Melanie Pearson
@proteusqueen.bsky.social
Microbiologist, especially Proteus mirabilis and UTIs. U. Michigan. Interested in lots of things. Inveterate lurker.
Reposted by Melanie Pearson
This photo is making the rounds on social media and some have asked if it's legit.
It is.
As the curator of a new exhibit on U-M medical history that opens this weekend, I wanted to share a link showing that it was taken by a LIFE magazine photographer: www.life.com/animals/anim...
#IDsky
It is.
As the curator of a new exhibit on U-M medical history that opens this weekend, I wanted to share a link showing that it was taken by a LIFE magazine photographer: www.life.com/animals/anim...
#IDsky
September 19, 2025 at 11:39 AM
This photo is making the rounds on social media and some have asked if it's legit.
It is.
As the curator of a new exhibit on U-M medical history that opens this weekend, I wanted to share a link showing that it was taken by a LIFE magazine photographer: www.life.com/animals/anim...
#IDsky
It is.
As the curator of a new exhibit on U-M medical history that opens this weekend, I wanted to share a link showing that it was taken by a LIFE magazine photographer: www.life.com/animals/anim...
#IDsky
Really looking forward to this Oct 14 UTI Hour online to learn more about veterinary UTIs! utiga.org/upcoming #UTIsky
September 11, 2025 at 5:25 PM
Really looking forward to this Oct 14 UTI Hour online to learn more about veterinary UTIs! utiga.org/upcoming #UTIsky
Reposted by Melanie Pearson
I may be American, but I’ll never be the Gestapo.
September 10, 2025 at 6:05 PM
I may be American, but I’ll never be the Gestapo.
I normally post to this account for scientific reasons, but I’m excited to share something more personal. I’ve been taking photos from the same spot for a few years. 1/
September 10, 2025 at 2:53 PM
I normally post to this account for scientific reasons, but I’m excited to share something more personal. I’ve been taking photos from the same spot for a few years. 1/
Reposted by Melanie Pearson
Postdoc position (please re-post)
A funded postdoctoral position, will open in 2026 to study aspects of Neisseria gonorrhoeae pathogenesis, antigenic variation, genetics, or physiology.
If interested in more information, please contact Hank Seifert
h-seifert@northwestern.edu
#MicroSky
A funded postdoctoral position, will open in 2026 to study aspects of Neisseria gonorrhoeae pathogenesis, antigenic variation, genetics, or physiology.
If interested in more information, please contact Hank Seifert
h-seifert@northwestern.edu
#MicroSky
September 6, 2025 at 7:32 PM
Postdoc position (please re-post)
A funded postdoctoral position, will open in 2026 to study aspects of Neisseria gonorrhoeae pathogenesis, antigenic variation, genetics, or physiology.
If interested in more information, please contact Hank Seifert
h-seifert@northwestern.edu
#MicroSky
A funded postdoctoral position, will open in 2026 to study aspects of Neisseria gonorrhoeae pathogenesis, antigenic variation, genetics, or physiology.
If interested in more information, please contact Hank Seifert
h-seifert@northwestern.edu
#MicroSky
Reposted by Melanie Pearson
Reposted by Melanie Pearson
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 Melanie Pearson
The practical upshot is that justice delayed is justice denied; or to be more precise, a lab which had to fire all of its researchers and halt work on groundbreaking research isn't going to be able to ever restore itself to the same position it would have been without a multi-year pause in funding.
TL;DR: 5 justices say Trump doesn't have to immediately restore the funding, but 5 *also* signal that the underlying directives are unlawful.
That sends a fairly strong (if mixed) message that Trump will lose these cases *eventually,* but only once they're brought in the Court of Federal Claims.
That sends a fairly strong (if mixed) message that Trump will lose these cases *eventually,* but only once they're brought in the Court of Federal Claims.
Splitting 5-4 (with Chief Justice Roberts joining the three Democratic appointees in dissent), #SCOTUS grants *partial* stay to Trump administration in NIH funding case; holds that challenges to grant terminations (but *not* the underlying guidance) need to be filed in the Court of Federal Claims:
August 21, 2025 at 8:58 PM
The practical upshot is that justice delayed is justice denied; or to be more precise, a lab which had to fire all of its researchers and halt work on groundbreaking research isn't going to be able to ever restore itself to the same position it would have been without a multi-year pause in funding.
Reposted by Melanie Pearson
Are the mRNA vaccines incredible? YES!
Are the mRNA vaccines perfect? No.
Have the mRNA vaccines saved millions of lives? YES!
Can we make the mRNA vaccines even better? YES!
Can we use mRNA vaccine technology to prevent and treat many other diseases? YES!
Fund mRNA research!
Are the mRNA vaccines perfect? No.
Have the mRNA vaccines saved millions of lives? YES!
Can we make the mRNA vaccines even better? YES!
Can we use mRNA vaccine technology to prevent and treat many other diseases? YES!
Fund mRNA research!
August 19, 2025 at 2:54 AM
Are the mRNA vaccines incredible? YES!
Are the mRNA vaccines perfect? No.
Have the mRNA vaccines saved millions of lives? YES!
Can we make the mRNA vaccines even better? YES!
Can we use mRNA vaccine technology to prevent and treat many other diseases? YES!
Fund mRNA research!
Are the mRNA vaccines perfect? No.
Have the mRNA vaccines saved millions of lives? YES!
Can we make the mRNA vaccines even better? YES!
Can we use mRNA vaccine technology to prevent and treat many other diseases? YES!
Fund mRNA research!
Reposted by Melanie Pearson
Reposted by Melanie Pearson
August 12, 2025 at 1:07 PM
New publication from our lab, featuring Dr. Santosh Paudel’s work offers a refined cost-effective approach to study bacterial growth rates during infection @globaluti.bsky.social #UTIsky
Multiplexed PCR to measure in situ growth rates of uropathogenic E. coli during exp. UTI journals.asm.org/doi/10.1128/... @proteusqueen.bsky.social Cost-effective/efficient alt. for studying bacterial replication during infection, offering new info re pathogen behavior/host-microbe interactions.
Multiplexed PCR to measure in situ growth rates of uropathogenic E. coli during experimental urinary tract infection | Applied and Environmental Microbiology
Accurately measuring bacterial growth rates in the host, which plays a crucial role
in determining the success of pathogens in establishing infections, poses significant
challenges. To address this, b...
journals.asm.org
August 5, 2025 at 4:08 PM
New publication from our lab, featuring Dr. Santosh Paudel’s work offers a refined cost-effective approach to study bacterial growth rates during infection @globaluti.bsky.social #UTIsky
Reposted by Melanie Pearson
Just saw this shared. You can see which stations stand to lose more than 50% of their funding adoptastation.org
Adopt A Station - Rescue Public Media
Help preserve independent journalism and community programming across America by adopting a public media station. Congress has voted to rescind public media's funding.
adoptastation.org
July 20, 2025 at 9:57 PM
Just saw this shared. You can see which stations stand to lose more than 50% of their funding adoptastation.org
I really want to know what that Duluth lab found! www.wbur.org/hereandnow/2...
Mysterious lifeform discovered on Great Lakes ship
The crew of a scientific research vessel discovered a strange black goo clinging to their ship. Perplexed, they sent a sample to microbial biologists for analysis, who found DNA.
www.wbur.org
July 11, 2025 at 11:00 PM
I really want to know what that Duluth lab found! www.wbur.org/hereandnow/2...
Tomorrow!
Our #UTIhour is THIS FRIDAY!
📅⏱️ 7/11, 9am EDT/1pm UST
🔗Zoom link in UTIGA.org/upcoming
Our host is Arthika Manoharan, from @sydney.edu.au 🇦🇺
Our theme is Pediatric #UTIs: Characterizing pathogenesis and immune responses 👶🦠
BE THERE OR BE SQUARE
#UTIsky #IDsky
📅⏱️ 7/11, 9am EDT/1pm UST
🔗Zoom link in UTIGA.org/upcoming
Our host is Arthika Manoharan, from @sydney.edu.au 🇦🇺
Our theme is Pediatric #UTIs: Characterizing pathogenesis and immune responses 👶🦠
BE THERE OR BE SQUARE
#UTIsky #IDsky
Urinary Tract Infection Global Alliance
No membership fees
Join now!
UTIGA.org
July 10, 2025 at 1:07 PM
Tomorrow!
I am both a professional microbiologist and a hobbyist gardener and I’m just finding out about mosquito dunks!
If you don't know about mosquito dunks, you should!
They're floating plant material containing a type of bacterium that only attacks mosquito larvae. Just put one in the water and stop mosquitos from hatching.
They're inexpensive and highly effective.
Signed, a friendly bluesky entomologist.
They're floating plant material containing a type of bacterium that only attacks mosquito larvae. Just put one in the water and stop mosquitos from hatching.
They're inexpensive and highly effective.
Signed, a friendly bluesky entomologist.
Hey y’all - heads up that mosquito-borne viral diseases in the US are off to an *early* start this summer. Make sure to cover/bugspray up and reduce standing water around your home (or treat with products like Mosquito Dunks that kill developing larvae!)
July 1, 2025 at 8:48 PM
I am both a professional microbiologist and a hobbyist gardener and I’m just finding out about mosquito dunks!
Reposted by Melanie Pearson
In case you are wondering what it's like for scientists now, every person I saw at the ASM conference asked others in a deeply serious voice "But how are you really?" I thought it was just me, but no, everyone is asking everyone this!
June 23, 2025 at 7:19 PM
In case you are wondering what it's like for scientists now, every person I saw at the ASM conference asked others in a deeply serious voice "But how are you really?" I thought it was just me, but no, everyone is asking everyone this!
Reposted by Melanie Pearson
If you burn down a forest, you don't miss out on lumber for just that season. You have to replant all the trees, nurture them, and wait for them to grow.
The science and research budget cuts happening now are wanton, senseless arson. Recovery, if it ever happens, will take generations.
The science and research budget cuts happening now are wanton, senseless arson. Recovery, if it ever happens, will take generations.
June 3, 2025 at 9:02 PM
If you burn down a forest, you don't miss out on lumber for just that season. You have to replant all the trees, nurture them, and wait for them to grow.
The science and research budget cuts happening now are wanton, senseless arson. Recovery, if it ever happens, will take generations.
The science and research budget cuts happening now are wanton, senseless arson. Recovery, if it ever happens, will take generations.
Reposted by Melanie Pearson
Senator Durbin noted that some (I believe Republican Senators) had indicated the US had been doing more than its share of biomedical research and it was time for other countries take a turn.
I felt I had to interrupt to respond...
I felt I had to interrupt to respond...
May 23, 2025 at 8:53 PM
Senator Durbin noted that some (I believe Republican Senators) had indicated the US had been doing more than its share of biomedical research and it was time for other countries take a turn.
I felt I had to interrupt to respond...
I felt I had to interrupt to respond...
Reposted by Melanie Pearson
Who's calling the shots at NIH?
Sworn testimonies and internal e-mails reveal for the first time the breadth of DOGE's control over the world's largest public biomedical funder.
DOGE has provided lists of hundreds of grants to cut, and DOGE is now reviewing ALL NIH awards before they're released
Sworn testimonies and internal e-mails reveal for the first time the breadth of DOGE's control over the world's largest public biomedical funder.
DOGE has provided lists of hundreds of grants to cut, and DOGE is now reviewing ALL NIH awards before they're released
NIH killed grants on orders from Elon Musk’s DOGE
Court documents and internal correspondence show the cost-cutting force has broad control over the world’s largest public biomedical funder.
www.nature.com
May 21, 2025 at 6:41 PM
Who's calling the shots at NIH?
Sworn testimonies and internal e-mails reveal for the first time the breadth of DOGE's control over the world's largest public biomedical funder.
DOGE has provided lists of hundreds of grants to cut, and DOGE is now reviewing ALL NIH awards before they're released
Sworn testimonies and internal e-mails reveal for the first time the breadth of DOGE's control over the world's largest public biomedical funder.
DOGE has provided lists of hundreds of grants to cut, and DOGE is now reviewing ALL NIH awards before they're released
Reposted by Melanie Pearson
The NIH Director continues to misunderstand (or mischaracterize) the extent to which research is being gutted. I appreciate this program officer for speaking up.
May 19, 2025 at 10:59 PM
The NIH Director continues to misunderstand (or mischaracterize) the extent to which research is being gutted. I appreciate this program officer for speaking up.
Reposted by Melanie Pearson
Last year, Ben Mazer wrote this piece about the revenge of the Covid contrarians all now ensconced as leaders of public health, science & healthcare. but they’re a whole lot of fellow travelers among the liberal establishment who should take some of the blame. 1/ www.theatlantic.com/health/archi...
Revenge of the COVID Contrarians
They’re angry at the public-health establishment. Now they’re in control of it.
www.theatlantic.com
May 9, 2025 at 1:48 PM
Last year, Ben Mazer wrote this piece about the revenge of the Covid contrarians all now ensconced as leaders of public health, science & healthcare. but they’re a whole lot of fellow travelers among the liberal establishment who should take some of the blame. 1/ www.theatlantic.com/health/archi...
Reposted by Melanie Pearson
Most Americans frequently use federal science information. But few are concerned that cuts to federal science spending could affect their access to such information, a new poll finds.
Most Americans use federal science information on a weekly basis, a new poll finds
Most Americans frequently use federal science information. But few are concerned that cuts to federal science spending could affect their access to such information, a new poll finds.
www.npr.org
May 6, 2025 at 10:46 AM
Most Americans frequently use federal science information. But few are concerned that cuts to federal science spending could affect their access to such information, a new poll finds.
Reposted by Melanie Pearson
This report of interview with new NIH Director Jayanta Bhattacharya from @jocelynkaiser.bsky.social reveals a real $hit show...
www.science.org/content/arti...
1/n
www.science.org/content/arti...
1/n
‘It’s been a tough period’: NIH’s new director speaks with Science
Jay Bhattacharya discusses staff morale, grant cuts, and “rumors”
www.science.org
May 6, 2025 at 11:04 AM
This report of interview with new NIH Director Jayanta Bhattacharya from @jocelynkaiser.bsky.social reveals a real $hit show...
www.science.org/content/arti...
1/n
www.science.org/content/arti...
1/n
Reposted by Melanie Pearson
Bezos plans to sell ~$4.8 billion of Amazon stock. That's only 2.5% of his holdings in the company.
That sale roughly equals the proposed ~50% cut to NSF.
IOW, with modest endowment-level growth of Amazon, Bezos could fund the entire NSF shortfall into perpetuity.
www.cnbc.com/2025/05/02/j...
That sale roughly equals the proposed ~50% cut to NSF.
IOW, with modest endowment-level growth of Amazon, Bezos could fund the entire NSF shortfall into perpetuity.
www.cnbc.com/2025/05/02/j...
May 2, 2025 at 8:49 PM
Bezos plans to sell ~$4.8 billion of Amazon stock. That's only 2.5% of his holdings in the company.
That sale roughly equals the proposed ~50% cut to NSF.
IOW, with modest endowment-level growth of Amazon, Bezos could fund the entire NSF shortfall into perpetuity.
www.cnbc.com/2025/05/02/j...
That sale roughly equals the proposed ~50% cut to NSF.
IOW, with modest endowment-level growth of Amazon, Bezos could fund the entire NSF shortfall into perpetuity.
www.cnbc.com/2025/05/02/j...