Margarita Parada-Kusz
@margaritapk.bsky.social
Cellular and molecular biologist at @VAInstitute studying neuroimmune communication in #zebrafish. Not my first rodeo. Former Broad Institute/HMS/MGH. (Views are my own)
Pinned
3-Hydroxykynurenine targets kainate receptors to promote defense against infection - Nature Chemical Biology
A tryptophan metabolite was identified that acts systemically to promote defense against bacterial infection by targeting kainate receptors (KARs), revealing a novel intersection between tryptophan me...
www.nature.com
Featuring work from my postdoc for my new friends:
We have discovered a novel molecular pathway linking #tryptophan metabolism and #kainate receptors (known for their role in neuronal excitability) to protective antimicrobial #innate immune responses in #zebrafish.
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
We have discovered a novel molecular pathway linking #tryptophan metabolism and #kainate receptors (known for their role in neuronal excitability) to protective antimicrobial #innate immune responses in #zebrafish.
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
Reposted by Margarita Parada-Kusz
Folks, it is finally out! Our paper on T2T assemblies of the zebrafish genome is on BioRxiv:
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
www.biorxiv.org
November 17, 2025 at 11:22 PM
Folks, it is finally out! Our paper on T2T assemblies of the zebrafish genome is on BioRxiv:
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
Reposted by Margarita Parada-Kusz
Our Stem Cell Reports cover story titled, “GABA produced by multiple bone marrow cell types regulates hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells” is out today! doi.org/10.1016/j.st...
Redirecting
doi.org
November 11, 2025 at 4:50 PM
Our Stem Cell Reports cover story titled, “GABA produced by multiple bone marrow cell types regulates hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells” is out today! doi.org/10.1016/j.st...
Reposted by Margarita Parada-Kusz
The shutdown of USAID has already killed hundreds of thousands of people.
It was also the most effective soft power organization on planet earth helping American interests across the globe.
This was a powerfully foolish thing to do, inhuman and cruel.
www.newyorker.com/culture/the-...
It was also the most effective soft power organization on planet earth helping American interests across the globe.
This was a powerfully foolish thing to do, inhuman and cruel.
www.newyorker.com/culture/the-...
The Shutdown of U.S.A.I.D. Has Already Killed Hundreds of Thousands
The short documentary “Rovina’s Choice” tells the story of what goes when aid goes.
www.newyorker.com
November 6, 2025 at 2:32 PM
The shutdown of USAID has already killed hundreds of thousands of people.
It was also the most effective soft power organization on planet earth helping American interests across the globe.
This was a powerfully foolish thing to do, inhuman and cruel.
www.newyorker.com/culture/the-...
It was also the most effective soft power organization on planet earth helping American interests across the globe.
This was a powerfully foolish thing to do, inhuman and cruel.
www.newyorker.com/culture/the-...
Reposted by Margarita Parada-Kusz
Our latest collaboration with @rongfan8.bsky.social, spatial triomics to investigate myelin and cortical brain development, and demyelination, spearheaded by Leslie Kirby in our lab @ki.se and Di Zhang in Rong's lab! Check it out @nature.com
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
Spatial dynamics of brain development and neuroinflammation - Nature
A tri-omic atlas of the mouse brain from postnatal day 0 to P21 reveals that layer-specific projection neurons have a role in coordinating axonogenesis and myelination.
www.nature.com
November 5, 2025 at 4:03 PM
Our latest collaboration with @rongfan8.bsky.social, spatial triomics to investigate myelin and cortical brain development, and demyelination, spearheaded by Leslie Kirby in our lab @ki.se and Di Zhang in Rong's lab! Check it out @nature.com
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
Very happy to share the continuation of our discoveries on how the kynurenine pathway regulates innate immune responses during Salmonella infection. Congratulations to Emily Goering for leading this work and for starting her postdoctoral journey! 🥂👏🏻🍾
journals.plos.org/plospathogen...
journals.plos.org/plospathogen...
Kmo restricts Salmonella in a whole organism infection model by promoting macrophage lysosomal acidification through kainate receptor antagonism
Author summary Standard therapy for bacterial infections involves antibiotics to clear pathogens. However, the host immune system can also efficiently eliminate bacteria. We have recently shown that a...
journals.plos.org
November 6, 2025 at 12:13 AM
Very happy to share the continuation of our discoveries on how the kynurenine pathway regulates innate immune responses during Salmonella infection. Congratulations to Emily Goering for leading this work and for starting her postdoctoral journey! 🥂👏🏻🍾
journals.plos.org/plospathogen...
journals.plos.org/plospathogen...
Reposted by Margarita Parada-Kusz
arXiv will no longer accept review articles and position papers unless they have been accepted at a journal or a conference and complete successful peer review.
This is due to being overwhelmed by a hundreds of AI generated papers a month.
Yet another open submission process killed by LLMs.
This is due to being overwhelmed by a hundreds of AI generated papers a month.
Yet another open submission process killed by LLMs.
Attention Authors: Updated Practice for Review Articles and Position Papers in arXiv CS Category – arXiv blog
blog.arxiv.org
November 1, 2025 at 5:28 PM
arXiv will no longer accept review articles and position papers unless they have been accepted at a journal or a conference and complete successful peer review.
This is due to being overwhelmed by a hundreds of AI generated papers a month.
Yet another open submission process killed by LLMs.
This is due to being overwhelmed by a hundreds of AI generated papers a month.
Yet another open submission process killed by LLMs.
Reposted by Margarita Parada-Kusz
New online! Gut–brain communication: types of sensory nerves and mechanisms of activation
Gut–brain communication: types of sensory nerves and mechanisms of activation
Nature Reviews Gastroenterology & Hepatology, Published online: 28 October 2025; doi:10.1038/s41575-025-01132-1This Review explores the different types of sensory nerves involved in gut–brain communication, detailing the locations of these nerve endings in the gut and their mechanisms of activation. Insights and new information regarding spinal and vagal afferents alongside viscerofugal neurons are detailed.
www.nature.com
October 28, 2025 at 12:28 PM
New online! Gut–brain communication: types of sensory nerves and mechanisms of activation
Reposted by Margarita Parada-Kusz
Reposted by Margarita Parada-Kusz
We’re offering free vaccine clinics in Boston. Vaccines are safe, effective, and protect against serious illness. Getting vaccinated keeps you healthy and helps protect your family, friends, and community.
Find upcoming vaccine clinics at boston.gov/vaccine-clinics.
Find upcoming vaccine clinics at boston.gov/vaccine-clinics.
Free Vaccine Clinics in Boston
Everyone ages six months and older is encouraged to get the updated flu and COVID-19 vaccines. Pregnant parents, babies, and older adults should consult their health care professional about RSV vaccin...
boston.gov
October 15, 2025 at 9:09 PM
We’re offering free vaccine clinics in Boston. Vaccines are safe, effective, and protect against serious illness. Getting vaccinated keeps you healthy and helps protect your family, friends, and community.
Find upcoming vaccine clinics at boston.gov/vaccine-clinics.
Find upcoming vaccine clinics at boston.gov/vaccine-clinics.
Reposted by Margarita Parada-Kusz
“Blame your parents if you can’t pay enough attention." At least when you are a zebrafish! Our new study on attentional switching together with Kumaresh Krishnan, @paulapflitsch.bsky.social , @zwitscherarmin.bsky.social and Florian Engert is out in Science Advances:
doi.org/10.1126/scia...
doi.org/10.1126/scia...
October 3, 2025 at 9:23 PM
“Blame your parents if you can’t pay enough attention." At least when you are a zebrafish! Our new study on attentional switching together with Kumaresh Krishnan, @paulapflitsch.bsky.social , @zwitscherarmin.bsky.social and Florian Engert is out in Science Advances:
doi.org/10.1126/scia...
doi.org/10.1126/scia...
Reposted by Margarita Parada-Kusz
🧪📣The final version of our latest paper is out!!🤗
"Metainflammation alters neutrophil function and migration in vivo in response to tissue injury"
Go check it out in case you haven't yet😉🔬🐟
#zebrafish
#neutrophils
#injury
#microscopy
#metainflammation
#MetabolicSyndrome
"Metainflammation alters neutrophil function and migration in vivo in response to tissue injury"
Go check it out in case you haven't yet😉🔬🐟
#zebrafish
#neutrophils
#injury
#microscopy
#metainflammation
#MetabolicSyndrome
Metainflammation alters neutrophil function and migration in vivo in response to tissue injury
Authors provide a platform to study systemic immune response to threats in vivo under metainflammation context using a diet-induced metainflammation zebraf
academic.oup.com
July 31, 2025 at 5:50 PM
🧪📣The final version of our latest paper is out!!🤗
"Metainflammation alters neutrophil function and migration in vivo in response to tissue injury"
Go check it out in case you haven't yet😉🔬🐟
#zebrafish
#neutrophils
#injury
#microscopy
#metainflammation
#MetabolicSyndrome
"Metainflammation alters neutrophil function and migration in vivo in response to tissue injury"
Go check it out in case you haven't yet😉🔬🐟
#zebrafish
#neutrophils
#injury
#microscopy
#metainflammation
#MetabolicSyndrome
August 29, 2025 at 12:37 AM
More beautiful biology! Z-stack maximum projection confocal image of a section of the cow #cerebellum. Magenta: neurofilament heavy chain, green: actin, blue: DAPI
#Axons #microscopy #biology #science
#Axons #microscopy #biology #science
August 25, 2025 at 7:26 PM
More beautiful biology! Z-stack maximum projection confocal image of a section of the cow #cerebellum. Magenta: neurofilament heavy chain, green: actin, blue: DAPI
#Axons #microscopy #biology #science
#Axons #microscopy #biology #science
Reposted by Margarita Parada-Kusz
Out today in @nature.com: Together with the Honigmann, Shevchenko, Drobot and Hof labs, we present a general workflow for imaging the localization and transport of individual lipids in cells and mapping their metabolism.
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
August 21, 2025 at 5:19 AM
Out today in @nature.com: Together with the Honigmann, Shevchenko, Drobot and Hof labs, we present a general workflow for imaging the localization and transport of individual lipids in cells and mapping their metabolism.
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
Awesome work from the Lempradl lab showcasing the precise regulation of metabolism during embryogenesis in our fruit fly friends!
🚀 Our new study is out in Nature Metabolism!
We used single-embryo metabolomics and transcriptomics to map the earliest metabolic transitions in Drosophila development, including the onset of zygotic metabolism.
Explore the dataset & findings:
🔗 rdcu.be/eAH12
#DevBio #metabolomics #Drosophila
We used single-embryo metabolomics and transcriptomics to map the earliest metabolic transitions in Drosophila development, including the onset of zygotic metabolism.
Explore the dataset & findings:
🔗 rdcu.be/eAH12
#DevBio #metabolomics #Drosophila
Resolving early embryonic metabolism in Drosophila through single-embryo metabolomics and transcriptomics
Nature Metabolism - By developing a method for single-embryo multi-omics in Drosophila, the authors provide a high-resolution view into the transcriptional and metabolic underpinnings of early...
rdcu.be
August 19, 2025 at 12:59 PM
Awesome work from the Lempradl lab showcasing the precise regulation of metabolism during embryogenesis in our fruit fly friends!
Reposted by Margarita Parada-Kusz
Article by @cenmag.bsky.social on the #BethesdaDeclaration by NIH scientists and staff released earlier this morning:
cen.acs.org/policy/resea...
cen.acs.org/policy/resea...
NIH staff break ranks in open letter to Director Jay Bhattacharya
Bethesda Declaration urges reversal of recent policies, including funding cuts
cen.acs.org
June 9, 2025 at 7:01 PM
Article by @cenmag.bsky.social on the #BethesdaDeclaration by NIH scientists and staff released earlier this morning:
cen.acs.org/policy/resea...
cen.acs.org/policy/resea...
I love my lab so much 😭❤️🥹 feel so lucky
June 5, 2025 at 6:43 PM
I love my lab so much 😭❤️🥹 feel so lucky
Reposted by Margarita Parada-Kusz
Hello Fly Folks. quick note FlyBase is under duress due to termination NIH$ to Harvard and intl collabs. The hardworking folks @flybase.bsky.social are doing their darndest to ensure access to current data. For US, there will soon be a new site to donate. Please spread the word, ideas and support 🪰💪
My lab studies bacterial infections. We spend a lot of time looking at (or for) species-specific genetic and genomic databases for hosts and microbes. FlyBase is the best of all—there is literally no comparison. Its existence is under threat. Please donate.
www.philanthropy.cam.ac.uk/give-to-camb...
www.philanthropy.cam.ac.uk/give-to-camb...
Drosophila Genetic Database
The Drosophila Genetic Database, FlyBase, is on the brink of collapse due to the sudden termination of the FlyBase NIH grant, which includes salaries for 5 literature curators based at the University ...
www.philanthropy.cam.ac.uk
June 4, 2025 at 3:07 PM
Hello Fly Folks. quick note FlyBase is under duress due to termination NIH$ to Harvard and intl collabs. The hardworking folks @flybase.bsky.social are doing their darndest to ensure access to current data. For US, there will soon be a new site to donate. Please spread the word, ideas and support 🪰💪
Reposted by Margarita Parada-Kusz
Lyft driver picked me up from UNC, turned out he was a medicinal chemistry post-doc in a building near mine, until his grant got cut last month.
Worked on novel antivirals.
Worked on novel antivirals.
June 4, 2025 at 8:33 PM
Lyft driver picked me up from UNC, turned out he was a medicinal chemistry post-doc in a building near mine, until his grant got cut last month.
Worked on novel antivirals.
Worked on novel antivirals.
Reposted by Margarita Parada-Kusz
“I would like to cure brain cancer. I think that's not particularly controversial.” Be that as it may, the NIH terminated that scientist's grant. Here's a huge survey of the 2,500 grants that NIH has killed or delayed...so far. Gift link: nyti.ms/43Jz1yJ
June 4, 2025 at 2:30 PM
“I would like to cure brain cancer. I think that's not particularly controversial.” Be that as it may, the NIH terminated that scientist's grant. Here's a huge survey of the 2,500 grants that NIH has killed or delayed...so far. Gift link: nyti.ms/43Jz1yJ
Reposted by Margarita Parada-Kusz
13-yr-old Camarria Williams made a remarkable discovery when she found a compound with potential cancer-fighting properties in goose poop from Garfield Park, Chicago.
This surprising find happened while participating in the Chicago Antibiotic Discovery Lab, a STEM program in collaboration with the
This surprising find happened while participating in the Chicago Antibiotic Discovery Lab, a STEM program in collaboration with the
June 4, 2025 at 1:54 PM
13-yr-old Camarria Williams made a remarkable discovery when she found a compound with potential cancer-fighting properties in goose poop from Garfield Park, Chicago.
This surprising find happened while participating in the Chicago Antibiotic Discovery Lab, a STEM program in collaboration with the
This surprising find happened while participating in the Chicago Antibiotic Discovery Lab, a STEM program in collaboration with the
Reposted by Margarita Parada-Kusz
The gutting of US biomedical research with loss of ~2,500 grants affecting research for cancer, Alzheimer’s, infectious disease, global health and much more
www.nytimes.com/interactive/...
www.nytimes.com/interactive/...
June 4, 2025 at 2:03 PM
The gutting of US biomedical research with loss of ~2,500 grants affecting research for cancer, Alzheimer’s, infectious disease, global health and much more
www.nytimes.com/interactive/...
www.nytimes.com/interactive/...
Reposted by Margarita Parada-Kusz
The #Drosophila community can donate to the European side to save FlyBase @flybase.bsky.social at the following link:
www.philanthropy.cam.ac.uk/give-to-camb...
www.philanthropy.cam.ac.uk/give-to-camb...
June 3, 2025 at 5:56 PM
The #Drosophila community can donate to the European side to save FlyBase @flybase.bsky.social at the following link:
www.philanthropy.cam.ac.uk/give-to-camb...
www.philanthropy.cam.ac.uk/give-to-camb...
Reposted by Margarita Parada-Kusz
To dissect the gene regulatory networks used to build organisms, we need Perturb-seq-like tools that work in whole animals.
For this purpose, we developed MIC-Drop-seq, a tool that couples high-throughput CRISPR in zebrafish embryos with single-cell RNAseq.
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
For this purpose, we developed MIC-Drop-seq, a tool that couples high-throughput CRISPR in zebrafish embryos with single-cell RNAseq.
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
MIC-Drop-seq: Scalable single-cell phenotyping of mutant vertebrate embryos
Pooled perturbation screens can reveal cellular regulatory networks, yet scaling these techniques for large-scale screens in animals remains challenging. To address this, we developed MIC-Drop-seq, wh...
www.biorxiv.org
June 2, 2025 at 4:13 PM
To dissect the gene regulatory networks used to build organisms, we need Perturb-seq-like tools that work in whole animals.
For this purpose, we developed MIC-Drop-seq, a tool that couples high-throughput CRISPR in zebrafish embryos with single-cell RNAseq.
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
For this purpose, we developed MIC-Drop-seq, a tool that couples high-throughput CRISPR in zebrafish embryos with single-cell RNAseq.
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...