UW–Madison Department of Bacteriology

A MosAIC of Microbiomes Vector-borne diseases account for more than 17% of all infectious diseases and cause more than 700,000 deaths annually, according to the World Health Organization. Diseases transmitted by mo…

To better understand the spread of infectious disease, Dr. Kerri Coon and her lab have joined forces with UK researchers to create a bacterial Mosquito-Associated Isolate Collection (MosAIC), the first large-scale repository of mosquito-associated microbiomes.
grow.cals.wisc.edu/priority-the...

Part of the Wisconsin Idea is that our teaching and research should reach beyond the classroom and make a public impact. Recent PhD Erin Conley exemplified this Idea, dedicating a chapter of her thesis to communicating her research to non-specialists. Check it out below!
scifun.org/Thesis_Award...

Congratulations to Dr. Burcu Alptekin, Postdoc in the Ané Lab, on her recent Excellence in Service Award presented by the UW–Madison Postdoctoral Association. She was one of only seven postdocs recognized across the entire university. Well-done, Dr. Alptekin!

research.wisc.edu/uncategorize...

Leveraging microbial ecology for mosquito-borne disease control Mosquitoes transmit pathogens causing 700 000 deaths annually. Microbe-based vector control, which reduces vector populations or blocks pathogen development within vectors, offers an innovative way to...

Drs @holly-nichols.bsky.social‬ & Kerri Coon review #microbial #ecology for #mosquito-borne disease control. #Paratransgenesis #Colonization #Resistance #Transmission #Microbiota #Transplantation @uwbact.bsky.social‬ ‪@uwmadisonmdtp.bsky.social‬ @uwmadison.bsky.social

www.cell.com/trends/paras...

Research in Brief: The What, Why, and How Researchers in the Raman Lab developed a tool to identify short patterns in the genomes of bacteriophages that make phages effective at killing bacteria.

BACT Affiliate and @uwbiochem.bsky.social Prof. Vatsan Raman's Lab has a new tool to identify patterns in the genomes of bacteriophages crucial to the killing of bacteria. Previously unidentifiable, these patterns might offer more effective therapeutic applications.
biochem.wisc.edu/2025/06/13/r...

UW innovations are helping farmers produce crops with less fertilizer. A pause in federal funds is threatening the research. Thanks to federal support, UW researchers are engineering beneficial bacteria and breeding more-resilient crops with the aim to minimize farmers’ reliance on synthetic fertilizers, increase their cost

An insightful interview with @jeanmichelane.bsky.social on his lab's work on nitrogen fixation and the impact of federal funding uncertainty.
news.wisc.edu/uw-innovatio...

Save the date for the 39th Annual Kenneth B. Raper Symposium on September 2, 2025! Check out the schedule here: kbrapersymposium.bact.wisc.edu.

Want a listen that will, as @kacarlab.bsky.social puts it, 'wire you up?'

"I will never forget that: I can hold a pen. And I can write. So, now, what do you do with it? What is the biggest question you can ask? What is the most important thing you can do with you life?"

Meet Jasmine Hughes, Microbiology major! She's also been active in the Community Resource Navigator Program through her global health certificate, allowing her to work directly with community members and gain insight into the real-world impacts of health disparities.
cals.wisc.edu/alumni/recen...

Shout out to Scott Chang and @mdtp.bsky.social's Shruthi Magesh for this big honor!

Meet Bacteriology Master's grad Sofia Fernandez! Sofia has been actively engaged in research to understand how traditionally fermented foods in rural areas, such as Zambia, can be leveraged to promote female entrepreneurship and improved gut health.
cals.wisc.edu/alumni/recen...

YouTube video by American Society for Microbiology Fenwick Fellow Chris Dade's Science Advocacy Story

With spring graduation just around the corner, we're highlighting the achievements of our students this week. First up is @asm.org Fenwich Fellow @chrisdade.bsky.social. Here, he discusses his path to science advocacy and offers guidance on informing science policy.
youtu.be/JFvmD-ZxXJk?...

Fantastic @uwbact.bsky.social seminar today from Kevin Forsberg @kvnforsberg.bsky.social. Read about some of his lab's recent work on antiphage defense systems in the preprint below.

The origins and evolution of translation factors Translation is an ancient molecular information processing system found in all living organisms. Over the past decade, significant progress has been made in uncovering the origins of early translation...

⬇️ Check out the latest publication from #MDTP students on the origin and evolution of translation factors. Led by Evrim Fer and co-authored by Tony Yao.
www.cell.com/trends/genet...

AAAS members elect UW researchers new fellows Seven UW–Madison researchers are among the 471 scientists, engineers and innovators honored in this year's awards from the American Association for the Advancement of Science.

Congratulations to Bacteriology Affiliate Dr. Anne Pringle on her election as an @aaas.org fellow! Dr. Pringle was elected for distinguished contributions to mycology, especially fungal spore dispersal and the effects of invasive fungi on ecosystems worldwide.

news.wisc.edu/aaas-members...

Meet the 2025 Distinguished Teaching Award winners “These 12 talented educators come from academic disciplines that are as different as can be — from forestry to literature to computer science — but they share a deep commitment to inspiring our studen...

Big honor for Dr. Kerri Coon, winner of the Emil H. Steiger Teaching Award! "Coon’s teaching philosophy is centered on the guiding principle that educators should serve not only as communicators of information but as facilitators of independent and active learning."

news.wisc.edu/meet-the-202...

In Pursuit of Mudpuppies The first time Mason Polencheck BSx’25 met a mudpuppy, he was nine years old, on a fishing trip in the waters of Lake Superior. It’s an experience he’ll aways remember, one that spawned his …

Fantastic profile on Microbiology major and burgeoning mudpuppy expert, Mason Polencheck. A great example of how one finds and falls in love with a scientific niche, as well as of the many research opportunities available to our undergraduate students.

grow.cals.wisc.edu/departments/...

The lab resurrecting ancient proteins to unlock life’s secrets An inside look at a new project focusing on nitrogenase, the enzyme that makes nitrogen available to life — a key to Earth’s past and future.

Great profile on the @kacarlab.bsky.social by @bigthink.com discussing their project looking at ancient forms of nitrogenase for insight into life, its origins, and a more sustainable future.

bigthink.com/life/the-lab...

Meet UW-Madison’s Jean-Michel Ane “Prof. Ane’s work encourages broad sustainability through understanding complex microbe-plant relationships. Ultimately, his research will help drive more efficient and productive agricultural practic...

Meet @jeanmichelane.bsky.social, Professor of BACT & PAS, who uses microbes to maintain sustainability of our agriculture by protecting the environment over the long term and reducing costs for food, feed & biofuel production. Thx @warfnews.bsky.social for the profile!
www.warf.org/commercializ...

Amador-Noguez receives presidential award for research An associate professor of bacteriology at the University of Wisconsin–Madison, Amador-Noguez uses systems-level analyses – including metabolomics, computational modeling, and genetic engineering – to ...

Congratulations to Bacteriology PI Daniel Amador-Noguez on his recent Presidential Early Career Award for Scientists and Engineers! Great write-up below by @uwenergy.bsky.social.

energy.wisc.edu/news/amador-...