Franziska Günl
@franziskaguenl.bsky.social
Molecular Virologist @ Fodor Lab Oxford | Negative strand RNA viruses |
Treat people with kindness! || (she/her)
Treat people with kindness! || (she/her)
Reposted by Franziska Günl
From mosquitoes carrying dengue and chikungunya in Indian Ocean islands to West Nile virus now endemic in parts of Europe, climate change is redrawing the global map of infectious disease. Mail & Guardian coverage our COP30 Report - mg.co.za/the-green-gu...
Climate change is spreading dengue, chikungunya and West Nile virus worldwide
A new COP30 report finds that rising temperatures, extreme weather, evolving pathogens and climate-driven migration are reshaping disease patterns
mg.co.za
November 12, 2025 at 6:13 AM
From mosquitoes carrying dengue and chikungunya in Indian Ocean islands to West Nile virus now endemic in parts of Europe, climate change is redrawing the global map of infectious disease. Mail & Guardian coverage our COP30 Report - mg.co.za/the-green-gu...
Reposted by Franziska Günl
Our new preprint is out 🥳🥳🥳
Henipaviruses, like Nipah and Hendra, package their genomes inside helical shells built by thousands of nucleoproteins. These nucleocapsids are essential to protect the viral RNA, but how do they ever let the polymerase in to read the sequence?
👇
Henipaviruses, like Nipah and Hendra, package their genomes inside helical shells built by thousands of nucleoproteins. These nucleocapsids are essential to protect the viral RNA, but how do they ever let the polymerase in to read the sequence?
👇
November 3, 2025 at 12:26 PM
Our new preprint is out 🥳🥳🥳
Henipaviruses, like Nipah and Hendra, package their genomes inside helical shells built by thousands of nucleoproteins. These nucleocapsids are essential to protect the viral RNA, but how do they ever let the polymerase in to read the sequence?
👇
Henipaviruses, like Nipah and Hendra, package their genomes inside helical shells built by thousands of nucleoproteins. These nucleocapsids are essential to protect the viral RNA, but how do they ever let the polymerase in to read the sequence?
👇
Reposted by Franziska Günl
I'd love to say lots of nice things about this invaluable preventable disease tracker from @monscience.bsky.social and team at Think Global Health. It's an incredible resource.
But I can't get over my anger & sadness that this resource is even needed.
www.thinkglobalhealth.org/article/vacc...
But I can't get over my anger & sadness that this resource is even needed.
www.thinkglobalhealth.org/article/vacc...
Vaccine-Preventable Disease: A Global Tracker | Think Global Health
This map is updated weekly and visualizes outbreaks of nine childhood diseases in collaboration with the International Society for Infectious Diseases
www.thinkglobalhealth.org
October 29, 2025 at 12:35 PM
I'd love to say lots of nice things about this invaluable preventable disease tracker from @monscience.bsky.social and team at Think Global Health. It's an incredible resource.
But I can't get over my anger & sadness that this resource is even needed.
www.thinkglobalhealth.org/article/vacc...
But I can't get over my anger & sadness that this resource is even needed.
www.thinkglobalhealth.org/article/vacc...
Reposted by Franziska Günl
warwick.ac.uk/fac/cross_fa...
I am advertising for a PhD position in my group. We'll be investigating how pathogenic RNA viruses replicate in the nucleus. The project will teach cryoEM/ET, virus culture, and in vitro assays.
If you're interested reach out and I'd be happy to have a chat.
I am advertising for a PhD position in my group. We'll be investigating how pathogenic RNA viruses replicate in the nucleus. The project will teach cryoEM/ET, virus culture, and in vitro assays.
If you're interested reach out and I'd be happy to have a chat.
Dr Jeremy Keown
Dr Jeremy Keown
warwick.ac.uk
October 24, 2025 at 7:58 AM
warwick.ac.uk/fac/cross_fa...
I am advertising for a PhD position in my group. We'll be investigating how pathogenic RNA viruses replicate in the nucleus. The project will teach cryoEM/ET, virus culture, and in vitro assays.
If you're interested reach out and I'd be happy to have a chat.
I am advertising for a PhD position in my group. We'll be investigating how pathogenic RNA viruses replicate in the nucleus. The project will teach cryoEM/ET, virus culture, and in vitro assays.
If you're interested reach out and I'd be happy to have a chat.
Reposted by Franziska Günl
Mysteries of trafficking of the vRNP segmented genome and assembly of influenza A virus revealed by in situ cryo-ET!
🔗 rdcu.be/eMmct
We are very excited that our paper is finally out!
🎉 Big congratulations to Moritz Wachsmuth-Melm and to everyone involved.
🔗 rdcu.be/eMmct
We are very excited that our paper is finally out!
🎉 Big congratulations to Moritz Wachsmuth-Melm and to everyone involved.
October 24, 2025 at 8:11 AM
Mysteries of trafficking of the vRNP segmented genome and assembly of influenza A virus revealed by in situ cryo-ET!
🔗 rdcu.be/eMmct
We are very excited that our paper is finally out!
🎉 Big congratulations to Moritz Wachsmuth-Melm and to everyone involved.
🔗 rdcu.be/eMmct
We are very excited that our paper is finally out!
🎉 Big congratulations to Moritz Wachsmuth-Melm and to everyone involved.
Reposted by Franziska Günl
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
Really excited to have our work out in the world. CCHFV has a 450kDa L-Protein, about twice the size of L-Proteins from other segmented RNA viruses. We have used cryoEM and functional assays to begin to understand it this massive multifunctional protein works.
Really excited to have our work out in the world. CCHFV has a 450kDa L-Protein, about twice the size of L-Proteins from other segmented RNA viruses. We have used cryoEM and functional assays to begin to understand it this massive multifunctional protein works.
Structural and functional characterisation of the Crimean-Congo Haemorrhagic Fever Virus RNA Dependent RNA Polymerase
Crimean-Congo Haemorrhagic Fever Virus (CCHFV) is found across Africa, Asia, and the Middle East where it can cause Haemorrhagic outbreaks with high case fatality rates. Central to the viral life cycl...
www.biorxiv.org
October 22, 2025 at 12:22 PM
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
Really excited to have our work out in the world. CCHFV has a 450kDa L-Protein, about twice the size of L-Proteins from other segmented RNA viruses. We have used cryoEM and functional assays to begin to understand it this massive multifunctional protein works.
Really excited to have our work out in the world. CCHFV has a 450kDa L-Protein, about twice the size of L-Proteins from other segmented RNA viruses. We have used cryoEM and functional assays to begin to understand it this massive multifunctional protein works.
Reposted by Franziska Günl
Structural and functional characterisation of the Crimean-Congo Haemorrhagic Fever Virus RNA Dependent RNA Polymerase www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1101/2025.10.21.683639v1 #cryoem
October 22, 2025 at 7:10 AM
Structural and functional characterisation of the Crimean-Congo Haemorrhagic Fever Virus RNA Dependent RNA Polymerase www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1101/2025.10.21.683639v1 #cryoem
Reposted by Franziska Günl
Today my @nytimes.com colleagues and I are launching a new series called Lost Science. We interview US scientists who can no longer discover something new about our world, thanks to this year‘s cuts. Here is my first interview with a scientist who studied bees and fires. Gift link: nyti.ms/3IWXbiE
nyti.ms
October 8, 2025 at 11:29 PM
Today my @nytimes.com colleagues and I are launching a new series called Lost Science. We interview US scientists who can no longer discover something new about our world, thanks to this year‘s cuts. Here is my first interview with a scientist who studied bees and fires. Gift link: nyti.ms/3IWXbiE
Reposted by Franziska Günl
Jane Goodall was my first childhood hero, as I loved animals as a kid and was inspired by her story. I still remember the National Geographic specials about her. RIP.
October 1, 2025 at 8:05 PM
Jane Goodall was my first childhood hero, as I loved animals as a kid and was inspired by her story. I still remember the National Geographic specials about her. RIP.
Reposted by Franziska Günl
Reposted by Franziska Günl
Very pleased to have our new work out where we perform a structure/function study on the bornavirus polymerase complex with fantastic coauthors. Have a read www.nature.com/articles/s41... @warwicklifesci.bsky.social @loiccarrique.bsky.social @franziskaguenl.bsky.social
The structure of the mammalian bornavirus polymerase complex - Nature Communications
Borna disease virus 1 replicates and transcribes its negative sense RNA genome in the nucleus of infected cells. Here, the authors present the cryoEM structures of the large polymerase protein in comp...
www.nature.com
August 13, 2025 at 12:13 PM
Very pleased to have our new work out where we perform a structure/function study on the bornavirus polymerase complex with fantastic coauthors. Have a read www.nature.com/articles/s41... @warwicklifesci.bsky.social @loiccarrique.bsky.social @franziskaguenl.bsky.social
How can we handle lab waste more sustainably? Saroj Saurya (@dunngogreen.bsky.social) and colleagues just published this interesting new piece! Have a read! 🌿
academic.oup.com/genetics/adv...
academic.oup.com/genetics/adv...
Toward more sustainable research: reducing the environmental impact when working with Drosophila
Abstract. The ever-increasing amounts of plastic waste and greenhouse gas emissions worldwide threaten our environment. Biomedical laboratories across the
academic.oup.com
July 31, 2025 at 8:35 AM
How can we handle lab waste more sustainably? Saroj Saurya (@dunngogreen.bsky.social) and colleagues just published this interesting new piece! Have a read! 🌿
academic.oup.com/genetics/adv...
academic.oup.com/genetics/adv...
Reposted by Franziska Günl
🆕 Study evaluates three vaccine candidates for one of the world’s most dangerous viruses, the Nipah virus.
An international team of scientists led by The Pirbright Institute achieves a breakthrough in controlling a deadly virus with pandemic potential ⬇️
#Zoonoses #Zoonotic #OneHealth
An international team of scientists led by The Pirbright Institute achieves a breakthrough in controlling a deadly virus with pandemic potential ⬇️
#Zoonoses #Zoonotic #OneHealth
New study brings vaccine hopes for deadly Nipah virus
Scientists at The Pirbright Institute have taken a major step forward in tackling one of the world’s most dangerous viruses, the
www.pirbright.ac.uk
July 23, 2025 at 10:16 AM
🆕 Study evaluates three vaccine candidates for one of the world’s most dangerous viruses, the Nipah virus.
An international team of scientists led by The Pirbright Institute achieves a breakthrough in controlling a deadly virus with pandemic potential ⬇️
#Zoonoses #Zoonotic #OneHealth
An international team of scientists led by The Pirbright Institute achieves a breakthrough in controlling a deadly virus with pandemic potential ⬇️
#Zoonoses #Zoonotic #OneHealth
Half way through the decade of action for road safety, and I can't say I feel massively safe cycling on Oxford's streets.
Maybe #worldbicycleday should be introduced here to raise awareness and direct our collective energy towards increasing the safety of non-motorized traffic?
Maybe #worldbicycleday should be introduced here to raise awareness and direct our collective energy towards increasing the safety of non-motorized traffic?
Today is #WorldBicycleDay 🚲
Did you know❓ Cycle lanes count for just 0.2% of the current road infrastructure.
It’s time to demand safer streets that put the health & safety of pedestrians and cyclists first 👉bit.ly/4jPzXsa
Did you know❓ Cycle lanes count for just 0.2% of the current road infrastructure.
It’s time to demand safer streets that put the health & safety of pedestrians and cyclists first 👉bit.ly/4jPzXsa
June 3, 2025 at 12:30 PM
Half way through the decade of action for road safety, and I can't say I feel massively safe cycling on Oxford's streets.
Maybe #worldbicycleday should be introduced here to raise awareness and direct our collective energy towards increasing the safety of non-motorized traffic?
Maybe #worldbicycleday should be introduced here to raise awareness and direct our collective energy towards increasing the safety of non-motorized traffic?
Reposted by Franziska Günl
Excited to share our new @science.org paper! Led by postdocs Ruchao Peng and Xin Xu, we used cryo-EM/ET to reveal the influenza ribonucleoprotein complex structure and its strand-sliding mechanism for RNA synthesis, paving the way for new antivirals.
www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
Molecular basis of influenza ribonucleoprotein complex assembly and processive RNA synthesis
Influenza viruses replicate and transcribe their genome in the context of a conserved ribonucleoprotein (RNP) complex. By integrating cryo–electron microscopy single-particle analysis and cryo–electro...
www.science.org
May 15, 2025 at 7:51 PM
Excited to share our new @science.org paper! Led by postdocs Ruchao Peng and Xin Xu, we used cryo-EM/ET to reveal the influenza ribonucleoprotein complex structure and its strand-sliding mechanism for RNA synthesis, paving the way for new antivirals.
www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
Reposted by Franziska Günl
ANP32 proteins from ticks and vertebrates are key host factors for replication of Bourbon virus across species journals.asm.org/doi/10.1128/...
ANP32 proteins from ticks and vertebrates are key host factors for replication of Bourbon virus across species | Journal of Virology
Viral polymerases rely on cellular cofactors to support efficient transcription of
viral genes and replication of the viral genome. The RNA-dependent RNA polymerase
of influenza virus, an orthomyxovir...
journals.asm.org
May 14, 2025 at 3:53 PM
ANP32 proteins from ticks and vertebrates are key host factors for replication of Bourbon virus across species journals.asm.org/doi/10.1128/...
Reposted by Franziska Günl
“This is what I was expecting — an executive order banning gain-of-function research but defined in such a way that it bans all virology research,” says @ggronvall.bsky.social.
Yup.
www.nature.com/articles/d41...
Yup.
www.nature.com/articles/d41...
Trump freezes ‘gain of function’ pathogen research ― threatening all US virology, critics say
An executive order suspends the use of federal funds for certain experiments on pathogens with pandemic potential. Critics say low-risk science could be affected too.
www.nature.com
May 8, 2025 at 10:20 AM
“This is what I was expecting — an executive order banning gain-of-function research but defined in such a way that it bans all virology research,” says @ggronvall.bsky.social.
Yup.
www.nature.com/articles/d41...
Yup.
www.nature.com/articles/d41...
Reposted by Franziska Günl
This is an absolute disaster. If we don't stop this, they will turn NSF into a pawn of the Trump administration. There will be no research on climate, biodiversity, or anything that isn't eugenics or AI or how to more efficiently destroy the planet for profit.
This cannot be allowed to happen.
This cannot be allowed to happen.
Exclusive: NSF faces radical shake-up as officials abolish its 37 divisions
Changes seen as a response to presidential directives on what research to fund
www.science.org
May 9, 2025 at 3:42 AM
This is an absolute disaster. If we don't stop this, they will turn NSF into a pawn of the Trump administration. There will be no research on climate, biodiversity, or anything that isn't eugenics or AI or how to more efficiently destroy the planet for profit.
This cannot be allowed to happen.
This cannot be allowed to happen.
Reposted by Franziska Günl
Exciting job opportunities!
Two postdoc positions are available in the Fodor Lab at
@dunnschool.bsky.social to study influenza virus transcription, genome replication, nuclear export and assembly.
More info: my.corehr.com/pls/uoxrecru...
Two postdoc positions are available in the Fodor Lab at
@dunnschool.bsky.social to study influenza virus transcription, genome replication, nuclear export and assembly.
More info: my.corehr.com/pls/uoxrecru...
May 7, 2025 at 8:26 AM
Exciting job opportunities!
Two postdoc positions are available in the Fodor Lab at
@dunnschool.bsky.social to study influenza virus transcription, genome replication, nuclear export and assembly.
More info: my.corehr.com/pls/uoxrecru...
Two postdoc positions are available in the Fodor Lab at
@dunnschool.bsky.social to study influenza virus transcription, genome replication, nuclear export and assembly.
More info: my.corehr.com/pls/uoxrecru...
Super important piece on how structural issues in German academia enable toxic behaviour of only few people — and how that impacts the entire research culture.
Read more: www.nature.com/articles/d41...
Support: www.netzwerk-mawi.de/en/
Read more: www.nature.com/articles/d41...
Support: www.netzwerk-mawi.de/en/
Can Germany rein in its academic bullying problem?
Researchers and administrators are exploring ways to restructure a rigid hierarchy that can breed power abuses.
www.nature.com
May 7, 2025 at 10:48 AM
Super important piece on how structural issues in German academia enable toxic behaviour of only few people — and how that impacts the entire research culture.
Read more: www.nature.com/articles/d41...
Support: www.netzwerk-mawi.de/en/
Read more: www.nature.com/articles/d41...
Support: www.netzwerk-mawi.de/en/
Reposted by Franziska Günl
This statement from the NSF is insane.
Science is, in essence, designed to separate the true from the false.
Understanding how falsehoods spread is key to the scientific endeavor. It is not a violation of free speech to be proven wrong.
Science is, in essence, designed to separate the true from the false.
Understanding how falsehoods spread is key to the scientific endeavor. It is not a violation of free speech to be proven wrong.
April 18, 2025 at 8:51 PM
This statement from the NSF is insane.
Science is, in essence, designed to separate the true from the false.
Understanding how falsehoods spread is key to the scientific endeavor. It is not a violation of free speech to be proven wrong.
Science is, in essence, designed to separate the true from the false.
Understanding how falsehoods spread is key to the scientific endeavor. It is not a violation of free speech to be proven wrong.
Reposted by Franziska Günl
If you're a scientist at the NIH or another HHS agency who was affected by today's RIF, I'd love to hear about the work you were doing and how important it was for our nation's health! I'm a staff writer at Fierce Biotech, and I can be reached through DM on BlueSky or securely on Signal at dinc.49
April 1, 2025 at 4:49 PM
If you're a scientist at the NIH or another HHS agency who was affected by today's RIF, I'd love to hear about the work you were doing and how important it was for our nation's health! I'm a staff writer at Fierce Biotech, and I can be reached through DM on BlueSky or securely on Signal at dinc.49
Reposted by Franziska Günl
A must watch documentary on the original Nipah outbreak in pigs in Malaysia youtu.be/YyNdOQ-GFCM?...
The Terrifying Spread Of The Nipah Virus (1999)
YouTube video by Journeyman Pictures
youtu.be
March 27, 2025 at 12:50 PM
A must watch documentary on the original Nipah outbreak in pigs in Malaysia youtu.be/YyNdOQ-GFCM?...
Reposted by Franziska Günl
The peer-revied version of our paper on the structure of the Nipah virus RNA polymerase in complex with RNA is out in @naturecomms.bsky.social. Congratulations to first-author @salafernanda.bsky.social and many thanks to the reviewers for their constructive comments!
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
Structural basis of Nipah virus RNA synthesis - Nature Communications
Sala et al. report the first structural snapshot of the Nipah virus RNA-dependent RNA polymerase in the actively elongating state, uncovering key mechanisms of RNA synthesis by non-segmented negative ...
www.nature.com
March 10, 2025 at 11:06 AM
The peer-revied version of our paper on the structure of the Nipah virus RNA polymerase in complex with RNA is out in @naturecomms.bsky.social. Congratulations to first-author @salafernanda.bsky.social and many thanks to the reviewers for their constructive comments!
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
www.nature.com/articles/s41...