Melinda Ashcroft (PhD)
@biominnie.bsky.social
Infectious Disease Epidemiologist - Nontuberculous mycobacteria: Research Fellow at the University of Queensland | Microbial Genomics | Also interested in evolution, pathogenesis and #AMR of clinically relevant bacterial pathogens | She/her | Cat lover
⚠️For everyone at @lenagroup4resp.bsky.social #WBConf25, come check out my poster on Tuesday evening #52 on the incidence of #NTM in #FirstNationsPeople in #Australia. 🧫🦠🇦🇺🪃
July 14, 2025 at 5:16 AM
⚠️For everyone at @lenagroup4resp.bsky.social #WBConf25, come check out my poster on Tuesday evening #52 on the incidence of #NTM in #FirstNationsPeople in #Australia. 🧫🦠🇦🇺🪃
🧫🦠Only 2 weeks left to submit abstracts (July 15) for @amiposts.bsky.social's #MSCW Conference! Connect with leading scientists, policymakers, and #EMCRs across the #AsiaPacific.
#Microbiology, #PublicHealth, #Climate & the #Environment.
#Microbiology, #PublicHealth, #Climate & the #Environment.
July 1, 2025 at 8:26 AM
🧫🦠Only 2 weeks left to submit abstracts (July 15) for @amiposts.bsky.social's #MSCW Conference! Connect with leading scientists, policymakers, and #EMCRs across the #AsiaPacific.
#Microbiology, #PublicHealth, #Climate & the #Environment.
#Microbiology, #PublicHealth, #Climate & the #Environment.
⚠️Join us for @amiposts.bsky.social EMCR conference #MSCW25: Microbial Solutions for a Changing World (Melbourne, Australia). Focusing on: #GreenhouseGases, #PathogenControl, & #EnvironmentImpacts.
⏰Abstracts close July 15!
#Microbiology #ClimateChange
appliedmicrobiology.org/ems-event-ca...
⏰Abstracts close July 15!
#Microbiology #ClimateChange
appliedmicrobiology.org/ems-event-ca...
June 25, 2025 at 2:13 AM
⚠️Join us for @amiposts.bsky.social EMCR conference #MSCW25: Microbial Solutions for a Changing World (Melbourne, Australia). Focusing on: #GreenhouseGases, #PathogenControl, & #EnvironmentImpacts.
⏰Abstracts close July 15!
#Microbiology #ClimateChange
appliedmicrobiology.org/ems-event-ca...
⏰Abstracts close July 15!
#Microbiology #ClimateChange
appliedmicrobiology.org/ems-event-ca...
Reposted by Melinda Ashcroft (PhD)
The latest feature in #TheMicrobiologist dives into the emerging threat of nontuberculous mycobacteria, and explores diagnostic options. #NTM @brukercorporation.bsky.social
www.the-microbiologist.com/features/the...
www.the-microbiologist.com/features/the...
The growing threat of nontuberculous mycobacteria infections
Once overlooked, NTM are now drawing increased attention as their infections pose significant and complex diagnostic challenges. Advances in diagnostic technologies offer the potential to overcome the...
www.the-microbiologist.com
June 9, 2025 at 11:49 AM
The latest feature in #TheMicrobiologist dives into the emerging threat of nontuberculous mycobacteria, and explores diagnostic options. #NTM @brukercorporation.bsky.social
www.the-microbiologist.com/features/the...
www.the-microbiologist.com/features/the...
Reposted by Melinda Ashcroft (PhD)
Our new paper on the global epi of IMP carbapenemases. We originally called this paper: ‘Planet of the IMPs’ as IMPs are now everywhere. We found IMP variant-specific distributions across species, plasmids, mobile elements and geography
www.medrxiv.org/content/10.1...
#amr #amrsky #IDsky
www.medrxiv.org/content/10.1...
#amr #amrsky #IDsky
May 27, 2025 at 6:44 AM
Our new paper on the global epi of IMP carbapenemases. We originally called this paper: ‘Planet of the IMPs’ as IMPs are now everywhere. We found IMP variant-specific distributions across species, plasmids, mobile elements and geography
www.medrxiv.org/content/10.1...
#amr #amrsky #IDsky
www.medrxiv.org/content/10.1...
#amr #amrsky #IDsky
Reposted by Melinda Ashcroft (PhD)
One patient, two samples
Weeks apart, E. faecium picked up vancomycin resistance
By sequencing vancomycin-susceptible strains on-site, we caught this early & avoided unnecessary, disruptive interventions #Genomics
Proud to share at #nanoporeconf!
@nanoporetech.com
🖥️🧬💻
#AcademicSky
#MicroSky
🧪🧫🦠
Weeks apart, E. faecium picked up vancomycin resistance
By sequencing vancomycin-susceptible strains on-site, we caught this early & avoided unnecessary, disruptive interventions #Genomics
Proud to share at #nanoporeconf!
@nanoporetech.com
🖥️🧬💻
#AcademicSky
#MicroSky
🧪🧫🦠
May 21, 2025 at 5:27 AM
One patient, two samples
Weeks apart, E. faecium picked up vancomycin resistance
By sequencing vancomycin-susceptible strains on-site, we caught this early & avoided unnecessary, disruptive interventions #Genomics
Proud to share at #nanoporeconf!
@nanoporetech.com
🖥️🧬💻
#AcademicSky
#MicroSky
🧪🧫🦠
Weeks apart, E. faecium picked up vancomycin resistance
By sequencing vancomycin-susceptible strains on-site, we caught this early & avoided unnecessary, disruptive interventions #Genomics
Proud to share at #nanoporeconf!
@nanoporetech.com
🖥️🧬💻
#AcademicSky
#MicroSky
🧪🧫🦠
My supervisor, Prof. Rachel Thomson, head of the NTM Research Group at UQ (medical-school.uq.edu.au/research/ntm...), has recently published excellent work on the role of drinking water in MABS transmission.
#NTM #GenomicEpidemiology #Abscessus #IDSky #IDEpi
#NTM #GenomicEpidemiology #Abscessus #IDSky #IDEpi
May 21, 2025 at 9:56 AM
My supervisor, Prof. Rachel Thomson, head of the NTM Research Group at UQ (medical-school.uq.edu.au/research/ntm...), has recently published excellent work on the role of drinking water in MABS transmission.
#NTM #GenomicEpidemiology #Abscessus #IDSky #IDEpi
#NTM #GenomicEpidemiology #Abscessus #IDSky #IDEpi
Reposted by Melinda Ashcroft (PhD)
Northwestern has not received any NIH funds since March. No written communication about why or what can be done. Thank you Ben Singer for raising awareness at #ATS2025
May 18, 2025 at 10:44 PM
Northwestern has not received any NIH funds since March. No written communication about why or what can be done. Thank you Ben Singer for raising awareness at #ATS2025
Reposted by Melinda Ashcroft (PhD)
"That telomere phages are so prevalent means that they are a selective force, one that we know little about. We now want to understand how the telomere-toxin is secreted and also understand how this ‘telocin’ wheedles its way into unsuspecting bacterial neighbors”
www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
Telomere bacteriophages are widespread and equip their bacterial hosts with potent interbacterial weapons
Klebsiella host strains infected with telomere phages can grow to be the dominant lineage in mixed populations.
www.science.org
May 1, 2025 at 10:04 PM
"That telomere phages are so prevalent means that they are a selective force, one that we know little about. We now want to understand how the telomere-toxin is secreted and also understand how this ‘telocin’ wheedles its way into unsuspecting bacterial neighbors”
www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
Reposted by Melinda Ashcroft (PhD)
🦠Happy to share that our paper studying >3000 Klebsiella pneumoniae genomes in a #OneHealth perspective is now published in Genome Medicine! #MicroSky 🎉
@irenlohr.bsky.social @katholt.bsky.social
genomemedicine.biomedcentral.com/articles/10....
@irenlohr.bsky.social @katholt.bsky.social
genomemedicine.biomedcentral.com/articles/10....
A genome-wide One Health study of Klebsiella pneumoniae in Norway reveals overlapping populations but few recent transmission events across reservoirs - Genome Medicine
Background Members of the Klebsiella pneumoniae species complex (KpSC) are opportunistic pathogens that cause severe and difficult-to-treat infections. KpSC are common in non-human niches, but the cli...
genomemedicine.biomedcentral.com
April 30, 2025 at 9:33 AM
🦠Happy to share that our paper studying >3000 Klebsiella pneumoniae genomes in a #OneHealth perspective is now published in Genome Medicine! #MicroSky 🎉
@irenlohr.bsky.social @katholt.bsky.social
genomemedicine.biomedcentral.com/articles/10....
@irenlohr.bsky.social @katholt.bsky.social
genomemedicine.biomedcentral.com/articles/10....
Reposted by Melinda Ashcroft (PhD)
From @retractionwatch.com -
His manuscript was rejected. Then he saw it published by other authors
retractionwatch.com/2025/03/06/p...
His manuscript was rejected. Then he saw it published by other authors
retractionwatch.com/2025/03/06/p...
His manuscript was rejected. Then he saw it published by other authors
A chemist at a university in Pakistan found a surprise when he opened an alert from ResearchGate on a newly published paper on a topic related to his own work. When Muhammad Kashif, a chemist…
retractionwatch.com
March 29, 2025 at 9:43 PM
From @retractionwatch.com -
His manuscript was rejected. Then he saw it published by other authors
retractionwatch.com/2025/03/06/p...
His manuscript was rejected. Then he saw it published by other authors
retractionwatch.com/2025/03/06/p...
Reposted by Melinda Ashcroft (PhD)
🦘✂️ Thanks to @cziscience.bsky.social , @wytamma.bsky.social and I are writing the next version of the Snippy bacterial variant calling pipeline. We want your input on what features s it will have. Please fill out this (longish) survey to help make Snippy great again!
forms.gle/YJP6WQjsk8KK...
forms.gle/YJP6WQjsk8KK...
Snippy: Microbial Variant Calling Community Survey
Help us drive the next wave of innovation in Single-Nucleotide Polymorphism (SNP) discovery and genome analysis by sharing your valuable experiences and insights. This in-depth survey aims at understa...
forms.gle
March 4, 2025 at 9:04 AM
🦘✂️ Thanks to @cziscience.bsky.social , @wytamma.bsky.social and I are writing the next version of the Snippy bacterial variant calling pipeline. We want your input on what features s it will have. Please fill out this (longish) survey to help make Snippy great again!
forms.gle/YJP6WQjsk8KK...
forms.gle/YJP6WQjsk8KK...
Reposted by Melinda Ashcroft (PhD)
New preprint is out!
We investigate how well you can call variants directly from genome assemblies compared to traditional read-based variant calling.
Read it here: www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
Data & code: github.com/rrwick/Are-r...
(1/8)
We investigate how well you can call variants directly from genome assemblies compared to traditional read-based variant calling.
Read it here: www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
Data & code: github.com/rrwick/Are-r...
(1/8)
Are reads required? High-precision variant calling from bacterial genome assemblies
Accurate nucleotide variant calling is essential in microbial genomics, particularly for outbreak tracking and phylogenetics. This study evaluates variant calls derived from genome assemblies compared...
www.biorxiv.org
March 3, 2025 at 3:24 AM
New preprint is out!
We investigate how well you can call variants directly from genome assemblies compared to traditional read-based variant calling.
Read it here: www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
Data & code: github.com/rrwick/Are-r...
(1/8)
We investigate how well you can call variants directly from genome assemblies compared to traditional read-based variant calling.
Read it here: www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
Data & code: github.com/rrwick/Are-r...
(1/8)
Reposted by Melinda Ashcroft (PhD)
Plenary 3 -Prof Rachel Thomson
#NTM infection risk influenced by various #environmental factors, house dust, rainfall, temperature, aerosolisation from water to the air etc … so pretty much everywhere 😅
#antimicrobials2025 #IDsky #AMSSky
#NTM infection risk influenced by various #environmental factors, house dust, rainfall, temperature, aerosolisation from water to the air etc … so pretty much everywhere 😅
#antimicrobials2025 #IDsky #AMSSky
February 21, 2025 at 10:27 PM
Plenary 3 -Prof Rachel Thomson
#NTM infection risk influenced by various #environmental factors, house dust, rainfall, temperature, aerosolisation from water to the air etc … so pretty much everywhere 😅
#antimicrobials2025 #IDsky #AMSSky
#NTM infection risk influenced by various #environmental factors, house dust, rainfall, temperature, aerosolisation from water to the air etc … so pretty much everywhere 😅
#antimicrobials2025 #IDsky #AMSSky
For everyone at #Antimicrobials2025 check out my supervisor Prof. Rachel Thomson's Plenary talk on Saturday, February 22 at 9:00 AM on Nontuberculous Mycobacteria #NTM Pulmonary Disease: Epidemiology, Clinical Disease and Natural History.
medical-school.uq.edu.au/research/ntm...
medical-school.uq.edu.au/research/ntm...
February 21, 2025 at 8:13 AM
For everyone at #Antimicrobials2025 check out my supervisor Prof. Rachel Thomson's Plenary talk on Saturday, February 22 at 9:00 AM on Nontuberculous Mycobacteria #NTM Pulmonary Disease: Epidemiology, Clinical Disease and Natural History.
medical-school.uq.edu.au/research/ntm...
medical-school.uq.edu.au/research/ntm...
Reposted by Melinda Ashcroft (PhD)
Strong background in genomics and bioinformatics education and community engagement.
Currently located in Bethesda, MD.
Updated CV: app.box.com/s/hg5g6z05cz...
Currently located in Bethesda, MD.
Updated CV: app.box.com/s/hg5g6z05cz...
Katie Sandlin_ CV_v4.pdf | Powered by Box
app.box.com
February 16, 2025 at 2:02 AM
Strong background in genomics and bioinformatics education and community engagement.
Currently located in Bethesda, MD.
Updated CV: app.box.com/s/hg5g6z05cz...
Currently located in Bethesda, MD.
Updated CV: app.box.com/s/hg5g6z05cz...
Reposted by Melinda Ashcroft (PhD)
Advice from my therapist:
Limit media exposure.
Do good works.
That’s it.
Protect your mental health, friends.
🩷🧡💛💚💙💜
Limit media exposure.
Do good works.
That’s it.
Protect your mental health, friends.
🩷🧡💛💚💙💜
January 29, 2025 at 2:07 AM
Advice from my therapist:
Limit media exposure.
Do good works.
That’s it.
Protect your mental health, friends.
🩷🧡💛💚💙💜
Limit media exposure.
Do good works.
That’s it.
Protect your mental health, friends.
🩷🧡💛💚💙💜
Reposted by Melinda Ashcroft (PhD)
Interested in protist parasites? Want to learn some fun bioinformatics? Think this apicomplexan looks cool? Great! Come and do some protist genomics at @uniofbath.bsky.social!
We're advertising a fully-funded PhD studentship open to UK & International applicants!
www.findaphd.com/phds/project...
We're advertising a fully-funded PhD studentship open to UK & International applicants!
www.findaphd.com/phds/project...
January 21, 2025 at 3:56 PM
Interested in protist parasites? Want to learn some fun bioinformatics? Think this apicomplexan looks cool? Great! Come and do some protist genomics at @uniofbath.bsky.social!
We're advertising a fully-funded PhD studentship open to UK & International applicants!
www.findaphd.com/phds/project...
We're advertising a fully-funded PhD studentship open to UK & International applicants!
www.findaphd.com/phds/project...
Emotional support dumpster fire joins plague duck on the work desk 🔥🗑️
January 21, 2025 at 10:17 AM
Reposted by Melinda Ashcroft (PhD)
New year, new publication! From @conmeehan.bsky.social and colleagues @tlillebaek.bsky.social ek.bsky.social and @micronorman.bsky.social describing four new species of Mycobacterium.
Four novel nontuberculous mycobacteria species: Mycobacterium wendilense sp. nov., Mycobacterium burgundiense sp. nov., Mycobacterium kokjensenii sp. nov. and Mycobacterium holstebronense sp. nov. rev...
Four novel nontuberculous mycobacteria were discovered from a historical strain collection at the International Reference Laboratory of Mycobacteriology at Statens Serum Institut in Copenhagen, Denmar...
www.microbiologyresearch.org
January 8, 2025 at 12:30 PM
New year, new publication! From @conmeehan.bsky.social and colleagues @tlillebaek.bsky.social ek.bsky.social and @micronorman.bsky.social describing four new species of Mycobacterium.
Reposted by Melinda Ashcroft (PhD)
Amidst growing concerns for emerging strains of Yersinia Pestis the causal agent of the plague, it is good to see candidate vaccine being advanced in human studies. The plague was responsible for several historical pandemics with up to 30% lethality.
www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2025/01...
www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2025/01...
Covid jab scientists develop bubonic plague vaccine amid fears of next pandemic
Oxford team reports hopeful results in trials as military experts say UK should stock supplies of Black Death inoculation
www.telegraph.co.uk
January 6, 2025 at 12:15 AM
Amidst growing concerns for emerging strains of Yersinia Pestis the causal agent of the plague, it is good to see candidate vaccine being advanced in human studies. The plague was responsible for several historical pandemics with up to 30% lethality.
www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2025/01...
www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2025/01...
Reposted by Melinda Ashcroft (PhD)
🎉 Transform Indigenous genomics! Join SING Australia, a week-long workshop in Gimuy/Cairns (21–25 July 2025). 🌏 Learn lab skills, ethics, & more. Open to Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islanders in health, science, & humanities. Apply now & shape the future! 🧬✨
January 6, 2025 at 1:45 AM
🎉 Transform Indigenous genomics! Join SING Australia, a week-long workshop in Gimuy/Cairns (21–25 July 2025). 🌏 Learn lab skills, ethics, & more. Open to Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islanders in health, science, & humanities. Apply now & shape the future! 🧬✨
Reposted by Melinda Ashcroft (PhD)
RIP Jimmy Carter who had a massive impact on global health. When the Carter Center began to lead Guinea Worm Eradication programme in 1986, there were 3.5 million cases of this horrible disease. In 2023, there were a total of 14 cases globally, a huge achievement www.cartercenter.org/health/guine...
December 30, 2024 at 11:47 AM
RIP Jimmy Carter who had a massive impact on global health. When the Carter Center began to lead Guinea Worm Eradication programme in 1986, there were 3.5 million cases of this horrible disease. In 2023, there were a total of 14 cases globally, a huge achievement www.cartercenter.org/health/guine...
Reposted by Melinda Ashcroft (PhD)
A very accurate illustration of what all work should look like for the next 2 weeks until 2025.😊
December 17, 2024 at 4:07 AM
A very accurate illustration of what all work should look like for the next 2 weeks until 2025.😊