Stefan Rothenburg
@stefanrothenburg.bsky.social
Virology, Host-Virus Interactions and Evolution, Poxviruses, Arboviruses, PKR, RNase L, Translational Regulation
University of California, Davis
https://health.ucdavis.edu/medmicro/faculty/rothenburg/
University of California, Davis
https://health.ucdavis.edu/medmicro/faculty/rothenburg/
Pinned
Now with the correct link:
We reviewed the "Molecular Mechanisms of Poxvirus Evolution"
We show that poxviruses have highly adaptable genomes, and are not sluggishly evolving, as often described.
journals.asm.org/doi/10.1128/...
We reviewed the "Molecular Mechanisms of Poxvirus Evolution"
We show that poxviruses have highly adaptable genomes, and are not sluggishly evolving, as often described.
journals.asm.org/doi/10.1128/...
Now with the correct link:
We reviewed the "Molecular Mechanisms of Poxvirus Evolution"
We show that poxviruses have highly adaptable genomes, and are not sluggishly evolving, as often described.
journals.asm.org/doi/10.1128/...
We reviewed the "Molecular Mechanisms of Poxvirus Evolution"
We show that poxviruses have highly adaptable genomes, and are not sluggishly evolving, as often described.
journals.asm.org/doi/10.1128/...
October 16, 2025 at 7:20 PM
Now with the correct link:
We reviewed the "Molecular Mechanisms of Poxvirus Evolution"
We show that poxviruses have highly adaptable genomes, and are not sluggishly evolving, as often described.
journals.asm.org/doi/10.1128/...
We reviewed the "Molecular Mechanisms of Poxvirus Evolution"
We show that poxviruses have highly adaptable genomes, and are not sluggishly evolving, as often described.
journals.asm.org/doi/10.1128/...
We reviewed the "Molecular Mechanisms of Poxvirus Evolution" | mBio journals.asm.org/doi/10.1128/...
We show that poxviruses have highly adaptable genomes, and are not sluggishly evolving, as often described.
We show that poxviruses have highly adaptable genomes, and are not sluggishly evolving, as often described.
October 16, 2025 at 7:04 PM
We reviewed the "Molecular Mechanisms of Poxvirus Evolution" | mBio journals.asm.org/doi/10.1128/...
We show that poxviruses have highly adaptable genomes, and are not sluggishly evolving, as often described.
We show that poxviruses have highly adaptable genomes, and are not sluggishly evolving, as often described.
Locally acquired Mpox case from infection of the more virulent monkeypox virus clade I in California. No need to panic, but it's important to stay vigilant. We need a functional CDC.
lbpost.com/news/health/...
lbpost.com/news/health/...
More severe strain of mpox reported in Long Beach — the 7th ever case in the U.S.
It's the first U.S. case reported in someone without recent international travel, health officials said.
lbpost.com
October 16, 2025 at 6:47 PM
Locally acquired Mpox case from infection of the more virulent monkeypox virus clade I in California. No need to panic, but it's important to stay vigilant. We need a functional CDC.
lbpost.com/news/health/...
lbpost.com/news/health/...
Reposted by Stefan Rothenburg
Congratulations @ucdavisvetmed.bsky.social and @ucdavishealth.bsky.social 🎉
The NIH has awarded a training grant to UC Davis for a joint program for residents in both veterinary and human internal medicine. It's the first joint program of its kind in the US @ucdavishealth.bsky.social @ucdavisvetmed.bsky.social health.ucdavis.edu/news/headlin...
UC Davis receives federal grant to support research for medical and veterinary residents
UC Davis has received the nation’s first federal R38 grant to boost training for residents in both internal medicine and veterinary medicine.
health.ucdavis.edu
October 15, 2025 at 7:31 PM
Congratulations @ucdavisvetmed.bsky.social and @ucdavishealth.bsky.social 🎉
Happy Weekend
October 11, 2025 at 12:54 AM
Happy Weekend
Reposted by Stefan Rothenburg
In a new opinion piece in @statnews.com ASM member Sarah Stanley, Ph.D., emphasizes that safe gain-of-function research is essential to identifying new treatments for diseases like tuberculosis—yet the NIH has imposed unfounded stops: www.statnews.com/2025/10/06/g...
The NIH ordered me to stop my ‘dangerous’ gain-of-function research. It isn’t dangerous at all
Safe gain-of-function research is necessary to identify new treatments for diseases like for tuberculosis — but the NIH has imposed unfounded stops.
www.statnews.com
October 8, 2025 at 3:21 PM
In a new opinion piece in @statnews.com ASM member Sarah Stanley, Ph.D., emphasizes that safe gain-of-function research is essential to identifying new treatments for diseases like tuberculosis—yet the NIH has imposed unfounded stops: www.statnews.com/2025/10/06/g...
Reposted by Stefan Rothenburg
New out in #mBio from our lab! Dr. Ile Agu reviewed developments on *host* influences on influenza deletion containing viral genomes (DelVGs, fka defective viral genomes).
Hoping for more research in this area. So much promising basic and applied science!
journals.asm.org/doi/10.1128/...
@asm.org
Hoping for more research in this area. So much promising basic and applied science!
journals.asm.org/doi/10.1128/...
@asm.org
Host cell state: an overlooked factor impacting the production of influenza A deletion-containing viral genomes and non-infectious particles | mBio
Within the infected host, influenza A virus has a bipartite existence as intracellular
viral genomic segments undergoing replication and assembly into progeny particles
and extracellular progeny parti...
journals.asm.org
September 30, 2025 at 4:45 PM
New out in #mBio from our lab! Dr. Ile Agu reviewed developments on *host* influences on influenza deletion containing viral genomes (DelVGs, fka defective viral genomes).
Hoping for more research in this area. So much promising basic and applied science!
journals.asm.org/doi/10.1128/...
@asm.org
Hoping for more research in this area. So much promising basic and applied science!
journals.asm.org/doi/10.1128/...
@asm.org
Reposted by Stefan Rothenburg
Hello Virologists, do you have an exciting virus (or microbes) topic in an emerging area or clinically important basic science virology finding that you want to write about? mBio offers two formats - minireviews (6000 words) or mGems (1500 words). If interested, please contact me or @YountLabOSU.
September 17, 2025 at 2:33 PM
Hello Virologists, do you have an exciting virus (or microbes) topic in an emerging area or clinically important basic science virology finding that you want to write about? mBio offers two formats - minireviews (6000 words) or mGems (1500 words). If interested, please contact me or @YountLabOSU.
Reposted by Stefan Rothenburg
Antibody cross-reactivity among alphaviruses clinical practice
Antibody cross-reactivity among alphaviruses clinical practice
Alphaviruses are mosquito-borne pathogens causing rheumatological disease and encephalomyelitis. Their spread, enhanced by climate change, presents a growing global health threat. To date, no specific treatments and, except for chikungunya virus, no preventive vaccines exist. Alphavirus infection induces cross-reactive antibodies targeting conserved epitopes in glycoprotein E1 and E2. While cross-reactivity can facilitate the development of broad-spectrum vaccines, it complicates serological diagnosis in regions with multiple co-circulating alphaviruses. This review examines how antibody cross-reactivity can foster development of cross-protective vaccines and therapeutics but also how it may present challenges such as antibody-dependent enhancement of disease and diagnostic misinterpretation. Understanding the conservation of epitopes is crucial for designing effective therapies, vaccines, and precise diagnostics to mitigate the alphavirus disease burden globally.
dlvr.it
August 26, 2025 at 11:37 PM
Antibody cross-reactivity among alphaviruses clinical practice
Defying the laws of physics.
July 31, 2025 at 6:48 PM
Defying the laws of physics.
Reposted by Stefan Rothenburg
Yes and yes and yes
My favorite Colbert moment:
This performance aired right before the pandemic and I watched it nearly every night from 2020 to 2022
youtu.be/T_qkVPZ8DJI?...
This performance aired right before the pandemic and I watched it nearly every night from 2020 to 2022
youtu.be/T_qkVPZ8DJI?...
Stephen Colbert Joins The Mountain Goats To Perform 'This Year'
YouTube video by The Late Show with Stephen Colbert
youtu.be
July 18, 2025 at 8:19 PM
Yes and yes and yes
Reposted by Stefan Rothenburg
The Senate appropriations committee has voiced its intent to ignore the request by President Donald Trump to slash the budgets of the National Science Foundation and NASA science programs. scim.ag/4nW7XWi
Senate spending panel would rescue NSF and NASA science funding
Its support for a flat budget is a sign of congressional resistance to drastic cuts Trump has proposed
scim.ag
July 10, 2025 at 8:41 PM
The Senate appropriations committee has voiced its intent to ignore the request by President Donald Trump to slash the budgets of the National Science Foundation and NASA science programs. scim.ag/4nW7XWi
Reposted by Stefan Rothenburg
Today, we startet our first #nanobody discovery campaign by immunizing two of our alpacas, one by s.c. protein injection and one by gene gun. Crossing our fingers for a good HcAb response 🤞🏻💪🏻
July 10, 2025 at 9:10 PM
Today, we startet our first #nanobody discovery campaign by immunizing two of our alpacas, one by s.c. protein injection and one by gene gun. Crossing our fingers for a good HcAb response 🤞🏻💪🏻
Reposted by Stefan Rothenburg
Am I reading this completely wrong or is NIH budget (and other science agencies) essentially unchanged for FY25-26?
July 8, 2025 at 4:29 AM
Am I reading this completely wrong or is NIH budget (and other science agencies) essentially unchanged for FY25-26?
Reposted by Stefan Rothenburg
Today I am much more excited about the new Reds, Pinks & Purples than the red, white & blue. @glenndonaldson.bsky.social
The Past Is A Garden I Never Fed, by The Reds, Pinks & Purples
14 track album
theredspinksandpurples.bandcamp.com
July 4, 2025 at 3:31 PM
Today I am much more excited about the new Reds, Pinks & Purples than the red, white & blue. @glenndonaldson.bsky.social
Reposted by Stefan Rothenburg
Valerie Rodriguez Irizarry’s tour de force paper on murine norovirus adaptation/egress is now out in peer-reviewed form @plosbiology.org. It highlights the power of forward genetics in virology research. 🧵 1/10 journals.plos.org/plosbiology/...
June 25, 2025 at 1:36 PM
Valerie Rodriguez Irizarry’s tour de force paper on murine norovirus adaptation/egress is now out in peer-reviewed form @plosbiology.org. It highlights the power of forward genetics in virology research. 🧵 1/10 journals.plos.org/plosbiology/...
Reposted by Stefan Rothenburg
Several countries in Africa are continuing to face challenging outbreaks of #mpox. Sierra Leone, Malawi, Ethiopia, DRC and others. the virus continues its steady march relatively unchecked. Access to vaccines remains a challenge.
www.theguardian.com/global-devel...
www.theguardian.com/global-devel...
Malawi battles mpox as cases of the infectious disease surge in Africa
Medicine shortages plus limited testing and hospital capacity exacerbated by withdrawal of USAID as outbreak gathers pace across countries in the region
www.theguardian.com
May 30, 2025 at 12:47 PM
Several countries in Africa are continuing to face challenging outbreaks of #mpox. Sierra Leone, Malawi, Ethiopia, DRC and others. the virus continues its steady march relatively unchecked. Access to vaccines remains a challenge.
www.theguardian.com/global-devel...
www.theguardian.com/global-devel...
Reposted by Stefan Rothenburg
Cryo-EM and polysome profiling reveal that poxvirus infection remodels the 40S ribosome to support translation of both viral mRNAs and selective host transcripts like JUN, via non-canonical initiation pathways.
NatMicrobio: www.nature.com/articles/s41...
NatMicrobio: www.nature.com/articles/s41...
Distinct non-canonical translation initiation modes arise for specific host and viral mRNAs during poxvirus-induced shutoff - Nature Microbiology
During poxvirus-induced shutoff, certain cellular and viral mRNAs continue to be translated through distinct modes of non-canonical initiation, in part due to altered ribosome activity, to produce hos...
www.nature.com
May 28, 2025 at 11:37 PM
Cryo-EM and polysome profiling reveal that poxvirus infection remodels the 40S ribosome to support translation of both viral mRNAs and selective host transcripts like JUN, via non-canonical initiation pathways.
NatMicrobio: www.nature.com/articles/s41...
NatMicrobio: www.nature.com/articles/s41...
Great paper investigating the functional and structural basis for specific translational regulation of host and viral mRNAs during poxvirus infection.
One of the most rewarding aspects of my job is when former trainees excel. Very proud of my former graduate student leading this study.
rdcu.be/eowH7
One of the most rewarding aspects of my job is when former trainees excel. Very proud of my former graduate student leading this study.
rdcu.be/eowH7
Distinct non-canonical translation initiation modes arise for specific host and viral mRNAs during poxvirus-induced shutoff
Nature Microbiology - During poxvirus-induced shutoff, certain cellular and viral mRNAs continue to be translated through distinct modes of non-canonical initiation, in part due to altered ribosome...
rdcu.be
May 29, 2025 at 6:11 PM
Great paper investigating the functional and structural basis for specific translational regulation of host and viral mRNAs during poxvirus infection.
One of the most rewarding aspects of my job is when former trainees excel. Very proud of my former graduate student leading this study.
rdcu.be/eowH7
One of the most rewarding aspects of my job is when former trainees excel. Very proud of my former graduate student leading this study.
rdcu.be/eowH7
Poxvirus structural biology for application to vaccine design www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
Poxvirus structural biology for application to vaccine design
The upsurge of mpox (formerly known as monkeypox) in Africa and its global spread highlight the need for improved vaccines. The development of new rec…
www.sciencedirect.com
May 12, 2025 at 4:17 PM
Poxvirus structural biology for application to vaccine design www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
Reposted by Stefan Rothenburg
Out now! A fresh perspective on interferon-mediated antiviral activity -- How many ISGs does it take to inhibit a virus? Perhaps far fewer than we think.
dx.plos.org/10.1371/jour...
dx.plos.org/10.1371/jour...
Old cytokine, new tricks: A refined model of interferon’s antiviral activity
Interferon is a central component of the vertebrate antiviral immune response, thought to act through induction of hundreds of interferon-stimulated genes, with some redundancy. This Perspective highl...
dx.plos.org
May 9, 2025 at 3:07 PM
Out now! A fresh perspective on interferon-mediated antiviral activity -- How many ISGs does it take to inhibit a virus? Perhaps far fewer than we think.
dx.plos.org/10.1371/jour...
dx.plos.org/10.1371/jour...
The study we all waited for.
rdcu.be/eljJY
rdcu.be/eljJY
Challenging common notions on how eggs break and the role of strength versus toughness
Communications Physics - Common assumption dictates that an egg exhibits greater structural resistance when dropped on its end rather than on its side. To test this supposition, the authors perform...
rdcu.be
May 9, 2025 at 4:28 PM
The study we all waited for.
rdcu.be/eljJY
rdcu.be/eljJY
Reposted by Stefan Rothenburg
A great story showcasing the brilliant Yi Ning Fu, who I had the privilege of supervising last year as a student with the equally fantastic @agrowlipowli.bsky.social. It's a huge pleasure scienceing with them.
“Tasmanian devils are the world's largest remaining marsupial carnivore and have a very important ecological niche,” says Yi Ning (Sabrina) Fu, @jcsmr.bsky.social. “And they are cute and adorable—we need to save them.”
That's where cutting-edge virology comes in. science.anu.edu.au/news-events/...
That's where cutting-edge virology comes in. science.anu.edu.au/news-events/...
Cool science to save cute devils: Honours student targets contagious cancer
Scientists from all over the world have been racing to understand the fundamentals of Devil Facial Tumour Disease and find a way to stop it. One of them is Yi Ning (Sabrina) Fu, a recent Honours gradu...
science.anu.edu.au
May 2, 2025 at 2:01 PM
A great story showcasing the brilliant Yi Ning Fu, who I had the privilege of supervising last year as a student with the equally fantastic @agrowlipowli.bsky.social. It's a huge pleasure scienceing with them.
Reposted by Stefan Rothenburg
Reposted by Stefan Rothenburg
Really excited to share the final version of Rechel Geiger’s PhD thesis paper with help from friends
www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
Rechel is now back in medical school training to become a kickass physician-scientist
www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
Rechel is now back in medical school training to become a kickass physician-scientist
Heterozygous and generalist MxA super-restrictors overcome breadth-specificity trade-offs in antiviral restriction
Two evolutionary strategies allow the antiviral protein MxA to evolve simultaneous super-restriction against multiple viruses.
www.science.org
May 5, 2025 at 9:48 PM
Really excited to share the final version of Rechel Geiger’s PhD thesis paper with help from friends
www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
Rechel is now back in medical school training to become a kickass physician-scientist
www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
Rechel is now back in medical school training to become a kickass physician-scientist