🗣️Please pass on to anybody who might be interested, and get in touch if you have any questions!

😍 And what socks! I could hardly concentrate on the project meeting with @gemccallum.bsky.social’s beautifully adorned ankles on view 🧦🦠🧫🍜

I'm delighted that @relenski.bsky.social is the recipient of the 2025 Microbiology Society Prize Medal! When @evokait.bsky.social and I discussed evolutionary microbiologists to nominate, Rich was at the top of our lists — inspirational & foundational work in the field.

Congratulations Rich!

We even found conditions where plasmid-encoded CMs failed to outcompete uncompensated plasmids!

...and when we explored the system experimentally, we found that chromosomal CMs dominated under all conditions, due to more effective compensation and plasmid 'weaponisation'.

We originally thought that plasmid CMs would outcompete chromsomal CMs because plaCM can spread by conjugation, but analysing mathematical models of CM hinted that things weren't so simple...

Our previous work showed that effective CMs can occur on the chromosome or on the plasmid. Plasmid CMs can spread by conjugation, whereas chromosomal CMs can ameliorate different plasmids. Which is better? journals.plos.org/plosbiology/...

🚨#PhD opportunity!🚨Do plasmids help soil microbiomes adapt to climate change? Join me and Raj Whitlock to investigate, using the world's longest-running climate experiment 🌾🥵🦠 Please share, and get in touch if you are interested! www.findaphd.com/phds/project...

🎃 As Hallowe'en approaches, check out our scary science story, featuring trick 'n' treating, antimicrobial resistance, and the wonderful world of bacteriophages! Free to print and disseminate for science outreach activities. 👻🦠🍬💥