MSU MGI
@msumgi.bsky.social
The official Bluesky account of the Department of Microbiology, Genetics, & Immunology of Michigan State University.
This week's MGI seminar was a promotion seminar given by Dr. Kaz Kashefi. His talk was entitled, "Life at the Limits: Extremophiles as a Gateway to Student-Drive Scientific Discovery." Thank you for a great talk, Dr. Kashefi!
February 18, 2026 at 3:51 PM
This week's MGI seminar was a promotion seminar given by Dr. Kaz Kashefi. His talk was entitled, "Life at the Limits: Extremophiles as a Gateway to Student-Drive Scientific Discovery." Thank you for a great talk, Dr. Kashefi!
Sydney Chen, an MGI graduate student in the Lebeis Lab, gave the second Work in Progress seminar this week. Her research explores how a plant’s immune system shapes the tiny microbial communities that live inside its roots.
February 17, 2026 at 9:25 PM
Sydney Chen, an MGI graduate student in the Lebeis Lab, gave the second Work in Progress seminar this week. Her research explores how a plant’s immune system shapes the tiny microbial communities that live inside its roots.
Han Wen is an MGI doctoral candidate in Dr. Zhiyong Xi's lab who gave one of this week's Work in Progress seminars. Wen discussed his work establishing a line of Wolbachia-infected Anopheles stephensi, a type of mosquito.
February 17, 2026 at 8:52 PM
Han Wen is an MGI doctoral candidate in Dr. Zhiyong Xi's lab who gave one of this week's Work in Progress seminars. Wen discussed his work establishing a line of Wolbachia-infected Anopheles stephensi, a type of mosquito.
This week's MGI Research Seminar was given - virtually, no less - by Dr. Jannell Bazurto of the Univ. of Minnesota. She spoke about "Formaldehyde Homeostasis: Do or Die." Thank you for a fantastic talk!
February 12, 2026 at 7:04 PM
This week's MGI Research Seminar was given - virtually, no less - by Dr. Jannell Bazurto of the Univ. of Minnesota. She spoke about "Formaldehyde Homeostasis: Do or Die." Thank you for a fantastic talk!
MGI Asst Prof Zachary Blount @zdblount.bsky.social is giving a talk in celebration of Darwin Day TONIGHT at 7 pm called "Today’s Junk, Tomorrow’s Triumph: Lessons on Evolutionary Contingency, Inertia, and Innovation from the Long-Term Evolution Experiment with E. coli."
Today’s Junk, Tomorrow’s Triumph: Lessons on Evolutionary Contingency, Inertia, and Innovation from the Long-Term Evolution Experiment with E. coli
tinyurl.com
February 12, 2026 at 6:23 PM
MGI Asst Prof Zachary Blount @zdblount.bsky.social is giving a talk in celebration of Darwin Day TONIGHT at 7 pm called "Today’s Junk, Tomorrow’s Triumph: Lessons on Evolutionary Contingency, Inertia, and Innovation from the Long-Term Evolution Experiment with E. coli."
Kasumi Nakagawa is a visiting researcher in the Rowe Lab @electromicrowe.bsky.social who gave a Work in Progress seminar this week.
Nakagawa studies electricity-producing bacteria derived from traditional Japanese indigo (Aizome) vats.
Nakagawa studies electricity-producing bacteria derived from traditional Japanese indigo (Aizome) vats.
February 10, 2026 at 10:53 PM
Kasumi Nakagawa is a visiting researcher in the Rowe Lab @electromicrowe.bsky.social who gave a Work in Progress seminar this week.
Nakagawa studies electricity-producing bacteria derived from traditional Japanese indigo (Aizome) vats.
Nakagawa studies electricity-producing bacteria derived from traditional Japanese indigo (Aizome) vats.
Pranesh Rao, an MGI doctoral student in the Barrick Lab, presented a Work in Progress seminar today.
Rao's project aims to study the long-term E. coli evolution experiment to link specific DNA changes to how well bacteria grow.
Rao's project aims to study the long-term E. coli evolution experiment to link specific DNA changes to how well bacteria grow.
February 9, 2026 at 9:37 PM
Pranesh Rao, an MGI doctoral student in the Barrick Lab, presented a Work in Progress seminar today.
Rao's project aims to study the long-term E. coli evolution experiment to link specific DNA changes to how well bacteria grow.
Rao's project aims to study the long-term E. coli evolution experiment to link specific DNA changes to how well bacteria grow.
BPS is a winter wonderland today!
February 6, 2026 at 3:40 PM
BPS is a winter wonderland today!
Abdul-Halim Osman of the Giri Lab at Henry Ford Health is studying how phenylalanine and gut microbes shape immune responses that ultimately affect the brain in diseases like multiple sclerosis. He presented his work at this week's Work in Progress Seminar.
February 5, 2026 at 5:08 PM
Abdul-Halim Osman of the Giri Lab at Henry Ford Health is studying how phenylalanine and gut microbes shape immune responses that ultimately affect the brain in diseases like multiple sclerosis. He presented his work at this week's Work in Progress Seminar.
MGI grad student Chris Chavtur (@crchavtur97.bsky.social) of the Rowe Lab (@electromicrowe.bsky.social) gave one of this week's Work in Progress seminars.
February 5, 2026 at 4:16 PM
MGI grad student Chris Chavtur (@crchavtur97.bsky.social) of the Rowe Lab (@electromicrowe.bsky.social) gave one of this week's Work in Progress seminars.
MGI graduate student Ira Zibbu of the Barrick Lab will be speaking tonight at Biology on Tap. The talk is open to the public - see details below!
If you're in the Lansing area this week, you have to stop by!
I'm giving a public talk at Biology on Tap on how watching microbes as they evolve in the lab can help us figure out some fundamental questions about the nature of evolution.
Venue: Michigan Wildlife Conservancy
When: 05 Feb 2026, 7pm
I'm giving a public talk at Biology on Tap on how watching microbes as they evolve in the lab can help us figure out some fundamental questions about the nature of evolution.
Venue: Michigan Wildlife Conservancy
When: 05 Feb 2026, 7pm
February 5, 2026 at 1:45 PM
MGI graduate student Ira Zibbu of the Barrick Lab will be speaking tonight at Biology on Tap. The talk is open to the public - see details below!
MGI PhD students Camille Boucaud & Briana Tell of the Heath-Heckman lab (@drheathheckman.bsky.social) recently presented research posters at the SICB conference in Portland, OR. Boucaud's attendance was made possible in part by the SICB Charlotte Magnum Travel Award she received. Great work!
January 29, 2026 at 9:55 PM
MGI PhD students Camille Boucaud & Briana Tell of the Heath-Heckman lab (@drheathheckman.bsky.social) recently presented research posters at the SICB conference in Portland, OR. Boucaud's attendance was made possible in part by the SICB Charlotte Magnum Travel Award she received. Great work!
Congratulations to Josh Lensmire, this year's recipient of the MGI Early Career Award! Yesterday, he delivered a wonderful research seminar, and today he is giving a seminar entitled "Beyond the PhD" about careers in industry.
January 28, 2026 at 4:19 PM
Congratulations to Josh Lensmire, this year's recipient of the MGI Early Career Award! Yesterday, he delivered a wonderful research seminar, and today he is giving a seminar entitled "Beyond the PhD" about careers in industry.
Today's Work in Progress seminars were given by Maria Guzman of the Reguera Lab (@microgem.bsky.social) and Sarah Gonzalez Henao of the Schrenk Lab.
Join us each Monday at noon in 1425 BPS to hear our grad students talk about their research!
Join us each Monday at noon in 1425 BPS to hear our grad students talk about their research!
January 26, 2026 at 9:10 PM
Today's Work in Progress seminars were given by Maria Guzman of the Reguera Lab (@microgem.bsky.social) and Sarah Gonzalez Henao of the Schrenk Lab.
Join us each Monday at noon in 1425 BPS to hear our grad students talk about their research!
Join us each Monday at noon in 1425 BPS to hear our grad students talk about their research!
Next up in our Micro Biography series is Bobby Zuniga, MGI's first graduate student working in a lab at @henryfordhealth.bsky.social!
Read about Bobby and his research here: mgi.natsci.msu.edu/people/micro...
Read about Bobby and his research here: mgi.natsci.msu.edu/people/micro...
January 26, 2026 at 4:22 PM
Next up in our Micro Biography series is Bobby Zuniga, MGI's first graduate student working in a lab at @henryfordhealth.bsky.social!
Read about Bobby and his research here: mgi.natsci.msu.edu/people/micro...
Read about Bobby and his research here: mgi.natsci.msu.edu/people/micro...
Reposted by MSU MGI
New pre-print from the lab! Lead by Mariia Mikhova and in collaboration with Kefei Yu’s lab @msumgi.bsky.social we dug into the molecular mechanism of class switch recombination in B cells using simultaneous RNA and protein single-molecule imaging. 1/n
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.6...
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.6...
January 23, 2026 at 2:49 PM
New pre-print from the lab! Lead by Mariia Mikhova and in collaboration with Kefei Yu’s lab @msumgi.bsky.social we dug into the molecular mechanism of class switch recombination in B cells using simultaneous RNA and protein single-molecule imaging. 1/n
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.6...
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.6...
Join us for our latest "Moment of Science" with MGI undergrad Drew Johnson of the Waters Lab. Here he shows us how to culture cholera in a low-tech lab environment.
January 23, 2026 at 2:26 PM
Join us for our latest "Moment of Science" with MGI undergrad Drew Johnson of the Waters Lab. Here he shows us how to culture cholera in a low-tech lab environment.
Vaughn Cooper’s new Scientific American article offers a clear look at the potential threats posed by mirror‑life. He trained with MGI's Rich Lenski @relenski.bsky.social, whose contributions to the field are referenced in the piece. Important context for a complex topic.
What could mirror bacteria do in nature if created? A story of these prospects and a plan to prevent them.
Titles aside, I hope you'll read it (the tech is NOT close). Thanks to Tom Freeman for writing help & @jfischman.bsky.social for ace editing! www.scientificamerican.com/article/life...
Titles aside, I hope you'll read it (the tech is NOT close). Thanks to Tom Freeman for writing help & @jfischman.bsky.social for ace editing! www.scientificamerican.com/article/life...
Life’s evil twins, called mirror cells, could wipe us out if scientists don’t stop them
Researchers are close to making “reversed” cells that may wipe us off the planet
www.scientificamerican.com
January 22, 2026 at 8:27 PM
Vaughn Cooper’s new Scientific American article offers a clear look at the potential threats posed by mirror‑life. He trained with MGI's Rich Lenski @relenski.bsky.social, whose contributions to the field are referenced in the piece. Important context for a complex topic.
This week's MGI Research Seminar by given by our very own Aretha Fiebig. Her talk, entitled "Microbial Physiology in an Ecosystem Context," was delivered to a standing-room-only crowd.
January 21, 2026 at 9:31 PM
This week's MGI Research Seminar by given by our very own Aretha Fiebig. Her talk, entitled "Microbial Physiology in an Ecosystem Context," was delivered to a standing-room-only crowd.
Thank you to Dr. Kevin Theis of Wayne State University for delivering today's MGI Research Seminar. His talk was entitled "The hologenomics of reproduction."
January 13, 2026 at 6:18 PM
Thank you to Dr. Kevin Theis of Wayne State University for delivering today's MGI Research Seminar. His talk was entitled "The hologenomics of reproduction."
Today we kicked off our Work in Progress Seminars for the spring semester with an excellent talk by Dr. Zack D. Blount (@zdblount.bsky.social).
He led a terrific discussion about the morality of science and knowing when you should do something vs. knowing that you can.
He led a terrific discussion about the morality of science and knowing when you should do something vs. knowing that you can.
January 12, 2026 at 8:42 PM
Today we kicked off our Work in Progress Seminars for the spring semester with an excellent talk by Dr. Zack D. Blount (@zdblount.bsky.social).
He led a terrific discussion about the morality of science and knowing when you should do something vs. knowing that you can.
He led a terrific discussion about the morality of science and knowing when you should do something vs. knowing that you can.
Welcome back, students, and happy spring semester! We missed you!
January 12, 2026 at 2:52 PM
Welcome back, students, and happy spring semester! We missed you!
MGI Prof. Chris Contag is a significant contributor to this work: MSU researchers have created the first human heart-like “organoids” that enable the study of atrial fibrillation. The models also enable new ways of evaluating heart development, diseases & drug responses.
In a recent study, O'Hern, @aaguirre1980.bsky.social et al., also from @msu-medicine.bsky.social & @msumgi.bsky.social revealed that TRMPs modulate cardiac signaling, clear dead cells through efferocytosis, & regulate extracellular matrix remodeling and electrical conduction.
December 22, 2025 at 3:00 PM
MGI Prof. Chris Contag is a significant contributor to this work: MSU researchers have created the first human heart-like “organoids” that enable the study of atrial fibrillation. The models also enable new ways of evaluating heart development, diseases & drug responses.
New in @mbio.bsky.social : MGI PhD student Heather Murdoch of the @abramovitch.bsky.social Lab explores how TB bacteria adapt their metabolism in acidic conditions and what the changes might mean for treatment.
Read it here: tinyurl.com/ybsy6hxm
Read it here: tinyurl.com/ybsy6hxm
December 18, 2025 at 4:44 PM
New in @mbio.bsky.social : MGI PhD student Heather Murdoch of the @abramovitch.bsky.social Lab explores how TB bacteria adapt their metabolism in acidic conditions and what the changes might mean for treatment.
Read it here: tinyurl.com/ybsy6hxm
Read it here: tinyurl.com/ybsy6hxm
Next up in our Micro Biography series is Adam Kibiloski, an MGI doctoral candidate in the Abramovitch lab (@abramovitch.bsky.social).
Read more here: tinyurl.com/24cp4pzy
Read more here: tinyurl.com/24cp4pzy
December 16, 2025 at 3:48 PM
Next up in our Micro Biography series is Adam Kibiloski, an MGI doctoral candidate in the Abramovitch lab (@abramovitch.bsky.social).
Read more here: tinyurl.com/24cp4pzy
Read more here: tinyurl.com/24cp4pzy