Miranda
@mfn42.bsky.social
PhD student working on avian influenza | Interested in all things viruses & antiviral immunity | she/her 🔬🧬🦠
Reposted by Miranda
Are you fascinated by viruses? Would you like to design your own original research project in the UK's largest virology centre? Why not come and do a PhD @cvrinfo.bsky.social - application deadline 6th Jan 2026 (1/1): www.findaphd.com/phds/program...
FindAPhD : The MRC-University of Glasgow Centre for Virus Research (CVR) PhD Funded Programme at University of Glasgow
Apply for a PhD: The MRC-University of Glasgow Centre for Virus Research (CVR) PhD Funded Programme at University of Glasgow
www.findaphd.com
November 27, 2025 at 1:26 PM
Are you fascinated by viruses? Would you like to design your own original research project in the UK's largest virology centre? Why not come and do a PhD @cvrinfo.bsky.social - application deadline 6th Jan 2026 (1/1): www.findaphd.com/phds/program...
Reposted by Miranda
Our work on mapping read libraries to viral #pangenome variation graphs (PVGs) to reduce reference bias
Using lumpy skin disease virus #lsdv (dsDNA #virus) as an example
"Using pangenome variation graphs to improve mutation detection in a large DNA virus"
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
[1/7]
Using lumpy skin disease virus #lsdv (dsDNA #virus) as an example
"Using pangenome variation graphs to improve mutation detection in a large DNA virus"
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
[1/7]
Using pangenome variation graphs to improve mutation detection in a large DNA virus
Accurately quantifying viral genetic diversity is essential for understanding pathogen evolution, transmission, and emergence. However, standard approaches that map sequencing reads to a single linear...
www.biorxiv.org
November 28, 2025 at 5:32 AM
Our work on mapping read libraries to viral #pangenome variation graphs (PVGs) to reduce reference bias
Using lumpy skin disease virus #lsdv (dsDNA #virus) as an example
"Using pangenome variation graphs to improve mutation detection in a large DNA virus"
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
[1/7]
Using lumpy skin disease virus #lsdv (dsDNA #virus) as an example
"Using pangenome variation graphs to improve mutation detection in a large DNA virus"
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
[1/7]
Reposted by Miranda
🚨New Paper!🚨
Some like it hot: Matt Turnbull and @samjwilsonphd.bsky.social collaborated with groups from @cvrinfo.bsky.social, @cam.ac.uk and beyond to show that, while our fevers are hot enough to control human flu, they don't protect against avian influenzas adaptd to the hotter bodies of birds
Some like it hot: Matt Turnbull and @samjwilsonphd.bsky.social collaborated with groups from @cvrinfo.bsky.social, @cam.ac.uk and beyond to show that, while our fevers are hot enough to control human flu, they don't protect against avian influenzas adaptd to the hotter bodies of birds
Avian-origin influenza A viruses tolerate elevated pyrexic temperatures in mammals
Host body temperature can define a virus’s replicative profile—influenza A viruses (IAVs) adapted to 40° to 42°C in birds are less temperature sensitive in vitro compared with human isolates adapted t...
www.science.org
November 28, 2025 at 9:15 AM
🚨New Paper!🚨
Some like it hot: Matt Turnbull and @samjwilsonphd.bsky.social collaborated with groups from @cvrinfo.bsky.social, @cam.ac.uk and beyond to show that, while our fevers are hot enough to control human flu, they don't protect against avian influenzas adaptd to the hotter bodies of birds
Some like it hot: Matt Turnbull and @samjwilsonphd.bsky.social collaborated with groups from @cvrinfo.bsky.social, @cam.ac.uk and beyond to show that, while our fevers are hot enough to control human flu, they don't protect against avian influenzas adaptd to the hotter bodies of birds
Reposted by Miranda
Very happy to have been able to contribute to this study that was published today in Science, which was truly a great collaborative effort. Avian PB1 provides a fitness advantage to IAV at febrile-range temperatures both in vitro and a hyperthermic nouse model 🦠 www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
#flu
#flu
Avian-origin influenza A viruses tolerate elevated pyrexic temperatures in mammals
Host body temperature can define a virus’s replicative profile—influenza A viruses (IAVs) adapted to 40° to 42°C in birds are less temperature sensitive in vitro compared with human isolates adapted t...
www.science.org
November 27, 2025 at 7:38 PM
Very happy to have been able to contribute to this study that was published today in Science, which was truly a great collaborative effort. Avian PB1 provides a fitness advantage to IAV at febrile-range temperatures both in vitro and a hyperthermic nouse model 🦠 www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
#flu
#flu
Reposted by Miranda
How does fever work?
Our new Science paper shows how elevated body temperature can protect against severe influenza and that avian-origin viruses escape this defence.
This is likely one reason why bird flus and some pandemic influenzas can be so severe.🧵
www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
Our new Science paper shows how elevated body temperature can protect against severe influenza and that avian-origin viruses escape this defence.
This is likely one reason why bird flus and some pandemic influenzas can be so severe.🧵
www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
Avian-origin influenza A viruses tolerate elevated pyrexic temperatures in mammals
Host body temperature can define a virus’s replicative profile—influenza A viruses (IAVs) adapted to 40° to 42°C in birds are less temperature sensitive in vitro compared with human isolates adapted t...
www.science.org
November 27, 2025 at 7:55 PM
How does fever work?
Our new Science paper shows how elevated body temperature can protect against severe influenza and that avian-origin viruses escape this defence.
This is likely one reason why bird flus and some pandemic influenzas can be so severe.🧵
www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
Our new Science paper shows how elevated body temperature can protect against severe influenza and that avian-origin viruses escape this defence.
This is likely one reason why bird flus and some pandemic influenzas can be so severe.🧵
www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
Reposted by Miranda
Lots of exciting PhDs here in Biochem/Biomed through the @ukri.org BBSRC Wessex One Health (WOH) DTP.
Projects available with Drs Ben Towler, @francespearl.bsky.social, Mark Paget, Edward Wright, or Leandro Castellano.
Application deadline: 23rd January 2026 👇
www.surrey.ac.uk/wessex-one-h...
Projects available with Drs Ben Towler, @francespearl.bsky.social, Mark Paget, Edward Wright, or Leandro Castellano.
Application deadline: 23rd January 2026 👇
www.surrey.ac.uk/wessex-one-h...
Available studentships| University of Surrey
18 fully funded studentships for October 2026 start: interdisciplinary infection bioscience training to address disease threats to human and animal health.
www.surrey.ac.uk
November 27, 2025 at 11:25 AM
Lots of exciting PhDs here in Biochem/Biomed through the @ukri.org BBSRC Wessex One Health (WOH) DTP.
Projects available with Drs Ben Towler, @francespearl.bsky.social, Mark Paget, Edward Wright, or Leandro Castellano.
Application deadline: 23rd January 2026 👇
www.surrey.ac.uk/wessex-one-h...
Projects available with Drs Ben Towler, @francespearl.bsky.social, Mark Paget, Edward Wright, or Leandro Castellano.
Application deadline: 23rd January 2026 👇
www.surrey.ac.uk/wessex-one-h...
Reposted by Miranda
🚨 2 PhD opportunities under Wessex One Health to join my group & work on:
1. Integrating bat and fungal pathogen ecology to understand epidemiology
2. AI-augmented metagenomics to map British bat virome and assess zoonotic potential
Deadline 26 January 2026 🦇🧪🦠🌍🌐
www.surrey.ac.uk/wessex-one-h...
1. Integrating bat and fungal pathogen ecology to understand epidemiology
2. AI-augmented metagenomics to map British bat virome and assess zoonotic potential
Deadline 26 January 2026 🦇🧪🦠🌍🌐
www.surrey.ac.uk/wessex-one-h...
Available studentships| University of Surrey
18 fully funded studentships for October 2026 start: interdisciplinary infection bioscience training to address disease threats to human and animal health.
www.surrey.ac.uk
November 26, 2025 at 9:31 AM
🚨 2 PhD opportunities under Wessex One Health to join my group & work on:
1. Integrating bat and fungal pathogen ecology to understand epidemiology
2. AI-augmented metagenomics to map British bat virome and assess zoonotic potential
Deadline 26 January 2026 🦇🧪🦠🌍🌐
www.surrey.ac.uk/wessex-one-h...
1. Integrating bat and fungal pathogen ecology to understand epidemiology
2. AI-augmented metagenomics to map British bat virome and assess zoonotic potential
Deadline 26 January 2026 🦇🧪🦠🌍🌐
www.surrey.ac.uk/wessex-one-h...
Reposted by Miranda
The WHO/WOAH/FAO H5 Evolution Working Group just released a major nomenclature update: 12 new H5 clades across 2.3.2.1 and 2.3.4.4, the result of a decade of relentless viral evolution stretching from Asia to Africa, the Americas, and even Antarctica. 🥼🔬🧪🦠🐓😷
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
Nomenclature updates to the hemagglutinin gene clade designations resulting from the continued evolution of high pathogenicity avian influenza A(H5) virus clades 2.3.2.1c and 2.3.4.4
The evolutionary divergence of the A(H5) hemagglutinin (HA) gene of high pathogenicity avian influenza (HPAI) viruses (A/goose/Guangdong/96 lineage) was analyzed by phylogenetic and average pairwise d...
www.biorxiv.org
November 26, 2025 at 4:06 PM
The WHO/WOAH/FAO H5 Evolution Working Group just released a major nomenclature update: 12 new H5 clades across 2.3.2.1 and 2.3.4.4, the result of a decade of relentless viral evolution stretching from Asia to Africa, the Americas, and even Antarctica. 🥼🔬🧪🦠🐓😷
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
Reposted by Miranda
An amazing article. Highly recommended!
Every biologist knows the story of Fleming's chance discovery of penicillin. But is it true?
Here, with @asimovpress.bsky.social, I write about inconsistencies in the canonical story, and explore a few alternative theories about what really happened in that St. Mary's lab in the summer of 1928.
Here, with @asimovpress.bsky.social, I write about inconsistencies in the canonical story, and explore a few alternative theories about what really happened in that St. Mary's lab in the summer of 1928.
The Penicillin Myth
Competing theories seek to explain inconsistencies surrounding Alexander Fleming’s famed discovery.
press.asimov.com
November 26, 2025 at 1:07 PM
An amazing article. Highly recommended!
Reposted by Miranda
#Review
Bacteria can “remember” past environments through genetic & biochemical imprints helping them adapt and thrive! 🦠🧠
#MicroSky
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
Bacteria can “remember” past environments through genetic & biochemical imprints helping them adapt and thrive! 🦠🧠
#MicroSky
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
Exploring the concept of bacterial memory - Nature Microbiology
This Perspective discusses the concept, mechanisms and evidence for memory in bacteria at individual and community levels.
www.nature.com
November 18, 2025 at 8:51 AM
#Review
Bacteria can “remember” past environments through genetic & biochemical imprints helping them adapt and thrive! 🦠🧠
#MicroSky
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
Bacteria can “remember” past environments through genetic & biochemical imprints helping them adapt and thrive! 🦠🧠
#MicroSky
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
Reposted by Miranda
With @burgesslab.bsky.social, not one, but TWO freshly caught T2T zebrafish reference genomes for the Tübingen and AB strains 🎣 🎣 🎉
🎉 Excited to share our new preprint presenting a complete de novo assembly of the zebrafish genome; a major advance for zebrafish genomics and research! 🧬
Full paper: www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
@zebrafishrock.bsky.social @izfs.bsky.social @zfinmod.bsky.social @modelzebrafish.bsky.social
Full paper: www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
@zebrafishrock.bsky.social @izfs.bsky.social @zfinmod.bsky.social @modelzebrafish.bsky.social
doi.org
November 26, 2025 at 2:51 PM
With @burgesslab.bsky.social, not one, but TWO freshly caught T2T zebrafish reference genomes for the Tübingen and AB strains 🎣 🎣 🎉
Reposted by Miranda
Work I co-led with @jnoms.bsky.social is now online at
@cp-cellhostmicrobe.bsky.social ! We revealed a previously unrealized diversity of viral immune-evasion proteins that selectively destroy different cyclic nucleotide signals used in bacterial immunity.
www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
@cp-cellhostmicrobe.bsky.social ! We revealed a previously unrealized diversity of viral immune-evasion proteins that selectively destroy different cyclic nucleotide signals used in bacterial immunity.
www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
Divergent viral phosphodiesterases for immune signaling evasion
Cyclic dinucleotides (CDNs) and other short oligonucleotides play fundamental roles in immune system activation in organisms ranging from bacteria to …
www.sciencedirect.com
November 25, 2025 at 9:10 PM
Work I co-led with @jnoms.bsky.social is now online at
@cp-cellhostmicrobe.bsky.social ! We revealed a previously unrealized diversity of viral immune-evasion proteins that selectively destroy different cyclic nucleotide signals used in bacterial immunity.
www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
@cp-cellhostmicrobe.bsky.social ! We revealed a previously unrealized diversity of viral immune-evasion proteins that selectively destroy different cyclic nucleotide signals used in bacterial immunity.
www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
Reposted by Miranda
Our H5 avian flu in marine bat story is in News from Science 🌊🦇🦠 thanks @martinenserink.bsky.social for covering it! Also excited to see my MSc lecturer @thijskuiken.bsky.social commented on it!
📰 News link
www.science.org/content/arti...
🔬Preprint
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
📰 News link
www.science.org/content/arti...
🔬Preprint
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
Vampire bats may have contracted H5N1 bird flu in Peru, raising worries about further spread
Bats could form a bridge between marine and terrestrial mammals, scientists say
www.science.org
November 26, 2025 at 1:00 PM
Our H5 avian flu in marine bat story is in News from Science 🌊🦇🦠 thanks @martinenserink.bsky.social for covering it! Also excited to see my MSc lecturer @thijskuiken.bsky.social commented on it!
📰 News link
www.science.org/content/arti...
🔬Preprint
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
📰 News link
www.science.org/content/arti...
🔬Preprint
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
Reposted by Miranda
The Island of Dr Moreau, RNA world edition:
'Disrupting RNA-sensing pathways reduced the competitiveness and viability of mouse PSCs, and mouse embryos lacking Mavs—a key gene in RNA innate immunity—led to markedly improved human cell survival and chimerism.'
www.cell.com/cell/abstrac...
'Disrupting RNA-sensing pathways reduced the competitiveness and viability of mouse PSCs, and mouse embryos lacking Mavs—a key gene in RNA innate immunity—led to markedly improved human cell survival and chimerism.'
www.cell.com/cell/abstrac...
RNA innate immunity constitutes a barrier for interspecies chimerism
Interspecies PSC co-culture induces horizontal RNA transfer that activates innate
immunity in “winner” mouse cells, a response that is alleviated by Mavs deletion,
thereby enhancing “loser” human PSC ...
www.cell.com
November 26, 2025 at 9:07 AM
The Island of Dr Moreau, RNA world edition:
'Disrupting RNA-sensing pathways reduced the competitiveness and viability of mouse PSCs, and mouse embryos lacking Mavs—a key gene in RNA innate immunity—led to markedly improved human cell survival and chimerism.'
www.cell.com/cell/abstrac...
'Disrupting RNA-sensing pathways reduced the competitiveness and viability of mouse PSCs, and mouse embryos lacking Mavs—a key gene in RNA innate immunity—led to markedly improved human cell survival and chimerism.'
www.cell.com/cell/abstrac...
Reposted by Miranda
Unsurprisingly, the suspected cases of HPAI H5N1 in elephant seals on Australia's subAntarctic island (Heard Island) have been confirmed.
👉 minister.agriculture.gov.au/collins/medi...
👉 minister.agriculture.gov.au/collins/medi...
November 25, 2025 at 2:39 AM
Unsurprisingly, the suspected cases of HPAI H5N1 in elephant seals on Australia's subAntarctic island (Heard Island) have been confirmed.
👉 minister.agriculture.gov.au/collins/medi...
👉 minister.agriculture.gov.au/collins/medi...
Reposted by Miranda
Out now in Microbial Genomics @microbiologysociety.org MCMV-infected dendritic cells switch off MHC-II (via Ciita) while turning on migration via viral GPCR M33 – converting DCs into stealth couriers for viral spread. Work with Helen Farrell lab and @chrismcmillan.bsky.social doi.org/10.1099/mgen...
November 26, 2025 at 9:25 AM
Out now in Microbial Genomics @microbiologysociety.org MCMV-infected dendritic cells switch off MHC-II (via Ciita) while turning on migration via viral GPCR M33 – converting DCs into stealth couriers for viral spread. Work with Helen Farrell lab and @chrismcmillan.bsky.social doi.org/10.1099/mgen...
Reposted by Miranda
📢Astrovirus polyprotein processing is finally uncovered - these viruses use peculiar dual cleavage sites around their protease! Led by a talented PhD student, David Noyvert, this work provides a map of astrovirus genomes. Great collaboration with @emmottlab.bsky.social @leandroxneves.bsky.social
Viral protease-mediated polyprotein processing in human astroviruses
Positive-sense RNA viruses often encode large polyproteins that are proteolytically processed by viral and host proteases into functional replication proteins. Astroviruses infect intestinal and neuro...
www.biorxiv.org
November 25, 2025 at 10:08 PM
📢Astrovirus polyprotein processing is finally uncovered - these viruses use peculiar dual cleavage sites around their protease! Led by a talented PhD student, David Noyvert, this work provides a map of astrovirus genomes. Great collaboration with @emmottlab.bsky.social @leandroxneves.bsky.social
Reposted by Miranda
H3N2 preprint: there are concerns of a severe incoming influenza season due to the drifted H3N2 K clade. We at @psioxford.bsky.social analysed epi data and ran scenario models to see what we could discern about K clade transmission dynamics: zenodo.org/records/1770....
(1/18)
(1/18)
Evaluation of the epidemiological outlook of the influenza A/H3N2 clade K in England during the 2025-26 season
Key findings England is currently experiencing a high growth rate of infections caused by the influenza A/H3N2 K clade. Antigenic change from the previously dominant clade, a rapid selective sweep evi...
zenodo.org
November 25, 2025 at 1:51 PM
H3N2 preprint: there are concerns of a severe incoming influenza season due to the drifted H3N2 K clade. We at @psioxford.bsky.social analysed epi data and ran scenario models to see what we could discern about K clade transmission dynamics: zenodo.org/records/1770....
(1/18)
(1/18)
Reposted by Miranda
The first human case of H5N5 bird flu (sadly, a fatal case) was reported at the end of last week. I've summarised what we currently know and what this might mean for @uk.theconversation.com
First human bird-flu death from H5N5 – what you need to know
A patient in Washington state has died from H5N5 bird flu, the first known human infection with this virus – but experts say the wider risk remains low.
theconversation.com
November 25, 2025 at 1:23 PM
The first human case of H5N5 bird flu (sadly, a fatal case) was reported at the end of last week. I've summarised what we currently know and what this might mean for @uk.theconversation.com
Reposted by Miranda
NEW! 🦠🦧 We revisited a perplexing paradox: do wildlife really pose less of a risk to human health as they become more endangered? Turns out, it's sampling bias all the way down: conservation risks correlate with disease surveillance blindspots. 🔓 esajournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10....
Viral diversity and zoonotic risk in endangered species
A growing body of evidence links zoonotic disease risk, including pandemic threats, to biodiversity loss and other upstream anthropogenic impacts on ecosystem health. However, there is little current...
esajournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com
November 25, 2025 at 1:25 PM
NEW! 🦠🦧 We revisited a perplexing paradox: do wildlife really pose less of a risk to human health as they become more endangered? Turns out, it's sampling bias all the way down: conservation risks correlate with disease surveillance blindspots. 🔓 esajournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10....
Reposted by Miranda
Unraveling the mechanism behind the probable extinction of the B/Yamagata lineage of influenza B viruses
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
Unraveling the mechanism behind the probable extinction of the B/Yamagata lineage of influenza B viruses - Nature Communications
Influenza B/Yamagata lineage has rarely been detected since COVID-19 non-pharmaceutical interventions were introduced, while transmission of other influenza lineages resumed. Here, the authors investi...
www.nature.com
November 25, 2025 at 2:09 PM
Unraveling the mechanism behind the probable extinction of the B/Yamagata lineage of influenza B viruses
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
Reposted by Miranda
Reposted by Miranda
Are influenza B viruses really “human only”? New review synthesises evidence from serology & metagenomics for #IBV / IBV-like viruses in animals and aquatic hosts. One Health gaps remain. With @marioskoutsakos.viralvaxlab.com @duckswabber.bsky.social www.mdpi.com/1999-4915/17...
November 25, 2025 at 4:46 AM
Are influenza B viruses really “human only”? New review synthesises evidence from serology & metagenomics for #IBV / IBV-like viruses in animals and aquatic hosts. One Health gaps remain. With @marioskoutsakos.viralvaxlab.com @duckswabber.bsky.social www.mdpi.com/1999-4915/17...
Reposted by Miranda
Just came across this neat looking pre-print by @maxfarrell.bsky.social et al "Experimental infections reveal unexceptional viral tolerance in bats" www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1... - meta analysis across 54 viruses, 85 host species, >5600 individuals
www.biorxiv.org
November 24, 2025 at 10:32 AM
Just came across this neat looking pre-print by @maxfarrell.bsky.social et al "Experimental infections reveal unexceptional viral tolerance in bats" www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1... - meta analysis across 54 viruses, 85 host species, >5600 individuals
Reposted by Miranda
🚨Preprint alert - this is a big one! We transfer the revolutionary power of TnSeq to bacteriophages.
Our HIDEN-SEQ links the "dark matter" genes of your favorite phage to any selectable phenotype, guiding the path from fun observations to molecular mechanisms.
A thread 1/8
Our HIDEN-SEQ links the "dark matter" genes of your favorite phage to any selectable phenotype, guiding the path from fun observations to molecular mechanisms.
A thread 1/8
November 20, 2025 at 8:40 PM
🚨Preprint alert - this is a big one! We transfer the revolutionary power of TnSeq to bacteriophages.
Our HIDEN-SEQ links the "dark matter" genes of your favorite phage to any selectable phenotype, guiding the path from fun observations to molecular mechanisms.
A thread 1/8
Our HIDEN-SEQ links the "dark matter" genes of your favorite phage to any selectable phenotype, guiding the path from fun observations to molecular mechanisms.
A thread 1/8