Casey Meili

Silhouette of a man facing a sunset with his arms above his head. His arms have shackles which are breaking above his head.

The last paper from my masters has been accepted!

(I graduated in 2023)

They work by drawing water into the system through a semipermeable membrane. This creates pressure inside the device, which pushes the drug out through a small opening at a controlled, steady rate. It allows consistent drug delivery over time, independent of factors like pH or movement in the body.

CoronaRita (Corona upside down in a margarita)

Explained an osmotic drug pump to an undergrad today by comparing it to a CoronaRita

Aww thank you Bia! Couldn’t have done it without you 😊

Congratulations to my first PhD student @caseymeili.bsky.social
for passing her qualifying exam! She is officially a PhD candidate! So proud of you!

Thousands gather across U.S. in Stand Up for Science events Scientists rally across the country in response to layoffs and funding cuts ordered by the Trump administration

“Thinking about the event in the U.S. capital started about a month ago, when five scientists, nearly all of them graduate and Ph.D. students, bonded on Bluesky over their concerns about the impact of Trump’s executive orders on science.” 🧪

On a more personal note, my contribution to this work is something I am particularly proud of when I look back on the first year of my PhD.

Here’s to lots more exciting science ahead 🥳

(And of course, feel free to contact me for the full text)

a baby is reading a book with his eyes closed while sitting at a table . ALT: a baby is reading a book with his eyes closed while sitting at a table .

This thread can’t possibly summarize all of the amazing science that went into this paper (and all of the awesome scientists who made it possible). I highly recommend giving it a read if you have a chance!

Graphical abstract showing that specific microbes promote mouse beta cell expansion during a critical postnatal period before weaning (days 10 to 20). Colonization by the fungal commensal C. dubliniensis stimulates b cell mass through a macrophage-dependent mechanism. This effect appears to be activated by C. dubliniensis’ distinctive cell wall structure, which has reduced levels of both mannan and chitin. These early-life processes result in long-term metabolic health.

Overall, this study emphasizes the significance of microbial diversity in early life and its potential to influence metabolic diseases like diabetes.

Two graphs, the first showing macrophages per islet across SPF, GF and mono associated E. coli, E. galinarum, L. reuteri, and C. dublinensis mice. Significantly more macrophages per islet in C. dub colonized mice. Graph two shows the ratio beta cell area between PBS and clodronate liposomes for both C. dub and E. gal mono associated mice. There is a significant difference in beta cell area between PBS and clodronate in C. dub but not E. gal

Interestingly, C. dub requires macrophages to increase beta cell mass. The specific composition of the fungal cell wall (specifically differences in mannan and chitin) may play a role in this process.

Representative islets from SPF and GF pups, aged P15. F4/80 or macrophages in white. Islet boundary denoted by white dashed line. Scale bar: 50 mm. There are many more macrophages in the SPF islet. Number of macrophages per islet in SPF (gray) and GF (white) animals at P10, P15, and P20.

The microbiota also plays an important role in seeding islet-resident macrophages.

In early life, macrophages promote beta cell mass expansion. Depleting macrophages in mice reduced insulin-producing tissue, indicating their role in beta cell expansion.

Two graphs, the first showing beta cell mass in SPF, germ free mice and mice mono associated with E. coli, E. galinarum, L. reuteri, C. dublinensis, and C. albicans. The second graph shows C. dublinensis colonization (CFU/g) across the postnatal period. There is no colonization days 0-10 with a significant increase at postnatal days 15 and 20.

Multiple microbes were found to play a role in this process including Candida dubliniensis (C. dub) but not closely related C. albicans.

Colonization of the pup with C. dub also coincided with the critical window of beta cell expansion in early life.

Two graphs, one showing that SPF mice have significantly greater beta cell mass than germ free mice and a second graph showing that there is no significant difference in pancreas mass. Histology showing difference in insulin between germ free and SPF pancreas.

Germ free mouse pups had reduced beta cell mass compared to mice with a normal microbiota indicating that the microbiota plays an important role in beta cell proliferation.

In this work led by Jennifer Hill, we discovered how exposure to specific bacterial and fungal species during early life can influence pancreatic development and subsequent metabolic disease.

Neonatal fungi promote lifelong metabolic health through macrophage-dependent β cell development Loss of early-life microbial diversity is correlated with diabetes, yet mechanisms by which microbes influence disease remain elusive. We report a critical neonatal window in mice when microbiota disr...

PAPER ALERT‼️

“Neonatal fungi promote lifelong metabolic health through macrophage dependent beta cell development” is out now in @science.org

science.org/doi/10.1126/...

A short 🧵 below

Upon learning that yesterday would be my last day as a program officer at the National Science Foundation, I shared this parting message with my colleagues. The next few months will be frenetic and stressful for them. Here are some things that you can do to help them with the mission ahead. (1)

8/8. So, if you’re feeling down about these attacks, I understand—I feel that way too. But just remember that they’re not attacking because your work doesn’t matter; they’re attacking *precisely* because it does. So, get some rest, connect with your people, and keep doing it.

Select microbial metabolites in the small intestinal lumen regulates vagal activity via receptor-mediated signaling Neuroscience; Microbiome

Delighted to highlight new work by Kelly Jameson and colleagues showing that select microbial metabolites in the small intestinal lumen regulate vagal activity
www.cell.com/iscience/ful...

Subject: Appalled by the decision to remove DEI content on the ASM website Dear ASM Leadership, For over 20 years, I have been a proud member of the ASM, a professional society that not only publishes outstanding microbiology research but also supports diversity, equity, and inclusion within our field. I am deeply disappointed and angered by ASM’s recent decision to remove online content that highlighted and celebrated non-white, female, and LGBTQ+ scientists. Rather than unquestioningly complying with vague governmental directives to halt and delete inclusion efforts, ASM should have taken a principled stand and kept this content accessible. Since ASM is not a federal agency and derives most of its funding from publishing and membership fees, this decision to remove content that so many of us support is both disheartening and perplexing. I have read ASM’s statement following the recent STAT article, which claims that no content was deleted but is instead "under review." I must ask: under review for what purpose? Will the language be altered? Will key aspects be removed? I urge ASM to demonstrate integrity and restore the content in its original form. As BlueSky user Len Kurland worded it nicely, this is the perfect time for Microbial Resistance. Kind regards, Elisabeth Bik

I am appalled by the ASM's decision to remove DEI content from their website.

Here is my email to the American Society for Microbiology, @ASM.org asking them to put everything back as it was.

If you are an ASM member, please consider writing them.

“Idk, I just think the vibes are bad” -me to myself after rereading a grant I wrote

I’ll also be around for the rest of the conference if you can’t make it to my poster(s) but still want to chat!

Sunday I’ll be presenting on how Pioglitazone (a PPAR-y agonist used for treating type 2 diabetes) can modulate seizure development and immune cell infiltration/activation in the CNS in a viral-induced model (some surprising results here!)

Sunday Dec 8, 12:00-2:00, poster 532

Saturday I’ll be talking about how the gut microbiota, diet, and derived metabolites influence seizure incidence and severity as well as immune response in a viral-induced seizure model.

Saturday Dec 7, 12:00-2:00 pm, poster 084

Graphic for the annual AES meeting reading “I am attending #AES2024 in Los Angeles”

On the way to #AES2024! I’ll be presenting posters on Saturday and Sunday. Stop by if you want to chat viral-induced epilepsy, neuroinflammation, or the microbiota 🦠🧠🐭

(Details on the posters below)

The Duolingo owl staring menacingly with the text “you made 672 mistakes this year”

Oh…thanks for keeping track of that

I got a real request to peer review a paper for a real journal today????????

I am AFRAID.

🦠🔬🚨 I have created a starter pack for those involved in research related to human microbiomes (there are other excellent microbiome packs by @claesengroup.bsky.social but this differentiates human from environmental/plant microbiomes). Let me know if you would like to be added!

go.bsky.app/3eeA7BP

I would love to be added!

a girl looking into a mirror and seeing a reflection of herself as a clown

"I'm going to finish this manuscript before Christmas!"

Applications for Rising Stars in Neuroscience Symposium are due Dec 15!
We are looking for exceptional grad students to
Present your research, sharpen your science communication skills, and connect with peers and faculty.

medicine.utah.edu/neurobiology...
#STEMsymposium
#neuroskyence
#womeninSTEM
🧪