Dr Blanca Perez-Sepulveda
@blancaps.bsky.social
A tiny microbiologist working on big projects | iNTS | 10KSG | Phages | S. Panama | Hinton Lab | Chile | She/Her/Ella 🏳️🌈 views my own
Reposted by Dr Blanca Perez-Sepulveda
Proud to be part of this incredible multidisciplinary team uncovering why some people are NOT infected by Salmonella. This new Wellcome Trust @wellcometrust.bsky.social funding will allow us to uncover why some people naturally resist infection and colonisation by Salmonella Typhimurium.
NEWS | Professor @jayhinton.bsky.social and an international team have been awarded £4.56M Wellcome Discovery Award to investigate natural human resistance to Salmonella
🔗 bit.ly/4hujsRG
@livuninews.bsky.social | #TeamLivUni
🔗 bit.ly/4hujsRG
@livuninews.bsky.social | #TeamLivUni
October 30, 2025 at 3:50 PM
Proud to be part of this incredible multidisciplinary team uncovering why some people are NOT infected by Salmonella. This new Wellcome Trust @wellcometrust.bsky.social funding will allow us to uncover why some people naturally resist infection and colonisation by Salmonella Typhimurium.
A true honour to be working alongside very talented colleagues!!
I am delighted to be a co-investigator on this newly funded Wellcome Discovery Award. Excited to begin work with the team (including those not on Bluesky!)
@jayhinton.bsky.social @roygoodacre.bsky.social @lisamaierlab.bsky.social @blancaps.bsky.social
@jayhinton.bsky.social @roygoodacre.bsky.social @lisamaierlab.bsky.social @blancaps.bsky.social
NEWS | Professor @jayhinton.bsky.social and an international team have been awarded £4.56M Wellcome Discovery Award to investigate natural human resistance to Salmonella
🔗 bit.ly/4hujsRG
@livuninews.bsky.social | #TeamLivUni
🔗 bit.ly/4hujsRG
@livuninews.bsky.social | #TeamLivUni
October 28, 2025 at 7:59 AM
A true honour to be working alongside very talented colleagues!!
Reposted by Dr Blanca Perez-Sepulveda
This was great team science and many thanks are also due to @danielleingle.bsky.social @ellarodwell.bsky.social @charlotteechong.bsky.social @malakades.bsky.social, @jayhinton.bsky.social and @neilhall.bsky.social of Salmonella10k, @mariechattaway.bsky.social Ben Howden, Deb Williamson and more!
July 27, 2025 at 8:45 AM
This was great team science and many thanks are also due to @danielleingle.bsky.social @ellarodwell.bsky.social @charlotteechong.bsky.social @malakades.bsky.social, @jayhinton.bsky.social and @neilhall.bsky.social of Salmonella10k, @mariechattaway.bsky.social Ben Howden, Deb Williamson and more!
Reposted by Dr Blanca Perez-Sepulveda
Massive thanks to the phenomenal co-first authors @1caiseypulford and @blancaps.bsky.social and especially to one of my favourite scientists to work with, co-corresponding author and fellow history fanatic @weill_xavier 10/n
July 27, 2025 at 8:40 AM
Massive thanks to the phenomenal co-first authors @1caiseypulford and @blancaps.bsky.social and especially to one of my favourite scientists to work with, co-corresponding author and fellow history fanatic @weill_xavier 10/n
Reposted by Dr Blanca Perez-Sepulveda
So, welcome to your new genomic understanding of S. Panama and please go ahead and check out the data yourselves on the associated @microreact.bsky.social page! microreact.org/project/span... 9/n
July 27, 2025 at 8:39 AM
So, welcome to your new genomic understanding of S. Panama and please go ahead and check out the data yourselves on the associated @microreact.bsky.social page! microreact.org/project/span... 9/n
Reposted by Dr Blanca Perez-Sepulveda
As a final analysis we compared the predicted invasiveness of S. Panama with other broad and narrow host range serovars and found it was comparable to other major causes of iNTS (thanks to @nwheeler443.bsky.social for the ML classifier to do so) 8/n
July 27, 2025 at 8:38 AM
As a final analysis we compared the predicted invasiveness of S. Panama with other broad and narrow host range serovars and found it was comparable to other major causes of iNTS (thanks to @nwheeler443.bsky.social for the ML classifier to do so) 8/n
Reposted by Dr Blanca Perez-Sepulveda
Temporal analysis revealed that the four major clades all emerged in the late 1800s, coincident with European efforts to build the Panama canal (‘Panama Fever’ by @matthewparker70.bsky.social is recommended reading for those with an interest in the history here) 7/n
July 27, 2025 at 8:38 AM
Temporal analysis revealed that the four major clades all emerged in the late 1800s, coincident with European efforts to build the Panama canal (‘Panama Fever’ by @matthewparker70.bsky.social is recommended reading for those with an interest in the history here) 7/n
Reposted by Dr Blanca Perez-Sepulveda
We also found multidrug resistance cassettes; fluoroquinolone resistance (bumping S. Panama onto the WHO AMR priority pathogens list); and a single extensively drug-resistant isolate 6/n
July 27, 2025 at 8:38 AM
We also found multidrug resistance cassettes; fluoroquinolone resistance (bumping S. Panama onto the WHO AMR priority pathogens list); and a single extensively drug-resistant isolate 6/n
Reposted by Dr Blanca Perez-Sepulveda
Although antimicrobial resistance (AMR) levels were low overall (14% of isolates), resistant isolates were predominately found in Clade 2 (European-associated) and Clade 4 (associated with Oceania and Asia) 5/n
July 27, 2025 at 8:37 AM
Although antimicrobial resistance (AMR) levels were low overall (14% of isolates), resistant isolates were predominately found in Clade 2 (European-associated) and Clade 4 (associated with Oceania and Asia) 5/n
Reposted by Dr Blanca Perez-Sepulveda
Population structure analyses revealed the presence of four major Clades that had significant geographic associations 4/n
July 27, 2025 at 8:37 AM
Population structure analyses revealed the presence of four major Clades that had significant geographic associations 4/n
Reposted by Dr Blanca Perez-Sepulveda
To better characterise S. Panama we sequenced a global collection of isolates (n=731) from public health surveillance datasets from @ukhsa.bsky.social @thedohertyinst.bsky.social, historical collections from @pasteur.fr and publicly available data (n=105) from 1931 to 2019 3/n
July 27, 2025 at 8:37 AM
To better characterise S. Panama we sequenced a global collection of isolates (n=731) from public health surveillance datasets from @ukhsa.bsky.social @thedohertyinst.bsky.social, historical collections from @pasteur.fr and publicly available data (n=105) from 1931 to 2019 3/n
Reposted by Dr Blanca Perez-Sepulveda
S. Panama causes major disease concerns, including high rates of iNTS in French Guiana, large outbreaks in European pork, AMR in Asia, and outbreaks in American soldiers from where the first (extant) isolate from 1931 came from (More in our 2019 review: 10.1128/IAI.00273-19) 2/n
July 27, 2025 at 8:36 AM
S. Panama causes major disease concerns, including high rates of iNTS in French Guiana, large outbreaks in European pork, AMR in Asia, and outbreaks in American soldiers from where the first (extant) isolate from 1931 came from (More in our 2019 review: 10.1128/IAI.00273-19) 2/n
There are half a million cases of invasive non-Typhoidal Salmonella (iNTS) every year and while you might know S. Typhimurim and Enteritidis, you may not have heard of S. Panama 💩 🩸 🧫 💊 Check out our latest in @lancetmicrobe.bsky.social doi.org/10.1016/j.la... and the 🧵 below to find out more 1/n
August 1, 2025 at 6:29 PM
Great work led by the talented @edcoakes.bsky.social!!
NEWS | A study has advanced how we diagnose the causes of diarrhoeal illness.
Researchers used cutting-edge techniques to examine DNA & RNA directly from samples—no need to grow bugs in a lab! This reveals emerging pathogens that traditional tests can miss ⬇️
news.liverpool.ac.uk/2025/05/20/a...
Researchers used cutting-edge techniques to examine DNA & RNA directly from samples—no need to grow bugs in a lab! This reveals emerging pathogens that traditional tests can miss ⬇️
news.liverpool.ac.uk/2025/05/20/a...
May 20, 2025 at 9:56 AM
Great work led by the talented @edcoakes.bsky.social!!
Our paper is out!! Take a look at this comprehensive 🧵 by @edcoakes.bsky.social, one of the most talented and persistent scientists I work with
1/12 🎉 We're excited to announce our Genome Medicine paper benchmarking 1000+ metagenomes (DNA) and metatranscriptomes (RNA) from infectious intestinal disease patients against pathogen diagnostics. The full dataset is public to accelerate pathogen discovery & surveillance: doi.org/10.1186/s130...
May 20, 2025 at 9:54 AM
Our paper is out!! Take a look at this comprehensive 🧵 by @edcoakes.bsky.social, one of the most talented and persistent scientists I work with
Reposted by Dr Blanca Perez-Sepulveda
12/12 📰 For more background and wider context, check out the @liverpooluni.bsky.social press release covering this study’s impact on understanding and diagnosing infectious intestinal diseases: news.liverpool.ac.uk/2025/05/20/a...
Advanced genomics study improves detection of hard-to-find diarrhoeal infections - University of Liverpool News
Advanced genomics study improves detection of hard-to-find diarrhoeal infections
news.liverpool.ac.uk
May 20, 2025 at 9:42 AM
12/12 📰 For more background and wider context, check out the @liverpooluni.bsky.social press release covering this study’s impact on understanding and diagnosing infectious intestinal diseases: news.liverpool.ac.uk/2025/05/20/a...
Reposted by Dr Blanca Perez-Sepulveda
11/12 🙏 A big thank you to all my amazing collaborators who made this work possible @blancaps.bsky.social @jayhinton.bsky.social @acdarby.bsky.social (PI) and many of the INTEGRATE consortium not on BlueSky.
Thank you to @nihr.bsky.social for funding via the second HPRU-GI @livuni-ives.bsky.social.
Thank you to @nihr.bsky.social for funding via the second HPRU-GI @livuni-ives.bsky.social.
May 20, 2025 at 9:41 AM
11/12 🙏 A big thank you to all my amazing collaborators who made this work possible @blancaps.bsky.social @jayhinton.bsky.social @acdarby.bsky.social (PI) and many of the INTEGRATE consortium not on BlueSky.
Thank you to @nihr.bsky.social for funding via the second HPRU-GI @livuni-ives.bsky.social.
Thank you to @nihr.bsky.social for funding via the second HPRU-GI @livuni-ives.bsky.social.
Reposted by Dr Blanca Perez-Sepulveda
9/12 📊 RNA/DNA ratios differed significantly between positive and negative cases, helping distinguish true infection from bystander carriage and providing a molecular readout of microbial activity.
May 20, 2025 at 9:37 AM
9/12 📊 RNA/DNA ratios differed significantly between positive and negative cases, helping distinguish true infection from bystander carriage and providing a molecular readout of microbial activity.
Reposted by Dr Blanca Perez-Sepulveda
8/12 📦 Critically, RNA in stool remained stable enough for pathogen detection without preservatives (and after self-sample and surviving the mail service!), providing evidence for the routine potential of metatranscriptomics in clinical settings (with some work!)
May 20, 2025 at 9:36 AM
8/12 📦 Critically, RNA in stool remained stable enough for pathogen detection without preservatives (and after self-sample and surviving the mail service!), providing evidence for the routine potential of metatranscriptomics in clinical settings (with some work!)
Reposted by Dr Blanca Perez-Sepulveda
7/12 🧫 For the first time, we captured a comprehensive snapshot of Salmonella gene expression from a human stool sample. These data reveal how bacteria survive and adapt after leaving the gut. Explore via Hinton Lab’s interactive browser: jb.hintonlab.com/index.html?d...
May 20, 2025 at 9:35 AM
7/12 🧫 For the first time, we captured a comprehensive snapshot of Salmonella gene expression from a human stool sample. These data reveal how bacteria survive and adapt after leaving the gut. Explore via Hinton Lab’s interactive browser: jb.hintonlab.com/index.html?d...
Reposted by Dr Blanca Perez-Sepulveda
6/12 🦠➡️🧬 Metatranscriptomics also detected Cryptosporidium via its RNA virus, CSpV1, previously reported in diarrhoeic animals (doi.org/10.1186/s135...). Cryptosporidium was undetectable in metagenomic data, suggesting RNA sequencing can sensitively detect it when DNA methods fall short.
May 20, 2025 at 9:34 AM
6/12 🦠➡️🧬 Metatranscriptomics also detected Cryptosporidium via its RNA virus, CSpV1, previously reported in diarrhoeic animals (doi.org/10.1186/s135...). Cryptosporidium was undetectable in metagenomic data, suggesting RNA sequencing can sensitively detect it when DNA methods fall short.
Reposted by Dr Blanca Perez-Sepulveda
5/12 🦠 Metatranscriptomics captured active Adenovirus F infections via broad transcriptome coverage (in a couple of samples, near complete!), despite it being a DNA virus, highlighting its use in profiling ongoing viral activity during diarrhoeal illness.
May 20, 2025 at 9:33 AM
5/12 🦠 Metatranscriptomics captured active Adenovirus F infections via broad transcriptome coverage (in a couple of samples, near complete!), despite it being a DNA virus, highlighting its use in profiling ongoing viral activity during diarrhoeal illness.
Reposted by Dr Blanca Perez-Sepulveda
4/12
🧪 Metatranscriptomics showed superior sensitivity, with strong correlation to conventional diagnostics for 6/15 pathogens and to Luminex for 8/14.
🧬 Metagenomics performed well for some targets but showed lower overall concordance.
🧪 Metatranscriptomics showed superior sensitivity, with strong correlation to conventional diagnostics for 6/15 pathogens and to Luminex for 8/14.
🧬 Metagenomics performed well for some targets but showed lower overall concordance.
May 20, 2025 at 9:32 AM
4/12
🧪 Metatranscriptomics showed superior sensitivity, with strong correlation to conventional diagnostics for 6/15 pathogens and to Luminex for 8/14.
🧬 Metagenomics performed well for some targets but showed lower overall concordance.
🧪 Metatranscriptomics showed superior sensitivity, with strong correlation to conventional diagnostics for 6/15 pathogens and to Luminex for 8/14.
🧬 Metagenomics performed well for some targets but showed lower overall concordance.
Reposted by Dr Blanca Perez-Sepulveda
🔬 3/12 As a part of the INTEGRATE study, we sequenced stool from 1,067 patients using both metagenomics and metatranscriptomics. We identified pathogens in these data and benchmarked against routine diagnostics and Luminex xTAG GPP, a multiplex test for key bacterial, viral, and parasitic pathogens.
May 20, 2025 at 9:21 AM
🔬 3/12 As a part of the INTEGRATE study, we sequenced stool from 1,067 patients using both metagenomics and metatranscriptomics. We identified pathogens in these data and benchmarked against routine diagnostics and Luminex xTAG GPP, a multiplex test for key bacterial, viral, and parasitic pathogens.
Reposted by Dr Blanca Perez-Sepulveda
2/12 💩 Diarrhoea affects ~18 million annually in the UK, yet traditional diagnostics often miss causes, especially hard-to-culture or emerging pathogens. Our work shows how next-generation sequencing can transform the detection and understanding of GI infections.
May 20, 2025 at 9:20 AM
2/12 💩 Diarrhoea affects ~18 million annually in the UK, yet traditional diagnostics often miss causes, especially hard-to-culture or emerging pathogens. Our work shows how next-generation sequencing can transform the detection and understanding of GI infections.