written word.
Reposted by Dr Alison Peel
This is desperately sad. Professor John Woinarski breaks the news for @aunz.theconversation.com that Australia's next animal - the tiny Christmas Island Shrew - has officially been declared extinct.
theconversation.com/and-then-the...
theconversation.com/and-then-the...
And then there were none: Australia’s only shrew declared extinct
Australia’s only known shrew has been declared extinct. Its loss emphasises the need for national protection of Australia’s rare and unique wildlife.
theconversation.com
October 10, 2025 at 10:02 AM
This is desperately sad. Professor John Woinarski breaks the news for @aunz.theconversation.com that Australia's next animal - the tiny Christmas Island Shrew - has officially been declared extinct.
theconversation.com/and-then-the...
theconversation.com/and-then-the...
Aww shucks, thanks so much @wdaa.bsky.social
I love the sense of “being amongst my people” that the WDAA community brings & am so honoured to have been recognised in this way by that community.
Thanks so much to the committee, my nominator & all my students/collaborators for their contributions 🦇
I love the sense of “being amongst my people” that the WDAA community brings & am so honoured to have been recognised in this way by that community.
Thanks so much to the committee, my nominator & all my students/collaborators for their contributions 🦇
Congratulations to Dr Alison Peel, winner of this year‘s prestigious WDA-A Barry L Munday Award for her extraordinary and extensive contributions to the field of wildlife health. @alibat.bsky.social #wdaa2025
October 3, 2025 at 4:21 AM
Aww shucks, thanks so much @wdaa.bsky.social
I love the sense of “being amongst my people” that the WDAA community brings & am so honoured to have been recognised in this way by that community.
Thanks so much to the committee, my nominator & all my students/collaborators for their contributions 🦇
I love the sense of “being amongst my people” that the WDAA community brings & am so honoured to have been recognised in this way by that community.
Thanks so much to the committee, my nominator & all my students/collaborators for their contributions 🦇
Reposted by Dr Alison Peel
An interesting ZOLA (Zoonotic Risk Mitigation in Live Animal Markets) PhD research project for a Bangladeshi candidate
severine.thys@cirad.fr for more info
severine.thys@cirad.fr for more info
September 8, 2025 at 8:51 AM
An interesting ZOLA (Zoonotic Risk Mitigation in Live Animal Markets) PhD research project for a Bangladeshi candidate
severine.thys@cirad.fr for more info
severine.thys@cirad.fr for more info
Reposted by Dr Alison Peel
"Israel's policies and actions in Gaza meet the legal definition of genocide in Article II of the United Nations Convention for the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide (1948)".
www.abc.net.au/news/2025-09...
www.abc.net.au/news/2025-09...
Leading scholars say Israel committing genocide in Gaza
The International Association of Genocide Scholars says signatories to the genocide convention, including Australia, should prevent arms sales to Israel and uphold international law.
www.abc.net.au
September 1, 2025 at 10:25 PM
"Israel's policies and actions in Gaza meet the legal definition of genocide in Article II of the United Nations Convention for the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide (1948)".
www.abc.net.au/news/2025-09...
www.abc.net.au/news/2025-09...
Reposted by Dr Alison Peel
An announcement of famine — as has now happened regarding Gaza — is a complicated decision. Here's what must be considered before such a declaration is made.
Famine is declared in Gaza: What does it take to make this pronouncement?
An announcement of famine — as has now happened regarding Gaza — is a complicated decision. Here's what must be considered before such a declaration is made.
n.pr
August 22, 2025 at 9:21 PM
An announcement of famine — as has now happened regarding Gaza — is a complicated decision. Here's what must be considered before such a declaration is made.
Reposted by Dr Alison Peel
"This famine is entirely man-made, it can be halted and reversed. The time for debate and hesitation has passed, starvation is present and is rapidly spreading."
At least 30% of children suffer from acute malnutrition.
THIRTY PERCENT
At least 30% of children suffer from acute malnutrition.
THIRTY PERCENT
August 22, 2025 at 10:31 AM
"This famine is entirely man-made, it can be halted and reversed. The time for debate and hesitation has passed, starvation is present and is rapidly spreading."
At least 30% of children suffer from acute malnutrition.
THIRTY PERCENT
At least 30% of children suffer from acute malnutrition.
THIRTY PERCENT
Reposted by Dr Alison Peel
Nature: Cancelling mRNA studies is the highest irresponsibility
go.nature.com/3HDx4wD
cc Jay Bhattacharya
go.nature.com/3HDx4wD
cc Jay Bhattacharya
August 15, 2025 at 8:21 PM
Nature: Cancelling mRNA studies is the highest irresponsibility
go.nature.com/3HDx4wD
cc Jay Bhattacharya
go.nature.com/3HDx4wD
cc Jay Bhattacharya
Reposted by Dr Alison Peel
I'm looking forward to being a part of this special episode of What The Duck, when the winner of Australia's Most Underrated Animal will be announced.
12-1pm, Today, on ABC RN.
Go team #MarsupialMole!
www.abc.net.au/news/science... #NationalScienceWeek
12-1pm, Today, on ABC RN.
Go team #MarsupialMole!
www.abc.net.au/news/science... #NationalScienceWeek
Gunning for the ghost bat? Vote now for your fave underrated animal
Move over, roos and emus — this National Science Week, we're looking for the most underrated Australian animal. Meet the contestants, and vote for who you think should win.
www.abc.net.au
August 14, 2025 at 10:24 PM
I'm looking forward to being a part of this special episode of What The Duck, when the winner of Australia's Most Underrated Animal will be announced.
12-1pm, Today, on ABC RN.
Go team #MarsupialMole!
www.abc.net.au/news/science... #NationalScienceWeek
12-1pm, Today, on ABC RN.
Go team #MarsupialMole!
www.abc.net.au/news/science... #NationalScienceWeek
Reposted by Dr Alison Peel
For all of the educators trying to deal with AI, I did a deep dive in early June and these are the four articles I decided to assign to my students.
1. This is the longest of the bunch, but so wonderfully comprehensive.
www.technologyreview.com/2025/05/20/1...
1. This is the longest of the bunch, but so wonderfully comprehensive.
www.technologyreview.com/2025/05/20/1...
We did the math on AI’s energy footprint. Here’s the story you haven’t heard.
The emissions from individual AI text, image, and video queries seem small—until you add up what the industry isn’t tracking and consider where it’s heading next.
www.technologyreview.com
August 14, 2025 at 10:17 AM
For all of the educators trying to deal with AI, I did a deep dive in early June and these are the four articles I decided to assign to my students.
1. This is the longest of the bunch, but so wonderfully comprehensive.
www.technologyreview.com/2025/05/20/1...
1. This is the longest of the bunch, but so wonderfully comprehensive.
www.technologyreview.com/2025/05/20/1...
Reposted by Dr Alison Peel
Grateful to @marionkoopmans.bsky.social for writing this thoughtful piece in Nature Rev Micro. We can’t push back against anti-science movements without taking the threat seriously, proactively address our limitations, and engage with the public clearly & candidly.
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
Anti-science and the science community
Nature Reviews Microbiology - As anti-science sentiment intensifies — aggravated by the pandemic, driven in some parts of the world by political actors and amplified by social media —...
www.nature.com
August 13, 2025 at 8:20 PM
Grateful to @marionkoopmans.bsky.social for writing this thoughtful piece in Nature Rev Micro. We can’t push back against anti-science movements without taking the threat seriously, proactively address our limitations, and engage with the public clearly & candidly.
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
Reposted by Dr Alison Peel
I usually tell people that *so far*, habitat loss, not climate change, has been the major driver of bird population declines... but now we're starting to get analyses directly connecting bird declines to extreme weather events fueled by climate change. 🪶 theconversation.com/70-years-of-...
70 years of data show extreme heat is already wiping out tropical bird populations
A study using more than 90,000 scientific observations shows Earth is getting too hot for many tropical birds.
theconversation.com
August 12, 2025 at 5:04 PM
I usually tell people that *so far*, habitat loss, not climate change, has been the major driver of bird population declines... but now we're starting to get analyses directly connecting bird declines to extreme weather events fueled by climate change. 🪶 theconversation.com/70-years-of-...
Reposted by Dr Alison Peel
Forecasting the effects of #epidemics is complicated by a population’s pathogen exposure history. @pfvale.bsky.social @chadisaadroy.bsky.social & Mike Boots argue for the use of experimental #DiseaseEcology to better understand the consequences of variations in #infection history 🧪
plos.io/4mdDVvW
plos.io/4mdDVvW
The ghost of infections past: Accounting for heterogeneity in individual infection history improves accuracy in epidemic forecasting
Variable pathogen exposure history contributes to individual immune differences, complicating epidemic forecasting. This Essay argues that experimental disease ecology can offer powerful tools and app...
plos.io
August 12, 2025 at 9:04 AM
Forecasting the effects of #epidemics is complicated by a population’s pathogen exposure history. @pfvale.bsky.social @chadisaadroy.bsky.social & Mike Boots argue for the use of experimental #DiseaseEcology to better understand the consequences of variations in #infection history 🧪
plos.io/4mdDVvW
plos.io/4mdDVvW
Reposted by Dr Alison Peel
What a special bunch of humans looking after our special bats 🦇
Absolutely amazing to visit this sanctuary during the recent @ibrc2025.bsky.social conference 🇦🇺
youtu.be/ttYuewsEv_I
Absolutely amazing to visit this sanctuary during the recent @ibrc2025.bsky.social conference 🇦🇺
youtu.be/ttYuewsEv_I
Tolga Bat Hospital – A Sanctuary for Australian Bats
YouTube video by Juergen Freund Visuals
youtu.be
August 12, 2025 at 6:52 AM
What a special bunch of humans looking after our special bats 🦇
Absolutely amazing to visit this sanctuary during the recent @ibrc2025.bsky.social conference 🇦🇺
youtu.be/ttYuewsEv_I
Absolutely amazing to visit this sanctuary during the recent @ibrc2025.bsky.social conference 🇦🇺
youtu.be/ttYuewsEv_I
Reposted by Dr Alison Peel
The situation in Gaza is catastrophic, tens of thousands of people have already died. Millions are trapped, starving, & denied essential aid.
Israel is committing genocide in Gaza.
Our government must take decisive action NOW:
Sign Oxfam Australia’s letter for urgent action
Photo Leon Rice-Whetton
Israel is committing genocide in Gaza.
Our government must take decisive action NOW:
Sign Oxfam Australia’s letter for urgent action
Photo Leon Rice-Whetton
August 10, 2025 at 11:36 PM
The situation in Gaza is catastrophic, tens of thousands of people have already died. Millions are trapped, starving, & denied essential aid.
Israel is committing genocide in Gaza.
Our government must take decisive action NOW:
Sign Oxfam Australia’s letter for urgent action
Photo Leon Rice-Whetton
Israel is committing genocide in Gaza.
Our government must take decisive action NOW:
Sign Oxfam Australia’s letter for urgent action
Photo Leon Rice-Whetton
Reposted by Dr Alison Peel
I refuse to accept this.
I refuse to be a bystander.
That's why I say @albomp.bsky.social Not In My Name
Sign Oxfam Australia’s letter calling for urgent action: a permanent ceasefire, humanitarian access &accountability & tell the Australian Government, Not In My Name.
#NotInMyName #CeaseFireNow
I refuse to be a bystander.
That's why I say @albomp.bsky.social Not In My Name
Sign Oxfam Australia’s letter calling for urgent action: a permanent ceasefire, humanitarian access &accountability & tell the Australian Government, Not In My Name.
#NotInMyName #CeaseFireNow
August 10, 2025 at 11:36 PM
I refuse to accept this.
I refuse to be a bystander.
That's why I say @albomp.bsky.social Not In My Name
Sign Oxfam Australia’s letter calling for urgent action: a permanent ceasefire, humanitarian access &accountability & tell the Australian Government, Not In My Name.
#NotInMyName #CeaseFireNow
I refuse to be a bystander.
That's why I say @albomp.bsky.social Not In My Name
Sign Oxfam Australia’s letter calling for urgent action: a permanent ceasefire, humanitarian access &accountability & tell the Australian Government, Not In My Name.
#NotInMyName #CeaseFireNow
Reposted by Dr Alison Peel
Highly recommend this great opportunity to develop #theory together with @kostchristian.bsky.social and group who are simply a wonderful bunch!!
I am excited to announce that the position of a senior postdoc (3 +3 years) in the field of theoretical biology is available in my group.
The position provides the opportunity to closely interact with experimentalists and develop own research projects.
Please RT.
Details 👇:
shorturl.at/iiiOv
The position provides the opportunity to closely interact with experimentalists and develop own research projects.
Please RT.
Details 👇:
shorturl.at/iiiOv
116 FB 5 Research Assistant (m/f/d) field of Theoretical Ecology and Evolution or Computational Biology: Uni Osnabrück
shorturl.at
August 10, 2025 at 6:35 PM
Highly recommend this great opportunity to develop #theory together with @kostchristian.bsky.social and group who are simply a wonderful bunch!!
Reposted by Dr Alison Peel
Members of the @albomp.bsky.social government persistently & shamelessly dissemble while Israel assassinates Palestinian journalists & carries out genocide & mass starvation
Defence Min Marles is one of the least credible politicians in the cabinet—why trot him out❓
#SanctionIsrael #ActNOW
Defence Min Marles is one of the least credible politicians in the cabinet—why trot him out❓
#SanctionIsrael #ActNOW
📢 Defence Minister Richard Marles has insisted that Australia does not supply weapons to Israel but that the export of component parts are "a separate issue".
Australia isn't exporting arms to Israel, weapons components a 'separate issue', Marles says
www.sbs.com.au
August 10, 2025 at 10:34 PM
Members of the @albomp.bsky.social government persistently & shamelessly dissemble while Israel assassinates Palestinian journalists & carries out genocide & mass starvation
Defence Min Marles is one of the least credible politicians in the cabinet—why trot him out❓
#SanctionIsrael #ActNOW
Defence Min Marles is one of the least credible politicians in the cabinet—why trot him out❓
#SanctionIsrael #ActNOW
Reposted by Dr Alison Peel
BBC International Editor Jeremy Bowen has confirmed that the entire Al Jazeera team in Gaza City has been killed.
August 10, 2025 at 10:33 PM
BBC International Editor Jeremy Bowen has confirmed that the entire Al Jazeera team in Gaza City has been killed.