David Bhella
@dbhella.bsky.social
Professor of Structural Virology and Associate Director at the MRC-University of Glasgow Centre for Virus Research (CVR). Director of the Scottish Centre for Macromolecular Imaging. CryoEM, viruses, music, field archery, scicom and pix of our toy poodle.
The UK cloud cover forecast for tomorrows geomagnetic storm. If there is one guarantee in life it’s 100% cloud cover when there is a forecast of northern lights. www.bbc.co.uk/weather/arti...
November 11, 2025 at 8:58 PM
The UK cloud cover forecast for tomorrows geomagnetic storm. If there is one guarantee in life it’s 100% cloud cover when there is a forecast of northern lights. www.bbc.co.uk/weather/arti...
Reposted by David Bhella
Huge congratulations to Emma Davis, the winner of 2025's Early Career Microbiologist of the Year prize! We agree with Emma that all of the finalists' talks were brilliant and a massive well done to everyone involved!
October 7, 2025 at 5:17 PM
Huge congratulations to Emma Davis, the winner of 2025's Early Career Microbiologist of the Year prize! We agree with Emma that all of the finalists' talks were brilliant and a massive well done to everyone involved!
Reposted by David Bhella
My nightmare: “Almost 100 people came down with norovirus aboard a Royal Caribbean ship amid a 13-day voyage, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported earlier this week… The first reports of illness were made on Sept. 28, with four crew members and 94 guests falling ill”
Norovirus Outbreak Sickens Nearly 100 on Royal Caribbean Cruise
www.nytimes.com
October 3, 2025 at 3:15 PM
My nightmare: “Almost 100 people came down with norovirus aboard a Royal Caribbean ship amid a 13-day voyage, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported earlier this week… The first reports of illness were made on Sept. 28, with four crew members and 94 guests falling ill”
This is the coolest resource - so much more than a repository of predicted viral protein structures. Check it out…
Viro3D paper is out! We predicted 85,000 protein structures from human & animal viruses. 1/5 🧵
📑 Paper doi.org/10.1038/s443...
🔭 Explore virosphere viro3d.cvr.gla.ac.uk
📑 Paper doi.org/10.1038/s443...
🔭 Explore virosphere viro3d.cvr.gla.ac.uk
Viro3D: a comprehensive database of virus protein structure predictions | Molecular Systems Biology
imageimageViro3D provides proteome-level, high confidence AI-protein structure predictions for
>4,400 viruses, allowing mapping of form and function across the human and animal
virosphere. Viro3D i...
doi.org
September 26, 2025 at 9:17 PM
This is the coolest resource - so much more than a repository of predicted viral protein structures. Check it out…
Reposted by David Bhella
Check out this new BBC documentary on Disease X and pandemic preparedness, broadcast tonight (22/09) and on BBC iPlayer.
It features @cvrinfo.bsky.social's work using #AI to investigate #virology and much, much more. 🧪🦠🤖
It was a real pleasure working with Chris VT and the team. Thank you!
It features @cvrinfo.bsky.social's work using #AI to investigate #virology and much, much more. 🧪🦠🤖
It was a real pleasure working with Chris VT and the team. Thank you!
September 22, 2025 at 10:50 AM
Check out this new BBC documentary on Disease X and pandemic preparedness, broadcast tonight (22/09) and on BBC iPlayer.
It features @cvrinfo.bsky.social's work using #AI to investigate #virology and much, much more. 🧪🦠🤖
It was a real pleasure working with Chris VT and the team. Thank you!
It features @cvrinfo.bsky.social's work using #AI to investigate #virology and much, much more. 🧪🦠🤖
It was a real pleasure working with Chris VT and the team. Thank you!
I am delighted to share this preprint describing the structure and transcriptomics analysis of adenovirus D10 - a fantastic collaboration - and a lot of hard work by Kasim and Rosie.
Identification of a novel structural motif and overexpression of key transcripts elucidated in Adenovirus 10 https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1101/2025.09.20.677498v1
September 21, 2025 at 3:23 AM
I am delighted to share this preprint describing the structure and transcriptomics analysis of adenovirus D10 - a fantastic collaboration - and a lot of hard work by Kasim and Rosie.
Second time in a week - so proud of Charlotte’s achievements. ECR oral presentation prize at the 9th international Calicivirus workshop. So accomplished and just starting year 3 of her PhD.
September 11, 2025 at 7:31 PM
Second time in a week - so proud of Charlotte’s achievements. ECR oral presentation prize at the 9th international Calicivirus workshop. So accomplished and just starting year 3 of her PhD.
Reposted by David Bhella
Our PhD studentship programme is officially open; pass it on
If you are looking for a fully-funded PhD in the mechanisms underlying human disease, here are the details...
Great science and a great environment!
www.path.ox.ac.uk/news-article...
If you are looking for a fully-funded PhD in the mechanisms underlying human disease, here are the details...
Great science and a great environment!
www.path.ox.ac.uk/news-article...
Applications now open for our PhD studentship programme - Dunn School
Applications are now open to apply for our four year, fully-funded PhD programme in Molecular Cell Biology in Health and Disease.
www.path.ox.ac.uk
September 8, 2025 at 11:15 AM
Our PhD studentship programme is officially open; pass it on
If you are looking for a fully-funded PhD in the mechanisms underlying human disease, here are the details...
Great science and a great environment!
www.path.ox.ac.uk/news-article...
If you are looking for a fully-funded PhD in the mechanisms underlying human disease, here are the details...
Great science and a great environment!
www.path.ox.ac.uk/news-article...
Well this is terrible… honestly the stuff I have to do for science - in Banff for the 9th international Calicivirus workshop.
September 7, 2025 at 1:41 PM
Well this is terrible… honestly the stuff I have to do for science - in Banff for the 9th international Calicivirus workshop.
Proud supervisor moment - congratulations Charlotte Lewis on winning the ECR best presentation prize at the Glasgow Virology Workshop. 👏👏👏👏👏👏
September 5, 2025 at 7:59 PM
Proud supervisor moment - congratulations Charlotte Lewis on winning the ECR best presentation prize at the Glasgow Virology Workshop. 👏👏👏👏👏👏
First field archery competition in ~25 years. I was terrible 😀 - but it was lovely being out in the woods again.
June 29, 2025 at 6:05 PM
First field archery competition in ~25 years. I was terrible 😀 - but it was lovely being out in the woods again.
Reposted by David Bhella
Last week we welcomed colleagues from @helmholtzhzi.bsky.social Centre for Infection Research & other project partners for our CVR-HZI Collaborative Development Fund Symposium.
We heard about exciting research projects and discussed new opportunities to further our collaborations.
cvr-hzi.co.uk
We heard about exciting research projects and discussed new opportunities to further our collaborations.
cvr-hzi.co.uk
June 24, 2025 at 1:55 PM
Last week we welcomed colleagues from @helmholtzhzi.bsky.social Centre for Infection Research & other project partners for our CVR-HZI Collaborative Development Fund Symposium.
We heard about exciting research projects and discussed new opportunities to further our collaborations.
cvr-hzi.co.uk
We heard about exciting research projects and discussed new opportunities to further our collaborations.
cvr-hzi.co.uk
Epseptimavirus phagemcphageface made my day...
doi.org/10.1099/jgv....
doi.org/10.1099/jgv....
Binomial names for virus species: the rediscovery of an old idea
The International Committee on Taxonomy of Viruses now mandates that all virus species names be presented in a binomial format. This requirement replaces the various naming formats that have been used...
doi.org
June 13, 2025 at 12:39 PM
Epseptimavirus phagemcphageface made my day...
doi.org/10.1099/jgv....
doi.org/10.1099/jgv....
Reposted by David Bhella
Please join us if you can for this year's Influenza Update Meeting, and please spread the news! It will be another fun opportunity to meet other influenza researchers, make connections and discuss our ongoing research.
SAVE THE DATE!
The 2025 Influenza Update Meeting will be held @uni-of-warwick.bsky.social on the 15th and 16th December - @nicolerobb.bsky.social is leading the organisation for this year's event.
We hope you'll join us there - please repost!
www.gla.ac.uk/research/az/...
The 2025 Influenza Update Meeting will be held @uni-of-warwick.bsky.social on the 15th and 16th December - @nicolerobb.bsky.social is leading the organisation for this year's event.
We hope you'll join us there - please repost!
www.gla.ac.uk/research/az/...
June 4, 2025 at 3:01 PM
Please join us if you can for this year's Influenza Update Meeting, and please spread the news! It will be another fun opportunity to meet other influenza researchers, make connections and discuss our ongoing research.
Isn’t it strange how the most ardent capitalists are suddenly very worried about the influence of the profit motive in pharma - while simultaneously screaming about state regulation of eg finance sector. It must be strange being in their heads.
May 28, 2025 at 10:57 AM
Isn’t it strange how the most ardent capitalists are suddenly very worried about the influence of the profit motive in pharma - while simultaneously screaming about state regulation of eg finance sector. It must be strange being in their heads.
At the international virus assembly workshop in Alghero, Sardinia. This afternoon we took some time out to tour the old town. A beautiful walk with friends.
May 27, 2025 at 4:49 PM
At the international virus assembly workshop in Alghero, Sardinia. This afternoon we took some time out to tour the old town. A beautiful walk with friends.
A nice photo from last week’s ’Celebration of 50 years of Virology’ in St Andrews - marking a milestone in the distinguished career of Rick Randall - a great virologist, colleague and friend - congratulations Rick!
May 20, 2025 at 8:10 PM
A nice photo from last week’s ’Celebration of 50 years of Virology’ in St Andrews - marking a milestone in the distinguished career of Rick Randall - a great virologist, colleague and friend - congratulations Rick!
Congratulations on your excellent thesis defence Hollie - @cvrinfo.bsky.social
May 12, 2025 at 2:23 PM
Congratulations on your excellent thesis defence Hollie - @cvrinfo.bsky.social
2 years ago GSC made my wife redundant. She brought in £400k p/a in education contracts and was well regarded by educationalists across Scotland. They lost her contacts and the excellent reputation she had built over 20 years.
Competence is seen as a threat by those in power who are less capable.
Competence is seen as a threat by those in power who are less capable.
April 19, 2025 at 4:27 PM
2 years ago GSC made my wife redundant. She brought in £400k p/a in education contracts and was well regarded by educationalists across Scotland. They lost her contacts and the excellent reputation she had built over 20 years.
Competence is seen as a threat by those in power who are less capable.
Competence is seen as a threat by those in power who are less capable.
One of the many lovely things about having a dog is encounters with urban wildlife while out for a walk. Here is a greater spotted woodpecker spotted this morning in our local woods.
April 7, 2025 at 5:37 PM
One of the many lovely things about having a dog is encounters with urban wildlife while out for a walk. Here is a greater spotted woodpecker spotted this morning in our local woods.
I am thrilled that University of Glasgow is supporting cryoEM in Scotland by investing in talented young technical professionals to manage SCMI and help us deliver great science. The energy and enthusiasm in the team is amazing and infectious.
What better way to join Bluesky than post our first professional team photo. We've been busy onboarding everyone over the last few months, so welcome to Giusy, Debakshi, Kako and Gonzalo who have joined James. We're looking forward to helping our users do great cryo-EM.
April 2, 2025 at 5:38 PM
I am thrilled that University of Glasgow is supporting cryoEM in Scotland by investing in talented young technical professionals to manage SCMI and help us deliver great science. The energy and enthusiasm in the team is amazing and infectious.
Reposted by David Bhella
New in Nature Comms: We applied metagenomic + targeted NGS to serum from febrile patients in Uganda. Post-COVID, LMICs have sequencing infrastructure that could be repurposed for pathogen discovery.
🔗 www.nature.com/articles/s41...
🔗 www.nature.com/articles/s41...
Uncovering the viral aetiology of undiagnosed acute febrile illness in Uganda using metagenomic sequencing - Nature Communications
Acute febrile illness is common in sub-Saharan Africa and causative agents are often unknown. Here, the authors perform metagenomic sequencing on samples from patients with acute febrile illness in Ug...
www.nature.com
March 27, 2025 at 12:04 AM
New in Nature Comms: We applied metagenomic + targeted NGS to serum from febrile patients in Uganda. Post-COVID, LMICs have sequencing infrastructure that could be repurposed for pathogen discovery.
🔗 www.nature.com/articles/s41...
🔗 www.nature.com/articles/s41...
I am def gonna read this later…
A very helpful read on tackling procrastination @naturebiotech.bsky.social
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
An open letter to graduate students and other procrastinators: it’s time to write - Nature Biotechnology
Nature Biotechnology - An open letter to graduate students and other procrastinators: it’s time to write
www.nature.com
March 19, 2025 at 1:50 PM
I am def gonna read this later…
A couple of photos from a wonderful night out - Ozric Tentacles and The Orb. Lots of smiling and dancing…. Lovely.
March 14, 2025 at 9:11 PM
A couple of photos from a wonderful night out - Ozric Tentacles and The Orb. Lots of smiling and dancing…. Lovely.
Reposted by David Bhella
🚨I promised I'd say more on the Royal Society and Elon Musk, so here it is. 🚨
I've resigned my position as Associate Editor at Royal Society's journal Open Science in protest at their lack of action over Elon Musk.
My op-ed in @theguardian.com
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
I've resigned my position as Associate Editor at Royal Society's journal Open Science in protest at their lack of action over Elon Musk.
My op-ed in @theguardian.com
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
Elon Musk is a proven danger to good science, but the Royal Society won’t say so. That’s why I resigned | Kit Yates
It is vital to act, and I urge colleagues to do so. How can we stand by and laud this man while he undermines scientific integrity? asks academic and author Kit Yates
www.theguardian.com
March 4, 2025 at 3:51 PM
🚨I promised I'd say more on the Royal Society and Elon Musk, so here it is. 🚨
I've resigned my position as Associate Editor at Royal Society's journal Open Science in protest at their lack of action over Elon Musk.
My op-ed in @theguardian.com
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
I've resigned my position as Associate Editor at Royal Society's journal Open Science in protest at their lack of action over Elon Musk.
My op-ed in @theguardian.com
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...