hostmicrobe
@hostmicrobe.bsky.social
Scientist working at the intersection of immunology, microbiology and genomics. Associate Professor and Associate Director of the Institute for Infectious and Zoonotic Diseases at UPenn.
Reposted by hostmicrobe
As national medical, scientific, public health and patient organizations, we call for the resignation of HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to ensure the health of the American people. Read our statement: asm.org/press-releas...
Joint Statement Calling for Secretary Kennedy Resignation
The American Society for Microbiology released a joint statement calling for the resignation of HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.
asm.org
September 3, 2025 at 11:10 PM
As national medical, scientific, public health and patient organizations, we call for the resignation of HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to ensure the health of the American people. Read our statement: asm.org/press-releas...
Reposted by hostmicrobe
Motherfucker wrote one sloppy paper in April 2020 and instead of being like oops, shit, my bad, he has kept doubling down until now he's killing most promising medical technology of the past quarter century rather than going to therapy.
August 14, 2025 at 4:30 AM
Motherfucker wrote one sloppy paper in April 2020 and instead of being like oops, shit, my bad, he has kept doubling down until now he's killing most promising medical technology of the past quarter century rather than going to therapy.
Reposted by hostmicrobe
This Executive Order is a gross overreach of Presidential power and undermines democracy. It steals from taxpayers, will destroy science and the economy, and ultimately, America.
Congress must act now.
open.substack.com/pub/rasmusse...
Congress must act now.
open.substack.com/pub/rasmusse...
Federal Grantmaking Gets a Christofascist Glow-Up
Read my zero star review of the new Executive Order
open.substack.com
August 8, 2025 at 2:16 PM
This Executive Order is a gross overreach of Presidential power and undermines democracy. It steals from taxpayers, will destroy science and the economy, and ultimately, America.
Congress must act now.
open.substack.com/pub/rasmusse...
Congress must act now.
open.substack.com/pub/rasmusse...
Reposted by hostmicrobe
It’s actually even worse: they show it as a gel, which is pure fluorescence units, but a BioAnalyzes records as the molecules pass a single point sensor and critically _fails to normalize for different molecule speeds_
This results in a near-logarithmic overcounting of large molecules!
This results in a near-logarithmic overcounting of large molecules!
This is your regular reminder that the BioAnalyzer/TapeStation reports fluorescence units, not # of molecules.
Left is bioA trace, and right is fragment size calculated from either read output (blue) or transformation of BioA trace (black).
Fig 3 from journals.plos.org/plosone/arti...
Left is bioA trace, and right is fragment size calculated from either read output (blue) or transformation of BioA trace (black).
Fig 3 from journals.plos.org/plosone/arti...
July 22, 2025 at 2:09 AM
It’s actually even worse: they show it as a gel, which is pure fluorescence units, but a BioAnalyzes records as the molecules pass a single point sensor and critically _fails to normalize for different molecule speeds_
This results in a near-logarithmic overcounting of large molecules!
This results in a near-logarithmic overcounting of large molecules!
Reposted by hostmicrobe
Unironically they should buy up the domains for about 60 defunct local newspapers in swing states. Hire two reporters to write almost exclusively about highschool sports and new restaurants opening with every 10th article about how the local GOP is screwing over people.
NEWS:
Democratic mega-donors are debating plans to spend tens of millions of dollars on a range of influencer plans to "find the liberal Rogan."
We've got pitch decks, investor meetings, and internal docs.
One Democrat has a spreadsheet of 26 different proposals.
www.nytimes.com/2025/05/20/u...
Democratic mega-donors are debating plans to spend tens of millions of dollars on a range of influencer plans to "find the liberal Rogan."
We've got pitch decks, investor meetings, and internal docs.
One Democrat has a spreadsheet of 26 different proposals.
www.nytimes.com/2025/05/20/u...
Democrats Throw Money at a Problem: Countering G.O.P. Clout Online
www.nytimes.com
May 21, 2025 at 1:07 AM
Unironically they should buy up the domains for about 60 defunct local newspapers in swing states. Hire two reporters to write almost exclusively about highschool sports and new restaurants opening with every 10th article about how the local GOP is screwing over people.
Reposted by hostmicrobe
The pact of the federal govt with universities was not a handout. It was a strategic decision to boost US leadership in technology, defense, and health. And it paid dividends. In tech, internet, in cancer drugs (for example), No other sector has invested in high risk high reward ideas like US govt.
May 10, 2025 at 2:42 AM
The pact of the federal govt with universities was not a handout. It was a strategic decision to boost US leadership in technology, defense, and health. And it paid dividends. In tech, internet, in cancer drugs (for example), No other sector has invested in high risk high reward ideas like US govt.
Reposted by hostmicrobe
An alternative to tSNE & UMAP for more accurate data visualization:
Tree representations for distortion-free visualization and exploratory analysis of single-cell omics data.
The trees are constructed to accurately represent true distances between the objects in the high-dimensional space.
Tree representations for distortion-free visualization and exploratory analysis of single-cell omics data.
The trees are constructed to accurately represent true distances between the objects in the high-dimensional space.
May 9, 2025 at 11:07 AM
An alternative to tSNE & UMAP for more accurate data visualization:
Tree representations for distortion-free visualization and exploratory analysis of single-cell omics data.
The trees are constructed to accurately represent true distances between the objects in the high-dimensional space.
Tree representations for distortion-free visualization and exploratory analysis of single-cell omics data.
The trees are constructed to accurately represent true distances between the objects in the high-dimensional space.
Reposted by hostmicrobe
One of grants frozen at Cornell: $6.7M (4 yrs) to develop heart pumps for babies born w/ heart defects.
It took decades of work to get to point of prepping device for in-human clinical trials. No private company could do this.
The cruelty of the Trump administration is heartbreaking. So to speak.
It took decades of work to get to point of prepping device for in-human clinical trials. No private company could do this.
The cruelty of the Trump administration is heartbreaking. So to speak.
Research at risk: Life-saving heart pumps for babies | Cornell Chronicle
After receiving a stop-work order from the federal government, the future of a device to help children with heart defects is uncertain.
news.cornell.edu
May 7, 2025 at 11:56 AM
One of grants frozen at Cornell: $6.7M (4 yrs) to develop heart pumps for babies born w/ heart defects.
It took decades of work to get to point of prepping device for in-human clinical trials. No private company could do this.
The cruelty of the Trump administration is heartbreaking. So to speak.
It took decades of work to get to point of prepping device for in-human clinical trials. No private company could do this.
The cruelty of the Trump administration is heartbreaking. So to speak.
Due to the #trumptarrifs, Illumina announces that they’ll be adding surcharges all consumables (5%), instruments (2-9%) and services (3.5%). A big hit to labs that are already struggling to do genomics work in an environment with severely reduced federal funding
prdt.illumina.com/webmail/5510...
prdt.illumina.com/webmail/5510...
Illumina
prdt.illumina.com
May 7, 2025 at 1:05 AM
Due to the #trumptarrifs, Illumina announces that they’ll be adding surcharges all consumables (5%), instruments (2-9%) and services (3.5%). A big hit to labs that are already struggling to do genomics work in an environment with severely reduced federal funding
prdt.illumina.com/webmail/5510...
prdt.illumina.com/webmail/5510...
Reposted by hostmicrobe
This new guidance is yet another step closer towards an isolationist, diminished view of American science. Changing rules on the fly wastes time & effort and undermines the pipeline of discovery and innovation.
Unacceptable & inexcusable (again):
grants.nih.gov/grants/guide...
Unacceptable & inexcusable (again):
grants.nih.gov/grants/guide...
NOT-OD-25-104: Updated NIH Policy on Foreign Subawards
NIH Funding Opportunities and Notices in the NIH Guide for Grants and Contracts: Updated NIH Policy on Foreign Subawards NOT-OD-25-104. NIH
grants.nih.gov
May 2, 2025 at 1:44 AM
This new guidance is yet another step closer towards an isolationist, diminished view of American science. Changing rules on the fly wastes time & effort and undermines the pipeline of discovery and innovation.
Unacceptable & inexcusable (again):
grants.nih.gov/grants/guide...
Unacceptable & inexcusable (again):
grants.nih.gov/grants/guide...
Reposted by hostmicrobe
🔔BREAKING🔔
The NSF has frozen all research grant awards—cutting off life-saving science midstream and demanding ideological screenings for future funding.
This is censorship disguised as oversight.
Here’s how you can help us spread the word ➡️🧵(1/3):
www.nature.com/articles/d41...
The NSF has frozen all research grant awards—cutting off life-saving science midstream and demanding ideological screenings for future funding.
This is censorship disguised as oversight.
Here’s how you can help us spread the word ➡️🧵(1/3):
www.nature.com/articles/d41...
Exclusive: NSF stops awarding new grants and funding existing ones
US science funder also plans to screen grant applications for compliance with ‘agency priorities’.
www.nature.com
May 2, 2025 at 1:31 AM
🔔BREAKING🔔
The NSF has frozen all research grant awards—cutting off life-saving science midstream and demanding ideological screenings for future funding.
This is censorship disguised as oversight.
Here’s how you can help us spread the word ➡️🧵(1/3):
www.nature.com/articles/d41...
The NSF has frozen all research grant awards—cutting off life-saving science midstream and demanding ideological screenings for future funding.
This is censorship disguised as oversight.
Here’s how you can help us spread the word ➡️🧵(1/3):
www.nature.com/articles/d41...
Reposted by hostmicrobe
MS practices DEI for losers.
NEW: Mississippi Gov. Tate Reeves has declared April 2025 as Confederate Heritage Month.
He did so at the behest of the Sons of Confederate Veterans, a neo-Confederate organization that espouses “Lost Cause” ideology, which whitewashes the role of slavery in the Civil War. 🧵
He did so at the behest of the Sons of Confederate Veterans, a neo-Confederate organization that espouses “Lost Cause” ideology, which whitewashes the role of slavery in the Civil War. 🧵
Mississippi Governor Declares April Confederate Heritage Month
Gov. Tate Reeves declared April 2025 as Confederate Heritage Month in Mississippi, keeping alive a 32-year-old tradition that began in 1993.
www.mississippifreepress.org
April 22, 2025 at 12:22 AM
MS practices DEI for losers.
Reposted by hostmicrobe
If anyone had proposed this in an NIH application, they would be denied, flagged, barred from further applications, and likely be stripped of research means from their sponsor extramurral institution.
April 22, 2025 at 12:13 AM
If anyone had proposed this in an NIH application, they would be denied, flagged, barred from further applications, and likely be stripped of research means from their sponsor extramurral institution.
Reposted by hostmicrobe
If I see a single school of public health invite this guy to a single panel when this is all over, I swear to god
Now it's your fault if you get sick?
Dr. Oz: 'It's your patriotic duty to take care of yourself. Healthy people don't consume healthcare resources.'
Dr. Oz: 'It's your patriotic duty to take care of yourself. Healthy people don't consume healthcare resources.'
April 19, 2025 at 7:01 PM
If I see a single school of public health invite this guy to a single panel when this is all over, I swear to god
Reposted by hostmicrobe
Keep in mind that this is just the beginning. I wouldn't be surprised to see an "official" NIH page saying that vaccines cause autism next. We're far from the bottom.
www.npr.org/sections/sho...
www.npr.org/sections/sho...
'Lab Leak,' a flashy page on the virus' origins, replaces government COVID sites
The new page emphatically promotes a theory that many scientists question. Meanwhile, basic information about COVID testing and vaccines has disappeared.
www.npr.org
April 19, 2025 at 7:08 PM
Keep in mind that this is just the beginning. I wouldn't be surprised to see an "official" NIH page saying that vaccines cause autism next. We're far from the bottom.
www.npr.org/sections/sho...
www.npr.org/sections/sho...
Reposted by hostmicrobe
the reposting by CDC kills me
There is so much about this screenshot that incenses me
April 17, 2025 at 12:09 AM
the reposting by CDC kills me
Reposted by hostmicrobe
Biggest commitment to a 3 second joke I've ever seen
April 9, 2025 at 6:33 AM
Biggest commitment to a 3 second joke I've ever seen
Reposted by hostmicrobe
Trump Officials Freeze $1 Billion for Cornell and $790 Million for Northwestern
The funding pause amid civil rights "investigations" into both universities sharply escalates the Trump administration’s campaign against elite colleges.
The funding pause amid civil rights "investigations" into both universities sharply escalates the Trump administration’s campaign against elite colleges.
Trump Officials Freeze $1 Billion for Cornell and $790 Million for Northwestern
The funding pause amid civil rights investigations into both universities sharply escalates the Trump administration’s campaign against elite colleges.
www.nytimes.com
April 8, 2025 at 11:34 PM
Trump Officials Freeze $1 Billion for Cornell and $790 Million for Northwestern
The funding pause amid civil rights "investigations" into both universities sharply escalates the Trump administration’s campaign against elite colleges.
The funding pause amid civil rights "investigations" into both universities sharply escalates the Trump administration’s campaign against elite colleges.
Reposted by hostmicrobe
All you need to know about Twitter
March 23, 2025 at 7:07 PM
All you need to know about Twitter
Reposted by hostmicrobe
From 2010 to 2016 (latest data I have ), NIH research contributed to EVERY drug approved by the FDA
March 22, 2025 at 10:44 AM
From 2010 to 2016 (latest data I have ), NIH research contributed to EVERY drug approved by the FDA
Thrilled to team up with @appc.upenn.edu to host Dr. Peter Hotez at Penn this evening for a public lecture on vaccination in a time of rising anti-science rhetoric and policies
March 19, 2025 at 6:49 PM
Thrilled to team up with @appc.upenn.edu to host Dr. Peter Hotez at Penn this evening for a public lecture on vaccination in a time of rising anti-science rhetoric and policies
Reposted by hostmicrobe
“I expect you will eventually find someone who is enough of a fool, or enough of a coward, to file your motion. But it was never going to be me.”
February 14, 2025 at 5:09 PM
“I expect you will eventually find someone who is enough of a fool, or enough of a coward, to file your motion. But it was never going to be me.”
Reposted by hostmicrobe
If anyone has the resources to resist, its HHMI. Ending this program with no notice and literally scrubbing evidence it ever existed from the website is shocking and dosappointing
February 5, 2025 at 8:46 PM
If anyone has the resources to resist, its HHMI. Ending this program with no notice and literally scrubbing evidence it ever existed from the website is shocking and dosappointing
Reposted by hostmicrobe
“The recalled product is packaged in two-pound plastic bags with ‘best if used by’ dates of May 21, 2026, and June 23, 2026. The company and Oregon authorities said that consumers who bought the recalled product should throw it away immediately and contact the place of purchase for a refund.”
“Northwest Naturals, a pet food company based in Portland, Oregon, said Tuesday it had voluntarily recalled one batch of its two-pound Feline Turkey Recipe raw frozen pet food after it tested positive for the virus.” apnews.com/article/cat-...
Oregon house cat died after eating pet food that tested positive for bird flu
Oregon authorities say a house cat died after eating raw frozen pet food that tested positive for bird flu.
apnews.com
December 26, 2024 at 4:49 PM
“The recalled product is packaged in two-pound plastic bags with ‘best if used by’ dates of May 21, 2026, and June 23, 2026. The company and Oregon authorities said that consumers who bought the recalled product should throw it away immediately and contact the place of purchase for a refund.”
Reposted by hostmicrobe
This is outrageous: “Staffers were also told that it applies to every aspect of the health department's work: Employees could not send out press releases, give interviews, hold vaccine events, give presentations or create social media posts encouraging the public to get the vaccines.”
Louisiana forbids public health workers from promoting COVID, flu and mpox shots
An NPR investigation found Louisiana health officials told staff to stop promoting vaccines for COVID, flu and mpox, holding flu shot events or otherwise encouraging the public to get those vaccines.
www.npr.org
December 20, 2024 at 1:16 PM
This is outrageous: “Staffers were also told that it applies to every aspect of the health department's work: Employees could not send out press releases, give interviews, hold vaccine events, give presentations or create social media posts encouraging the public to get the vaccines.”