Mike McFadden
@mcfaddmj.bsky.social
UMich Postdoc in the O'Riordan and O'Meara labs. Duke University PhD in the Horner lab. Interested in host-pathogen interactions and antifungal innate immunity, exploring cell biology & membrane contact sites.
Reposted by Mike McFadden
We have wondered what a complex archaeal cell might look like ever since 2014. It’s been a long road (and the journey is far from over), but it’s a good time to pause for breath and look. These Asgard archaeal cells are a surprise! And that is the joy of being a cell biologist.
November 7, 2025 at 11:02 AM
We have wondered what a complex archaeal cell might look like ever since 2014. It’s been a long road (and the journey is far from over), but it’s a good time to pause for breath and look. These Asgard archaeal cells are a surprise! And that is the joy of being a cell biologist.
Reposted by Mike McFadden
Last year it was discovered that a single bacterial NLR-like protein can recognize multiple, structurally unrelated phage proteins (Béchon et al, Kibby et al)
Now, a new study shows the same for a plant NLR. Another example how principles of immunity remain conserved from bacteria to eukaryotes
Now, a new study shows the same for a plant NLR. Another example how principles of immunity remain conserved from bacteria to eukaryotes
A wheat NLR conferring broad-spectrum resistance against powdery mildew by recognizing two structurally diverse AVR effectors. Interested? Check out our newest preprint: www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
Dual recognition of structurally unrelated mildew effectors underlies the broad-spectrum resistance of Pm3e in wheat
Broad-spectrum resistance genes are highly valuable for sustainable crop protection, yet the molecular basis of their activity is often unknown. The Pm3 allelic series in wheat encodes NLR receptors t...
www.biorxiv.org
November 2, 2025 at 6:34 PM
Last year it was discovered that a single bacterial NLR-like protein can recognize multiple, structurally unrelated phage proteins (Béchon et al, Kibby et al)
Now, a new study shows the same for a plant NLR. Another example how principles of immunity remain conserved from bacteria to eukaryotes
Now, a new study shows the same for a plant NLR. Another example how principles of immunity remain conserved from bacteria to eukaryotes
Reposted by Mike McFadden
Some charts for those who don't know the extent of the US public (and private) investment in research (particularly in biomedical research) compared to other countries and institutions. The destruction of the US' scientific institutions has global implications.
November 2, 2025 at 10:52 AM
Some charts for those who don't know the extent of the US public (and private) investment in research (particularly in biomedical research) compared to other countries and institutions. The destruction of the US' scientific institutions has global implications.
Reposted by Mike McFadden
This paper uncovers that HERVK LTR5Hs, a hominoid-specific retrovirus, act as epiblast enhancers with a crucial function in human pre-implantation development - stunning!
doi.org/10.1038/s415...
doi.org/10.1038/s415...
A human-specific regulatory mechanism revealed in a pre-implantation model - Nature
Genetic manipulation of blastoids reveals the role of recently emerged transposable elements and genes in human development.
doi.org
October 4, 2025 at 10:51 PM
This paper uncovers that HERVK LTR5Hs, a hominoid-specific retrovirus, act as epiblast enhancers with a crucial function in human pre-implantation development - stunning!
doi.org/10.1038/s415...
doi.org/10.1038/s415...
Reposted by Mike McFadden
Reposted by Mike McFadden
📃 New paper alert!
The Zychlinsky Lab and @raunser-lab.bsky.social identified the first protein that converts chromatin into an immune effector: Myeloperoxidase transforms chromatin into neutrophil extracellular traps. Now published in @nature.com:
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
The Zychlinsky Lab and @raunser-lab.bsky.social identified the first protein that converts chromatin into an immune effector: Myeloperoxidase transforms chromatin into neutrophil extracellular traps. Now published in @nature.com:
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
Myeloperoxidase transforms chromatin into neutrophil extracellular traps - Nature
Myeloperoxidase, a highly expressed neutrophil protein, disassembles nucleosomes, facilitating neutrophil extracellular trap (NET) formation, and binds stably to NETs extracellularly.
www.nature.com
September 19, 2025 at 7:16 AM
📃 New paper alert!
The Zychlinsky Lab and @raunser-lab.bsky.social identified the first protein that converts chromatin into an immune effector: Myeloperoxidase transforms chromatin into neutrophil extracellular traps. Now published in @nature.com:
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
The Zychlinsky Lab and @raunser-lab.bsky.social identified the first protein that converts chromatin into an immune effector: Myeloperoxidase transforms chromatin into neutrophil extracellular traps. Now published in @nature.com:
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
Reposted by Mike McFadden
Reposted by Mike McFadden
Excited to share our new publication, out today in Nature! www.nature.com/articles/s41.... @kanchanj.bsky.social led this fascinating fungal-bacterial interaction project. We are grateful for our wonderful collaborators Brian Peters and David Underhill.
Commensal yeast promotes Salmonella Typhimurium virulence - Nature
Commensal Candida albicans enhances the virulence and dissemination of Salmonella enterica subsp. enterica serovar Typhimurium.
www.nature.com
September 3, 2025 at 4:32 PM
Excited to share our new publication, out today in Nature! www.nature.com/articles/s41.... @kanchanj.bsky.social led this fascinating fungal-bacterial interaction project. We are grateful for our wonderful collaborators Brian Peters and David Underhill.
Reposted by Mike McFadden
Check out our new preprint Metabolic imprinting drives epithelial memory during mucosal #fungal infection. Thanks to all collaborators www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
Metabolic imprinting drives epithelial memory during mucosal fungal infection
Epithelial cells at barrier sites are emerging as active participants in innate immune memory, yet the underlying metabolic and epigenetic mechanisms remain unclear. Here, we uncover a previously unre...
www.biorxiv.org
July 17, 2025 at 6:21 PM
Check out our new preprint Metabolic imprinting drives epithelial memory during mucosal #fungal infection. Thanks to all collaborators www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
Reposted by Mike McFadden
CDC employees standing up and walking out in light of the mass shootings, firings, and *waves hands in the air* everything else.
#USAnotRFK
Lets gooooo
#USAnotRFK
Lets gooooo
August 28, 2025 at 7:00 PM
CDC employees standing up and walking out in light of the mass shootings, firings, and *waves hands in the air* everything else.
#USAnotRFK
Lets gooooo
#USAnotRFK
Lets gooooo
Reposted by Mike McFadden
New: In 7 months, Kennedy has broken the CDC, perhaps irreparably. For all he’s done with mass firings, gutting expertise, and attacking vaccines, Wednesday’s loss of its most senior and competent leaders—truly the CDC’s backbone—is the most consequential attack yet.
www.msnbc.com/msnbc/news/c...
www.msnbc.com/msnbc/news/c...
‘People will die because of this’: How RFK Jr. drove out the CDC’s senior leaders
On the same day Susan Monarez was fired, four of the agency’s top leaders quit.
www.msnbc.com
August 28, 2025 at 3:52 PM
New: In 7 months, Kennedy has broken the CDC, perhaps irreparably. For all he’s done with mass firings, gutting expertise, and attacking vaccines, Wednesday’s loss of its most senior and competent leaders—truly the CDC’s backbone—is the most consequential attack yet.
www.msnbc.com/msnbc/news/c...
www.msnbc.com/msnbc/news/c...
Reposted by Mike McFadden
Vaccines do not cause autism.
August 26, 2025 at 9:14 PM
Vaccines do not cause autism.
Reposted by Mike McFadden
As with other coronaviruses, immunity to SARS-CoV-2 is short-lived. Prioritizing older persons for vaccination saves more lives, while targeting younger persons decreases the number of infections. Banning the vaccine will predictably result in more infections, hospitalizations and deaths from COVID.
EXCLUSIVE: The Trump administration will move to pull the COVID vaccine off the U.S. market “within months,” one of Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s closest associates has told the Daily Beast.
Trump and RFK Jr. to Ban Covid-19 Vaccine ‘Within Months’
A close associate of the HHS secretary claims the U.S. government will soon pull COVID-19 mRNA jabs from the market.
trib.al
August 25, 2025 at 3:09 PM
As with other coronaviruses, immunity to SARS-CoV-2 is short-lived. Prioritizing older persons for vaccination saves more lives, while targeting younger persons decreases the number of infections. Banning the vaccine will predictably result in more infections, hospitalizations and deaths from COVID.
Reposted by Mike McFadden
If RFK Jr. had any interest in regulating big pharma or helping americans eat better or reducing chronic illness he would not have gutted the agencies he is in charge of.
*Every* story about his alleged policy ideas should lead with this extremely elementary reality.
*Every* story about his alleged policy ideas should lead with this extremely elementary reality.
Building an entire infrastructure for a new program while every government agency that doesn’t directly kill people has been gutted financially. Instead of just giving people money for food the way we have an infrastructure for already.
August 21, 2025 at 4:28 PM
If RFK Jr. had any interest in regulating big pharma or helping americans eat better or reducing chronic illness he would not have gutted the agencies he is in charge of.
*Every* story about his alleged policy ideas should lead with this extremely elementary reality.
*Every* story about his alleged policy ideas should lead with this extremely elementary reality.
Reposted by Mike McFadden
TL;DR: 5 justices say Trump doesn't have to immediately restore the funding, but 5 *also* signal that the underlying directives are unlawful.
That sends a fairly strong (if mixed) message that Trump will lose these cases *eventually,* but only once they're brought in the Court of Federal Claims.
That sends a fairly strong (if mixed) message that Trump will lose these cases *eventually,* but only once they're brought in the Court of Federal Claims.
Splitting 5-4 (with Chief Justice Roberts joining the three Democratic appointees in dissent), #SCOTUS grants *partial* stay to Trump administration in NIH funding case; holds that challenges to grant terminations (but *not* the underlying guidance) need to be filed in the Court of Federal Claims:
www.supremecourt.gov
August 21, 2025 at 8:49 PM
TL;DR: 5 justices say Trump doesn't have to immediately restore the funding, but 5 *also* signal that the underlying directives are unlawful.
That sends a fairly strong (if mixed) message that Trump will lose these cases *eventually,* but only once they're brought in the Court of Federal Claims.
That sends a fairly strong (if mixed) message that Trump will lose these cases *eventually,* but only once they're brought in the Court of Federal Claims.
Reposted by Mike McFadden
This is scant comfort to NIH-funded researchers.
It would take many months or more than a year to re-file cases in Federal Claims Court, win them, and get grant money back.
It's also expensive. Lawyers fees add up.
The practical result is that all of this research is gone.
What a waste.
It would take many months or more than a year to re-file cases in Federal Claims Court, win them, and get grant money back.
It's also expensive. Lawyers fees add up.
The practical result is that all of this research is gone.
What a waste.
TL;DR: 5 justices say Trump doesn't have to immediately restore the funding, but 5 *also* signal that the underlying directives are unlawful.
That sends a fairly strong (if mixed) message that Trump will lose these cases *eventually,* but only once they're brought in the Court of Federal Claims.
That sends a fairly strong (if mixed) message that Trump will lose these cases *eventually,* but only once they're brought in the Court of Federal Claims.
Splitting 5-4 (with Chief Justice Roberts joining the three Democratic appointees in dissent), #SCOTUS grants *partial* stay to Trump administration in NIH funding case; holds that challenges to grant terminations (but *not* the underlying guidance) need to be filed in the Court of Federal Claims:
August 21, 2025 at 9:05 PM
This is scant comfort to NIH-funded researchers.
It would take many months or more than a year to re-file cases in Federal Claims Court, win them, and get grant money back.
It's also expensive. Lawyers fees add up.
The practical result is that all of this research is gone.
What a waste.
It would take many months or more than a year to re-file cases in Federal Claims Court, win them, and get grant money back.
It's also expensive. Lawyers fees add up.
The practical result is that all of this research is gone.
What a waste.
Reposted by Mike McFadden
So glad to finally have this out with co-author @mallerybreban.bsky.social and very thankful for the many amazing people who contributed to this study and provided materials and input! 🦟🦠1/12 www.nature.com/articles/s41...
Implications of successive blood feeding on Wolbachia-mediated dengue virus inhibition in Aedes aegypti mosquitoes - Nature Communications
Dengue virus transmission by Ae. aegypti mosquitoes poses a significant public health threat, necessitating innovative control strategies. Here, the authors demonstrate that, while successive blood fe...
www.nature.com
July 30, 2025 at 5:42 PM
So glad to finally have this out with co-author @mallerybreban.bsky.social and very thankful for the many amazing people who contributed to this study and provided materials and input! 🦟🦠1/12 www.nature.com/articles/s41...
Reposted by Mike McFadden
🧪 Senate appropriators say: NIH's budget gets a... boost!
Rather than 40% cut, NIH gets a $400M *increase* in the Senate committee bill for FY26 (about +1%).
"Congress has your back," said @murray.senate.gov.
ADVOCACY MATTERS! There's still a long road (esp in the House), so keep up pressure.
Rather than 40% cut, NIH gets a $400M *increase* in the Senate committee bill for FY26 (about +1%).
"Congress has your back," said @murray.senate.gov.
ADVOCACY MATTERS! There's still a long road (esp in the House), so keep up pressure.
Full Committee Markup of Defense and Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education Appropriations Acts | United States Senate Committee on Appropriations
United States Senate Committee on Appropriations
www.appropriations.senate.gov
July 31, 2025 at 1:54 PM
🧪 Senate appropriators say: NIH's budget gets a... boost!
Rather than 40% cut, NIH gets a $400M *increase* in the Senate committee bill for FY26 (about +1%).
"Congress has your back," said @murray.senate.gov.
ADVOCACY MATTERS! There's still a long road (esp in the House), so keep up pressure.
Rather than 40% cut, NIH gets a $400M *increase* in the Senate committee bill for FY26 (about +1%).
"Congress has your back," said @murray.senate.gov.
ADVOCACY MATTERS! There's still a long road (esp in the House), so keep up pressure.
Reposted by Mike McFadden
📣The @aai.org allocated $8M RESTORE Grants Program, an initiative that will focus on providing financial support to researchers whose grants were abruptly terminated or frozen in 2025 for reasons unrelated to their scientific merit! 👏
Check the details 👇
#SupportResearch
#Immunology
Check the details 👇
#SupportResearch
#Immunology
$8M RESTORE Grants Program Launched for Researchers Hit by Federal Funding Terminations - AAI News
AAI has launched an $8 million emergency funding initiative called the RESTORE Grants Program to support scientists whose immunology-focused federal research grants were abruptly terminated or frozen ...
news.aai.org
July 31, 2025 at 2:03 PM
📣The @aai.org allocated $8M RESTORE Grants Program, an initiative that will focus on providing financial support to researchers whose grants were abruptly terminated or frozen in 2025 for reasons unrelated to their scientific merit! 👏
Check the details 👇
#SupportResearch
#Immunology
Check the details 👇
#SupportResearch
#Immunology
Reposted by Mike McFadden
Wait, sometimes there are surprises. Apparently some Republicans have now grasped the immense damage to their communities caused by massive cuts to NIH funding.
We told them this beforehand, yet they still thoroughly enjoyed seeing the massive cuts…until it affected them directly.
We told them this beforehand, yet they still thoroughly enjoyed seeing the massive cuts…until it affected them directly.
14 Republican senators urge White House to release delayed NIH funds
Sen. Katie Britt (R-Ala.) is leading the letter making the ask of OMB director Russ Vought.
www.politico.com
July 25, 2025 at 9:20 PM
Wait, sometimes there are surprises. Apparently some Republicans have now grasped the immense damage to their communities caused by massive cuts to NIH funding.
We told them this beforehand, yet they still thoroughly enjoyed seeing the massive cuts…until it affected them directly.
We told them this beforehand, yet they still thoroughly enjoyed seeing the massive cuts…until it affected them directly.
Reposted by Mike McFadden
The assault on higher education is not just about coastal elite schools. "Federal agencies terminated or were attempting to terminate more than 4,000 grants across over 600 institutions. These grants are worth between $6.9 billion and $8.2 billion combined." www.insidehighered.com/news/faculty...
Feds Axed Grants Across Red, Blue States, Report Finds
The Center for American Progress says the Trump administration has targeted for termination more than 4,000 grants across over 600 institutions. Adjusting for statewide enrollment, South Dakota is hit...
www.insidehighered.com
July 23, 2025 at 3:09 PM
The assault on higher education is not just about coastal elite schools. "Federal agencies terminated or were attempting to terminate more than 4,000 grants across over 600 institutions. These grants are worth between $6.9 billion and $8.2 billion combined." www.insidehighered.com/news/faculty...
Reposted by Mike McFadden
📜 A host organelle integrates stolen chloroplasts for animal photosynthesis
🧑🔬 Corey A.H. Allard, Amy S.Y. Lee, @nbellono.bsky.social, et al.
📔 @cellpress.bsky.social
🔗 www.cell.com/cell/abstrac...
#️⃣ #PlantScience #Kleptosomes #Sacoglossan #SeaSlug #Photosynthesis
🧑🔬 Corey A.H. Allard, Amy S.Y. Lee, @nbellono.bsky.social, et al.
📔 @cellpress.bsky.social
🔗 www.cell.com/cell/abstrac...
#️⃣ #PlantScience #Kleptosomes #Sacoglossan #SeaSlug #Photosynthesis
A host organelle integrates stolen chloroplasts for animal photosynthesis
Sea slugs steal foreign chloroplasts and store them in specialized organelles that
facilitate photosynthesis and eventual digestion to mediate starvation resistance.
www.cell.com
July 2, 2025 at 6:31 AM
📜 A host organelle integrates stolen chloroplasts for animal photosynthesis
🧑🔬 Corey A.H. Allard, Amy S.Y. Lee, @nbellono.bsky.social, et al.
📔 @cellpress.bsky.social
🔗 www.cell.com/cell/abstrac...
#️⃣ #PlantScience #Kleptosomes #Sacoglossan #SeaSlug #Photosynthesis
🧑🔬 Corey A.H. Allard, Amy S.Y. Lee, @nbellono.bsky.social, et al.
📔 @cellpress.bsky.social
🔗 www.cell.com/cell/abstrac...
#️⃣ #PlantScience #Kleptosomes #Sacoglossan #SeaSlug #Photosynthesis
Reposted by Mike McFadden
Reposted by Mike McFadden
Not just Americans.....children around the world
Cutting off support of the organization that has saved the lives of 17 million children around the world in the past 2 decades
Front page @nytimes.com
www.nytimes.com/2025/06/25/h...
Cutting off support of the organization that has saved the lives of 17 million children around the world in the past 2 decades
Front page @nytimes.com
www.nytimes.com/2025/06/25/h...
Kennedy Withdraws U.S. Funding Pledge to International Vaccine Agency
www.nytimes.com
June 26, 2025 at 4:28 PM
Not just Americans.....children around the world
Cutting off support of the organization that has saved the lives of 17 million children around the world in the past 2 decades
Front page @nytimes.com
www.nytimes.com/2025/06/25/h...
Cutting off support of the organization that has saved the lives of 17 million children around the world in the past 2 decades
Front page @nytimes.com
www.nytimes.com/2025/06/25/h...