Daniela Barillà
@danielabarilla.bsky.social
Microbial geneticist interested in large and small DNA 🧬 rings in bacteria and archaea.
Living in Brontë country and based at the University of Old York.
https://barillalabyork.weebly.com/
Living in Brontë country and based at the University of Old York.
https://barillalabyork.weebly.com/
Pinned
And the story is published now!🍾
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
Open access link: rdcu.be/exnOc
Many years in the making, great collaboration with @archaellum.bsky.social & @tunglejic.bsky.social
Thanks @ukri.org BBSRC & @leverhulme.ac.uk for funding, reviewers & editor!! 🙏
#microsky #archaeasky
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
Open access link: rdcu.be/exnOc
Many years in the making, great collaboration with @archaellum.bsky.social & @tunglejic.bsky.social
Thanks @ukri.org BBSRC & @leverhulme.ac.uk for funding, reviewers & editor!! 🙏
#microsky #archaeasky
Reposted by Daniela Barillà
Two more weeks to apply - come join us () in The Netherlands as a postdoctoral researcher on large-scale metagenomic exploration of new lineages!
I have a postdoc position in metagenomic exploration available in my group. Candidates with documented experience in phylo & metagenomics and preferably with petabase-scale data mining and GLM workflows are encouraged to apply. Come join us! 🧬🦠💻
Please repost
Apply here: www.wur.nl/en/vacancy/p...
Please repost
Apply here: www.wur.nl/en/vacancy/p...
February 12, 2026 at 7:46 AM
Two more weeks to apply - come join us () in The Netherlands as a postdoctoral researcher on large-scale metagenomic exploration of new lineages!
Reposted by Daniela Barillà
UK Solar Physics early career researchers rightly deeply concerned at the savage cuts to #STFC science (and I'd add apparent contempt for their plight by #UKRI). They have an open letter... uksolphys.org/general-news...
Early Career Researchers Response to UKRI Investment Approach
Dear PhD students, PDRAs and early career researchers, You may be aware of a recent UKRI funding restructure announcement (there is a discussion here: . In STFC-funded science, particle physics, …
uksolphys.org
February 9, 2026 at 7:00 PM
UK Solar Physics early career researchers rightly deeply concerned at the savage cuts to #STFC science (and I'd add apparent contempt for their plight by #UKRI). They have an open letter... uksolphys.org/general-news...
Reposted by Daniela Barillà
"How can we keep writing when we don’t have the spark (which, truthfully, is most of the time)?"
This @timeshighered.bsky.social article discusses skill power for academic writers - to make progress even when inspiration is missing.
#academicsky
www.timeshighereducation.com/campus/how-w...
This @timeshighered.bsky.social article discusses skill power for academic writers - to make progress even when inspiration is missing.
#academicsky
www.timeshighereducation.com/campus/how-w...
How to write even when the words won’t come
Books, articles and grant proposals do not arrive in a single stroke. They are created, like sculptures, through a thousand small movements. Here, Catherine De Vries explains how to develop ‘skill pow...
www.timeshighereducation.com
February 11, 2026 at 6:58 PM
"How can we keep writing when we don’t have the spark (which, truthfully, is most of the time)?"
This @timeshighered.bsky.social article discusses skill power for academic writers - to make progress even when inspiration is missing.
#academicsky
www.timeshighereducation.com/campus/how-w...
This @timeshighered.bsky.social article discusses skill power for academic writers - to make progress even when inspiration is missing.
#academicsky
www.timeshighereducation.com/campus/how-w...
Reposted by Daniela Barillà
February 11, 2026 at 6:26 PM
1610 Marie Curie postdoctoral fellowship awarded out of 17066 applications.
Over 50,000 reviewers… Can you fathom the amount of work involved? And sadly the level of waste?
Over 50,000 reviewers… Can you fathom the amount of work involved? And sadly the level of waste?
Let's look at some numbers
2022: 7 044 applications submitted. 17.9 % success rate
2023: 8 039 applications submitted. 15.8 % success rate
2024: 10 360 applications submitted. 16.6 % success rate
2025: 17 058 applications submitted (record high). 9.7% success rate (preliminary numbers).
2022: 7 044 applications submitted. 17.9 % success rate
2023: 8 039 applications submitted. 15.8 % success rate
2024: 10 360 applications submitted. 16.6 % success rate
2025: 17 058 applications submitted (record high). 9.7% success rate (preliminary numbers).
February 11, 2026 at 9:55 PM
1610 Marie Curie postdoctoral fellowship awarded out of 17066 applications.
Over 50,000 reviewers… Can you fathom the amount of work involved? And sadly the level of waste?
Over 50,000 reviewers… Can you fathom the amount of work involved? And sadly the level of waste?
Reposted by Daniela Barillà
Featured Article: Chemical inhibition of a bacterial immune system
Small molecules inhibit type II Thoeris anti-phage systems from diverse bacteria. IP6C improves phage-therapy against P. aeruginosa & acts against Thoeris in polymicrobial communities
www.cell.com/cell-host-mi...
Small molecules inhibit type II Thoeris anti-phage systems from diverse bacteria. IP6C improves phage-therapy against P. aeruginosa & acts against Thoeris in polymicrobial communities
www.cell.com/cell-host-mi...
Chemical inhibition of a bacterial immune system
Bacteriophages are promising alternatives to antibiotics for treating bacterial infections.
However, bacteria possess immune systems that neutralize bacteriophages. Zang et al.
discover small molecule...
www.cell.com
February 11, 2026 at 7:24 PM
Featured Article: Chemical inhibition of a bacterial immune system
Small molecules inhibit type II Thoeris anti-phage systems from diverse bacteria. IP6C improves phage-therapy against P. aeruginosa & acts against Thoeris in polymicrobial communities
www.cell.com/cell-host-mi...
Small molecules inhibit type II Thoeris anti-phage systems from diverse bacteria. IP6C improves phage-therapy against P. aeruginosa & acts against Thoeris in polymicrobial communities
www.cell.com/cell-host-mi...
Reposted by Daniela Barillà
Contractile Injection Systems - Hot Springs - cryoET: Read the final version of our paper here:
academic.oup.com/ismej/advanc...
#microsky #teamtomo
academic.oup.com/ismej/advanc...
#microsky #teamtomo
Thermophilic bacteria employ a contractile injection system in hot spring microbial mats
Abstract. Bacterial contractile injection systems (CISs) are multiprotein complexes that facilitate the bacterial response to environmental factors or inte
academic.oup.com
February 11, 2026 at 2:43 PM
Contractile Injection Systems - Hot Springs - cryoET: Read the final version of our paper here:
academic.oup.com/ismej/advanc...
#microsky #teamtomo
academic.oup.com/ismej/advanc...
#microsky #teamtomo
Reposted by Daniela Barillà
@carolinamicro.bsky.social Huang & @lbobay.bsky.social investigated genomic rearrangements across 121 microbial species, showing that rearrangements occur at a variable pace across bacteria and archaea, pointing to different selective constraints.
🔗 doi.org/10.1093/gbe/evag002
#genome #evolution
🔗 doi.org/10.1093/gbe/evag002
#genome #evolution
Prevalence and Evolutionary Implications of Genome Rearrangements in Bacteria
Abstract. The genetic material of bacteria and archaea is organized into various structures and setups, attesting that genome architecture is dynamic in th
doi.org
February 11, 2026 at 3:57 PM
@carolinamicro.bsky.social Huang & @lbobay.bsky.social investigated genomic rearrangements across 121 microbial species, showing that rearrangements occur at a variable pace across bacteria and archaea, pointing to different selective constraints.
🔗 doi.org/10.1093/gbe/evag002
#genome #evolution
🔗 doi.org/10.1093/gbe/evag002
#genome #evolution
Reposted by Daniela Barillà
NEW on RPN:
Hits to research grant funding at UKRI are already causing junior researchers to leave the country, according to some academics, amid fears that those at the start of their careers are set to be “disproportionately” impacted. #ECRchat
www.researchprofessionalnews.com/rr-news-uk-r...
Hits to research grant funding at UKRI are already causing junior researchers to leave the country, according to some academics, amid fears that those at the start of their careers are set to be “disproportionately” impacted. #ECRchat
www.researchprofessionalnews.com/rr-news-uk-r...
UKRI funding changes ‘pushing junior researchers abroad’ - Research Professional News
Disruptions to core funding streams raise fears for a “generation” of early career researchers
www.researchprofessionalnews.com
February 11, 2026 at 8:14 AM
NEW on RPN:
Hits to research grant funding at UKRI are already causing junior researchers to leave the country, according to some academics, amid fears that those at the start of their careers are set to be “disproportionately” impacted. #ECRchat
www.researchprofessionalnews.com/rr-news-uk-r...
Hits to research grant funding at UKRI are already causing junior researchers to leave the country, according to some academics, amid fears that those at the start of their careers are set to be “disproportionately” impacted. #ECRchat
www.researchprofessionalnews.com/rr-news-uk-r...
Postdoc position on Asgard archaea in Thiago’s new lab for someone well trained in biochemistry, cloning, and protein purification:
international.au.dk/about/profil...
international.au.dk/about/profil...
Postdoc in Archaea Microbiology - Vacancy at Aarhus University
Vacancy at Department of Biology - Microbiology, Aarhus University
international.au.dk
February 10, 2026 at 9:40 PM
Reposted by Daniela Barillà
@stianwestlake.bsky.social would be good to understand how ESRC are thinking about incorporating missing groups when using distributed peer review. Obvious ones are International reviewers (a small % I know) and most end-users who are ineligible to apply. Plus underrepresented groups like ECRs.
February 9, 2026 at 9:02 PM
@stianwestlake.bsky.social would be good to understand how ESRC are thinking about incorporating missing groups when using distributed peer review. Obvious ones are International reviewers (a small % I know) and most end-users who are ineligible to apply. Plus underrepresented groups like ECRs.
Reposted by Daniela Barillà
Distributed peer review being trialled again. Look out for bias: exclusion of groups that don't typically apply.
Considered in the Review of Peer Review (one of the last activities I did at UKRI). Named 'peer allocation', find more about the evidence behind it here:
www.ukri.org/publications...
Considered in the Review of Peer Review (one of the last activities I did at UKRI). Named 'peer allocation', find more about the evidence behind it here:
www.ukri.org/publications...
February 9, 2026 at 8:17 PM
Distributed peer review being trialled again. Look out for bias: exclusion of groups that don't typically apply.
Considered in the Review of Peer Review (one of the last activities I did at UKRI). Named 'peer allocation', find more about the evidence behind it here:
www.ukri.org/publications...
Considered in the Review of Peer Review (one of the last activities I did at UKRI). Named 'peer allocation', find more about the evidence behind it here:
www.ukri.org/publications...
Reposted by Daniela Barillà
Phosphorylation of the α subunit inhibits proteasome assembly and regulates cell cycle in an archaeon www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti... #jcampubs
Phosphorylation of the α subunit inhibits proteasome assembly and regulates cell cycle in an archaeon
Archaea of the order Sulfolobales possess a eukaryote-like cell division machinery and display a eukaryote-like cell cycle; however, the cell division…
www.sciencedirect.com
February 9, 2026 at 2:33 PM
Phosphorylation of the α subunit inhibits proteasome assembly and regulates cell cycle in an archaeon www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti... #jcampubs
Reposted by Daniela Barillà
@ewarman.bsky.social has followed up on her discovery of bidirectional promoters in bacteria by defining their basic rules for regulation and links to gene expression noise...
academic.oup.com/nar/article/...
academic.oup.com/nar/article/...
Bidirectional promoters in Escherichia coli: regulatory rules and implications for gene expression noise
Abstract. In prokaryotes, bidirectional promoters are pseudo-symmetrical DNA sequences that stimulate divergent transcription. Ubiquitous, and far more lik
academic.oup.com
February 6, 2026 at 3:35 PM
@ewarman.bsky.social has followed up on her discovery of bidirectional promoters in bacteria by defining their basic rules for regulation and links to gene expression noise...
academic.oup.com/nar/article/...
academic.oup.com/nar/article/...
Reposted by Daniela Barillà
My first-author manuscript is up on bioRxiv! 📄 🔬 This work uncovers a previously unrecognized protective role for gut-resident archaea in protecting the host from intestinal inflammation/disease. If you’re interested, read our preprint: www.biorxiv.org/content/10.6...
@kendallmicrolab.bsky.social
@kendallmicrolab.bsky.social
www.biorxiv.org
February 6, 2026 at 3:47 PM
My first-author manuscript is up on bioRxiv! 📄 🔬 This work uncovers a previously unrecognized protective role for gut-resident archaea in protecting the host from intestinal inflammation/disease. If you’re interested, read our preprint: www.biorxiv.org/content/10.6...
@kendallmicrolab.bsky.social
@kendallmicrolab.bsky.social
Reposted by Daniela Barillà
#microsky #phagesky
Structures of PhiC31’s integrase with/without its RDF 👏
Surely @factor50.bsky.social knows about/will like it ;-)
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
Structures of PhiC31’s integrase with/without its RDF 👏
Surely @factor50.bsky.social knows about/will like it ;-)
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
www.biorxiv.org
February 7, 2026 at 11:12 AM
#microsky #phagesky
Structures of PhiC31’s integrase with/without its RDF 👏
Surely @factor50.bsky.social knows about/will like it ;-)
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
Structures of PhiC31’s integrase with/without its RDF 👏
Surely @factor50.bsky.social knows about/will like it ;-)
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
Reposted by Daniela Barillà
Reposted by Daniela Barillà
Thanks to @iansample.bsky.social at the Guardian for covering the devastating funding cuts that are being proposed for UK (astro)physics, and the dire impact these would have on young researchers. Will UKRI/STFC reconsider? Will the UKGov step in?🤞👩🔬🧪⚛️🔭
www.theguardian.com/science/2026...
www.theguardian.com/science/2026...
February 7, 2026 at 8:08 AM
Thanks to @iansample.bsky.social at the Guardian for covering the devastating funding cuts that are being proposed for UK (astro)physics, and the dire impact these would have on young researchers. Will UKRI/STFC reconsider? Will the UKGov step in?🤞👩🔬🧪⚛️🔭
www.theguardian.com/science/2026...
www.theguardian.com/science/2026...
Reposted by Daniela Barillà
The immune systems paradox
Some widespread prokaryotic immune systems are absent in eukaryotes, whereas relatively rare ones became central to eukaryotic innate immunity
@audeber.bsky.social & E. Koonin hypothesize the answer is #HGT
shareable link: rdcu.be/e2EmD
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
Some widespread prokaryotic immune systems are absent in eukaryotes, whereas relatively rare ones became central to eukaryotic innate immunity
@audeber.bsky.social & E. Koonin hypothesize the answer is #HGT
shareable link: rdcu.be/e2EmD
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
The paradox of immune systems conservation between prokaryotes and eukaryotes - Nature Reviews Microbiology
The widespread prokaryotic immune systems, in particular restriction–modification, CRISPR–Cas and defensive toxin–antitoxin systems, are absent in eukaryotes, whereas relatively rare ones, such as Arg...
www.nature.com
February 6, 2026 at 10:22 AM
The immune systems paradox
Some widespread prokaryotic immune systems are absent in eukaryotes, whereas relatively rare ones became central to eukaryotic innate immunity
@audeber.bsky.social & E. Koonin hypothesize the answer is #HGT
shareable link: rdcu.be/e2EmD
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
Some widespread prokaryotic immune systems are absent in eukaryotes, whereas relatively rare ones became central to eukaryotic innate immunity
@audeber.bsky.social & E. Koonin hypothesize the answer is #HGT
shareable link: rdcu.be/e2EmD
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
Reposted by Daniela Barillà
In our most recent work David Forrest has discovered a widespread mechanisms linking transcription initiation to DNA supercoiling...
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
The bacterial RNA polymerase-associated CarD protein couples promoter activity to DNA supercoiling - Nature Communications
The transcription factor CarD facilitates the activation of transcription in many bacteria and in Rhodobacter sphaeroides, CarD compensates for suboptimal promoter DNA sequences. Here, the authors sho...
www.nature.com
February 6, 2026 at 3:36 PM
In our most recent work David Forrest has discovered a widespread mechanisms linking transcription initiation to DNA supercoiling...
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
Reposted by Daniela Barillà
Link to article (unfortunately only accessible for those whose institutes are subscribers): www.researchprofessionalnews.com/rr-news-uk-r...
Medical Research Council ‘will fund fewer applicant-led grants’ - Research Professional News
Confirmation from council leaders comes as the MRC restructures investments, with calls on hold until summer
www.researchprofessionalnews.com
February 6, 2026 at 1:21 PM
Link to article (unfortunately only accessible for those whose institutes are subscribers): www.researchprofessionalnews.com/rr-news-uk-r...
Reposted by Daniela Barillà
Quite a striking contrast with the situation emerging in the UK! Fundamental science at the Medical Research Council being suggested to be cut from £200 million to £113 million per year based on a @resprofnews.bsky.social article from yesterday.
Even when the focus is on research with immediate industrial applications, many policymakers recognise that breakthroughs start with fundamental science. That's why Mario Draghi recommended doubling the ERC’s budget.
ERC President spoke at @sciencebusiness.net Annual Conference earlier this week.
ERC President spoke at @sciencebusiness.net Annual Conference earlier this week.
February 6, 2026 at 1:21 PM
Quite a striking contrast with the situation emerging in the UK! Fundamental science at the Medical Research Council being suggested to be cut from £200 million to £113 million per year based on a @resprofnews.bsky.social article from yesterday.
Reposted by Daniela Barillà
Our new preprint on SMCHD1! We’ve shown SMCHD1’s ATPase activity is critical for function in vivo, and excitingly a new DNA binding domain neighbouring the ATPase domain activates the enzymatic function, which is important for normal chromatin binding.
urldefense.com/v3/__https:/...
urldefense.com/v3/__https:/...
February 6, 2026 at 7:57 AM
Our new preprint on SMCHD1! We’ve shown SMCHD1’s ATPase activity is critical for function in vivo, and excitingly a new DNA binding domain neighbouring the ATPase domain activates the enzymatic function, which is important for normal chromatin binding.
urldefense.com/v3/__https:/...
urldefense.com/v3/__https:/...
Reposted by Daniela Barillà
Phosphorylation of the α subunit inhibits proteasome assembly and regulates cell cycle in an archaeon: Current Biology https://www.cell.com/current-biology/fulltext/S0960-9822(26)00060-6?rss=yes
Phosphorylation of the α subunit inhibits proteasome assembly and regulates cell cycle in an archaeon
Wu et al. reveal a mechanism regulating cell division via post-translational modification in Sulfolobales archaea. Phosphorylation of the proteasome α subunit by a cyclically expressed eukaryote-like protein kinase, ePK2, inhibits 20S proteasome assembly and the degradation of cell division proteins.
www.cell.com
February 5, 2026 at 10:37 PM
Phosphorylation of the α subunit inhibits proteasome assembly and regulates cell cycle in an archaeon: Current Biology https://www.cell.com/current-biology/fulltext/S0960-9822(26)00060-6?rss=yes