Sophien Kamoun
@kamounlab.bsky.social
Biologist @ The Sainsbury Lab; passionate about plant pathogens & evolution; open science advocate; loves travel, food and sports; nomad and hunter-gatherer. Web http://kamounlab.net | Medium https://medium.com/@kamounlab | GetGenome http://getgenome.net
Pinned
1/12 I'm ecstatic to share my preprint on legume NLR tissue expression! We investigated the NLRomes of 28 legumes + 4 outgroups, examining tissue expression across 7 legume species. Paper thread below 🧵👇
@thesainsburylab.bsky.social @itqbnova.bsky.social
🔗https://doi.org/10.64898/2026.01.25.701577
@thesainsburylab.bsky.social @itqbnova.bsky.social
🔗https://doi.org/10.64898/2026.01.25.701577
Kudos Rita @ritamarquex and Team for this nice contribution to NLR biology of legume plants (Fabaceae) 🫛🫘🥜🌿
Crinkler proteins—first discovered in Phytophthora—can be fused to ADP-ribosyltransferases, acting as epigenetic parasitic elements in free-living eukaryotes.
#AACRNL #Evolution doi.org/10.1038/s414...
#AACRNL #Evolution doi.org/10.1038/s414...
January 31, 2026 at 9:53 AM
Crinkler proteins—first discovered in Phytophthora—can be fused to ADP-ribosyltransferases, acting as epigenetic parasitic elements in free-living eukaryotes.
#AACRNL #Evolution doi.org/10.1038/s414...
#AACRNL #Evolution doi.org/10.1038/s414...
Reposted by Sophien Kamoun
In 2025, departures of govt scientists outnumbered new hires by a ratio of 11 to 1. This reduction in STEM PhDs translates to 106k yrs of federal work experience across 10,000 employees. These talents will take their expertise elsewhere. Experience is indispensable.
🧪 www.science.org/content/arti...
🧪 www.science.org/content/arti...
January 30, 2026 at 11:42 PM
In 2025, departures of govt scientists outnumbered new hires by a ratio of 11 to 1. This reduction in STEM PhDs translates to 106k yrs of federal work experience across 10,000 employees. These talents will take their expertise elsewhere. Experience is indispensable.
🧪 www.science.org/content/arti...
🧪 www.science.org/content/arti...
Reposted by Sophien Kamoun
Some notes on what the new Dutch govt agreement says about peace and conflict
www.kabinetsformatie2025.nl/documenten/2...
Items most interesting to me personally:
* pro European nuclear deterrent
* establishing a Dutch DARPA with up to 10% of def budget
www.kabinetsformatie2025.nl/documenten/2...
Items most interesting to me personally:
* pro European nuclear deterrent
* establishing a Dutch DARPA with up to 10% of def budget
January 30, 2026 at 5:37 PM
Some notes on what the new Dutch govt agreement says about peace and conflict
www.kabinetsformatie2025.nl/documenten/2...
Items most interesting to me personally:
* pro European nuclear deterrent
* establishing a Dutch DARPA with up to 10% of def budget
www.kabinetsformatie2025.nl/documenten/2...
Items most interesting to me personally:
* pro European nuclear deterrent
* establishing a Dutch DARPA with up to 10% of def budget
Our @JohnInnesCentre @TheSainsburyLab Friday seminar speaker today is @LifeAtPurdue Sharon Kessler —Processing extracellular information: MLO signaling in plant reproduction and development
January 30, 2026 at 11:38 AM
Our @JohnInnesCentre @TheSainsburyLab Friday seminar speaker today is @LifeAtPurdue Sharon Kessler —Processing extracellular information: MLO signaling in plant reproduction and development
Predatory vibes from @pensoft.net — click a link to decline a review and you’re forced to create an account—purely to pump user metrics.
Declining a review should not require registration. Commercially driven #predatorypublishing plain and simple.
#sciencecrisis
Declining a review should not require registration. Commercially driven #predatorypublishing plain and simple.
#sciencecrisis
January 30, 2026 at 9:48 AM
Predatory vibes from @pensoft.net — click a link to decline a review and you’re forced to create an account—purely to pump user metrics.
Declining a review should not require registration. Commercially driven #predatorypublishing plain and simple.
#sciencecrisis
Declining a review should not require registration. Commercially driven #predatorypublishing plain and simple.
#sciencecrisis
Andy explaining how according to the textbook Pikobodies can detect ants 🐜 🌱 😱
January 29, 2026 at 4:29 PM
Andy explaining how according to the textbook Pikobodies can detect ants 🐜 🌱 😱
Reposted by Sophien Kamoun
8/12 We identified:
🟤 324 root-specific NLRs
🟢 171 leaf-specific NLRs
🔵 841 non-specific NLRs
Average tissue specificity: 32% per species.
Larger NLRomes showed increased tissue specificity and transcriptional silencing 🔬
🟤 324 root-specific NLRs
🟢 171 leaf-specific NLRs
🔵 841 non-specific NLRs
Average tissue specificity: 32% per species.
Larger NLRomes showed increased tissue specificity and transcriptional silencing 🔬
January 29, 2026 at 11:06 AM
8/12 We identified:
🟤 324 root-specific NLRs
🟢 171 leaf-specific NLRs
🔵 841 non-specific NLRs
Average tissue specificity: 32% per species.
Larger NLRomes showed increased tissue specificity and transcriptional silencing 🔬
🟤 324 root-specific NLRs
🟢 171 leaf-specific NLRs
🔵 841 non-specific NLRs
Average tissue specificity: 32% per species.
Larger NLRomes showed increased tissue specificity and transcriptional silencing 🔬
Reposted by Sophien Kamoun
7/12 Key finding: Over half (~57%) of expressed NLRs showed differential expression between tissues — 34% root-predominant and 23% leaf-predominant. Legume NLRs show 2.6× greater tissue-specificity than other gene families! 📊
January 29, 2026 at 11:06 AM
7/12 Key finding: Over half (~57%) of expressed NLRs showed differential expression between tissues — 34% root-predominant and 23% leaf-predominant. Legume NLRs show 2.6× greater tissue-specificity than other gene families! 📊
Reposted by Sophien Kamoun
5/12 NLR expression dynamics across tissues and organs remain a surprisingly understudied aspect of plant immunity. To address this, we conducted comparative transcriptomic analysis of leaves and roots in unchallenged seedlings of seven legumes 🌿
January 29, 2026 at 11:06 AM
5/12 NLR expression dynamics across tissues and organs remain a surprisingly understudied aspect of plant immunity. To address this, we conducted comparative transcriptomic analysis of leaves and roots in unchallenged seedlings of seven legumes 🌿
Kudos Rita @ritamarquex and Team for this nice contribution to NLR biology of legume plants (Fabaceae) 🫛🫘🥜🌿
1/12 I'm ecstatic to share my preprint on legume NLR tissue expression! We investigated the NLRomes of 28 legumes + 4 outgroups, examining tissue expression across 7 legume species. Paper thread below 🧵👇
@thesainsburylab.bsky.social @itqbnova.bsky.social
🔗https://doi.org/10.64898/2026.01.25.701577
@thesainsburylab.bsky.social @itqbnova.bsky.social
🔗https://doi.org/10.64898/2026.01.25.701577
January 29, 2026 at 2:51 PM
Kudos Rita @ritamarquex and Team for this nice contribution to NLR biology of legume plants (Fabaceae) 🫛🫘🥜🌿
Just published: The Sainsbury Laboratory receives support from Google.org for AI science research
“...opportunity to scale our AlphaFold screening capabilities and predict millions of protein-protein interactions between pathogens and plants."
medium.com/p/the-sainsb...
“...opportunity to scale our AlphaFold screening capabilities and predict millions of protein-protein interactions between pathogens and plants."
medium.com/p/the-sainsb...
January 28, 2026 at 2:52 PM
Just published: The Sainsbury Laboratory receives support from Google.org for AI science research
“...opportunity to scale our AlphaFold screening capabilities and predict millions of protein-protein interactions between pathogens and plants."
medium.com/p/the-sainsb...
“...opportunity to scale our AlphaFold screening capabilities and predict millions of protein-protein interactions between pathogens and plants."
medium.com/p/the-sainsb...
Reposted by Sophien Kamoun
Got my PhD yesterday! Had a great discussion during my viva and I'm truly grateful for the support from my supervisors + examiners + friends and peers at TSL. Where I am today has been shaped by all of you — and exciting journeys ahead! 🎓✨
January 27, 2026 at 8:54 PM
Got my PhD yesterday! Had a great discussion during my viva and I'm truly grateful for the support from my supervisors + examiners + friends and peers at TSL. Where I am today has been shaped by all of you — and exciting journeys ahead! 🎓✨
Just published: Ancient oomycete honors Sophien Kamoun
Sophien Kamoun, group leader at The Sainsbury Laboratory, has been celebrated in the most enduring way possible: a newly discovered fossil species has been named in his honour.
medium.com/p/ancient-oo...
Sophien Kamoun, group leader at The Sainsbury Laboratory, has been celebrated in the most enduring way possible: a newly discovered fossil species has been named in his honour.
medium.com/p/ancient-oo...
Ancient oomycete honors Sophien Kamoun
PUBLISHED: 26.01.26 : LAURA TURCHI & MIA CERFONTEYN
medium.com
January 27, 2026 at 3:55 PM
Just published: Ancient oomycete honors Sophien Kamoun
Sophien Kamoun, group leader at The Sainsbury Laboratory, has been celebrated in the most enduring way possible: a newly discovered fossil species has been named in his honour.
medium.com/p/ancient-oo...
Sophien Kamoun, group leader at The Sainsbury Laboratory, has been celebrated in the most enduring way possible: a newly discovered fossil species has been named in his honour.
medium.com/p/ancient-oo...
Blast from the past courtesy of @nutthalak #2017 #MemoryLane
January 27, 2026 at 11:26 AM
Blast from the past courtesy of @nutthalak #2017 #MemoryLane
Reposted by Sophien Kamoun
Congratulations, Dr @hsuanpai.bsky.social! Well done! 🥳🥳🥳
Thanks for the invitation, @kamounlab.bsky.social. It is always nice to discuss science with friends and colleagues @thesainsburylab.bsky.social, @johninnescentre.bsky.social and @earlhaminst.bsky.social
Thanks for the invitation, @kamounlab.bsky.social. It is always nice to discuss science with friends and colleagues @thesainsburylab.bsky.social, @johninnescentre.bsky.social and @earlhaminst.bsky.social
A special day as we celebrate PhD of Dr Hsuan Pai @HsuanPai1
Pai has been a pillar @KamounLab @nobolly Labs over the years having contributed to research, method development, as well as science art and communication 🧬 🖼️ 😻
🙏 to viva examiners @EunyoungChae @Isabel_MonteG
Pai has been a pillar @KamounLab @nobolly Labs over the years having contributed to research, method development, as well as science art and communication 🧬 🖼️ 😻
🙏 to viva examiners @EunyoungChae @Isabel_MonteG
January 27, 2026 at 10:29 AM
Congratulations, Dr @hsuanpai.bsky.social! Well done! 🥳🥳🥳
Thanks for the invitation, @kamounlab.bsky.social. It is always nice to discuss science with friends and colleagues @thesainsburylab.bsky.social, @johninnescentre.bsky.social and @earlhaminst.bsky.social
Thanks for the invitation, @kamounlab.bsky.social. It is always nice to discuss science with friends and colleagues @thesainsburylab.bsky.social, @johninnescentre.bsky.social and @earlhaminst.bsky.social
Reposted by Sophien Kamoun
Our first wheat stripe rust avirulence (?!) effector is published "Defence Recognition of a Stripe Rust Fungal Effector Is Uncoupled from Disease Outcomes in Wheat" apsjournals.apsnet.org/doi/10.1094/.... It is not what we expected but this is the most fun part about science. 1/n
Defence Recognition of a Stripe Rust Fungal Effector Is Uncoupled from Disease Outcomes in Wheat | Molecular Plant-Microbe Interactions®
Plant resistance (R) and pathogen avirulence (Avr) gene interactions are central to pathogen recognition and disease resistance in crops. Functional characterisation of recognised Avr effectors of Puc...
apsjournals.apsnet.org
January 26, 2026 at 8:50 PM
Our first wheat stripe rust avirulence (?!) effector is published "Defence Recognition of a Stripe Rust Fungal Effector Is Uncoupled from Disease Outcomes in Wheat" apsjournals.apsnet.org/doi/10.1094/.... It is not what we expected but this is the most fun part about science. 1/n
A special day as we celebrate PhD of Dr Hsuan Pai @HsuanPai1
Pai has been a pillar @KamounLab @nobolly Labs over the years having contributed to research, method development, as well as science art and communication 🧬 🖼️ 😻
🙏 to viva examiners @EunyoungChae @Isabel_MonteG
Pai has been a pillar @KamounLab @nobolly Labs over the years having contributed to research, method development, as well as science art and communication 🧬 🖼️ 😻
🙏 to viva examiners @EunyoungChae @Isabel_MonteG
January 26, 2026 at 3:17 PM
A special day as we celebrate PhD of Dr Hsuan Pai @HsuanPai1
Pai has been a pillar @KamounLab @nobolly Labs over the years having contributed to research, method development, as well as science art and communication 🧬 🖼️ 😻
🙏 to viva examiners @EunyoungChae @Isabel_MonteG
Pai has been a pillar @KamounLab @nobolly Labs over the years having contributed to research, method development, as well as science art and communication 🧬 🖼️ 😻
🙏 to viva examiners @EunyoungChae @Isabel_MonteG
Reposted by Sophien Kamoun
🚀Introducing the official FORM BlueSky account!
We are the Forum for Open Research in #MENA (FORM)—a non-profit membership organization supporting the advancement of #OpenScience policies & practices in research institutions & communities across the Arab world
🧵
#ScholComm #AcademicSky
We are the Forum for Open Research in #MENA (FORM)—a non-profit membership organization supporting the advancement of #OpenScience policies & practices in research institutions & communities across the Arab world
🧵
#ScholComm #AcademicSky
March 11, 2025 at 9:20 AM
🚀Introducing the official FORM BlueSky account!
We are the Forum for Open Research in #MENA (FORM)—a non-profit membership organization supporting the advancement of #OpenScience policies & practices in research institutions & communities across the Arab world
🧵
#ScholComm #AcademicSky
We are the Forum for Open Research in #MENA (FORM)—a non-profit membership organization supporting the advancement of #OpenScience policies & practices in research institutions & communities across the Arab world
🧵
#ScholComm #AcademicSky
De-westernizing the history of science - with Gianamar Giovannetti-Singh
open.spotify.com
January 26, 2026 at 9:24 AM
You have to go to a zoo in Amsterdam to see the wildlife of your country / Barbary Striped Grass Mouse (Lemniscomys barbarus)
January 24, 2026 at 3:40 PM
You have to go to a zoo in Amsterdam to see the wildlife of your country / Barbary Striped Grass Mouse (Lemniscomys barbarus)
New Year Lunch 2026 @KamounLab
Burma
New Zealand
Germany
Italy
Iran
Tunisia
USA
United Kingdom
Argentina
France
Japan
Thailand
Netherlands
Australia
China
Burma
New Zealand
Germany
Italy
Iran
Tunisia
USA
United Kingdom
Argentina
France
Japan
Thailand
Netherlands
Australia
China
January 23, 2026 at 5:31 PM
New Year Lunch 2026 @KamounLab
Burma
New Zealand
Germany
Italy
Iran
Tunisia
USA
United Kingdom
Argentina
France
Japan
Thailand
Netherlands
Australia
China
Burma
New Zealand
Germany
Italy
Iran
Tunisia
USA
United Kingdom
Argentina
France
Japan
Thailand
Netherlands
Australia
China
We’re always recruiting creative bioengineers like Nick who want to build this stuff for real. Just saying. 🧬 😎 🌱 🦠
My poster on flower bioengineering at the #AIEBaB26 conference in Bristol last week 🌹 🧬 ✨
January 20, 2026 at 10:59 PM
We’re always recruiting creative bioengineers like Nick who want to build this stuff for real. Just saying. 🧬 😎 🌱 🦠
Reposted by Sophien Kamoun
I’m thrilled to share our work on phage triggers of the bacterial immune system in its final form @natmicrobiol.nature.com www.nature.com/articles/s41...
A phage protein screen identifies triggers of the bacterial innate immune system - Nature Microbiology
A library of 400 phage protein-coding genes is used to find a trove of antiphage systems, revealing systems that target tail fibre and major capsid proteins.
www.nature.com
January 18, 2026 at 10:45 PM
I’m thrilled to share our work on phage triggers of the bacterial immune system in its final form @natmicrobiol.nature.com www.nature.com/articles/s41...
Reposted by Sophien Kamoun
oh it's going to be a Recession recession
January 18, 2026 at 10:56 PM
oh it's going to be a Recession recession
Scabies 😱 www.theguardian.com/science/2026...
The sudden rise of scabies: ‘I wouldn’t wish it on my worst enemy’
These microscopic mites, which burrow under your skin and cause ferocious itching, are incredibly hard to get rid of – and cases in the UK have soared. What is causing the outbreak, and is there anyth...
www.theguardian.com
January 18, 2026 at 7:38 PM
Scabies 😱 www.theguardian.com/science/2026...