Charlotte Houldcroft
@virologyhouldcroft.bsky.social
Virology with a side-order of human evolution. Currently on maternity leave.
Reposted by Charlotte Houldcroft
WE ARE RECRUITING PHD STUDENTS!!!
We have three(!) funded PhD studentships advertising presently. If any of these are of interest, please reach out! Thread below with links to more information on each project.
#Drosophila #Evolution #Immunity #SelfishGene #Aphids
Thread with links below 🧵 1/4
We have three(!) funded PhD studentships advertising presently. If any of these are of interest, please reach out! Thread below with links to more information on each project.
#Drosophila #Evolution #Immunity #SelfishGene #Aphids
Thread with links below 🧵 1/4
November 15, 2025 at 3:35 PM
WE ARE RECRUITING PHD STUDENTS!!!
We have three(!) funded PhD studentships advertising presently. If any of these are of interest, please reach out! Thread below with links to more information on each project.
#Drosophila #Evolution #Immunity #SelfishGene #Aphids
Thread with links below 🧵 1/4
We have three(!) funded PhD studentships advertising presently. If any of these are of interest, please reach out! Thread below with links to more information on each project.
#Drosophila #Evolution #Immunity #SelfishGene #Aphids
Thread with links below 🧵 1/4
Whyyyyy are there so few reference genomes for DNA viruses from chimpanzees?
[I do actually know the answer, I just need to scream into the void this morning]
[I do actually know the answer, I just need to scream into the void this morning]
November 17, 2025 at 9:33 AM
Whyyyyy are there so few reference genomes for DNA viruses from chimpanzees?
[I do actually know the answer, I just need to scream into the void this morning]
[I do actually know the answer, I just need to scream into the void this morning]
Reposted by Charlotte Houldcroft
Congratulations to Richard Durbin on being awarded our Genetics Society Medal!
November 14, 2025 at 12:40 PM
Congratulations to Richard Durbin on being awarded our Genetics Society Medal!
I see that the Hitlome documentary has made the UK news...
November 12, 2025 at 9:31 PM
I see that the Hitlome documentary has made the UK news...
I am seeing a lot of people saying "everyone's ill, it's covid but no one is testing". Some thoughts: if we could distinguish the respiratory illnesses on cough & cold symptoms alone, we would not need PCR & bacterial culture; and actually, the data *from testing* says it's the common cold or flu.
November 12, 2025 at 1:45 PM
I am seeing a lot of people saying "everyone's ill, it's covid but no one is testing". Some thoughts: if we could distinguish the respiratory illnesses on cough & cold symptoms alone, we would not need PCR & bacterial culture; and actually, the data *from testing* says it's the common cold or flu.
What does respiratory virus transmission in schools look like with COVId in the mix? Let's look at data from the USA, 600 students (ages 3-18) and 200 staff. Goldman et al. Respiratory Virus Detection and Acute Respiratory Illness
Rates in Students and Staff in Schools. Pediatrics, 2025.
Rates in Students and Staff in Schools. Pediatrics, 2025.
November 11, 2025 at 11:27 AM
What does respiratory virus transmission in schools look like with COVId in the mix? Let's look at data from the USA, 600 students (ages 3-18) and 200 staff. Goldman et al. Respiratory Virus Detection and Acute Respiratory Illness
Rates in Students and Staff in Schools. Pediatrics, 2025.
Rates in Students and Staff in Schools. Pediatrics, 2025.
Thank you PhD students for introducing me to this... hadley.github.io/genzplyr/
dplyr but make it bussin fr fr no cap
`genzplyr` is an alternative syntax for `dplyr` that replaces boring old function names with GenZ slang. Your data wrangling is about to hit different.
hadley.github.io
November 11, 2025 at 8:52 AM
Thank you PhD students for introducing me to this... hadley.github.io/genzplyr/
Did a science in the media lecture today and was reminded of the time I turned down an interview, and the newspaper got Nigel Farage instead *for the same topic*.
November 10, 2025 at 4:51 PM
Did a science in the media lecture today and was reminded of the time I turned down an interview, and the newspaper got Nigel Farage instead *for the same topic*.
Reposted by Charlotte Houldcroft
Can't emphasize how damaging this is. A single non-scientist—Peter Bogner—holds all power & makes all decisions at GISAID & provides no justifications for any of them, except blatantly false ones.
He has that power because he conned rich & powerful people into giving it to him. Enough.
He has that power because he conned rich & powerful people into giving it to him. Enough.
I want to spell this out in case the implications aren't clear:
This means all public tools/webapps of GISAID data (all the ones you've been used to seeing thru the pandemic, as far as we can tell) are prohibited.
The file allowed this. Cut that - cut off all tools the public & others were using.
This means all public tools/webapps of GISAID data (all the ones you've been used to seeing thru the pandemic, as far as we can tell) are prohibited.
The file allowed this. Cut that - cut off all tools the public & others were using.
On Oct 1, 2025, GISAID informed us that they had ended updates to the flat file of SARS-CoV-2 genomic sequences and associated metadata that we had used to update Nextstrain analyses since Feb 2020. GISAID's stated rationale was that their "resources are limited". 1/5
November 10, 2025 at 2:46 AM
Can't emphasize how damaging this is. A single non-scientist—Peter Bogner—holds all power & makes all decisions at GISAID & provides no justifications for any of them, except blatantly false ones.
He has that power because he conned rich & powerful people into giving it to him. Enough.
He has that power because he conned rich & powerful people into giving it to him. Enough.
This paper looks amazing, would anyone be able to send me a copy please? publications.aap.org/pediatrics/a...
Respiratory Virus Detection and Acute Respiratory Illness Rates in Students and Staff in Schools
10.1542/6375931865112Video AbstractPEDS-VA_2025-0708866375931865112BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES. Schools are an important setting for infectious disease transmission. Baseline rates of respiratory virus ...
publications.aap.org
November 10, 2025 at 6:47 AM
This paper looks amazing, would anyone be able to send me a copy please? publications.aap.org/pediatrics/a...
The last line...
November 8, 2025 at 9:52 PM
The last line...
Reposted by Charlotte Houldcroft
🎉 Exciting news! 3 Department members have won @erc.europa.eu Synergy Grants:
• Richard Durbin & Felipe Karam-Teixeira — studying metazoan genomes & transposable elements
• Eva Paluch (PDN) & Daniel St Johnston — exploring epithelial cell robustness
➡️www.gen.cam.ac.uk/news/erc-synergy-grant-success
• Richard Durbin & Felipe Karam-Teixeira — studying metazoan genomes & transposable elements
• Eva Paluch (PDN) & Daniel St Johnston — exploring epithelial cell robustness
➡️www.gen.cam.ac.uk/news/erc-synergy-grant-success
November 7, 2025 at 11:58 AM
🎉 Exciting news! 3 Department members have won @erc.europa.eu Synergy Grants:
• Richard Durbin & Felipe Karam-Teixeira — studying metazoan genomes & transposable elements
• Eva Paluch (PDN) & Daniel St Johnston — exploring epithelial cell robustness
➡️www.gen.cam.ac.uk/news/erc-synergy-grant-success
• Richard Durbin & Felipe Karam-Teixeira — studying metazoan genomes & transposable elements
• Eva Paluch (PDN) & Daniel St Johnston — exploring epithelial cell robustness
➡️www.gen.cam.ac.uk/news/erc-synergy-grant-success
Which preprint servers accept narrative reviews?
November 7, 2025 at 11:36 AM
Which preprint servers accept narrative reviews?
Reposted by Charlotte Houldcroft
🚨 NEW: The majority holder of the world's genetic sequence data is a bad actor who can cut off access to critics and competing services. We've tolerated this for years, and now it threatens the pandemic treaty. Time for WHO to step in. With @ctrlalttim.com: www.thinkglobalhealth.org/article/to-f...
To Finish the Pandemic Agreement, WHO Needs a Trustworthy Viral Database | Think Global Health
Online platforms for sharing virus sequences are in disarray. The World Health Organization has a chance to build something new
www.thinkglobalhealth.org
November 5, 2025 at 3:31 PM
🚨 NEW: The majority holder of the world's genetic sequence data is a bad actor who can cut off access to critics and competing services. We've tolerated this for years, and now it threatens the pandemic treaty. Time for WHO to step in. With @ctrlalttim.com: www.thinkglobalhealth.org/article/to-f...
Oh I do love being on the wrong side of the median journal review time metrics 🙃
November 3, 2025 at 4:25 PM
Oh I do love being on the wrong side of the median journal review time metrics 🙃
A short post-Halloween horror story: "We wanted to inform you that we have had a confirmed case of Impetigo in your child's room at nursery..."
a woman in a protective suit says enchilada night is cancelled
ALT: a woman in a protective suit says enchilada night is cancelled
media.tenor.com
November 3, 2025 at 1:46 PM
A short post-Halloween horror story: "We wanted to inform you that we have had a confirmed case of Impetigo in your child's room at nursery..."
Reposted by Charlotte Houldcroft
Here’s something really graphic for Halloween:
October 31, 2025 at 3:40 PM
Here’s something really graphic for Halloween:
Reposted by Charlotte Houldcroft
Delighted to once again return to the lab to find there has been an outbreak of crafting. Happy Halloween to everyone!
October 31, 2025 at 9:21 AM
Delighted to once again return to the lab to find there has been an outbreak of crafting. Happy Halloween to everyone!
Reposted by Charlotte Houldcroft
🆕 #UKHSAVirusWatch: The latest flu, COVID-19 and RSV data from our weekly winter surveillance report.
Flu has increased, particularly in children, and is now above baseline levels. This is an unusually early start to the influenza season
Find the full report here: https://bit.ly/3Lh27zJ
Flu has increased, particularly in children, and is now above baseline levels. This is an unusually early start to the influenza season
Find the full report here: https://bit.ly/3Lh27zJ
October 30, 2025 at 3:29 PM
🆕 #UKHSAVirusWatch: The latest flu, COVID-19 and RSV data from our weekly winter surveillance report.
Flu has increased, particularly in children, and is now above baseline levels. This is an unusually early start to the influenza season
Find the full report here: https://bit.ly/3Lh27zJ
Flu has increased, particularly in children, and is now above baseline levels. This is an unusually early start to the influenza season
Find the full report here: https://bit.ly/3Lh27zJ
Reposted by Charlotte Houldcroft
New Scientist is looking for a new features editor, ideally with a specialism in evolution, ecology, human sciences and biology - if there's you, take a look! www.dmgmedia.co.uk/careers/jobs...
Features Editor (beat specialist) - dmg media
Features Editor (beat specialist) Location: New Scientist Headquarters – London Position: Full-time, permanent Salary: £40,000 to £43,000, depending on experience Workplace Type: Hybrid – 3 days ...
www.dmgmedia.co.uk
October 30, 2025 at 11:47 AM
New Scientist is looking for a new features editor, ideally with a specialism in evolution, ecology, human sciences and biology - if there's you, take a look! www.dmgmedia.co.uk/careers/jobs...
Always fun when the word "unusually" turns up in a UKHSA doc: "influenza activity increased, particularly among children, and is now above baseline. This is an unusually early start of the influenza season." www.gov.uk/government/s...
National flu and COVID-19 surveillance report: 30 October 2025 (week 44)
www.gov.uk
October 30, 2025 at 2:24 PM
Always fun when the word "unusually" turns up in a UKHSA doc: "influenza activity increased, particularly among children, and is now above baseline. This is an unusually early start of the influenza season." www.gov.uk/government/s...
What kind of animal leaves a permanent marker mixed in with the dry wipe pens?!
October 29, 2025 at 4:18 PM
What kind of animal leaves a permanent marker mixed in with the dry wipe pens?!
Thanks to @CambridgeAfrica for funding a new study between the Department of Genetics and the University of Maiduguri, NG, to study respiratory virus epidemiology & genomic diversity in children!
October 29, 2025 at 11:32 AM
Thanks to @CambridgeAfrica for funding a new study between the Department of Genetics and the University of Maiduguri, NG, to study respiratory virus epidemiology & genomic diversity in children!
Reposted by Charlotte Houldcroft
The LSTM Future Leaders in Global Health Scholarship supports students enrolling on the MSc pathway in Global Health, starting January 2026.
Find out how this scholarship could support your studies, check your eligibility, and learn how to apply by visiting lstm.ac/futureleaders.
Find out how this scholarship could support your studies, check your eligibility, and learn how to apply by visiting lstm.ac/futureleaders.
October 29, 2025 at 10:56 AM
The LSTM Future Leaders in Global Health Scholarship supports students enrolling on the MSc pathway in Global Health, starting January 2026.
Find out how this scholarship could support your studies, check your eligibility, and learn how to apply by visiting lstm.ac/futureleaders.
Find out how this scholarship could support your studies, check your eligibility, and learn how to apply by visiting lstm.ac/futureleaders.
Reposted by Charlotte Houldcroft
Pre-print alert! And this one really is a must read for anyone that does spectral #flowcytometry. It is a complete, fully-automated spectral unmixing pipeline that reduces error up to 9000-fold.
Want to get a tough sample, like lung, looking like this? Read more!
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
Want to get a tough sample, like lung, looking like this? Read more!
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
October 28, 2025 at 8:06 AM
Pre-print alert! And this one really is a must read for anyone that does spectral #flowcytometry. It is a complete, fully-automated spectral unmixing pipeline that reduces error up to 9000-fold.
Want to get a tough sample, like lung, looking like this? Read more!
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
Want to get a tough sample, like lung, looking like this? Read more!
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...