Sam Mugford
@samtmugford.bsky.social
Pinned
Sam Mugford
@samtmugford.bsky.social
· Nov 18
The conserved aphid saliva chemosensory protein effector Mp10 targets plant AMSH deubiquitinases at cellular membranes to suppress pattern-triggered immunity https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1101/2024.11.15.622802v1
The conserved aphid saliva chemosensory protein effector Mp10 targets plant AMSH deubiquitinases at cellular membranes to suppress pattern-triggered immunity https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1101/2024.11.15.622802v1
Chemosensory proteins (CSPs) are a conserved family present in insects and other arthropods, recogni
www.biorxiv.org
We’re delighted to share our latest preprint from the Hogenhout lab (@saskiahogenhout.bsky.social) on the molecular mechanisms on plant-aphid interactions. Here we show how the aphid Mp10 effector protein acts as a local anaesthetic to suppress the plant perception of aphid attack
I had the pleasure of talking to the good folk of the Wymondham nature group for an hour about the wierd toilet habits of sap sucking insects tonight. And my latest publication appeared in the village newsletter!
November 13, 2025 at 10:16 PM
I had the pleasure of talking to the good folk of the Wymondham nature group for an hour about the wierd toilet habits of sap sucking insects tonight. And my latest publication appeared in the village newsletter!
Google scholar citation count has just tipped over the 2024 number so that's the start of my christmas break i don't make the rules
November 13, 2025 at 9:03 AM
Google scholar citation count has just tipped over the 2024 number so that's the start of my christmas break i don't make the rules
Reposted by Sam Mugford
Love being reminded to do this every year. It's a win/win all round
November 11, 2025 at 11:00 AM
Love being reminded to do this every year. It's a win/win all round
Reposted by Sam Mugford
Net zero is one of the many areas where commentators are out-of-touch with public opinion in Britain. There is still broad support for cutting carbon emissions - except from among Reform supporters, who are the outliers.
🧵/ How far does the public support net zero?
Support: 60%
Oppose: 25%
Net support by party
Green: +81
Lib Dem: +67
Lab: +64
Con: +11
Reform: -44
yougov.co.uk/politics/art...
Support: 60%
Oppose: 25%
Net support by party
Green: +81
Lib Dem: +67
Lab: +64
Con: +11
Reform: -44
yougov.co.uk/politics/art...
November 11, 2025 at 10:50 AM
Net zero is one of the many areas where commentators are out-of-touch with public opinion in Britain. There is still broad support for cutting carbon emissions - except from among Reform supporters, who are the outliers.
Reposted by Sam Mugford
"staffers at number 10 have been leaving DVD copies of Love Actually in prominent positions in the PM's office"
September 16, 2025 at 7:36 AM
"staffers at number 10 have been leaving DVD copies of Love Actually in prominent positions in the PM's office"
Reposted by Sam Mugford
Eine Elefantenspitzmaus 😁
November 10, 2025 at 8:19 AM
Eine Elefantenspitzmaus 😁
Reposted by Sam Mugford
Trump and his cronies have the BBC in their sights. Leaders can’t stay silent while one of our great institutions is attacked.
We must defend its independence, end political appointments, and remove Robbie Gibb from the Board.
We must defend its independence, end political appointments, and remove Robbie Gibb from the Board.
November 10, 2025 at 6:15 PM
Trump and his cronies have the BBC in their sights. Leaders can’t stay silent while one of our great institutions is attacked.
We must defend its independence, end political appointments, and remove Robbie Gibb from the Board.
We must defend its independence, end political appointments, and remove Robbie Gibb from the Board.
Reposted by Sam Mugford
Reposted by Sam Mugford
I made a “how do you do, fellow kids?” joke to someone in their mid 20s who, it turns out, was too young to have heard of that meme.
So “how do you do, fellow kids?” is now an example of “how do you do, fellow kids?”
So “how do you do, fellow kids?” is now an example of “how do you do, fellow kids?”
November 7, 2025 at 5:28 PM
I made a “how do you do, fellow kids?” joke to someone in their mid 20s who, it turns out, was too young to have heard of that meme.
So “how do you do, fellow kids?” is now an example of “how do you do, fellow kids?”
So “how do you do, fellow kids?” is now an example of “how do you do, fellow kids?”
Reposted by Sam Mugford
why is the Journal of the Royal Statistical Society published by Oxford when it could have been Random House
October 4, 2025 at 9:46 AM
why is the Journal of the Royal Statistical Society published by Oxford when it could have been Random House
Reposted by Sam Mugford
We wrote a review 📖 on hydathode immunity! Learn how bacteria exploit hydathodes to access the vasculature and open questions for future research.
📣 If you are curious about this topic, please consider applying for two open positions in my lab (until Nov23)! www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
📣 If you are curious about this topic, please consider applying for two open positions in my lab (until Nov23)! www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
Hydathodes at the forefront of plant immunity against vascular pathogens
Hydathodes are tiny plant organs that form an interface between the leaf surface and xylem vasculature. They facilitate excretion of xylem fluid under…
www.sciencedirect.com
November 4, 2025 at 10:43 AM
We wrote a review 📖 on hydathode immunity! Learn how bacteria exploit hydathodes to access the vasculature and open questions for future research.
📣 If you are curious about this topic, please consider applying for two open positions in my lab (until Nov23)! www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
📣 If you are curious about this topic, please consider applying for two open positions in my lab (until Nov23)! www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
I had a dream I asked an AI to write a medical text book and chapter 52 was "how to ghost your cat"
November 5, 2025 at 8:18 AM
I had a dream I asked an AI to write a medical text book and chapter 52 was "how to ghost your cat"
Reposted by Sam Mugford
My main work as postdoc @plantophagy.bsky.social lab in @gmivienna.bsky.social is out in @natplants.nature.com 🌱🎉
We asked how can protein complexes diversify without compromising their function and explored this question using the plant #exocyst complex.
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
We asked how can protein complexes diversify without compromising their function and explored this question using the plant #exocyst complex.
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
Electrostatic changes enabled the diversification of an exocyst subunit via protein complex escape - Nature Plants
The evolutionary diversification of an exocyst subunit was enabled by electrostatic shifts leading to its dissociation from the ancestral complex.
www.nature.com
October 31, 2025 at 1:57 PM
My main work as postdoc @plantophagy.bsky.social lab in @gmivienna.bsky.social is out in @natplants.nature.com 🌱🎉
We asked how can protein complexes diversify without compromising their function and explored this question using the plant #exocyst complex.
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
We asked how can protein complexes diversify without compromising their function and explored this question using the plant #exocyst complex.
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
Reposted by Sam Mugford
“she asked if she had been contacted “because of my expertise in the subject matter or because of my reproductive organs” that is precisely why the men were always asked, historically.
The premier journal Nature long favored research from white, male scientists. Its mission statement in 1870: "to aid Scientific men."
That meant missing out on excellent research. It's tried to recognize other voices in recent years.
Here comes the backlash. www.thetimes.com/uk/science/a...
That meant missing out on excellent research. It's tried to recognize other voices in recent years.
Here comes the backlash. www.thetimes.com/uk/science/a...
Nature journal accused of abandoning science for social justice
The publisher has defended its efforts to boost the diversity of researchers after it came under attack from Richard Dawkins and other academics
www.thetimes.com
October 30, 2025 at 9:04 PM
“she asked if she had been contacted “because of my expertise in the subject matter or because of my reproductive organs” that is precisely why the men were always asked, historically.
When all your PCRs fail, except for the negative control 😱
October 30, 2025 at 7:43 PM
When all your PCRs fail, except for the negative control 😱
Reposted by Sam Mugford
... Some might doubt about the ability of owls to build a shelter, but they're very empathetic and caring animals. I reckon they could do it, if they put their mind to it. bsky.app/profile/dj-a...
Almost certainly the best thing I was ever told about owls was when I met an owl handler at an owl sanctuary and he told me that the wild owls who lived near the sanctuary worried about the tame show owls there and sometimes stopped by to leave them shrews and mice as presents.
October 28, 2025 at 7:09 PM
... Some might doubt about the ability of owls to build a shelter, but they're very empathetic and caring animals. I reckon they could do it, if they put their mind to it. bsky.app/profile/dj-a...
Reposted by Sam Mugford
He’s been! He’s been! Old Father Time has been, and he’s left me an extra hour!
October 26, 2025 at 6:57 AM
He’s been! He’s been! Old Father Time has been, and he’s left me an extra hour!
Reposted by Sam Mugford
Our Plant Proteins meeting has begun! Starting the day with his 2025 Early Career Research Award Lecture, Dr Tatsuya Nobori discussed the development of PHYTOMap, a novel method for multiplexed single-cell 3D spatial gene expression analysis in whole-mount plant tissues.
October 22, 2025 at 9:00 AM
Our Plant Proteins meeting has begun! Starting the day with his 2025 Early Career Research Award Lecture, Dr Tatsuya Nobori discussed the development of PHYTOMap, a novel method for multiplexed single-cell 3D spatial gene expression analysis in whole-mount plant tissues.
Reposted by Sam Mugford
Dr Juan Carlos De La Concepcion presented the 2026 Early Career Research Award Lecture on structure-guided approaches to engineer novel resistance against destructive plant pathogens — a major biotechnological milestone for agriculture! #PlantProteinsMeeting
October 22, 2025 at 4:20 PM
Dr Juan Carlos De La Concepcion presented the 2026 Early Career Research Award Lecture on structure-guided approaches to engineer novel resistance against destructive plant pathogens — a major biotechnological milestone for agriculture! #PlantProteinsMeeting
Reposted by Sam Mugford
Showcasing her outstanding contributions to the field of oxidative signalling throughout her career so far, congratulations to Professor Christine Foyer, who receives the 2026 Biochemical Society Award for Sustained Excellence at our Plant Proteins meeting today!
October 22, 2025 at 5:01 PM
Showcasing her outstanding contributions to the field of oxidative signalling throughout her career so far, congratulations to Professor Christine Foyer, who receives the 2026 Biochemical Society Award for Sustained Excellence at our Plant Proteins meeting today!
Reposted by Sam Mugford
Presenting the 2025 Research Support Award, congratulations go to Sam Mugford who discussed his latest insights into the molecular mechanisms of plant immune suppression by virulence factors in aphid saliva! #BiochemAwards
October 22, 2025 at 3:24 PM
Presenting the 2025 Research Support Award, congratulations go to Sam Mugford who discussed his latest insights into the molecular mechanisms of plant immune suppression by virulence factors in aphid saliva! #BiochemAwards
Reposted by Sam Mugford
I had the honour of giving a talk at the Biochemical Society conference and finally received the medal. Grateful once again to everyone who made this possible! #BiochemEvent
October 22, 2025 at 9:17 AM
I had the honour of giving a talk at the Biochemical Society conference and finally received the medal. Grateful once again to everyone who made this possible! #BiochemEvent
Reposted by Sam Mugford
And @newphyt.bsky.social continues it's great series of Profiles with this one on @pdchristine.bsky.social:
nph.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10....
#PlantScience #PlantDevelopment #PlantImmunity #PlantLuminaries
nph.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10....
#PlantScience #PlantDevelopment #PlantImmunity #PlantLuminaries
October 20, 2025 at 5:55 AM
And @newphyt.bsky.social continues it's great series of Profiles with this one on @pdchristine.bsky.social:
nph.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10....
#PlantScience #PlantDevelopment #PlantImmunity #PlantLuminaries
nph.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10....
#PlantScience #PlantDevelopment #PlantImmunity #PlantLuminaries
Reposted by Sam Mugford
Sumo stars goofing about at tourist locations seems a more fun way to celebrate England than any number of flags.
The thousand year old sport is kicking it in front the thousand some year old monument. #londonsumo #stonehenge
October 19, 2025 at 9:01 AM
Sumo stars goofing about at tourist locations seems a more fun way to celebrate England than any number of flags.
Reposted by Sam Mugford
New pre-print from the team!
The manuscript is @emma-raven.bsky.social's PhD work showing that whether a leaf is a carbon sink or a carbon source influences how they execute immune responses.
Have a read!
#PlantScience
@johninnescentre.bsky.social
The manuscript is @emma-raven.bsky.social's PhD work showing that whether a leaf is a carbon sink or a carbon source influences how they execute immune responses.
Have a read!
#PlantScience
@johninnescentre.bsky.social
Primary metabolism underpins the execution of immune responses in different tissues of the same plant https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1101/2025.10.11.681807v1
October 14, 2025 at 7:16 AM
New pre-print from the team!
The manuscript is @emma-raven.bsky.social's PhD work showing that whether a leaf is a carbon sink or a carbon source influences how they execute immune responses.
Have a read!
#PlantScience
@johninnescentre.bsky.social
The manuscript is @emma-raven.bsky.social's PhD work showing that whether a leaf is a carbon sink or a carbon source influences how they execute immune responses.
Have a read!
#PlantScience
@johninnescentre.bsky.social