Anne Spurkland
@anspurk.bsky.social
Molecular immunologist, MD and Professor of anatomy at UiO. Post about T cells, medical research, free cakes, Ethiopia and stuff. Mainly in Norwegian http://immunglimt.no or http://immuneglimpse.com
Pinned
Anne Spurkland
@anspurk.bsky.social
· Nov 18
A real pleasure to see my essay on metaphors in research dissemination published (the cake image from my blog? It is actually relevant for the essay) www.nature.com/articles/s41... (subscription) or rdcu.be/dTqw9 (open link)
Reposted by Anne Spurkland
I really do hope that news outlets who report on the recent #ACIP recommendations understand that these decisions have nothing to do with HepB per se, and everything to do with sowing bigger doubts about vaccines - all vaccines - in general.
Don’t lose sight of what the bigger agenda is.
Don’t lose sight of what the bigger agenda is.
December 6, 2025 at 4:12 PM
I really do hope that news outlets who report on the recent #ACIP recommendations understand that these decisions have nothing to do with HepB per se, and everything to do with sowing bigger doubts about vaccines - all vaccines - in general.
Don’t lose sight of what the bigger agenda is.
Don’t lose sight of what the bigger agenda is.
Reposted by Anne Spurkland
New BCR reconstruction tool for scRNA-seq: assembles full heavy & light chains and annotates constant regions. Check it out:
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
#scRNAseq #immunology
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
#scRNAseq #immunology
GATHeR: Graph-based Accurate Tool for Immunoglobulin HEavy- and Light-chain Reconstruction
Recovering full-length, paired B-cell receptor (BCR) sequences from scRNA-seq reads remains difficult, especially in naive and memory B cells where immunoglobulin transcripts are sparse. Current metho...
www.biorxiv.org
September 22, 2025 at 4:50 AM
New BCR reconstruction tool for scRNA-seq: assembles full heavy & light chains and annotates constant regions. Check it out:
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
#scRNAseq #immunology
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
#scRNAseq #immunology
Reposted by Anne Spurkland
MMR vaccines do not cause autism (see my 🧵 of studies)
At the same time, one potential cause of autism is rubella, which is *prevented* by MMR vaccines.
Which means...vaccines may actually help prevent autism.
🧵
pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/21592401/
At the same time, one potential cause of autism is rubella, which is *prevented* by MMR vaccines.
Which means...vaccines may actually help prevent autism.
🧵
pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/21592401/
Congenital rubella syndrome and autism spectrum disorder prevented by rubella vaccination--United States, 2001-2010 - PubMed
We estimate that rubella vaccination prevented substantial numbers of CRS and ASD cases in the United States from 2001 through 2010. These findings provide additional incentive to maintain high measle...
pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
September 18, 2025 at 3:51 PM
MMR vaccines do not cause autism (see my 🧵 of studies)
At the same time, one potential cause of autism is rubella, which is *prevented* by MMR vaccines.
Which means...vaccines may actually help prevent autism.
🧵
pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/21592401/
At the same time, one potential cause of autism is rubella, which is *prevented* by MMR vaccines.
Which means...vaccines may actually help prevent autism.
🧵
pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/21592401/
Reposted by Anne Spurkland
In the bookshop this morning:
PARENTS: “Okay, we’re leaving now.”
CHILD: *pulls another book from the shelf and sits down *
CHILD: “Then I guess this is goodbye.”
PARENTS: “Okay, we’re leaving now.”
CHILD: *pulls another book from the shelf and sits down *
CHILD: “Then I guess this is goodbye.”
August 21, 2025 at 10:59 AM
In the bookshop this morning:
PARENTS: “Okay, we’re leaving now.”
CHILD: *pulls another book from the shelf and sits down *
CHILD: “Then I guess this is goodbye.”
PARENTS: “Okay, we’re leaving now.”
CHILD: *pulls another book from the shelf and sits down *
CHILD: “Then I guess this is goodbye.”
Reposted by Anne Spurkland
The PNAS Reimagining Science Communication in the COVID Era and Beyond Special Feature advocates for a paradigm shift in science communication, from traditional, top-down dissemination to participatory and inclusive approaches. Explore the Special Feature: www.pnas.org/topic/575
July 24, 2025 at 7:59 PM
The PNAS Reimagining Science Communication in the COVID Era and Beyond Special Feature advocates for a paradigm shift in science communication, from traditional, top-down dissemination to participatory and inclusive approaches. Explore the Special Feature: www.pnas.org/topic/575
Reposted by Anne Spurkland
A lab is not required to generate chimeric coronaviruses, with a spike of a different virus: they can emerge naturally ▫️1/2
(from newly published paper by Attipa & @amandatron89.bsky.social et al.; preprinted in 2023)
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
(from newly published paper by Attipa & @amandatron89.bsky.social et al.; preprinted in 2023)
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
July 10, 2025 at 7:50 PM
A lab is not required to generate chimeric coronaviruses, with a spike of a different virus: they can emerge naturally ▫️1/2
(from newly published paper by Attipa & @amandatron89.bsky.social et al.; preprinted in 2023)
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
(from newly published paper by Attipa & @amandatron89.bsky.social et al.; preprinted in 2023)
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
Reposted by Anne Spurkland
What has always irritated me about this debate - and what I discuss in this piece - is how the lab leak has never had a shred of evidence supporting it. People are using the same arguments today that they were in 2020.
Meanwhile, zoonosis has only gotten more likely over time.
Meanwhile, zoonosis has only gotten more likely over time.
How did the pandemic start?
I have avoided publicly commenting on this for 5 years. Here's my take as someone who has no stake at all in the game.
gidmk.substack.com/p/pandemic-r...
I have avoided publicly commenting on this for 5 years. Here's my take as someone who has no stake at all in the game.
gidmk.substack.com/p/pandemic-r...
Pandemic Revisionism, Part One: COVID-19 Origins
Because people keep getting this very wrong.
gidmk.substack.com
July 8, 2025 at 3:51 AM
What has always irritated me about this debate - and what I discuss in this piece - is how the lab leak has never had a shred of evidence supporting it. People are using the same arguments today that they were in 2020.
Meanwhile, zoonosis has only gotten more likely over time.
Meanwhile, zoonosis has only gotten more likely over time.
Reposted by Anne Spurkland
Sviktende vitenskapsjournalistikk
"Likevel trakk flere bokanmeldelser frem Bratlies vitenskapelige analyse som «solid». Dette vitner om lavt kunnskapsnivå og sviktende kildekritikk i redaksjonene."
"Likevel trakk flere bokanmeldelser frem Bratlies vitenskapelige analyse som «solid». Dette vitner om lavt kunnskapsnivå og sviktende kildekritikk i redaksjonene."
Sviktende vitenskapsjournalistikk
Det handler ikke om å kneble kontroversielle teorier, men journalistisk ansvar og vitenskapelig redelighet.
www.journalisten.no
July 4, 2025 at 10:46 AM
Sviktende vitenskapsjournalistikk
"Likevel trakk flere bokanmeldelser frem Bratlies vitenskapelige analyse som «solid». Dette vitner om lavt kunnskapsnivå og sviktende kildekritikk i redaksjonene."
"Likevel trakk flere bokanmeldelser frem Bratlies vitenskapelige analyse som «solid». Dette vitner om lavt kunnskapsnivå og sviktende kildekritikk i redaksjonene."
Reposted by Anne Spurkland
I have so busy at work of late so had no extra capacity to write but managed to pen this over the weekend discussing changes to ACIP and my concerns for vaccine uptake and vaccine hesitancy -
Vaccine advisory committees and transparent practices
Why changes to ACIP are concerning.
open.substack.com
June 16, 2025 at 4:38 PM
I have so busy at work of late so had no extra capacity to write but managed to pen this over the weekend discussing changes to ACIP and my concerns for vaccine uptake and vaccine hesitancy -
Reposted by Anne Spurkland
"The lab leak hypothesis is nothing more than a “god of the gaps” argument that attempts to find holes in the zoonosis hypothesis, but without managing to come up with a plausible scenario itself."
People familiar with debunking creationism are not falling for that lableak crap 😅
Good read 🔽
People familiar with debunking creationism are not falling for that lableak crap 😅
Good read 🔽
English version of my review of Bratlies book:
A book filled with contradictions, cherry-picking of data, conspiratorial arguments, and serious accusations that undermine trust in research and contribute to making the world less safe in the face of the next pandemic.
tjomlid.com/a-critical-r...
A book filled with contradictions, cherry-picking of data, conspiratorial arguments, and serious accusations that undermine trust in research and contribute to making the world less safe in the face of the next pandemic.
tjomlid.com/a-critical-r...
A critical review of "The mystery of Wuhan - The hunt for the origin of the covid pandemic" by Sigrid Bratlie
A book filled with contradictions, cherry-picking of data, conspiratorial arguments, and serious accusations that undermine trust in research and contribute to making the world less safe in the face o...
tjomlid.com
June 12, 2025 at 10:35 PM
"The lab leak hypothesis is nothing more than a “god of the gaps” argument that attempts to find holes in the zoonosis hypothesis, but without managing to come up with a plausible scenario itself."
People familiar with debunking creationism are not falling for that lableak crap 😅
Good read 🔽
People familiar with debunking creationism are not falling for that lableak crap 😅
Good read 🔽
Reposted by Anne Spurkland
The documentary movie Blame wins the audience award at Turin film festival.
I think it resonates with audiences, because it offers something almost lost in today's world.
A calm, factual story about the origin of SARS-CoV-2.
Can't wait for more people to see it!
www.blame-documentary.com
I think it resonates with audiences, because it offers something almost lost in today's world.
A calm, factual story about the origin of SARS-CoV-2.
Can't wait for more people to see it!
www.blame-documentary.com
June 12, 2025 at 7:35 AM
The documentary movie Blame wins the audience award at Turin film festival.
I think it resonates with audiences, because it offers something almost lost in today's world.
A calm, factual story about the origin of SARS-CoV-2.
Can't wait for more people to see it!
www.blame-documentary.com
I think it resonates with audiences, because it offers something almost lost in today's world.
A calm, factual story about the origin of SARS-CoV-2.
Can't wait for more people to see it!
www.blame-documentary.com
Reposted by Anne Spurkland
En bok fylt av selvmotsigelser, cherry-picking av data, konspiratorisk argumentasjon og grove beskyldninger som bidrar til å svekke tillit til forskning og bidra til å gjøre verden mindre trygg i møte med neste pandemi.
Les min anmeldelse og kritiske gjennomgang.
tjomlid.com/en-kritisk-a...
Les min anmeldelse og kritiske gjennomgang.
tjomlid.com/en-kritisk-a...
En kritisk anmeldelse av "Mysteriet i Wuhan - Jakten på covid-pandemiens opphav" av Sigrid Bratlie
En bok fylt av selvmotsigelser, cherry-picking av data, konspiratorisk argumentasjon og grove beskyldninger som bidrar til å svekke tillit til forskning og bidra til å gjøre verden mindre trygg i møte...
tjomlid.com
June 11, 2025 at 8:46 AM
En bok fylt av selvmotsigelser, cherry-picking av data, konspiratorisk argumentasjon og grove beskyldninger som bidrar til å svekke tillit til forskning og bidra til å gjøre verden mindre trygg i møte med neste pandemi.
Les min anmeldelse og kritiske gjennomgang.
tjomlid.com/en-kritisk-a...
Les min anmeldelse og kritiske gjennomgang.
tjomlid.com/en-kritisk-a...
Reposted by Anne Spurkland
Hvis du gidder å lese denne, er du god. Men jeg har skrevet en ganske omfattende, kritisk analyse av Sigrid Bratlie sin bok "Mysteriet i Wuhan". Håper du finner det interessant!
tjomlid.com/en-kritisk-a...
tjomlid.com/en-kritisk-a...
En kritisk anmeldelse av "Mysteriet i Wuhan - Jakten på covid-pandemiens opphav" av Sigrid Bratlie
Molykelærbiolog Sigrid Bratlie kom nylig ut med sin bok "Mysteriet i Wuhan", og jeg møtte henne til debatt på Wonderful World – den nordiske filosofi og vitenskapsfestivalen i Stavanger i slutten av m...
tjomlid.com
June 10, 2025 at 9:10 PM
Hvis du gidder å lese denne, er du god. Men jeg har skrevet en ganske omfattende, kritisk analyse av Sigrid Bratlie sin bok "Mysteriet i Wuhan". Håper du finner det interessant!
tjomlid.com/en-kritisk-a...
tjomlid.com/en-kritisk-a...
Reposted by Anne Spurkland
This is truly BRILLIANT science communication—clear, compelling, & convincing while also fast, funny, & entertaining
Like most of those working in science & public health, based on the best available evidence I believe Covid was zoonotic in origin—& this superb episode makes me even more convinced
Like most of those working in science & public health, based on the best available evidence I believe Covid was zoonotic in origin—& this superb episode makes me even more convinced
This month's bonus episode is about the rise of the lab leak theory from an unfounded theory promoted by right-wing cranks to an unfounded theory promoted by prominent liberal journalists.
The Lab Leak Goes Mainstream | If Books Could Kill
Get more from If Books Could Kill on Patreon
www.patreon.com
June 3, 2025 at 7:22 PM
This is truly BRILLIANT science communication—clear, compelling, & convincing while also fast, funny, & entertaining
Like most of those working in science & public health, based on the best available evidence I believe Covid was zoonotic in origin—& this superb episode makes me even more convinced
Like most of those working in science & public health, based on the best available evidence I believe Covid was zoonotic in origin—& this superb episode makes me even more convinced
Reposted by Anne Spurkland
We were just notified that our contract to UCSD and Scripps Research to support wastewater surveillance in San Diego (searchcovid.info) was terminated immediately for the same reasons 👇.
That means no more genomic wastewater surveillance, and our proposed extensions to measles, Hep A, others, gone.
That means no more genomic wastewater surveillance, and our proposed extensions to measles, Hep A, others, gone.
April 7, 2025 at 4:29 PM
We were just notified that our contract to UCSD and Scripps Research to support wastewater surveillance in San Diego (searchcovid.info) was terminated immediately for the same reasons 👇.
That means no more genomic wastewater surveillance, and our proposed extensions to measles, Hep A, others, gone.
That means no more genomic wastewater surveillance, and our proposed extensions to measles, Hep A, others, gone.
A 3 year #PhD research fellowship in molecular immunology is available in my lab in Oslo, Norway. We focus on the role of adaptor molecules in #signaling in #Tcells. (Oslo has great opportunities for out doors activities). #immunosky www.jobbnorge.no/en/available...
PhD-research fellowship in Molecular Immunology (276280) | University of Oslo
Job title: PhD-research fellowship in Molecular Immunology (276280), Employer: University of Oslo, Deadline: Friday, March 21, 2025
www.jobbnorge.no
March 14, 2025 at 9:33 AM
A 3 year #PhD research fellowship in molecular immunology is available in my lab in Oslo, Norway. We focus on the role of adaptor molecules in #signaling in #Tcells. (Oslo has great opportunities for out doors activities). #immunosky www.jobbnorge.no/en/available...
Reposted by Anne Spurkland
Probably you've already thought of this but NOW is the time to stockpile chemicals, pipette tubes, kimwipes, parafilm, gloves, agar, sharpies and post-it notes.
Spend from your grants while they still exist.
🧪⚗️🧫🥼📁🖇️📓✏️
Spend from your grants while they still exist.
🧪⚗️🧫🥼📁🖇️📓✏️
March 12, 2025 at 3:35 PM
Probably you've already thought of this but NOW is the time to stockpile chemicals, pipette tubes, kimwipes, parafilm, gloves, agar, sharpies and post-it notes.
Spend from your grants while they still exist.
🧪⚗️🧫🥼📁🖇️📓✏️
Spend from your grants while they still exist.
🧪⚗️🧫🥼📁🖇️📓✏️
Reposted by Anne Spurkland
I got laid off today, with the rest of 18F.
18F was an elite federal software shop. We made gov't websites work better, more efficiently for the American people. We saved taxpayers from getting screwed over by contractors. And were fired for it.
We made this website to tell our story:
18f.org
18F was an elite federal software shop. We made gov't websites work better, more efficiently for the American people. We saved taxpayers from getting screwed over by contractors. And were fired for it.
We made this website to tell our story:
18f.org
We're not done yet | 18F
18f.org
March 1, 2025 at 10:38 PM
I got laid off today, with the rest of 18F.
18F was an elite federal software shop. We made gov't websites work better, more efficiently for the American people. We saved taxpayers from getting screwed over by contractors. And were fired for it.
We made this website to tell our story:
18f.org
18F was an elite federal software shop. We made gov't websites work better, more efficiently for the American people. We saved taxpayers from getting screwed over by contractors. And were fired for it.
We made this website to tell our story:
18f.org
Reposted by Anne Spurkland
Ending virology and vaccine research is far more dangerous than virology and vaccine research itself.
We can mitigate risks in the lab, but we can’t mitigate the catastrophic risk of being unprepared and defenseless against emerging viruses.
We can mitigate risks in the lab, but we can’t mitigate the catastrophic risk of being unprepared and defenseless against emerging viruses.
It is worth paying close attention to the new bill "Dangerous Viral Gain of Function Research Moratorium Act" introduced by Senator Roger Marshall.
If enacted, it will effectively stop all of virological research, including for vaccines.
www.marshall.senate.gov/wp-content/u...
🧵👇
If enacted, it will effectively stop all of virological research, including for vaccines.
www.marshall.senate.gov/wp-content/u...
🧵👇
February 28, 2025 at 4:29 AM
Ending virology and vaccine research is far more dangerous than virology and vaccine research itself.
We can mitigate risks in the lab, but we can’t mitigate the catastrophic risk of being unprepared and defenseless against emerging viruses.
We can mitigate risks in the lab, but we can’t mitigate the catastrophic risk of being unprepared and defenseless against emerging viruses.
Reposted by Anne Spurkland
I love a good graph. Always send me good graphs if you see one.
December 12, 2024 at 12:04 AM
I love a good graph. Always send me good graphs if you see one.
Cool story about a botanist and his dilated pupil. It took him a while to understand why that was...
You guys...have I got a personal health, science, AND gardening SAGA for you! This one is amazing, buckle up.
A couple years ago I looked in the mirror and saw this. I had to suppress my panic because I'm first aid trained and having unevenly dilated pupils is like...pretty bad. 1/n
🌱🧪
A couple years ago I looked in the mirror and saw this. I had to suppress my panic because I'm first aid trained and having unevenly dilated pupils is like...pretty bad. 1/n
🌱🧪
December 3, 2024 at 8:45 AM
Cool story about a botanist and his dilated pupil. It took him a while to understand why that was...
Reposted by Anne Spurkland
This is an interesting an helpful read: Elements of successful NIH grant applications
www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/...
www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/...
Elements of successful NIH grant applications | PNAS
Is there a formula for a competitive NIH grant application? The Serenity Prayer may
provide one: "Grant me the serenity to accept the things I cann...
www.pnas.org
November 25, 2024 at 3:00 PM
This is an interesting an helpful read: Elements of successful NIH grant applications
www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/...
www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/...
Reposted by Anne Spurkland
The measles vaccine is given as a shot but it is surprisingly good at inducing protective immunity in the respiratory tract (mucosal IgA). Our new study provides some clues about why...a thread (1/8) #IDSky #MedSky #lungs #immunology #ImmunoSky academic.oup.com/jid/advance-...
Validate User
academic.oup.com
November 25, 2024 at 3:05 PM
The measles vaccine is given as a shot but it is surprisingly good at inducing protective immunity in the respiratory tract (mucosal IgA). Our new study provides some clues about why...a thread (1/8) #IDSky #MedSky #lungs #immunology #ImmunoSky academic.oup.com/jid/advance-...
@lossiusandreas.bsky.social sjekk ut Starter packs for å finne kollegaer og interessante folk å følge!
November 26, 2024 at 6:18 AM
@lossiusandreas.bsky.social sjekk ut Starter packs for å finne kollegaer og interessante folk å følge!
Reposted by Anne Spurkland
You wanted starter packs to be searchable. Our engineers are busy keeping us online, so in the meantime, an independent developer built a new searchable library of starter packs. This is the beauty of building in the open 🦋
November 26, 2024 at 5:11 AM
You wanted starter packs to be searchable. Our engineers are busy keeping us online, so in the meantime, an independent developer built a new searchable library of starter packs. This is the beauty of building in the open 🦋