🚨If you want to help us to answer these questions, there’s still time to apply for our open PDRA positions (deadline 21st Sept):

Molecular microbiology/genomics - tinyurl.com/mtrwtx5e
Infection biology - tinyurl.com/2s3u8ca2

So many questions remain:

• What are the dynamics of phase variation in the host?
• In what other contexts is this process important?
• What are the determinants of switching rate, and how does this vary by clonal lineage?
• How can this information inform genomic surveillance?

I want to thank all of my fantastic collaborators their help and support with this work @codendall.bsky.social @neisseriaspanin.bsky.social @margaretlam.bsky.social @katholt.bsky.social @josebengoechea.bsky.social (+ many others not on bluesky)

Comparative genomics revealed that this switch is conserved in all variants of the rmp locus indicating this is likely a key adaptive strategy in all HVKp

The switch - termed 'phase variation' - enables HVKp to both ‘have their cake and eat it’, alternating between states of epithelial cell infection, and survival in human serum :

By combining in vitro infection assays, whole genome sequencing, and molecular microbiology approaches, we demonstrate that a DNA repeat in rmpA functions as a genetic switch between mucoid and non-mucoid phenotypes

Thanks, Jose!

Thanks, Lesley!

Thanks so much, Lesley :)

Thanks, Julie! The pain of the mocks was worth it 😂

I will shortly be advertising multiple PDRA positions – if you love molecular microbiology and bacterial pathogenesis, please get in touch for a chat!