George O'Toole (he/him/his)
@geiselbiofilm.bsky.social
Elmer R. Pfefferkorn, PhD, Professor of Microbiology & Immunology at the Geisel School of Medicine, EiC of the Journal of Bacteriology; Bacterial Biofilms, Surface Sensing, c-di-GMP Signaling, Polymicrobial Communities & Gut Microbiota in Cystic Fibrosis
JB Editor's Choice: Panich, Wadhwa et al. describe a new type of motility in Salmonella they refer to as "swashing", which does not appear to require active propulsion.
journals.asm.org/doi/10.1128/...
@asm.org #JBacteriology
journals.asm.org/doi/10.1128/...
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December 1, 2025 at 1:23 PM
JB Editor's Choice: Panich, Wadhwa et al. describe a new type of motility in Salmonella they refer to as "swashing", which does not appear to require active propulsion.
journals.asm.org/doi/10.1128/...
@asm.org #JBacteriology
journals.asm.org/doi/10.1128/...
@asm.org #JBacteriology
JB Editor's Choice: Endres, Lehman et al. use a cool genetic selection to help identify 4 different pyruvate transporters in S. aureus, indicating the importance of this substrate for this microbe.
journals.asm.org/doi/10.1128/...
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journals.asm.org/doi/10.1128/...
@asm.org #JBacteriology
November 26, 2025 at 1:47 PM
JB Editor's Choice: Endres, Lehman et al. use a cool genetic selection to help identify 4 different pyruvate transporters in S. aureus, indicating the importance of this substrate for this microbe.
journals.asm.org/doi/10.1128/...
@asm.org #JBacteriology
journals.asm.org/doi/10.1128/...
@asm.org #JBacteriology
JB Editor's Choice: Laurie Comstock discusses the history of model gut Bacteroidales (B. frag and B. theta) - bugs of increasing importance in our study of the gut microbiota and system-wide impacts of gut microbes.
journals.asm.org/doi/10.1128/...
@asm.org #JBacteriology
journals.asm.org/doi/10.1128/...
@asm.org #JBacteriology
November 25, 2025 at 3:31 PM
JB Editor's Choice: Laurie Comstock discusses the history of model gut Bacteroidales (B. frag and B. theta) - bugs of increasing importance in our study of the gut microbiota and system-wide impacts of gut microbes.
journals.asm.org/doi/10.1128/...
@asm.org #JBacteriology
journals.asm.org/doi/10.1128/...
@asm.org #JBacteriology
JB Editor's Choice: Bourret and colleagues update our understanding of the pseudo-receiver domains, nicely setting the stage for future work on these domains.
journals.asm.org/doi/10.1128/...
@asm.org #JBacteriology
journals.asm.org/doi/10.1128/...
@asm.org #JBacteriology
November 24, 2025 at 3:15 PM
JB Editor's Choice: Bourret and colleagues update our understanding of the pseudo-receiver domains, nicely setting the stage for future work on these domains.
journals.asm.org/doi/10.1128/...
@asm.org #JBacteriology
journals.asm.org/doi/10.1128/...
@asm.org #JBacteriology
The newest issue of JB is out! This month's issue has article on topics including bacterial pseudo-receiver domains, B. frag/B.theta as model bugs, peptidoglycomics, pyruvate transport in Staph, "swashing" motility, and more! Check it out!
journals.asm.org/toc/jb/207/11
journals.asm.org/toc/jb/207/11
November 21, 2025 at 4:36 PM
The newest issue of JB is out! This month's issue has article on topics including bacterial pseudo-receiver domains, B. frag/B.theta as model bugs, peptidoglycomics, pyruvate transport in Staph, "swashing" motility, and more! Check it out!
journals.asm.org/toc/jb/207/11
journals.asm.org/toc/jb/207/11
Excited to share new work from Sarvesh Surve examining the gut microbiota of adults with CF using colonoscopy samples and a culturomics approach. We note continued depletion of Bacteroidota (which we noted in kids) & enrichment of aerobes in the mucosa of pwCF.
pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/41256617/
pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/41256617/
November 21, 2025 at 3:09 PM
Excited to share new work from Sarvesh Surve examining the gut microbiota of adults with CF using colonoscopy samples and a culturomics approach. We note continued depletion of Bacteroidota (which we noted in kids) & enrichment of aerobes in the mucosa of pwCF.
pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/41256617/
pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/41256617/
New in JB: Zhao, You et al. use an Argonaute-based system that functions at physiological temperatures to edit the genome of Mycobacterium smegmatis.
journals.asm.org/doi/10.1128/...
@asm.org #JBacteriology
journals.asm.org/doi/10.1128/...
@asm.org #JBacteriology
November 19, 2025 at 4:28 PM
New in JB: Zhao, You et al. use an Argonaute-based system that functions at physiological temperatures to edit the genome of Mycobacterium smegmatis.
journals.asm.org/doi/10.1128/...
@asm.org #JBacteriology
journals.asm.org/doi/10.1128/...
@asm.org #JBacteriology
New in JB: Shen, Tse-Dinh et al. explore the role of a DNA topoisomerase I in the physiology of the important intracellular pathogen Chlamydia trachomatis.
journals.asm.org/doi/10.1128/...
@asm.org #JBacteriology
journals.asm.org/doi/10.1128/...
@asm.org #JBacteriology
November 17, 2025 at 2:39 PM
New in JB: Shen, Tse-Dinh et al. explore the role of a DNA topoisomerase I in the physiology of the important intracellular pathogen Chlamydia trachomatis.
journals.asm.org/doi/10.1128/...
@asm.org #JBacteriology
journals.asm.org/doi/10.1128/...
@asm.org #JBacteriology
New in JB: da Silva Rocha, Berrêdo-Pinho et al. explore the role of protein prenylation inhibition on Mycobacterium leprae pathogenesis versus macrophages, and propose new therapeutic strategies based on these findings.
journals.asm.org/doi/10.1128/...
@asm.org #JBacteriology
journals.asm.org/doi/10.1128/...
@asm.org #JBacteriology
November 14, 2025 at 4:34 PM
New in JB: da Silva Rocha, Berrêdo-Pinho et al. explore the role of protein prenylation inhibition on Mycobacterium leprae pathogenesis versus macrophages, and propose new therapeutic strategies based on these findings.
journals.asm.org/doi/10.1128/...
@asm.org #JBacteriology
journals.asm.org/doi/10.1128/...
@asm.org #JBacteriology
New in JB: Sather, Finan et al. link the Hna phage defense system to the regulation of the nodulation pathway in Sinorhizobium meliloti.
journals.asm.org/doi/10.1128/...
@asm.org #JBacteriology
journals.asm.org/doi/10.1128/...
@asm.org #JBacteriology
November 12, 2025 at 1:21 PM
New in JB: Sather, Finan et al. link the Hna phage defense system to the regulation of the nodulation pathway in Sinorhizobium meliloti.
journals.asm.org/doi/10.1128/...
@asm.org #JBacteriology
journals.asm.org/doi/10.1128/...
@asm.org #JBacteriology
New in JB: Sachla, Helmann et al. untangle a complicated set of interactions that impact Abx-mediated metabolite toxicity in Bacillus.
journals.asm.org/doi/10.1128/...
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journals.asm.org/doi/10.1128/...
@asm.org #JBacteriology
November 10, 2025 at 3:02 PM
New in JB: Sachla, Helmann et al. untangle a complicated set of interactions that impact Abx-mediated metabolite toxicity in Bacillus.
journals.asm.org/doi/10.1128/...
@asm.org #JBacteriology
journals.asm.org/doi/10.1128/...
@asm.org #JBacteriology
New in JB: Ma, Xu, et al. report the identification of a heparin-binding protein in Mycoplasma bovis, and present evidence that the protein mediates adhesin via heparin binding.
journals.asm.org/doi/10.1128/...
@asm.org #JBacteriology
journals.asm.org/doi/10.1128/...
@asm.org #JBacteriology
November 7, 2025 at 1:52 PM
New in JB: Ma, Xu, et al. report the identification of a heparin-binding protein in Mycoplasma bovis, and present evidence that the protein mediates adhesin via heparin binding.
journals.asm.org/doi/10.1128/...
@asm.org #JBacteriology
journals.asm.org/doi/10.1128/...
@asm.org #JBacteriology
Congratulations to Bassam el Hafi, who successfully defended his PhD thesis yesterday! He did a terrific job! Bassam connected microbial interactions to the complexity of human communication. Thanks also to Sarah Clark of the Anschutz School of Medicine who served at Bassam's outside examiner.
November 6, 2025 at 1:44 PM
Congratulations to Bassam el Hafi, who successfully defended his PhD thesis yesterday! He did a terrific job! Bassam connected microbial interactions to the complexity of human communication. Thanks also to Sarah Clark of the Anschutz School of Medicine who served at Bassam's outside examiner.
New in JB: Kumari, Das et al. use in vitro and in vivo models to show that antibiotic pressure significantly impacts the mobility of Is-mediated carbapenem resistance.
journals.asm.org/doi/10.1128/...
@asm.org #JBacteriology
journals.asm.org/doi/10.1128/...
@asm.org #JBacteriology
November 5, 2025 at 4:13 PM
New in JB: Kumari, Das et al. use in vitro and in vivo models to show that antibiotic pressure significantly impacts the mobility of Is-mediated carbapenem resistance.
journals.asm.org/doi/10.1128/...
@asm.org #JBacteriology
journals.asm.org/doi/10.1128/...
@asm.org #JBacteriology
New in JB: Corredor-Rozo, Escobar-Perez et al. explore the role of Com_YlbF domain-containing proteins of S. aureus in biofilm formation, hemolytic capacity & virulence via changing in RNase-Y activity.
journals.asm.org/doi/10.1128/...
journals.asm.org/doi/10.1128/...
November 3, 2025 at 4:20 PM
New in JB: Corredor-Rozo, Escobar-Perez et al. explore the role of Com_YlbF domain-containing proteins of S. aureus in biofilm formation, hemolytic capacity & virulence via changing in RNase-Y activity.
journals.asm.org/doi/10.1128/...
journals.asm.org/doi/10.1128/...
Please say hello to Isaiah, who recently joined the lab as a Research Technician! Welcome.
October 31, 2025 at 4:46 PM
Please say hello to Isaiah, who recently joined the lab as a Research Technician! Welcome.
New in JB: Andersen, Nguyen et al. characterize a IclR-like regulator that controls expression of genes required for sugar metabolism and intestinal luminal growth.
journals.asm.org/doi/10.1128/...
@asm.org #JBacteriology
journals.asm.org/doi/10.1128/...
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October 31, 2025 at 12:45 PM
New in JB: Andersen, Nguyen et al. characterize a IclR-like regulator that controls expression of genes required for sugar metabolism and intestinal luminal growth.
journals.asm.org/doi/10.1128/...
@asm.org #JBacteriology
journals.asm.org/doi/10.1128/...
@asm.org #JBacteriology
New in JB: A minireview from my team, led by a recently graduated PhD student Kaitlyn Barrack, compares the microbiota and physiology of the CF gut with features of the gut in inflammatory bowel disease - there are many similarities!
journals.asm.org/doi/10.1128/...
@asm.org #JBacteriology
journals.asm.org/doi/10.1128/...
@asm.org #JBacteriology
October 30, 2025 at 12:42 PM
New in JB: A minireview from my team, led by a recently graduated PhD student Kaitlyn Barrack, compares the microbiota and physiology of the CF gut with features of the gut in inflammatory bowel disease - there are many similarities!
journals.asm.org/doi/10.1128/...
@asm.org #JBacteriology
journals.asm.org/doi/10.1128/...
@asm.org #JBacteriology
New in JB: Perslow, Meadows-Graves & Luallen explore the role the virulence regulator bvgS in control of nutrient-induced filamentation by B. avium - this morphological change may be a general feature of Bordetellae.
journals.asm.org/doi/10.1128/...
@asm.org
#JBacteriology
journals.asm.org/doi/10.1128/...
@asm.org
#JBacteriology
October 29, 2025 at 1:25 PM
New in JB: Perslow, Meadows-Graves & Luallen explore the role the virulence regulator bvgS in control of nutrient-induced filamentation by B. avium - this morphological change may be a general feature of Bordetellae.
journals.asm.org/doi/10.1128/...
@asm.org
#JBacteriology
journals.asm.org/doi/10.1128/...
@asm.org
#JBacteriology
New in JB: Osborne & Sorg discuss cysteine proteases made by C. difficile, with a particular focus on recent analysis of the sporulation-specific protease, YabG. This work also discusses the proteases in the context of the MEROPS database.
journals.asm.org/doi/10.1128/...
@asm.org #JBacteriology
journals.asm.org/doi/10.1128/...
@asm.org #JBacteriology
October 28, 2025 at 12:49 PM
New in JB: Osborne & Sorg discuss cysteine proteases made by C. difficile, with a particular focus on recent analysis of the sporulation-specific protease, YabG. This work also discusses the proteases in the context of the MEROPS database.
journals.asm.org/doi/10.1128/...
@asm.org #JBacteriology
journals.asm.org/doi/10.1128/...
@asm.org #JBacteriology
JB Editor's Choice: Peng, Lyman & Schmitt characterize zinc-binding proteins in the cell wall of Corynebacterium diphtheriae - their work suggests an uncharacterized mechanism whereby these proteins are localized.
journals.asm.org/doi/10.1128/...
@asm.org #JBacteriology
journals.asm.org/doi/10.1128/...
@asm.org #JBacteriology
October 27, 2025 at 3:12 PM
JB Editor's Choice: Peng, Lyman & Schmitt characterize zinc-binding proteins in the cell wall of Corynebacterium diphtheriae - their work suggests an uncharacterized mechanism whereby these proteins are localized.
journals.asm.org/doi/10.1128/...
@asm.org #JBacteriology
journals.asm.org/doi/10.1128/...
@asm.org #JBacteriology
O'Toole lab alum doing well at NACFC! Fabrice Jean-Pierre led the session on polymicrobial infections in CF and Rebcca Valls gave a talk that was a top 5 finalist for best jr abstract! Great to see DartCF people doing so well!
October 25, 2025 at 5:57 PM
O'Toole lab alum doing well at NACFC! Fabrice Jean-Pierre led the session on polymicrobial infections in CF and Rebcca Valls gave a talk that was a top 5 finalist for best jr abstract! Great to see DartCF people doing so well!
JB Editor's Choice: Mahto, Kumar et al. report the structural and mutational characterization of the first isophthalate dioxygenase, providing insight into how to better degrade phthalate pollutants.
journals.asm.org/doi/10.1128/...
@asm.org #JBacteriology
journals.asm.org/doi/10.1128/...
@asm.org #JBacteriology
October 24, 2025 at 3:42 PM
JB Editor's Choice: Mahto, Kumar et al. report the structural and mutational characterization of the first isophthalate dioxygenase, providing insight into how to better degrade phthalate pollutants.
journals.asm.org/doi/10.1128/...
@asm.org #JBacteriology
journals.asm.org/doi/10.1128/...
@asm.org #JBacteriology
New in JB: Black and Wakeman review the challenges of treating polymicrobial infections in various body sites, a topic near and dear to my heart.
journals.asm.org/doi/10.1128/...
@asm.org #JBacteriology
journals.asm.org/doi/10.1128/...
@asm.org #JBacteriology
October 23, 2025 at 12:20 PM
New in JB: Black and Wakeman review the challenges of treating polymicrobial infections in various body sites, a topic near and dear to my heart.
journals.asm.org/doi/10.1128/...
@asm.org #JBacteriology
journals.asm.org/doi/10.1128/...
@asm.org #JBacteriology
JB Editor's Choice: Waller, Ribardo & Hendrixson show that flagellar length impacts function, with short flagella slowing swimming and reducing host colonization, indicating the important of regulating the lenght of the filament.
journals.asm.org/doi/10.1128/...
@asm.org #JBacteriology
journals.asm.org/doi/10.1128/...
@asm.org #JBacteriology
October 22, 2025 at 1:31 PM
JB Editor's Choice: Waller, Ribardo & Hendrixson show that flagellar length impacts function, with short flagella slowing swimming and reducing host colonization, indicating the important of regulating the lenght of the filament.
journals.asm.org/doi/10.1128/...
@asm.org #JBacteriology
journals.asm.org/doi/10.1128/...
@asm.org #JBacteriology