Lewis C. E. Mason
@lewiscemason.bsky.social
Lecturer in Microbiology | He/Him | Medical Microbiology | Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) | Genomic Epidemiology | Sexually Transmissible Infections | Bioinformatics | Public Health | Views are my own | Following ≠ endorsing
I am very pleased to announce that I have started a new role as a Lecturer in Biological Sciences (Microbiology) at Kingston University ( @kingstonuniversity.bsky.social ). I am really looking forward to sharing my expertise and knowledge in infection, immunity, bioinformatics, and microbiology!
October 7, 2025 at 9:53 AM
I am very pleased to announce that I have started a new role as a Lecturer in Biological Sciences (Microbiology) at Kingston University ( @kingstonuniversity.bsky.social ). I am really looking forward to sharing my expertise and knowledge in infection, immunity, bioinformatics, and microbiology!
How should #XDR #shigellosis cases be treated? Our new education piece at #BMJ #SexuallyTransmittedInfections explores specific empirical treatment. Our recommendations are subsequent to our microbial genomic, phenotypic #AMR, and clinical/pharmacological analyses. sti.bmj.com/content/earl... 🧫💻🛟🧪🧬🦠
Antimicrobial treatment options for extensively drug-resistant (XDR) shigellosis in men who have sex with men
The sexual transmission of Shigella s onnei and Shigella flexneri has been observed since the 1970s between men who have sex with men (MSM) associated with living with HIV, sexually transmitted infect...
sti.bmj.com
August 28, 2025 at 6:07 PM
How should #XDR #shigellosis cases be treated? Our new education piece at #BMJ #SexuallyTransmittedInfections explores specific empirical treatment. Our recommendations are subsequent to our microbial genomic, phenotypic #AMR, and clinical/pharmacological analyses. sti.bmj.com/content/earl... 🧫💻🛟🧪🧬🦠
My current Postdoctoral Research position is due to end on 30th September 2025.
I am keen to continue working in infectious disease research, data-driven epidemiology, and teaching in academia, public health, and/or industry.
If you know of any opportunities, please do let me know - thank you!
I am keen to continue working in infectious disease research, data-driven epidemiology, and teaching in academia, public health, and/or industry.
If you know of any opportunities, please do let me know - thank you!
August 16, 2025 at 5:17 PM
My current Postdoctoral Research position is due to end on 30th September 2025.
I am keen to continue working in infectious disease research, data-driven epidemiology, and teaching in academia, public health, and/or industry.
If you know of any opportunities, please do let me know - thank you!
I am keen to continue working in infectious disease research, data-driven epidemiology, and teaching in academia, public health, and/or industry.
If you know of any opportunities, please do let me know - thank you!
Reposted by Lewis C. E. Mason
I hope all my fellow #shigellaphiles have 20 - 24 April 2026 blocked out in their diaries for @shigellameeting.bsky.social next year in Paris! In the meantime, check out (and join) our starter pack to start community building now 🧫
Why not follow our @shigellameeting.bsky.social starterpack of people who are speaking at and attending the conference - please message to be added to the starter pack if you're planning on coming or we haven't found you yet! go.bsky.app/6Vbwhjc
August 7, 2025 at 4:49 PM
I hope all my fellow #shigellaphiles have 20 - 24 April 2026 blocked out in their diaries for @shigellameeting.bsky.social next year in Paris! In the meantime, check out (and join) our starter pack to start community building now 🧫
Reposted by Lewis C. E. Mason
Why not follow our @shigellameeting.bsky.social starterpack of people who are speaking at and attending the conference - please message to be added to the starter pack if you're planning on coming or we haven't found you yet! go.bsky.app/6Vbwhjc
August 7, 2025 at 4:46 PM
Why not follow our @shigellameeting.bsky.social starterpack of people who are speaking at and attending the conference - please message to be added to the starter pack if you're planning on coming or we haven't found you yet! go.bsky.app/6Vbwhjc
Reposted by Lewis C. E. Mason
There are half a million cases of invasive non-Typhoidal Salmonella (iNTS) every year and while you might know S. Typhimurim and Enteritidis, you may not have heard of S. Panama 💩 🩸 🧫 💊 Check out our latest in @lancetmicrobe.bsky.social doi.org/10.1016/j.la... and the 🧵 below to find out more 1/n
July 27, 2025 at 8:35 AM
There are half a million cases of invasive non-Typhoidal Salmonella (iNTS) every year and while you might know S. Typhimurim and Enteritidis, you may not have heard of S. Panama 💩 🩸 🧫 💊 Check out our latest in @lancetmicrobe.bsky.social doi.org/10.1016/j.la... and the 🧵 below to find out more 1/n
Reposted by Lewis C. E. Mason
'The University of Birmingham is one of the UK research institutions to each receive £4.35 million of funding from the Global Talent Fund – a Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT) resource supporting the movement of global academic talent'
www.birmingham.ac.uk/news/2025/un...
www.birmingham.ac.uk/news/2025/un...
University of Birmingham chosen among elite UK research funding recipients - University of Birmingham
Birmingham is one of 12 UK research institutions to share £54 million of funding from the Global Talent Fund.
www.birmingham.ac.uk
July 20, 2025 at 8:33 PM
'The University of Birmingham is one of the UK research institutions to each receive £4.35 million of funding from the Global Talent Fund – a Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT) resource supporting the movement of global academic talent'
www.birmingham.ac.uk/news/2025/un...
www.birmingham.ac.uk/news/2025/un...
Reposted by Lewis C. E. Mason
🆕 The UK becomes one of the first countries in the world to issue national evidence-based doxyPEP guidelines. This is a step forward in targeted STI prevention and addressing the continuing rise in syphilis cases in the UK.
🔗 www.bashh.org/news/1686/ba...
🔗 www.bashh.org/news/1686/ba...
June 9, 2025 at 1:02 PM
🆕 The UK becomes one of the first countries in the world to issue national evidence-based doxyPEP guidelines. This is a step forward in targeted STI prevention and addressing the continuing rise in syphilis cases in the UK.
🔗 www.bashh.org/news/1686/ba...
🔗 www.bashh.org/news/1686/ba...
Reposted by Lewis C. E. Mason
First post on Bluesky and first time at #EMBL in #Heidelberg. I am happy to present my poster on #Shigella at #EESMicrobiology!
June 26, 2025 at 1:46 PM
First post on Bluesky and first time at #EMBL in #Heidelberg. I am happy to present my poster on #Shigella at #EESMicrobiology!
Reposted by Lewis C. E. Mason
Ipswich looking glorious in the sun. Brilliant 48h with the @pducambridge.bsky.social solving the pressing questions in infectious diseases, competing in penalty shoot outs and cooking up a storm #PDURetreat
July 4, 2025 at 8:36 AM
Ipswich looking glorious in the sun. Brilliant 48h with the @pducambridge.bsky.social solving the pressing questions in infectious diseases, competing in penalty shoot outs and cooking up a storm #PDURetreat
Reposted by Lewis C. E. Mason
Check out the latest from the lab on Sexually Transmissible shigellosis where @lewiscemason.bsky.social and co unpick why this relatively obscure disease re-emerged endemically in the 21st Century 🔬 🧫 🕵️ 🧬
Sexually transmissible shigellosis has gone from an obscure cause of sporadic outbreaks to a sustained endemic AMR priority in only two decades! 🧫💊 Check out our latest preprint to understand how this happened 1/11
www.medrxiv.org/content/10.1...
www.medrxiv.org/content/10.1...
The natural history of the emergence of sexually transmissible shigellosis
Shigellosis is a gastrointestinal illness caused by bacteria belonging to one of four species of Shigella . Sexually transmissible shigellosis was first reported in 1974, but recently there has been a...
www.medrxiv.org
May 23, 2025 at 12:59 PM
Check out the latest from the lab on Sexually Transmissible shigellosis where @lewiscemason.bsky.social and co unpick why this relatively obscure disease re-emerged endemically in the 21st Century 🔬 🧫 🕵️ 🧬
Reposted by Lewis C. E. Mason
Sexually transmissible shigellosis has gone from an obscure cause of sporadic outbreaks to a sustained endemic AMR priority in only two decades! 🧫💊 Check out our latest preprint to understand how this happened 1/11
www.medrxiv.org/content/10.1...
www.medrxiv.org/content/10.1...
The natural history of the emergence of sexually transmissible shigellosis
Shigellosis is a gastrointestinal illness caused by bacteria belonging to one of four species of Shigella . Sexually transmissible shigellosis was first reported in 1974, but recently there has been a...
www.medrxiv.org
May 23, 2025 at 12:44 PM
Sexually transmissible shigellosis has gone from an obscure cause of sporadic outbreaks to a sustained endemic AMR priority in only two decades! 🧫💊 Check out our latest preprint to understand how this happened 1/11
www.medrxiv.org/content/10.1...
www.medrxiv.org/content/10.1...
Reposted by Lewis C. E. Mason
New role for macrophages in Shigella infection control
@cgmargarida.bsky.social @lshtm.bsky.social @cp-cellreports.bsky.social
www.cell.com/cell-reports...
@cgmargarida.bsky.social @lshtm.bsky.social @cp-cellreports.bsky.social
www.cell.com/cell-reports...
Shigella-trained pro-inflammatory macrophages protect zebrafish from secondary infection
Trained immunity enhances host innate defenses against secondary infections. Gomes
et al. innovate zebrafish infection models to investigate Shigella-induced training,
demonstrating that Shigella epig...
www.cell.com
April 24, 2025 at 9:22 AM
New role for macrophages in Shigella infection control
@cgmargarida.bsky.social @lshtm.bsky.social @cp-cellreports.bsky.social
www.cell.com/cell-reports...
@cgmargarida.bsky.social @lshtm.bsky.social @cp-cellreports.bsky.social
www.cell.com/cell-reports...
Why did sexually transmissible shigellosis outbreak reporting re-emerge in the early 2000s? Below, our preprint explores the genomic epidemiology and temporal dating of Shigella sonnei from two early outbreaks in London & Berlin. 🛟🧪🧬🖥️🦠💉🧫😷https://www.medrxiv.org/content/10.1101/2025.05.02.25326874v1
The natural history of the emergence of sexually transmissible shigellosis
Shigellosis is a gastrointestinal illness caused by bacteria belonging to one of four species of Shigella . Sexually transmissible shigellosis was first reported in 1974, but recently there has been a...
www.medrxiv.org
May 6, 2025 at 6:27 PM
Why did sexually transmissible shigellosis outbreak reporting re-emerge in the early 2000s? Below, our preprint explores the genomic epidemiology and temporal dating of Shigella sonnei from two early outbreaks in London & Berlin. 🛟🧪🧬🖥️🦠💉🧫😷https://www.medrxiv.org/content/10.1101/2025.05.02.25326874v1
Antimicrobial resistant Shigella spp. continue to transmit internationally. Our commentary in Lancet Microbe explores combining patient demographics and bacterial genomics to inform antimicrobial treatment. 🛟🧪🧬🖥️🦠💉🧫😷https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lanmic/article/PIIS2666-5247(24)00294-5/fulltext
Using demographics of patients to inform treatment of shigellosis in England
Shigellosis, caused by bacteria of the genus Shigella, is a diarrhoeal disease transmitted
by the faecal–oral route.1 Rapid increases in the prevalence of extensively drug-resistant
(XDR) Shigella iso...
www.thelancet.com
January 21, 2025 at 3:27 PM
Antimicrobial resistant Shigella spp. continue to transmit internationally. Our commentary in Lancet Microbe explores combining patient demographics and bacterial genomics to inform antimicrobial treatment. 🛟🧪🧬🖥️🦠💉🧫😷https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lanmic/article/PIIS2666-5247(24)00294-5/fulltext
We are pleased to announce that our work investigating the genomics and patient demographics of re-emerging MDR Shigella flexneri 3a in England has been accepted in Nature Antimicrobials and Resistance, and is available to view Open-Access. 🛟🧪🧬🖥️🦠💉🧫😷
doi.org/10.1038/s442...
doi.org/10.1038/s442...
The re-emergence of sexually transmissible multidrug resistant Shigella flexneri 3a, England, United Kingdom - npj Antimicrobials and Resistance
npj Antimicrobials and Resistance - The re-emergence of sexually transmissible multidrug resistant Shigella flexneri 3a, England, United Kingdom
doi.org
August 4, 2024 at 5:44 PM
We are pleased to announce that our work investigating the genomics and patient demographics of re-emerging MDR Shigella flexneri 3a in England has been accepted in Nature Antimicrobials and Resistance, and is available to view Open-Access. 🛟🧪🧬🖥️🦠💉🧫😷
doi.org/10.1038/s442...
doi.org/10.1038/s442...
Between 2009-2014, an epidemic of sexually transmissible Shigella flexneri 3a occurred in England that subsequently declined. However, from 2018-2021, S. flexneri 3a re-emerged. We explored possible drivers of the re-emergence by comparing host demographic features and pathogen genomics. 🛟🧪🧬🖥️🦠💉🧫😷
The re-emergence of sexually transmissible multidrug resistant Shigella flexneri 3a, England, United...
Shigellosis is an enteric infection that transmits through the faecal-oral route, which can occur during sex between men who have sex with men (MSM). Between 2009 and 2014, an epidemic of sexually tra...
www.researchsquare.com
February 2, 2024 at 11:36 PM
Between 2009-2014, an epidemic of sexually transmissible Shigella flexneri 3a occurred in England that subsequently declined. However, from 2018-2021, S. flexneri 3a re-emerged. We explored possible drivers of the re-emergence by comparing host demographic features and pathogen genomics. 🛟🧪🧬🖥️🦠💉🧫😷
Reposted by Lewis C. E. Mason
Shigella cases spiking in Philadelphia 🦠🧫🧪
www.axios.com/local/philad...
www.axios.com/local/philad...
Shigella cases spiking in Philadelphia
The disease is mostly affecting those experiencing homelessness or opioid-use disorder.
www.axios.com
January 13, 2024 at 10:24 PM
Shigella cases spiking in Philadelphia 🦠🧫🧪
www.axios.com/local/philad...
www.axios.com/local/philad...
The evolution and international spread of extensively drug resistant Shigella sonnei. The international outbreak (England, France, Belgium, USA, Australia) was ciprofloxacin, azithromycin, and ceftriaxone resistant - three of four WHO recommended antibiotic treatment options for shigellosis. 🖥️🧪🧬🦠🧫
The evolution and international spread of extensively drug resistant Shigella sonnei - Nature Commun...
An increase in shigellosis cases among men who have sex with men in the United Kingdom has been linked to an extensively drug-resistant strain of Shigella sonnei. In this genomic epidemiology study, t...
www.nature.com
November 24, 2023 at 8:37 AM
The evolution and international spread of extensively drug resistant Shigella sonnei. The international outbreak (England, France, Belgium, USA, Australia) was ciprofloxacin, azithromycin, and ceftriaxone resistant - three of four WHO recommended antibiotic treatment options for shigellosis. 🖥️🧪🧬🦠🧫
Reposted by Lewis C. E. Mason
Gonorrhoea rates in the UK are higher than ever before.
A vaccine could be the answer.
www.aidsmap.com/news/nov-202...
A vaccine could be the answer.
www.aidsmap.com/news/nov-202...
UK vaccine body recommends meningitis B vaccine for gonorrhoea prevention
The UK’s Joint Committee for Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) has recommended that people in the United Kingdom at increased risk of contracting gonorrhoea should be offered the 4CMenB vaccine (B...
www.aidsmap.com
November 22, 2023 at 8:07 AM
Gonorrhoea rates in the UK are higher than ever before.
A vaccine could be the answer.
www.aidsmap.com/news/nov-202...
A vaccine could be the answer.
www.aidsmap.com/news/nov-202...
Reposted by Lewis C. E. Mason
V interesting paper from Cristina Herencias, Jeronimo Rodriguez-Beltran, @sanmillan.bsky.social et al on collateral sensitivity in E coli:
Highlight of the abstract:
"to reveal that the expression of the β-lactamase blaOXA-48 induces CS to colistin and azithromycin."
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
Highlight of the abstract:
"to reveal that the expression of the β-lactamase blaOXA-48 induces CS to colistin and azithromycin."
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
β-lactamase expression induces collateral sensitivity in Escherichia coli
bioRxiv - the preprint server for biology, operated by Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, a research and educational institution
www.biorxiv.org
November 23, 2023 at 3:34 PM
V interesting paper from Cristina Herencias, Jeronimo Rodriguez-Beltran, @sanmillan.bsky.social et al on collateral sensitivity in E coli:
Highlight of the abstract:
"to reveal that the expression of the β-lactamase blaOXA-48 induces CS to colistin and azithromycin."
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
Highlight of the abstract:
"to reveal that the expression of the β-lactamase blaOXA-48 induces CS to colistin and azithromycin."
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
Reposted by Lewis C. E. Mason
Campylobacter is one of the most common causes of gastroenteritis. @OzanGundogdu11.x.com and @dutchscientist.bsky.social teach me a bit about the genomics and epidemiology of it on the Bioinformatics Lab Podcast.
SC: soundcloud.com/the_bioinfor...
YouTube: youtu.be/ZJdhbcnGyw4
SC: soundcloud.com/the_bioinfor...
YouTube: youtu.be/ZJdhbcnGyw4
Campylobacter genomics and epidemiology
Dr Ozan Gundogdu from The London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine (LSHTM) and Dr Arnoud van Vliet from the University of Surrey join Andrew to chat ab...
youtu.be
November 17, 2023 at 8:43 AM
Campylobacter is one of the most common causes of gastroenteritis. @OzanGundogdu11.x.com and @dutchscientist.bsky.social teach me a bit about the genomics and epidemiology of it on the Bioinformatics Lab Podcast.
SC: soundcloud.com/the_bioinfor...
YouTube: youtu.be/ZJdhbcnGyw4
SC: soundcloud.com/the_bioinfor...
YouTube: youtu.be/ZJdhbcnGyw4
Reposted by Lewis C. E. Mason
🦠 New preprint 🦠
Really happy to see this up on bioRxiv - my 1st as senior author & Lina’s 1st as first author 🎉 a double whammy.
📄 Antibiotic resistance alters the ability of Pseudomonas aeruginosa to invade the respiratory microbiome
(1/n)
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
Really happy to see this up on bioRxiv - my 1st as senior author & Lina’s 1st as first author 🎉 a double whammy.
📄 Antibiotic resistance alters the ability of Pseudomonas aeruginosa to invade the respiratory microbiome
(1/n)
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
Antibiotic resistance alters the ability of Pseudomonas aeruginosa to invade the respiratory microbi...
bioRxiv - the preprint server for biology, operated by Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, a research and educational institution
www.biorxiv.org
November 16, 2023 at 8:26 AM
🦠 New preprint 🦠
Really happy to see this up on bioRxiv - my 1st as senior author & Lina’s 1st as first author 🎉 a double whammy.
📄 Antibiotic resistance alters the ability of Pseudomonas aeruginosa to invade the respiratory microbiome
(1/n)
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
Really happy to see this up on bioRxiv - my 1st as senior author & Lina’s 1st as first author 🎉 a double whammy.
📄 Antibiotic resistance alters the ability of Pseudomonas aeruginosa to invade the respiratory microbiome
(1/n)
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
Reposted by Lewis C. E. Mason
📽️Here is Hannah Trivett from Liverpool's Institute of Infection Veterinary & Ecological Sciences, giving the prize winning flash presentation from our Manchester Pop Up event 🏆🎉
'Metagenomics For Pathogen Diagnostics: Problems Solved By Long Read Data' youtu.be/jhfqc9FCyKQ
#STS #MNGPopUp #ECR
'Metagenomics For Pathogen Diagnostics: Problems Solved By Long Read Data' youtu.be/jhfqc9FCyKQ
#STS #MNGPopUp #ECR
Hannah Trivett | Metagenomics For Pathogen Diagnostics: Problems Solved By Long Read Data
youtu.be
October 20, 2023 at 10:19 AM
📽️Here is Hannah Trivett from Liverpool's Institute of Infection Veterinary & Ecological Sciences, giving the prize winning flash presentation from our Manchester Pop Up event 🏆🎉
'Metagenomics For Pathogen Diagnostics: Problems Solved By Long Read Data' youtu.be/jhfqc9FCyKQ
#STS #MNGPopUp #ECR
'Metagenomics For Pathogen Diagnostics: Problems Solved By Long Read Data' youtu.be/jhfqc9FCyKQ
#STS #MNGPopUp #ECR
Reposted by Lewis C. E. Mason
“There is great potential in using these findings to train the human immune system to combat Shigella and other antibiotic resistant bacterial infections.”
Margarida Castro Gomes Spencer & Serge Mostowy explain how zebrafish research could lead to new ways to fight infection 👉 bit.ly/3PhNf2p
Margarida Castro Gomes Spencer & Serge Mostowy explain how zebrafish research could lead to new ways to fight infection 👉 bit.ly/3PhNf2p
September 26, 2023 at 1:39 PM
“There is great potential in using these findings to train the human immune system to combat Shigella and other antibiotic resistant bacterial infections.”
Margarida Castro Gomes Spencer & Serge Mostowy explain how zebrafish research could lead to new ways to fight infection 👉 bit.ly/3PhNf2p
Margarida Castro Gomes Spencer & Serge Mostowy explain how zebrafish research could lead to new ways to fight infection 👉 bit.ly/3PhNf2p