Andrew Rambaut
@arambaut.bsky.social
Virus evolution | genomic epidemiology| virus origins | phylogenetics | BEAST | ARTIC Network
University of Edinburgh
http://beast.community
http://artic.network
University of Edinburgh
http://beast.community
http://artic.network
Reposted by Andrew Rambaut
I made this over the break. Why would I do such a thing? Am I some sort of #phylogenetics dork? Well... yes, but that's not why. To fully explain I'll have to do one of those sewing-strings-wrapped-around-a-spool dealies. 1/ 🧪
December 28, 2024 at 9:00 PM
I made this over the break. Why would I do such a thing? Am I some sort of #phylogenetics dork? Well... yes, but that's not why. To fully explain I'll have to do one of those sewing-strings-wrapped-around-a-spool dealies. 1/ 🧪
What a photo - Mars volcano, dust storm and Phobos in one image.
3/n
Not sure if anyone noticed already, but the one in the first photo near Pavonis Mons looks like a massive dust storm.
Full resolution 300MP(!) & info on: flic.kr/p/2rMW4so
Credit: ESA/DLR/FUBerlin/AndreaLuck CC BY 🧪🔭
Not sure if anyone noticed already, but the one in the first photo near Pavonis Mons looks like a massive dust storm.
Full resolution 300MP(!) & info on: flic.kr/p/2rMW4so
Credit: ESA/DLR/FUBerlin/AndreaLuck CC BY 🧪🔭
December 21, 2025 at 7:42 PM
What a photo - Mars volcano, dust storm and Phobos in one image.
Reposted by Andrew Rambaut
A recombinant strain of mpox virus has been isolated from a patient in the UK containing fragments of clade I and clade II virus. Recombination occurs when two strains of virus infect a cell. These events tend to be rare but are well described in poxviruses.
www.theguardian.com/world/2025/d...
www.theguardian.com/world/2025/d...
England health officials identify newly evolved variant of mpox
Virus caught by person who travelled to Asia combines more severe form of mpox with less virulent type
www.theguardian.com
December 8, 2025 at 5:47 PM
A recombinant strain of mpox virus has been isolated from a patient in the UK containing fragments of clade I and clade II virus. Recombination occurs when two strains of virus infect a cell. These events tend to be rare but are well described in poxviruses.
www.theguardian.com/world/2025/d...
www.theguardian.com/world/2025/d...
Reposted by Andrew Rambaut
1/ 🚀 Pathoplexus now supports Marburg virus (MARV) and Ravn virus (RAVN) (sister viruses in the same genus). MARV has two main clades and causes severe disease with reported fatality rates of 24–88%.
You can read more detail about adding Marburg here: pathoplexus.org/news/2025-11...
You can read more detail about adding Marburg here: pathoplexus.org/news/2025-11...
November 28, 2025 at 12:37 PM
1/ 🚀 Pathoplexus now supports Marburg virus (MARV) and Ravn virus (RAVN) (sister viruses in the same genus). MARV has two main clades and causes severe disease with reported fatality rates of 24–88%.
You can read more detail about adding Marburg here: pathoplexus.org/news/2025-11...
You can read more detail about adding Marburg here: pathoplexus.org/news/2025-11...
Reposted by Andrew Rambaut
Congratulations to Joe Felsenstein on being awarded the 2026 Mendel Medal!
November 14, 2025 at 12:41 PM
Congratulations to Joe Felsenstein on being awarded the 2026 Mendel Medal!
Reposted by Andrew Rambaut
On Oct 1, 2025, GISAID informed us that they had ended updates to the flat file of SARS-CoV-2 genomic sequences and associated metadata that we had used to update Nextstrain analyses since Feb 2020. GISAID's stated rationale was that their "resources are limited". 1/5
November 6, 2025 at 9:46 PM
On Oct 1, 2025, GISAID informed us that they had ended updates to the flat file of SARS-CoV-2 genomic sequences and associated metadata that we had used to update Nextstrain analyses since Feb 2020. GISAID's stated rationale was that their "resources are limited". 1/5
Reposted by Andrew Rambaut
As expected, unfortunately.
If ever you needed a reason for never using GISAID ever again (as a data producer or data user - we're both), look no further.
Time to move on to more trusted and transparent solutions.
If ever you needed a reason for never using GISAID ever again (as a data producer or data user - we're both), look no further.
Time to move on to more trusted and transparent solutions.
October 31, 2025 at 1:41 AM
As expected, unfortunately.
If ever you needed a reason for never using GISAID ever again (as a data producer or data user - we're both), look no further.
Time to move on to more trusted and transparent solutions.
If ever you needed a reason for never using GISAID ever again (as a data producer or data user - we're both), look no further.
Time to move on to more trusted and transparent solutions.
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 Andrew Rambaut
And now NextStrain as well.
Next up, will GISAID start charging open-source community tools to have access?
That would completely shaft users who contributed to GISAID, where we never agreed to that and assumed GISAID would be good custodians of the data we contributed. They're not.
Next up, will GISAID start charging open-source community tools to have access?
That would completely shaft users who contributed to GISAID, where we never agreed to that and assumed GISAID would be good custodians of the data we contributed. They're not.
October 16, 2025 at 7:48 PM
And now NextStrain as well.
Next up, will GISAID start charging open-source community tools to have access?
That would completely shaft users who contributed to GISAID, where we never agreed to that and assumed GISAID would be good custodians of the data we contributed. They're not.
Next up, will GISAID start charging open-source community tools to have access?
That would completely shaft users who contributed to GISAID, where we never agreed to that and assumed GISAID would be good custodians of the data we contributed. They're not.
Reposted by Andrew Rambaut
If you could take just one journalist with you to a polar archipelago, who would it be? 100% @kakape.bsky.social😉 Thanks for the extensive conversations and excellent reporting. Immer wieder gerne!
Evolutionary biologist @scs22.bsky.social has had a lot of success recently sequencing ancient RNA viruses from museum samples. This summer I had the chance to accompany him and a team of researchers to the Arctic where they hope that the permafrost might allow them to go further back in time.
🧪
🧪
On an Arctic archipelago, frozen soil may preserve a hidden history of viruses
Scientists are hunting for ancient RNA in Svalbard’s permafrost, hoping to shed light on the evolution of viral diseases
www.science.org
October 16, 2025 at 10:00 PM
If you could take just one journalist with you to a polar archipelago, who would it be? 100% @kakape.bsky.social😉 Thanks for the extensive conversations and excellent reporting. Immer wieder gerne!
Seems to be name convergence in Global Pathogen Analysis internet things: You can have GPAS (service) or GPAP (platform): eit-pathogena.com or www.dtu.dk/english/news...
October 13, 2025 at 2:34 PM
Seems to be name convergence in Global Pathogen Analysis internet things: You can have GPAS (service) or GPAP (platform): eit-pathogena.com or www.dtu.dk/english/news...
Reposted by Andrew Rambaut
Seems like Bobby Kennedy Jr misunderstands placental mammal reproduction. Go figure.
RFK Jr: "Somebody showed me a TikTok video of a pregnant woman at 8 months pregnant -- she's an associate professor at the Columbia Medical School -- and she is saying 'F Trump' and gobbling Tylenol with her baby in her placenta. The level of Trump Derangement Syndrome is now a pathology."
October 9, 2025 at 7:32 PM
Seems like Bobby Kennedy Jr misunderstands placental mammal reproduction. Go figure.
Reposted by Andrew Rambaut
Terrific new feature presented by @theo.io on @pathoplexus.org called SeqSets for generating DOIs for sequence subsets used in publications, that can then be tracked for impact via CrossRef that will allow data generators to track impact! #IMMEMXiV
September 19, 2025 at 11:10 AM
Terrific new feature presented by @theo.io on @pathoplexus.org called SeqSets for generating DOIs for sequence subsets used in publications, that can then be tracked for impact via CrossRef that will allow data generators to track impact! #IMMEMXiV
Reposted by Andrew Rambaut
Amid the concerning news of a new Ebola Zaire outbreak in DRC, teams on the ground have already managed to sample, sequence, and share data. This rapid turnaround is a testament to their commitment and capacity to respond.
Read more: virological.org/t/the-16th-e...
1/7
Read more: virological.org/t/the-16th-e...
1/7
The 16th Ebola Virus Disease Outbreak in Bulape Health Zone, Kasai, Democratic Republic of the Congo: A new spillover event from an unknown reservoir host
Background The Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) is currently facing concurrent outbreaks including mpox, cholera and malaria (1-4). The Ministry of Public Health, DRC has declared the 16th Ebola...
virological.org
September 10, 2025 at 10:00 AM
Amid the concerning news of a new Ebola Zaire outbreak in DRC, teams on the ground have already managed to sample, sequence, and share data. This rapid turnaround is a testament to their commitment and capacity to respond.
Read more: virological.org/t/the-16th-e...
1/7
Read more: virological.org/t/the-16th-e...
1/7
Reposted by Andrew Rambaut
@zachhensel.bsky.social and I have a new paper on the origin of SARS-CoV-2! 🧪
There are a lot of reviews on the topic already, so we tried to do something different: characterize "lab leak" scenarios, and directly address those on SARS-CoV-2's furin cleavage site.▫️1/9
doi.org/10.5802/crbi...
There are a lot of reviews on the topic already, so we tried to do something different: characterize "lab leak" scenarios, and directly address those on SARS-CoV-2's furin cleavage site.▫️1/9
doi.org/10.5802/crbi...
doi.org
September 8, 2025 at 4:23 PM
@zachhensel.bsky.social and I have a new paper on the origin of SARS-CoV-2! 🧪
There are a lot of reviews on the topic already, so we tried to do something different: characterize "lab leak" scenarios, and directly address those on SARS-CoV-2's furin cleavage site.▫️1/9
doi.org/10.5802/crbi...
There are a lot of reviews on the topic already, so we tried to do something different: characterize "lab leak" scenarios, and directly address those on SARS-CoV-2's furin cleavage site.▫️1/9
doi.org/10.5802/crbi...
Reposted by Andrew Rambaut
Go home Evolution you're drunk
A common type of ant in Europe breaks a fundamental rule in biology: its queens can produce male offspring that are a whole different species
go.nature.com/4mOb5T9
go.nature.com/4mOb5T9
‘Almost unimaginable’: these ants are different species but share a mother
Ant queens of one species clone ants of another to create hybrid workers that do their bidding.
go.nature.com
September 3, 2025 at 3:47 PM
Go home Evolution you're drunk
Reposted by Andrew Rambaut
🎉 New in August: Measles virus joins Pathoplexus!
Following strong community support, we added MeV data submission (with Open & Restricted-Use options, as always) and powerful search & data access for MeV
pathoplexus.org/measles/search
5/10
Following strong community support, we added MeV data submission (with Open & Restricted-Use options, as always) and powerful search & data access for MeV
pathoplexus.org/measles/search
5/10
August 27, 2025 at 3:57 PM
🎉 New in August: Measles virus joins Pathoplexus!
Following strong community support, we added MeV data submission (with Open & Restricted-Use options, as always) and powerful search & data access for MeV
pathoplexus.org/measles/search
5/10
Following strong community support, we added MeV data submission (with Open & Restricted-Use options, as always) and powerful search & data access for MeV
pathoplexus.org/measles/search
5/10
Reposted by Andrew Rambaut
🗓 Pathoplexus turns ONE! 🎂🎉
In the past year we’ve grown from 4 pathogens to a truly global, community-driven platform for transparent, equitable & impactful pathogen sequence sharing.
📰 Read the full update: pathoplexus.org/news/2025-08...
1/10
In the past year we’ve grown from 4 pathogens to a truly global, community-driven platform for transparent, equitable & impactful pathogen sequence sharing.
📰 Read the full update: pathoplexus.org/news/2025-08...
1/10
August 27, 2025 at 3:57 PM
🗓 Pathoplexus turns ONE! 🎂🎉
In the past year we’ve grown from 4 pathogens to a truly global, community-driven platform for transparent, equitable & impactful pathogen sequence sharing.
📰 Read the full update: pathoplexus.org/news/2025-08...
1/10
In the past year we’ve grown from 4 pathogens to a truly global, community-driven platform for transparent, equitable & impactful pathogen sequence sharing.
📰 Read the full update: pathoplexus.org/news/2025-08...
1/10
Reposted by Andrew Rambaut
BEAST X accelerates Bayesian phylogenetic and phylodynamic inference with enhanced scalability and geo spread modeling.
#BEASTX #Phylodynamics #VirusEvolution
👤EVBC: Philippe Lemey
🔗
#BEASTX #Phylodynamics #VirusEvolution
👤EVBC: Philippe Lemey
🔗
BEAST X for Bayesian phylogenetic, phylogeographic and phylodynamic inference - Nature Methods
BEAST X advances Bayesian phylogenetic, phylogeographic and phylodynamic analysis by incorporating a broad range of complex models and leveraging advanced algorithms and techniques to boost statistical inference.
doi.org
August 25, 2025 at 10:26 AM
BEAST X accelerates Bayesian phylogenetic and phylodynamic inference with enhanced scalability and geo spread modeling.
#BEASTX #Phylodynamics #VirusEvolution
👤EVBC: Philippe Lemey
🔗
#BEASTX #Phylodynamics #VirusEvolution
👤EVBC: Philippe Lemey
🔗
Reposted by Andrew Rambaut
Not to belabor a "I told you so", but it's been clear for years that the whole "lab leak" discourse has absolutely nothing to do with a potential lab leak and everything to do with a broader anti-science agenda.
I really, and truly, hope more scientists will realize this and take corrective action.
I really, and truly, hope more scientists will realize this and take corrective action.
Atlantic: Why RFK Jr.’s Anti-Vaccine Campaign Is Working
The Trump administration’s COVID-revenge campaign has laid the groundwork for Kennedy’s larger agenda.
by Katherin J. Wu
bit.ly/4mfxk3S
The Trump administration’s COVID-revenge campaign has laid the groundwork for Kennedy’s larger agenda.
by Katherin J. Wu
bit.ly/4mfxk3S
Why RFK Jr.’s Anti-Vaccine Campaign Is Working
The Trump administration’s COVID-revenge campaign has laid the groundwork for Kennedy’s larger agenda.
bit.ly
August 13, 2025 at 7:59 PM
Not to belabor a "I told you so", but it's been clear for years that the whole "lab leak" discourse has absolutely nothing to do with a potential lab leak and everything to do with a broader anti-science agenda.
I really, and truly, hope more scientists will realize this and take corrective action.
I really, and truly, hope more scientists will realize this and take corrective action.
Reposted by Andrew Rambaut
Dang I never thought it would be so extensive killedbygoogle.com
Killed by Google
Killed by Google is the open source list of dead Google products, services, and devices. It serves as a tribute and memorial of beloved services and products killed by Google.
killedbygoogle.com
August 13, 2025 at 1:36 PM
Dang I never thought it would be so extensive killedbygoogle.com
Reposted by Andrew Rambaut
Our Faraday Discovery Fellowships are now open for applications. These prestigious long-term awards are designed to support mid-career research leaders to undertake high-quality, original research. Find out more now:
#RSGrants royalsociety.org/grants/farad...
#RSGrants royalsociety.org/grants/farad...
August 10, 2025 at 11:05 AM
Our Faraday Discovery Fellowships are now open for applications. These prestigious long-term awards are designed to support mid-career research leaders to undertake high-quality, original research. Find out more now:
#RSGrants royalsociety.org/grants/farad...
#RSGrants royalsociety.org/grants/farad...
Reposted by Andrew Rambaut
Good choice!
Just announced - @smhopkins.bsky.social will be the new chief executive of the UK Health Security Agency @ukhsa.bsky.social. Starting in September.
August 7, 2025 at 5:11 PM
Good choice!
Reposted by Andrew Rambaut
"On the one hand, we have a hypothesis underpinned by evidence, although imperfect, and on the other hand we have a hypothesis without evidence, although it might exist."
Our latest editorial in advance of our August issue
www.thelancet.com/journals/lan...
#IDSky #ClinMicro #ViroSky #SARS-CoV-2
Our latest editorial in advance of our August issue
www.thelancet.com/journals/lan...
#IDSky #ClinMicro #ViroSky #SARS-CoV-2
July 29, 2025 at 11:35 AM
"On the one hand, we have a hypothesis underpinned by evidence, although imperfect, and on the other hand we have a hypothesis without evidence, although it might exist."
Our latest editorial in advance of our August issue
www.thelancet.com/journals/lan...
#IDSky #ClinMicro #ViroSky #SARS-CoV-2
Our latest editorial in advance of our August issue
www.thelancet.com/journals/lan...
#IDSky #ClinMicro #ViroSky #SARS-CoV-2
Reposted by Andrew Rambaut
You’ve been badly misled over COVID origins theconversation.com/how-conspira...
How conspiracy theories about COVID’s origins are hampering our ability to prevent the next pandemic
The COVID pandemic likely began when the virus jumped from animals to humans, and didn’t start in a lab. But false narratives continue to circulate.
theconversation.com
July 29, 2025 at 8:53 PM
You’ve been badly misled over COVID origins theconversation.com/how-conspira...