Divya Venkatesh
@divyav.bsky.social
Research Fellow @oxfordbiology.bsky.social · Viruses and their various hosts · Currently studying avian flu 🦠 in seals 🦭 · Miscellanea · Tangents off tangents
Reposted by Divya Venkatesh
@sacrozhangt.bsky.social and I wrote a commentary on Jordi van Gestel and Carol Gross's latest paper, check it out!
www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/...
Sadly, the Editors at PNAS rejected our initial introduction, which was a David Attenborough style voice over of the microbial Serengeti (included below)
www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/...
Sadly, the Editors at PNAS rejected our initial introduction, which was a David Attenborough style voice over of the microbial Serengeti (included below)
November 13, 2025 at 2:54 PM
@sacrozhangt.bsky.social and I wrote a commentary on Jordi van Gestel and Carol Gross's latest paper, check it out!
www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/...
Sadly, the Editors at PNAS rejected our initial introduction, which was a David Attenborough style voice over of the microbial Serengeti (included below)
www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/...
Sadly, the Editors at PNAS rejected our initial introduction, which was a David Attenborough style voice over of the microbial Serengeti (included below)
🧪 Great to see more recognition for immunology of non-model organisms! Studies in livestock and wildlife will yield impactful insights for 𝘢𝘭𝘭 health 🦆🦭🚶♀️
#VeterinaryImmunology #OpenAccess #OneHealth
#VeterinaryImmunology #OpenAccess #OneHealth
From livestock to wildlife, veterinary immunology is key to understanding the immune system. 🐷🐓🐑
Our @discovimmunol.bsky.social highlights for #IVIS2025 showcase research changing how we understand immunity across species.
Read here 👉 https://bit.ly/41BQkRO
##VeterinaryImmunology #OpenAccess
Our @discovimmunol.bsky.social highlights for #IVIS2025 showcase research changing how we understand immunity across species.
Read here 👉 https://bit.ly/41BQkRO
##VeterinaryImmunology #OpenAccess
August 13, 2025 at 7:44 AM
🧪 Great to see more recognition for immunology of non-model organisms! Studies in livestock and wildlife will yield impactful insights for 𝘢𝘭𝘭 health 🦆🦭🚶♀️
#VeterinaryImmunology #OpenAccess #OneHealth
#VeterinaryImmunology #OpenAccess #OneHealth
Reposted by Divya Venkatesh
13th human case of #H5N1 in Cambodia this year:
6-year-old boy from Tbong Khmum province, confirmed on July 21. Exposure likely linked to sick and dead poultry. He is currently in intensive care. 🧪🧬🥼🦠🔬😷🐓💉
6-year-old boy from Tbong Khmum province, confirmed on July 21. Exposure likely linked to sick and dead poultry. He is currently in intensive care. 🧪🧬🥼🦠🔬😷🐓💉
July 22, 2025 at 12:27 PM
13th human case of #H5N1 in Cambodia this year:
6-year-old boy from Tbong Khmum province, confirmed on July 21. Exposure likely linked to sick and dead poultry. He is currently in intensive care. 🧪🧬🥼🦠🔬😷🐓💉
6-year-old boy from Tbong Khmum province, confirmed on July 21. Exposure likely linked to sick and dead poultry. He is currently in intensive care. 🧪🧬🥼🦠🔬😷🐓💉
🧪 This month, Cambodia reported its 12th human H5N1 bird flu case of the year - a worrying rise linked to a new strain spreading in the region. I write for the @uk.theconversation.com on what we know so far, and why better surveillance matters more than ever: theconversation.com/child-hospit...
Child hospitalised as bird flu cases climb in Cambodia
Bird flu returns to Cambodia after decade-long lull.
theconversation.com
July 20, 2025 at 3:40 AM
🧪 This month, Cambodia reported its 12th human H5N1 bird flu case of the year - a worrying rise linked to a new strain spreading in the region. I write for the @uk.theconversation.com on what we know so far, and why better surveillance matters more than ever: theconversation.com/child-hospit...
🧪 Earlier this year, two highly pathogenic bird flu viruses: H5N1 and H5N5, both from the 2.3.4.4b panzootic lineage, were linked to a seabird die-off in the UK. Notably, H5N5 was also found in dead seals at the same time. Read more in the preprint from APHA: www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
Co-circulation of distinct high pathogenicity avian influenza virus (HPAIV) subtypes in a mass mortality event in wild seabirds and co-location with dead seals
H5Nx clade 2.3.4.4b high pathogenicity avian influenza viruses (HPAIV) have been detected repeatedly in Great Britain (GB) since autumn 2020, with H5N1 dominating detections but with low level detecti...
www.biorxiv.org
July 19, 2025 at 6:32 PM
🧪 Earlier this year, two highly pathogenic bird flu viruses: H5N1 and H5N5, both from the 2.3.4.4b panzootic lineage, were linked to a seabird die-off in the UK. Notably, H5N5 was also found in dead seals at the same time. Read more in the preprint from APHA: www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
Reposted by Divya Venkatesh
"A troubling pattern is also emerging: seven of this year’s cases occurred in June alone."
New from @divyav.bsky.social in @uk.theconversation.com on how after almost a decade without bird flu cases in Cambodia, cases of the virus have been steadily climbing 👇
theconversation.com/child-hospit...
New from @divyav.bsky.social in @uk.theconversation.com on how after almost a decade without bird flu cases in Cambodia, cases of the virus have been steadily climbing 👇
theconversation.com/child-hospit...
Child hospitalised as bird flu cases climb in Cambodia
Bird flu returns to Cambodia after decade-long lull.
theconversation.com
July 10, 2025 at 1:25 PM
"A troubling pattern is also emerging: seven of this year’s cases occurred in June alone."
New from @divyav.bsky.social in @uk.theconversation.com on how after almost a decade without bird flu cases in Cambodia, cases of the virus have been steadily climbing 👇
theconversation.com/child-hospit...
New from @divyav.bsky.social in @uk.theconversation.com on how after almost a decade without bird flu cases in Cambodia, cases of the virus have been steadily climbing 👇
theconversation.com/child-hospit...
Cambodia just reported its 12th human H5N1 bird flu case of the year - a worrying rise linked to a new strain spreading in the region. I write for the @uk.theconversation.com on what we know so far, and why better surveillance matters more than ever: theconversation.com/child-hospit...
Child hospitalised as bird flu cases climb in Cambodia
Bird flu returns to Cambodia after decade-long lull.
theconversation.com
July 11, 2025 at 4:27 AM
Cambodia just reported its 12th human H5N1 bird flu case of the year - a worrying rise linked to a new strain spreading in the region. I write for the @uk.theconversation.com on what we know so far, and why better surveillance matters more than ever: theconversation.com/child-hospit...
Reposted by Divya Venkatesh
incredible new opportunity to interact and download data on seals accross the UK. amazing work by @seamammalresearch.bsky.social
📣Announcing the launch of SealMAP: Seal Mapping & Analysis Platform. This SMRU app allows you to explore & download the latest grey & harbour seal distribution maps for Scotland. You can also get estimates of density for your area of interest. Happy mapping! arts.st-andrews.ac.uk/shiny/smru/s... 🦭🗺️
June 20, 2025 at 9:51 AM
incredible new opportunity to interact and download data on seals accross the UK. amazing work by @seamammalresearch.bsky.social
Reposted by Divya Venkatesh
For some reason these microlibraries remind me of Oodi in Helsinki--which is huge, but also very inviting: www.theguardian.com/environment/...
Indonesia’s stunning microlibraries draw young readers – in pictures
Using passive design and local materials such as ice cream buckets, these modern community spaces offer a respite from urban heat and hustle
www.theguardian.com
June 2, 2025 at 8:25 PM
For some reason these microlibraries remind me of Oodi in Helsinki--which is huge, but also very inviting: www.theguardian.com/environment/...
Reposted by Divya Venkatesh
This is terrible news, HMMER & Infernal are at the heart of DBs like Pfam, Rfam & Dfam. And vital pipelines such as AlphaFold.
NIH funding supporting the HMMER and Infernal software projects has been terminated. NIH states that our work, as well as all other federally funded research at Harvard, is of no benefit to the US.
May 29, 2025 at 7:00 AM
This is terrible news, HMMER & Infernal are at the heart of DBs like Pfam, Rfam & Dfam. And vital pipelines such as AlphaFold.
Reposted by Divya Venkatesh
I'm thinking of organising a meeting on endogenous viral elements (RNA, DNA and retroviral) - if you'd potentially be interested, please fill out the form here - forms.gle/wrCiWMw4yXZe... - so I can gauge interest. Please RT or share with anyone maybe interested! 🧪🧬🖥️🦠 #virology #bioinformatics
EVE Meeting Expression of Interest
forms.gle
May 27, 2025 at 11:53 AM
I'm thinking of organising a meeting on endogenous viral elements (RNA, DNA and retroviral) - if you'd potentially be interested, please fill out the form here - forms.gle/wrCiWMw4yXZe... - so I can gauge interest. Please RT or share with anyone maybe interested! 🧪🧬🖥️🦠 #virology #bioinformatics
“Conserved domain of unknown function” feeling some feelings about my protist days
[average biologist]: i've been studying this conserved domain of unknown function for the past 2 years, and i still don't know what it's doing
[average race science guy]: i SEE the fitness landscape of evolution stretching back in time. i HEAR its symphony. and it says i'm correct about racial IQ
[average race science guy]: i SEE the fitness landscape of evolution stretching back in time. i HEAR its symphony. and it says i'm correct about racial IQ
April 15, 2025 at 12:08 PM
“Conserved domain of unknown function” feeling some feelings about my protist days
Reposted by Divya Venkatesh
I thought it was a joke but it's not. There's an actual study. Researchers at Penn & Finland engineered gum with antiviral bean proteins that ⬇️ viral load in the mouth the main site of replication for many viruses, including SarsCov2, HSV-1 &2, & influenza.
www.discovermagazine.com/the-sciences...
www.discovermagazine.com/the-sciences...
Antiviral Chewing Gum Might Revolutionize How We Tackle Infectious Diseases
Learn why lowering the viral load in the mouth could be a game-changer in fighting viruses like herpes, bird flu, and more.
www.discovermagazine.com
April 10, 2025 at 4:02 PM
I thought it was a joke but it's not. There's an actual study. Researchers at Penn & Finland engineered gum with antiviral bean proteins that ⬇️ viral load in the mouth the main site of replication for many viruses, including SarsCov2, HSV-1 &2, & influenza.
www.discovermagazine.com/the-sciences...
www.discovermagazine.com/the-sciences...
Can't access the paper but... I wonder how much of this is a COVID thing, and how much it is a general viral infection/response to virus/vaccine thing - maybe understanding triggers for viral reactivation can shed light on clinical phenomena we still don't have explanations for.
The reactivation of several viruses was observed post-COVID, including Herpes Simplex Virus (HSV), Cytomegalovirus (CMV), Epstein-Barr Virus (EBV), Human Herpesvirus 6 (HHV-6), Human Herpesvirus 7 (HHV-7), Human Herpesvirus 8 (HHV-8), Varicella Zoster Virus (VZV) and Hepatitis B Virus (HBV).
The reactivation of the various types of viruses following COVID-19 infection: a systematic review
The reactivation of various viruses following COVID-19 infection has been reported in several studies. The impact of SARS-CoV-2 infection on the reactivation of other viruses remains unclear. The a...
www.tandfonline.com
April 4, 2025 at 10:44 AM
Can't access the paper but... I wonder how much of this is a COVID thing, and how much it is a general viral infection/response to virus/vaccine thing - maybe understanding triggers for viral reactivation can shed light on clinical phenomena we still don't have explanations for.
Ufff this cosmetics brand advert at the children’s hospital waiting room !!
April 1, 2025 at 9:43 AM
Ufff this cosmetics brand advert at the children’s hospital waiting room !!
What’s better way to start the day than a food coma? It’s nice to be back.
March 21, 2025 at 9:02 AM
What’s better way to start the day than a food coma? It’s nice to be back.
One Year Later-"It Has Been Determined" that Retrospective Infected Dairy Herd Serology can be Disclosed
open.substack.com/pub/hogvet51...
open.substack.com/pub/hogvet51...
One Year Later-"It Has Been Determined" that Retrospective Infected Dairy Herd Serology can be Disclosed
As widely suspected, H5N1 infection in dairy herds spreads widely in both lactating and non-lactating animals, most likely by classical influenza oronasal routes
open.substack.com
March 11, 2025 at 4:31 PM
One Year Later-"It Has Been Determined" that Retrospective Infected Dairy Herd Serology can be Disclosed
open.substack.com/pub/hogvet51...
open.substack.com/pub/hogvet51...
Crustless quiche! Forgot the ready-made pastry.
Because I cannot cook AND help two children resolve their respective urgent! life-and-death situations at the same time…
Because I cannot cook AND help two children resolve their respective urgent! life-and-death situations at the same time…
March 6, 2025 at 10:11 PM
Crustless quiche! Forgot the ready-made pastry.
Because I cannot cook AND help two children resolve their respective urgent! life-and-death situations at the same time…
Because I cannot cook AND help two children resolve their respective urgent! life-and-death situations at the same time…
Reposted by Divya Venkatesh
Reposted by Divya Venkatesh
Closing this friday!
Core-funded postdoc position at The Pirbright Institute, Surrey, UK (just outside London), in the group of Professor Ian Brown.
Working on H5N1 avian influenza virus evolution and development of cross-reactive vaccines.
www.pirbright.ac.uk/careers-and-...
Working on H5N1 avian influenza virus evolution and development of cross-reactive vaccines.
www.pirbright.ac.uk/careers-and-...
Postdoctoral Scientist
The Pirbright Institute delivers world-leading research to understand, predict, detect, and respond to viral disease outbreaks. We study viruses of livestock that are endemic and exotic to the UK, inc...
www.pirbright.ac.uk
February 17, 2025 at 5:43 PM
Closing this friday!
Reposted by Divya Venkatesh
Because there's not enough going on: Arizona has found #H5N1 #birdflu in milk and it looks like yet another spillover from wild birds.
www.statnews.com/2025/02/14/a...
www.statnews.com/2025/02/14/a...
Bird flu found in Arizona milk suggests another spillover from birds to cows
Another spillover of the H5N1 bird flu virus from wild birds to dairy cattle appears to have occurred, this time in Arizona.
www.statnews.com
February 14, 2025 at 10:53 PM
Because there's not enough going on: Arizona has found #H5N1 #birdflu in milk and it looks like yet another spillover from wild birds.
www.statnews.com/2025/02/14/a...
www.statnews.com/2025/02/14/a...
Tl;DR: 32 minutes - alternate hot and cool 8x. It's science! 🧪
February 12, 2025 at 10:29 AM
Tl;DR: 32 minutes - alternate hot and cool 8x. It's science! 🧪
There is now a possible human case of new-in-cattle H5 D1.1 in Nevada, US: hogvet51.substack.com/p/presumptiv...
February 10, 2025 at 3:11 PM
There is now a possible human case of new-in-cattle H5 D1.1 in Nevada, US: hogvet51.substack.com/p/presumptiv...
Nice overview of flu-related neuropathology over the years with some new findings on the impact of #HPAI (highly pathogenic) #2.3.4.4b #H5N1 virus on marine mammals:
neuropathology + inflammation of the heart muscles + lesions in the placenta = mother to pup transmission.
Some tangents below!
neuropathology + inflammation of the heart muscles + lesions in the placenta = mother to pup transmission.
Some tangents below!
Mike Coston: afludiary.blogspot.com/2025/02/prep...
Preprint: Pathology of Influenza A (H5N1) Infection in Pinnipeds Reveals Novel Tissue Tropism and Vertical Transmission.
Photo Credit Wikipedia Note: CNN is reporting an ( as yet ) unconfirmed presumed positive human H5 case in Nevada (see Hogvet51's post ...
afludiary.blogspot.com
February 10, 2025 at 10:52 AM
Reposted by Divya Venkatesh
We uncovered the same statistical structure that is a hallmark of human language in whale song, published today in Science. @inbalarnon.bsky.social @simonkirby.bsky.social @jennyallen13.bsky.social @clairenea.bsky.social @emma-carroll.bsky.social
www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
February 6, 2025 at 7:15 PM
We uncovered the same statistical structure that is a hallmark of human language in whale song, published today in Science. @inbalarnon.bsky.social @simonkirby.bsky.social @jennyallen13.bsky.social @clairenea.bsky.social @emma-carroll.bsky.social
www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...