Feldman Lab@WashU

The Feldman lab in the Acinetobacter conference in Niagara Falls

@benmicrobesmtg.bsky.social the organizers if the beneficial microbes conferences uninvited a scientist from the conference just based on their nationality. This act of racism should not be tolerated. I am happy I am not attending this conference. Shame on the organizers!

Highlights how the AMR crisis is also a cancer research issue

Redirecting just a tiny fraction of cancer research funding to AMR would be transformative

For those who have not seen Guy Cornelis in years, here you have the pic we took today. He looks the same, its quite remarkable!!

Today I gave a talk in Namur with a special guest: Guy Cornelis, the scientist that discovered T3SS and who was my postdoc advisor. He is retired now, came to my talk. I could not resist the temptation to take a selfie when I started my seminar! Academia has these great moments

Intracellular Acinetobacter baumannii Acts as a Reservoir in Lung Infection via a 'Persist and Resist' Strategy Although considered primarily extracellular, Acinetobacter baumannii can survive and replicate within macrophages in vitro. Intracellular bacteria are often protected from the host immune system and a...

www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...

Furthermore, using dual differential proteomics in collaboration with @nickescott.bsky.social we identified genes upregulated in both, the host and the bacteria. We show that genes involved in nutritional immunity, response stress and cell surface assembly are required for replication!

Yes! @manonjanet.bsky.social preprint is out! We show using BALF transfer that intracelular Acinetobacter baumannii can seed an infection in a susceptible mouse, suggesting that intracellular bacteria may be reservoir for recurrent infections
nam10.safelinks.protection.outlook.com?url=https%3A...

Deadline for the travel awards is tomorrow! Check the conference website for more information events.faseb.org/event/biolog...

Prepa

The Feldman lab preparing the traditional empanadas for the department TGIF tomorrow.

The Acinetobacter conference will be held in USA for the first time. The program is coming soon. events.faseb.org/event/biolog...

A broad-spectrum lasso peptide antibiotic targeting the bacterial ribosome Nature - A new lasso peptide antibiotic exhibits broad-spectrum activity against Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacteria by interfering with bacterial protein synthesis, is unaffected by common...

The latest discovery from the lab and great colleagues at McMaster and U Illinois, Chicago. Lariocidin, a new lasso peptide antibiotic that inhibits the ribosome. rdcu.be/efdha

so far I'm seeing a lot of universities respond to grant terminations with

"oh I guess now we don't have that grant anymore"

instead of

"your assertion of a grant termination is executive overreach, see you in court"

So, universities: respectfully, what the fuck?

In a science round table discussion yesterday, my NJ senator @kim.senate.gov suggested a strong argument for NIH and federal funding is global competitiveness. We US-based scientists should start weaving this into our narratives.

Travel awards for trainees and early-stage investigators to attend the 2025 Acinetobacter conference are available. Deadline for applications is April 30. Please rt.

events.faseb.org/event/1b872d...

Time to register to the 2025 Acinetobacter Conference in Niagara falls! Spaces are filling fast! We will soon announce some travel grants for graduate students/postdocs!

events.faseb.org/event/biolog...

👇🎯 The public isn't going to understand this, unless the presidents of R1 universities around the country <loudly> & <collectively> get out into the public square & start explaining this & calling out the existential threat to the entire 🇺🇸 university system. The silence is deafening right now.

can you explain this 3 year gap in your resume?

yeah the paper was under review

Program is ready and registration is open! Acinetobacter aficionados join us in Niagara Falls for some days of great science. events.faseb.org/event/biolog...

For the sake of humanity, it's time to get out there and Stand Up For Science!! Spread the word!

Some good news: BV study section is being rescheduled for end of March beginning of April, process just started. Fingers crossed!

On March 7th we will Stand Up For Science! You can use the link to find the protest location in your city.

standupforscience2025.org

What is double pneumonia? Pope Francis's diagnosis explained. Pope Francis is being treated in hospital for double pneumonia — but what is this condition, and why might the pope be particularly vulnerable to it?

The Pope is in critical condition due to a"polymicrobial infection” of the lungs. What is this? An infection caused by multiple “germs”, most likely bacteria given the severity of the condition. One of many examples on why microbiology research matters.

www.livescience.com/health/virus...

The presidents of all universities should hold a press conference together at the National Press Club in Washington DC condemning the attacks on science and universities and outline the stakes for all Americans. 1/

NIH funding freeze stalls applications on $1.5 billion in medical research funds The National Institutes of Health had to stop considering new grant applications, delaying funding for research into diseases ranging from heart disease and cancer to Alzheimer's and allergies.

The National Institutes of Health had to stop considering new grant applications, delaying funding for research into diseases ranging from heart disease and cancer to Alzheimer's and allergies.

Next time a fiend or family member needs a new treatment for cancer, autoimmune diseases, infections or mental health issues, remember the Trump administration stopped ALL research in USA

Trump Administration Stalls Scientific Research Despite Court Ruling Using an arcane law, officials have effectively delayed funding from the National Institutes of Health, leaving medical studies in jeopardy.

Nice reporting by Ben Mueller on the Federal Register block

www.nytimes.com/2025/02/21/s...

The Bacterial Virulence study section that was scheduled for today was cancelled…today! We just got the communication this morning. This is disheartening…

Phages carry orphan antitoxin-like enzymes to neutralize the DarTG1 toxin-antitoxin defense system - Nature Communications Toxin-antitoxin systems make up a branch of the bacterial anti-phage immune system. Here, Johannesman et al demonstrate that some phages have co-opted an orphan antitoxin to counter a DNA ADP-ribosylt...

www.nature.com/articles/s41...