Thulani Makhalanyane
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thuls.bsky.social
Thulani Makhalanyane
@thuls.bsky.social
South African Microbial ecologist|
Professor: Stellenbosch University |
Editor in Chief: @ISMEJournal|
Senior Editor: mSystems
Reposted by Thulani Makhalanyane
Nature Microbiology turns 10! 🎂

As a special treat, we take you back to the editorial team that started it all and then fast forward to take a peek into the future of microbiology through some brilliant microbiologists.

#MicroSky 🦠

www.nature.com/nmicrobiol/v...
January 5, 2026 at 4:44 PM
Reposted by Thulani Makhalanyane
Precious Matsoso, a public-health official based in Pretoria, South Africa, brokered the world’s first pandemic-preparedness treaty after years of hard-fought negotiations. She’s part of Nature’s 10 for 2025. 🧪
The first global pandemic treaty — and the woman who made it happen
Precious Matsoso is part of Nature’s 10, a list of people who shaped science in 2025.
go.nature.com
January 2, 2026 at 2:36 PM
Reposted by Thulani Makhalanyane
New paper up - inspired by the periodic table of the elements, we attempted to organize bacterial diversity in genome-inferred trait space academic.oup.com/ismej/advanc...
Constructing a “periodic table” of bacteria to map diversity in trait space
Abstract. Despite an ever-expanding number of bacterial taxa being discovered, many of these taxa remain uncharacterized with unknown traits and environmen
academic.oup.com
January 6, 2026 at 7:31 PM
Reposted by Thulani Makhalanyane
🧬🦠🚨 Another new paper alert, this time led by @maureenbug.bsky.social ! In collaboration with the Emerson lab and
@titus.idyll.org lab (@taylorreiter.bsky.social), both at UC Davis. Asking the question: what are we missing in short-read metagenome assembly, and why ?

doi.org/10.1093/narg...
Comparison of short-read and long-read metagenome assemblies in a natural soil community highlights systematic bias in recovery of high-diversity populations
Abstract. Comparisons of long-read and short-read (meta)genome assemblies typically show that short-read sequence assemblies are less error-prone, but stru
doi.org
December 9, 2025 at 3:25 AM
Reposted by Thulani Makhalanyane
Would you like to work with us?
At JAMSTEC, we are recruiting postdoctoral researchers through the Young Research Fellow program.
This program allows fellows to independently pursue their own research projects.
www.jamstec.go.jp/recruit/e/jy...
JAMSTEC Young Research Fellow (JYRF) | JAMSTEC - JAPAN AGENCY FOR MARINE-EARTH SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
JAMSTEC Young Research Fellow (JYRF)
www.jamstec.go.jp
June 4, 2025 at 7:38 AM
Reposted by Thulani Makhalanyane
The position is still open.
Please apply here:
jobs.bc.cas.cz/en/detail/277
December 2, 2025 at 3:17 PM
This week, we’re in Addis Ababa for an important symposium and workshop. Great to interact with such enthusiastic and exceptional participants. Thanks @amiposts.bsky.social and @isme-microbes.bsky.social for supporting this event!
November 25, 2025 at 11:00 AM
Reposted by Thulani Makhalanyane
Congrats @fullam.bsky.social @pangenomics.bsky.social @borklab.bsky.social & team(s). Great to see this published!

proGenomes4: providing 2 million accurately and consistently annotated high-quality prokaryotic genomes: academic.oup.com/nar/article/...
proGenomes4: providing 2 million accurately and consistently annotated high-quality prokaryotic genomes
Abstract. The pervasive availability of publicly available microbial genomes has opened many new avenues for microbiology research, yet it also demands rob
academic.oup.com
November 20, 2025 at 8:50 AM
Reposted by Thulani Makhalanyane
Clone-FISH paper out: Manuscript/resource alert #microsky 🦠 We present a collection of 30 E. coli (CloneFISH) cultures, each carrying a plasmid for the heterologous expression of a (near) full-length 16S rRNA gene from one of 30 lineages of archaea, including 17 yet uncultured ones.
November 17, 2025 at 2:36 PM
EndolithComparative genomics reveals adaptive traitsin novel Antarctic lithic cyanobacteria

link.springer.com/article/10.1...
Comparative genomics reveals adaptive traits in novel Antarctic lithic cyanobacteria - BMC Genomics
Terrestrial polar cyanobacteria persist at the cold limits of life, enduring a suite of extreme stressors including sub-zero temperatures, frequent freeze–thaw cycles, oligotrophic soils, variable lig...
link.springer.com
November 6, 2025 at 3:41 AM
Reposted by Thulani Makhalanyane
Please share this with anyone who may be interested in a post-doc in Germany:

jobs.awi.de/Vacancies/20...

This is quite an exciting opportunity to push the boundaries of what is known regarding the molecular basis of the formation and demise of photosymbiotic relationships in marine habitats.
October 22, 2025 at 10:36 AM
Reposted by Thulani Makhalanyane
A new UN report found that to meet various international climate, biodiversity and land restoration goals, annual global spending needs to triple to $300 billion by 2030.
To Meet Pledges to Save Forests Spending Must Triple, U.N. Report Says
Four years after a global pledge to end deforestation, the amount of money going toward conserving and restoring forests is not enough, the analysis found.
nyti.ms
October 14, 2025 at 4:30 PM
Reposted by Thulani Makhalanyane
Reposted by Thulani Makhalanyane
We are searching for a 4- year postdoctoral fellow to work us on Microbial Ecology and Crop Disease Management.

More details below. The position will start next year.

Please circulate and repost.

jobs.smartrecruiters.com/WesternSydne...
October 2, 2025 at 4:32 AM
Reposted by Thulani Makhalanyane
I get that the news cycle is packed right now, but I just heard from a colleague at the Smithsonian that this is fully a GIANT SQUID BEING EATEN BY A SPERM WHALE and it’s possibly the first ever confirmed video according to a friend at NOAA

10 YEAR OLD ME IS LOSING HER MIND (a thread 🧵)
September 24, 2025 at 8:30 PM
Reposted by Thulani Makhalanyane
Stenotrophomonas maltophilia impedes Bacillus biocontrol of tomato wilt disease by degrading its lipopeptide antibiotics

-in #ISMEJournal

academic.oup.com/ismej/advanc...
Stenotrophomonas maltophilia impedes Bacillus biocontrol of tomato wilt disease by degrading its lipopeptide antibiotics
Abstract. Harnessing antibiotic-producing microorganisms that antagonize pathogens represents a sustainable approach for plant disease management. However,
academic.oup.com
September 24, 2025 at 1:09 PM
Eco-evolutionary strategies drive viral diversification in nutrient-poor soils across elevation gradients

academic.oup.com/nsr/advance-...
Validate User
academic.oup.com
September 13, 2025 at 1:29 PM
Reposted by Thulani Makhalanyane
Postdoc position available - pls share- to investigate molecular mechanisms of protein homeostasis during S. during infection. Send a CV, list of publications, and a statement about why you would like to join the laboratory.
Eduardo Groisman
Yale Med
eduardo.groisman@yale.edu
September 7, 2025 at 7:38 PM
Enjoyed being back at the University of Pretoria to celebrate graduations. We had two PhDs (Drs. Mayibongwe Buthelezi and John Paul Makumbi) and a masters student (Michelle Bekker) at this ceremony. Congratulations to the graduates and wishing you all the very best in the next phase of your careers.
September 2, 2025 at 7:30 AM
Reposted by Thulani Makhalanyane
NTU shared our DNA alignment tool designed for microbes 🦠🧬☰! #Microbiomesky #Microsky blogs.ntu.edu.sg/science/2025...
September 1, 2025 at 4:36 AM
Reposted by Thulani Makhalanyane
How do we correct preprints? Caveat emptor, revisions & withdrawals - what this means for the scientific record. My presentation to the National Academies 1/n vimeo.com/1102568612?s...
Day 2-Corrections and Retractions: Upgrading the Scientific Record
This is "Day 2-Corrections and Retractions: Upgrading the Scientific Record" by The National Academies on Vimeo, the home for high quality videos and the…
vimeo.com
August 1, 2025 at 3:11 PM
Reposted by Thulani Makhalanyane
Congratulations to Avery Imes and all of our collaborators on this cover & editor's spotlight article in #AEM! More details on the study in the preprint thread linked below. @asm.org bsky.app/profile/mark...
August 25, 2025 at 3:54 PM
Reposted by Thulani Makhalanyane
Discover 5 unforgettable reasons to travel to Africa, from its wildlife safaris to cultural treasures, and breathtaking landscapes.
Discover Africa: 5 unforgettable reasons to visit
Discover 5 unforgettable reasons to travel to Africa, from its wildlife safaris to cultural treasures, and breathtaking landscapes.
www.thesouthafrican.com
August 20, 2025 at 10:32 AM
Reposted by Thulani Makhalanyane
Why is the New Zealand government cutting Māori words from some school books?
Why is the New Zealand government cutting Māori words from some school books?
Changes to readers for young children have sparked criticism from academics, authors and teachers, who have called it ‘an assault’ on Māori identity
www.theguardian.com
August 20, 2025 at 1:48 AM
Reposted by Thulani Makhalanyane
My Department (Biology) at @dartmouthartsci.bsky.social is hiring this year! We have an opening for a Tenure Track Cell and/or Molecular biologist (broadly defined).

Please share with your trainees/labmates/friends and reach out if you have questions.

apply.interfolio.com/171625
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apply.interfolio.com
August 14, 2025 at 7:15 PM