Ronan McCarthy
@ronanmccarthy.bsky.social
Professor at Brunel University of London. Into all things Antibiotic Resistance, Drug Discovery, Biofilms and Signalling
Reposted by Ronan McCarthy
Gene dependence during mammalian Acinetobacter baumannii pneumonia and septicaemia infections. Published Open Access and fee-free in MGen using a Publish and Read agreement: doi.org/10.1099/mgen... #MGen #PublishAndRead
December 22, 2025 at 11:02 AM
Gene dependence during mammalian Acinetobacter baumannii pneumonia and septicaemia infections. Published Open Access and fee-free in MGen using a Publish and Read agreement: doi.org/10.1099/mgen... #MGen #PublishAndRead
Reposted by Ronan McCarthy
I had a great time chatting with 7th and 8th graders in New York through @skypeascientist.bsky.social!
We covered things from antibiotics resistance to what it’s like to be a researcher. Their curiosity and questions really reminded me why sharing science matters 💡🙌
We covered things from antibiotics resistance to what it’s like to be a researcher. Their curiosity and questions really reminded me why sharing science matters 💡🙌
December 19, 2025 at 5:36 PM
I had a great time chatting with 7th and 8th graders in New York through @skypeascientist.bsky.social!
We covered things from antibiotics resistance to what it’s like to be a researcher. Their curiosity and questions really reminded me why sharing science matters 💡🙌
We covered things from antibiotics resistance to what it’s like to be a researcher. Their curiosity and questions really reminded me why sharing science matters 💡🙌
Delighted to share the latest from the lab where we explore the efficacy of over-the-counter wound care products against bacterial biofilms
(Spoiler Alert: Some are much better than others)
academic.oup.com/jacamr/artic...
(Spoiler Alert: Some are much better than others)
academic.oup.com/jacamr/artic...
Comparative study of common over-the-counter wound care products against early and mature biofilms of antibiotic-resistant wound pathogens
AbstractBackground. The global rise of antimicrobial resistance requires innovative and affordable wound care solutions. Moreover, managing wounds infected
academic.oup.com
December 18, 2025 at 12:44 PM
Delighted to share the latest from the lab where we explore the efficacy of over-the-counter wound care products against bacterial biofilms
(Spoiler Alert: Some are much better than others)
academic.oup.com/jacamr/artic...
(Spoiler Alert: Some are much better than others)
academic.oup.com/jacamr/artic...
Reposted by Ronan McCarthy
We're advertising for a bacteriology technician and a post-doc to work on AI-guided antibiotic development as part of a large multidisciplinary Fleming Initiative project:
www.imperial.ac.uk/jobs/search-...
www.imperial.ac.uk/jobs/search-...
www.imperial.ac.uk/jobs/search-...
www.imperial.ac.uk/jobs/search-...
Description
Please note that job descriptions are not exhaustive, and you may be asked to take on additional duties that align with the key responsibilities ment...
www.imperial.ac.uk
December 3, 2025 at 7:23 AM
We're advertising for a bacteriology technician and a post-doc to work on AI-guided antibiotic development as part of a large multidisciplinary Fleming Initiative project:
www.imperial.ac.uk/jobs/search-...
www.imperial.ac.uk/jobs/search-...
www.imperial.ac.uk/jobs/search-...
www.imperial.ac.uk/jobs/search-...
Reposted by Ronan McCarthy
PhD Opportunity: Advance UTI treatment with on-chip tech! 🔬🧫
Work at the microbiology-bioengineering interface with Hywel Morgan, @fnobrega.bsky.social and me.
Program EPSRC/MOD CISDnS CDT cisdns-cdt.ac.uk
Co-funded by IfLS Southampton
tinyurl.com/infoUTI
tinyurl.com/applyUTI
Deadline: 8 Dec 2025
Work at the microbiology-bioengineering interface with Hywel Morgan, @fnobrega.bsky.social and me.
Program EPSRC/MOD CISDnS CDT cisdns-cdt.ac.uk
Co-funded by IfLS Southampton
tinyurl.com/infoUTI
tinyurl.com/applyUTI
Deadline: 8 Dec 2025
Advancing urinary tract infection treatment through on-chip technological innovation at University of Southampton on FindAPhD.com
PhD Project - Advancing urinary tract infection treatment through on-chip technological innovation at University of Southampton, listed on FindAPhD.com
tinyurl.com
November 26, 2025 at 11:24 AM
PhD Opportunity: Advance UTI treatment with on-chip tech! 🔬🧫
Work at the microbiology-bioengineering interface with Hywel Morgan, @fnobrega.bsky.social and me.
Program EPSRC/MOD CISDnS CDT cisdns-cdt.ac.uk
Co-funded by IfLS Southampton
tinyurl.com/infoUTI
tinyurl.com/applyUTI
Deadline: 8 Dec 2025
Work at the microbiology-bioengineering interface with Hywel Morgan, @fnobrega.bsky.social and me.
Program EPSRC/MOD CISDnS CDT cisdns-cdt.ac.uk
Co-funded by IfLS Southampton
tinyurl.com/infoUTI
tinyurl.com/applyUTI
Deadline: 8 Dec 2025
Reposted by Ronan McCarthy
Really excited to say that we have been awarded a BBSRC sLola! Really looking forward to kick off this project with such a fantastic team! @webberma.bsky.social @overtonlab.bsky.social @bugsinblood.bsky.social Sara Jabbari, Dong-Hyun Kim @imibirmingham.bsky.social www.ukri.org/news/powerin...
Powering team science to unlock life’s secrets
Four world-class teams awarded major BBSRC sLoLa grants to push the frontiers of discovery in microbiology, photosynthesis, gene regulation and quantum biology.
www.ukri.org
November 18, 2025 at 9:48 AM
Really excited to say that we have been awarded a BBSRC sLola! Really looking forward to kick off this project with such a fantastic team! @webberma.bsky.social @overtonlab.bsky.social @bugsinblood.bsky.social Sara Jabbari, Dong-Hyun Kim @imibirmingham.bsky.social www.ukri.org/news/powerin...
Reposted by Ronan McCarthy
Reposted by Ronan McCarthy
So happy to share this! Bacteriocins were first discovered over 100 years ago, but what do they actually do? We look at >1000 bacteriocin plasmids and find links to virulence and antimicrobial resistance, and frequent bacteriocin sharing in Enterobacteriaceae.
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
Bacterial warfare is associated with virulence and antimicrobial resistance - Nature Communications
Bacteria employ a range of competition systems that deliver toxins to inhibit competing strains. This study shows that these systems are particularly important for the ecology of virulent and antibiot...
www.nature.com
November 5, 2025 at 7:32 AM
So happy to share this! Bacteriocins were first discovered over 100 years ago, but what do they actually do? We look at >1000 bacteriocin plasmids and find links to virulence and antimicrobial resistance, and frequent bacteriocin sharing in Enterobacteriaceae.
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
Reposted by Ronan McCarthy
If you are interested in researching how drug resistant bacteria evade killing by our immune system, them this PhD project is for you. Come join the our team at Newcastle, in collaboration with University of Liverpool, and lead research at the interface of microbiology, immunology and metabolomics.
MRC DiMeN Doctoral Training Partnership: Hiding in plain sight: How multi-drug resistant pathogens evade detection and killing by human neutrophils at Newcastle University on FindAPhD.com
PhD Project - MRC DiMeN Doctoral Training Partnership: Hiding in plain sight: How multi-drug resistant pathogens evade detection and killing by human neutrophils at Newcastle University, listed on Fin...
www.findaphd.com
November 2, 2025 at 8:22 PM
If you are interested in researching how drug resistant bacteria evade killing by our immune system, them this PhD project is for you. Come join the our team at Newcastle, in collaboration with University of Liverpool, and lead research at the interface of microbiology, immunology and metabolomics.
Reposted by Ronan McCarthy
Paul Nurse describing the main job of a PI
(From ‘The Thinking Game’, 2024)
(From ‘The Thinking Game’, 2024)
October 31, 2025 at 8:45 AM
Paul Nurse describing the main job of a PI
(From ‘The Thinking Game’, 2024)
(From ‘The Thinking Game’, 2024)
I'm delighted to share that I have joined the School of Biological Sciences at @unisouthampton.bsky.social as Professor in Microbial Biofilms. I'm very excited about this next step in my academic journey and the opportunity to work more closely with all the great scientists at Southampton and
October 23, 2025 at 5:49 AM
I'm delighted to share that I have joined the School of Biological Sciences at @unisouthampton.bsky.social as Professor in Microbial Biofilms. I'm very excited about this next step in my academic journey and the opportunity to work more closely with all the great scientists at Southampton and
Reposted by Ronan McCarthy
Join us in Birmingham for the annual BSAC #AntibioticResistance & Mechanisms workshop - excellent talks and it’s designed to make conversation & networking between attendees easy #MicroSky bsac.org.uk/antibiotic-r...
Antibiotic Resistance and Mechanisms (ARM) Workshop for Researchers 2025 - The British Society for Antimicrobial Chemotherapy
bsac.org.uk
October 21, 2025 at 7:59 AM
Join us in Birmingham for the annual BSAC #AntibioticResistance & Mechanisms workshop - excellent talks and it’s designed to make conversation & networking between attendees easy #MicroSky bsac.org.uk/antibiotic-r...
Reposted by Ronan McCarthy
📝 Call for abstracts is open for #ACC2026!
Researchers are invited to share their work on #AMR for short talks or poster presentations.
💡 Themes: child & maternal health, stewardship & access, clinical research, AI in health & more.
⏳ Deadline: 14 Nov 2025, 17:00 GMT
🔗 acc-conference.com#posters
Researchers are invited to share their work on #AMR for short talks or poster presentations.
💡 Themes: child & maternal health, stewardship & access, clinical research, AI in health & more.
⏳ Deadline: 14 Nov 2025, 17:00 GMT
🔗 acc-conference.com#posters
October 8, 2025 at 6:15 AM
📝 Call for abstracts is open for #ACC2026!
Researchers are invited to share their work on #AMR for short talks or poster presentations.
💡 Themes: child & maternal health, stewardship & access, clinical research, AI in health & more.
⏳ Deadline: 14 Nov 2025, 17:00 GMT
🔗 acc-conference.com#posters
Researchers are invited to share their work on #AMR for short talks or poster presentations.
💡 Themes: child & maternal health, stewardship & access, clinical research, AI in health & more.
⏳ Deadline: 14 Nov 2025, 17:00 GMT
🔗 acc-conference.com#posters
Reposted by Ronan McCarthy
Now published! www.nature.com/articles/s41...
Very nice collaboration with Hoogenboom ( @ucl.ac.uk ) and Bonev ( @uniofnottingham.bsky.social ) labs.
Very nice collaboration with Hoogenboom ( @ucl.ac.uk ) and Bonev ( @uniofnottingham.bsky.social ) labs.
September 29, 2025 at 2:24 PM
Now published! www.nature.com/articles/s41...
Very nice collaboration with Hoogenboom ( @ucl.ac.uk ) and Bonev ( @uniofnottingham.bsky.social ) labs.
Very nice collaboration with Hoogenboom ( @ucl.ac.uk ) and Bonev ( @uniofnottingham.bsky.social ) labs.
Delighted to share that Lyuboslava Harkova passed her PhD viva today with only minor corrections. Her thesis focused on virulence regulation in Acinetobacter baumannii. Special thanks to Prof Jake Malone and Dr Ayca Sayi Yazgan for being fantastic examiners
October 1, 2025 at 10:48 PM
Delighted to share that Lyuboslava Harkova passed her PhD viva today with only minor corrections. Her thesis focused on virulence regulation in Acinetobacter baumannii. Special thanks to Prof Jake Malone and Dr Ayca Sayi Yazgan for being fantastic examiners
Delighted to share that @evgeniamaslova.bsky.social passed her PhD viva today with only minor corrections. Her project focused on novel models to study wound infection. Thank you to the @nc3rs.bsky.social for funding her PhD and @flamycain.bsky.social and Anthony Tsolaki for being superb examiners.
September 29, 2025 at 10:40 PM
Delighted to share that @evgeniamaslova.bsky.social passed her PhD viva today with only minor corrections. Her project focused on novel models to study wound infection. Thank you to the @nc3rs.bsky.social for funding her PhD and @flamycain.bsky.social and Anthony Tsolaki for being superb examiners.
Reposted by Ronan McCarthy
Cyclic-di-GMP signalling mutants drive ecological succession and self-generated diversity in experimentally evolved biofilms of Pseudomonas aeruginosa
Microbiology from @webberma.bsky.social
www.microbiologyresearch.org/content/jour...
Microbiology from @webberma.bsky.social
www.microbiologyresearch.org/content/jour...
Cyclic-di-GMP signalling mutants drive ecological succession and self-generated diversity in experimentally evolved biofilms of Pseudomonas aeruginosa
Biofilms represent a discrete form of microbial life which are physiologically distinct from free-living planktonic cells. The altered phenotypic manifestations of the biofilm may also elicit lifestyl...
www.microbiologyresearch.org
September 16, 2025 at 10:22 AM
Cyclic-di-GMP signalling mutants drive ecological succession and self-generated diversity in experimentally evolved biofilms of Pseudomonas aeruginosa
Microbiology from @webberma.bsky.social
www.microbiologyresearch.org/content/jour...
Microbiology from @webberma.bsky.social
www.microbiologyresearch.org/content/jour...
Reposted by Ronan McCarthy
New paper alert! Serial selection for hyper-biofilm production identifies c-di-GMP as central to genetic control and phenotypic dynamics. @microbiologysociety.org @webberma.bsky.social www.microbiologyresearch.org/content/jour...
Cyclic-di-GMP signalling mutants drive ecological succession and self-generated diversity in experimentally evolved biofilms of Pseudomonas aeruginosa
Biofilms represent a discrete form of microbial life which are physiologically distinct from free-living planktonic cells. The altered phenotypic manifestations of the biofilm may also elicit lifestyl...
www.microbiologyresearch.org
September 15, 2025 at 7:13 PM
New paper alert! Serial selection for hyper-biofilm production identifies c-di-GMP as central to genetic control and phenotypic dynamics. @microbiologysociety.org @webberma.bsky.social www.microbiologyresearch.org/content/jour...
Reposted by Ronan McCarthy
Delighted to announce the launch of the BBSRC-funded UK-wide microbiome innovation network Microbiome-Net.
I'm looking forward to representing and furthering the East Midlands Microbiome Research Network's contributions to research, innovation and policy.
www.liverpool.ac.uk/microbiome-i...
I'm looking forward to representing and furthering the East Midlands Microbiome Research Network's contributions to research, innovation and policy.
www.liverpool.ac.uk/microbiome-i...
Stories - Microbiome Innovation Centre - University of Liverpool
www.liverpool.ac.uk
September 13, 2025 at 6:30 AM
Delighted to announce the launch of the BBSRC-funded UK-wide microbiome innovation network Microbiome-Net.
I'm looking forward to representing and furthering the East Midlands Microbiome Research Network's contributions to research, innovation and policy.
www.liverpool.ac.uk/microbiome-i...
I'm looking forward to representing and furthering the East Midlands Microbiome Research Network's contributions to research, innovation and policy.
www.liverpool.ac.uk/microbiome-i...
Reposted by Ronan McCarthy
So excited our antibiotic potentiation story is out 🤩 Led by the extraordinary @manonlang.bsky.social with @fox-science.bsky.social & @amazeld.bsky.social +amazing collaborators @immunobladder.bsky.social @imaneelmeouche.bsky.social 🦠 We believe it can make a difference in #AMR infections!
Uridine as a potentiator of aminoglycosides through activation of carbohydrate transporters
Uridine boosts aminoglycoside treatment efficiency against antibiotic-susceptible as well as antibiotic-resistant E. coli strains.
www.science.org
September 6, 2025 at 9:35 AM
So excited our antibiotic potentiation story is out 🤩 Led by the extraordinary @manonlang.bsky.social with @fox-science.bsky.social & @amazeld.bsky.social +amazing collaborators @immunobladder.bsky.social @imaneelmeouche.bsky.social 🦠 We believe it can make a difference in #AMR infections!
Reposted by Ronan McCarthy
Delighted with our new paper on a novel itaconate transporter in the human pathogen Pseudomonas aeruginosa, led by Javeria and Reyme. @ybri-uoy.bsky.social @javeriamehboob.bsky.social @bethkw.bsky.social A duplicated transporter on its way to itaconate selectivity
portlandpress.com/biochemj/art...
portlandpress.com/biochemj/art...
Itaconate utilisation by the human pathogen Pseudomonas aeruginosa requires uptake via the IctPQM TRAP transporter
Pseudomonas aeruginosa PA01 is one of the major causes of disease persistence and mortality in patients with lung pathologies, relying on various host metabolites as carbon and energy sources for grow...
portlandpress.com
September 2, 2025 at 7:57 AM
Delighted with our new paper on a novel itaconate transporter in the human pathogen Pseudomonas aeruginosa, led by Javeria and Reyme. @ybri-uoy.bsky.social @javeriamehboob.bsky.social @bethkw.bsky.social A duplicated transporter on its way to itaconate selectivity
portlandpress.com/biochemj/art...
portlandpress.com/biochemj/art...
Reposted by Ronan McCarthy
Sub-cellular chemical mapping in bacteria using correlated cryogenic electron and mass spectrometry imaging
Congrats Hannah Ochner and authors on this important paper! Strong collaboration with @kiranrpatil.bsky.social
www.biorxiv.org/cgi/content/...
@mrclmb.bsky.social @wellcometrust.bsky.social
Congrats Hannah Ochner and authors on this important paper! Strong collaboration with @kiranrpatil.bsky.social
www.biorxiv.org/cgi/content/...
@mrclmb.bsky.social @wellcometrust.bsky.social
August 31, 2025 at 6:44 PM
Sub-cellular chemical mapping in bacteria using correlated cryogenic electron and mass spectrometry imaging
Congrats Hannah Ochner and authors on this important paper! Strong collaboration with @kiranrpatil.bsky.social
www.biorxiv.org/cgi/content/...
@mrclmb.bsky.social @wellcometrust.bsky.social
Congrats Hannah Ochner and authors on this important paper! Strong collaboration with @kiranrpatil.bsky.social
www.biorxiv.org/cgi/content/...
@mrclmb.bsky.social @wellcometrust.bsky.social
Reposted by Ronan McCarthy
New preprint from the lab, in collaboration with Ed Tate, Nate Traaseth and many others!
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
Small molecule inhibitors of the NorA multidrug efflux pump potentiate antibiotic activity by binding the outward-open conformation
Antibiotic resistance is among the greatest threats of the modern era. Multidrug efflux pumps expel antibiotics from bacterial cells and present a particular challenge by conferring resistance to a br...
www.biorxiv.org
August 23, 2025 at 11:24 AM
New preprint from the lab, in collaboration with Ed Tate, Nate Traaseth and many others!
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
Reposted by Ronan McCarthy
Check out the first preprint from our lab describing a direct molecular cross-talk between (p)ppGpp and c-di-GMP nucleotide messengers! Great work from first-author Corentin Jaboulay who was a postdoc in our lab, and great collaborations! @mmsb-lyon.bsky.social @cnrsbiologie.bsky.social
Cross-regulation of (p)ppGpp and c-di-GMP pathways controls a cell-cycle transition https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1101/2025.08.22.671821v1
August 24, 2025 at 7:48 AM
Check out the first preprint from our lab describing a direct molecular cross-talk between (p)ppGpp and c-di-GMP nucleotide messengers! Great work from first-author Corentin Jaboulay who was a postdoc in our lab, and great collaborations! @mmsb-lyon.bsky.social @cnrsbiologie.bsky.social
Reposted by Ronan McCarthy
New paper out!
This work is finally published! 🥳🧬
Plasmids are associated with very variable fitness costs in their different bacterial hosts. But, what is the contribution of each of the plasmid-genes in these host-specific effects? Study led by
@jorgesastred.bsky.social, @sanmillan.bsky.social and myself! 1/14
Plasmids are associated with very variable fitness costs in their different bacterial hosts. But, what is the contribution of each of the plasmid-genes in these host-specific effects? Study led by
@jorgesastred.bsky.social, @sanmillan.bsky.social and myself! 1/14
Dissecting pOXA-48 fitness effects in clinical Enterobacterales using plasmid-wide CRISPRi screens
Nature Communications - This study investigates the effects of the carbapenem resistance plasmid pOXA-48 in clinical enterobacteria. Using CRISPRi screens, the authors revealed that the...
rdcu.be
August 20, 2025 at 3:00 PM
New paper out!