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Kate Beckham

@kshbeckham.bsky.social

Royal Society University Research Fellow | NUAcT Fellow @ Newcastle University @mhd-newcastle.bsky.social Investigating mycobacterial transport systems #structuralbiology #microbiology Instagram @kshbeckham

948 Followers  |  708 Following  |  45 Posts  |  Joined: 27.09.2023  |  1.6326

Latest posts by kshbeckham.bsky.social on Bluesky

Hi. You can send me an email :) my address should be on the uni website.

05.02.2026 10:30 β€” πŸ‘ 0    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
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Sign up now for the EMBO Workshop "The complexity of mycobacterial infections: From research to real-world impact" in #Paris, FR, 14–18 Sep 2026.

Registration by 25 Aug
Abstract submission by 15 May

https://meetings.embo.org/event/26-mycobacterial-infections
#EMBOComplexInfections #EMBOevents πŸ§ͺ

30.01.2026 12:01 β€” πŸ‘ 8    πŸ” 9    πŸ’¬ 1    πŸ“Œ 0
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The building blocks of one of the most complex flagellar nanomachines Nature Microbiology, Published online: 03 February 2026; doi:10.1038/s41564-026-02275-wA near-complete model for the complex structure of the Campylobacter jejuni flagellar motor revealed different mechanisms of assembly, activation and stability from the simple β€˜classical’ flagellar model. Some of the additional motor structures in C. jejuni are conserved and only found in species of Campylobacterota, whose ancestor likely co-opted type IV pilus components from bacteria in the deep ocean.

Out Now! The building blocks of one of the most complex flagellar nanomachines #MicroSky

03.02.2026 19:46 β€” πŸ‘ 32    πŸ” 9    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 1
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The effect of stress on pollinator behaviour at Newcastle University on FindAPhD.com PhD Project - The effect of stress on pollinator behaviour at Newcastle University, listed on FindAPhD.com

New PhD alert! We'll be applying animal welfare ideas to look at how stress affects bees, looking at the effect on bee brains with @lenariab.bsky.social, and working with @sensibee.bsky.social developing new monitoring methods.

Please spread the word! #bees #PhD πŸ§ͺ

www.findaphd.com/phds/project...

03.02.2026 13:21 β€” πŸ‘ 16    πŸ” 25    πŸ’¬ 1    πŸ“Œ 2
Cartoon representing the mycobacterial oxidative phosphorylation system, including cytochromes, NDH-2, and ATP synthase. Taken from Figure 1 of the article.

Cartoon representing the mycobacterial oxidative phosphorylation system, including cytochromes, NDH-2, and ATP synthase. Taken from Figure 1 of the article.

#Microbiology

The anti-tuberculosis drug bedaquiline targets the mycobacterial ATP synthase, but how that leads to bacterial death is unclear

Here the authors clarify how bedaquiline works

@jnblab.bsky.social @morwan.me
#TBSky #antibiotics #AMR

http://dlvr.it/TQjZ0W

02.02.2026 17:07 β€” πŸ‘ 36    πŸ” 20    πŸ’¬ 3    πŸ“Œ 0
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Bacteriocin biophysics: From protein-protein interaction models to navigators of the bacterial cell envelope Bacteriocins are toxins deployed by bacteria to kill their competitors. Here, I reflect on my laboratory’s work on protein bacteriocins and their immunity proteins from Gram-negative bacteria. We unco...

A gift of an article from the inimitable Colin Kleanthous as he says a moving farewell to his laboratory. A brave, unrepentant and scientifically brilliant journey is described - please have a read, friends.

www.jbc.org/article/S002...

02.02.2026 12:39 β€” πŸ‘ 66    πŸ” 31    πŸ’¬ 2    πŸ“Œ 1

This is very bad news

30.01.2026 08:19 β€” πŸ‘ 2    πŸ” 3    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0

Still time to apply for the open postdoc position in our lab!

29.01.2026 09:01 β€” πŸ‘ 3    πŸ” 2    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 1
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Very happy that our work on the T6SS ADP-ribosylcyclase toxin made the Cover at JBC @asbmb.bsky.social y.social ! Congratulations Julius @jmartinkus.bsky.social for designing this Cover !
@dukasju.bsky.social @laurentterradot.bsky.social

28.01.2026 14:37 β€” πŸ‘ 30    πŸ” 9    πŸ’¬ 3    πŸ“Œ 0
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Forged by Iron: Synthetic protein binders to decode bacterial iron transport mechanisms at Newcastle University on FindAPhD.com PhD Project - Forged by Iron: Synthetic protein binders to decode bacterial iron transport mechanisms at Newcastle University, listed on FindAPhD.com

Fully funded four-year PhD position available in my lab!
Combining structural and synthetic biology to understand iron transport.
Deadline 27th of Feb, get in touch for more details!

www.findaphd.com/phds/project...

27.01.2026 22:03 β€” πŸ‘ 9    πŸ” 5    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 1

Oh yes, very interesting :) thanks Zam

27.01.2026 20:18 β€” πŸ‘ 0    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 1    πŸ“Œ 0

How about a mysterious metal importer in Mycobacterium? Main supervisors @kshbeckham.bsky.social and @mycobacterium-ncl.bsky.social at Newcastle.

www.findaphd.com/phds/project...

24.01.2026 14:28 β€” πŸ‘ 3    πŸ” 2    πŸ’¬ 1    πŸ“Œ 0
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Nutrient uptake in commensal bacteria: exploring uncharacterised TonB-dependent transporters. at Newcastle University on FindAPhD.com PhD Project - Nutrient uptake in commensal bacteria: exploring uncharacterised TonB-dependent transporters. at Newcastle University, listed on FindAPhD.com

Lots of PhD opportunities for UK + international students involving my lab. Topics relate to metals & microbiology.

First up: TonB-dependent receptors in commensal Neisseria in my lab at Durham, with @kjosts.bsky.social and @mattbashton.bsky.social.

www.findaphd.com/phds/project...

24.01.2026 14:28 β€” πŸ‘ 24    πŸ” 23    πŸ’¬ 1    πŸ“Œ 1
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Microbial metal-head: the integrated roles of metal homeostasis in host-pathogen interaction at Newcastle University on FindAPhD.com PhD Project - Microbial metal-head: the integrated roles of metal homeostasis in host-pathogen interaction at Newcastle University, listed on FindAPhD.com

PhD position available in our team to study how UPEC exploits metals to successfully colonise the host gut. Cool collaboration with @thecopperdoctor.bsky.social and @banzhaflab.bsky.social Please share and get in touch for more details

23.01.2026 19:38 β€” πŸ‘ 16    πŸ” 20    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 4
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Characterising antibacterial toxins in the food-borne pathogen Listeria monocytogenes at Newcastle University on FindAPhD.com PhD Project - Characterising antibacterial toxins in the food-borne pathogen Listeria monocytogenes at Newcastle University, listed on FindAPhD.com

www.findaphd.com/phds/project... interested in bacterial antagonism? PhD opportunity in our team, see below. Please repost!

23.01.2026 10:33 β€” πŸ‘ 22    πŸ” 31    πŸ’¬ 1    πŸ“Œ 2

BBSSRC (NEEDL) funded PhD studentship in my lab co-supervised by
@thecopperdoctor.bsky.social and @mycobacterium-ncl.bsky.social
If you're interested in structural biology and membrane transport processes, check out www.findaphd.com/phds/project... deadline 27th of Feb!
Get in touch for more info

23.01.2026 12:34 β€” πŸ‘ 7    πŸ” 7    πŸ’¬ 1    πŸ“Œ 1

Our latest CRISPR ring nuclease paper focusses on Csx15 - which seems to act as of a sponge as well as a canonical phosphodiesterase. Great work led by @haotianchi.bsky.social

www.biorxiv.org/content/10.6...

22.01.2026 08:57 β€” πŸ‘ 36    πŸ” 20    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0

THE NEXT INSTALLMENT OF BIOLOGY OF MYOCBACTERIA GRC WILL BE IN 2028, NOT 2027. Exact date and location TBD. Sorry about the long wait, but we think it is better long term. PLEASE repost/tell your friends!

21.01.2026 19:19 β€” πŸ‘ 6    πŸ” 10    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
How bacterial Tc toxins work: secretion, pore formation and host cell disruption.
YouTube video by Max Planck Institute of Molecular Physiology How bacterial Tc toxins work: secretion, pore formation and host cell disruption.

Our new movie is online, highlighting the assembly, secretion and mechanism of action of bacterial Tc toxins. We hope you enjoy it and use it for teaching purposes or just for fun. Nature is fascinating!

www.youtube.com/watch?v=UfEf...

15.01.2026 08:23 β€” πŸ‘ 17    πŸ” 5    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 1

Structural elucidation of the hexameric MmpS4-MmpL4 complex from Mycobacterium tuberculosis www.biorxiv.org/content/10.64898/2026.01.07.698164v1 #cryoEM

09.01.2026 12:00 β€” πŸ‘ 1    πŸ” 1    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
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Are you working on challenging projects in structural biology?

#EMBOMacromolecular will highlight the strategic use of cutting-edge protein structure prediction methods, and recent advances in in situ structural biology. Apply by 18 Feb to join us at EMBL Grenoble! 🧬

s.embl.org/mmo26-01-bl

09.01.2026 09:24 β€” πŸ‘ 7    πŸ” 3    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
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Summer students Our nine-week summer training programme provides undergraduates with hands-on experience of working in a research lab.

Applications to our 2026 Summer Student Training Programme are now open.

We’re looking for undergrad students to join us for nine weeks this summer.

See the projects on offer and check the participation eligibility requirements on our website. ⬇️
www.crick.ac.uk/careers-and-...

08.01.2026 09:39 β€” πŸ‘ 10    πŸ” 7    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
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πŸ›ŽοΈπŸ›ŽοΈ Looking for a postdoctoral fellowship? Interested in tackling real-world challenges?

Then check out EMBL's EIPOD-LinC fellowships. Gain transferable skills and work on self-designed projects to make a lasting impact on global issues.

πŸ“† Closing date: 2 February

www.embl.org/about/info/p...

07.01.2026 08:36 β€” πŸ‘ 13    πŸ” 7    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 1

🚨Last chance to apply for two PhD projects in my lab, applying structural biology and single molecule biophysics to investigate gene expression in RNA viruses: www.findaphd.com/phds/?Keywor...

06.01.2026 15:56 β€” πŸ‘ 9    πŸ” 10    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
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A lab away from home | EMBL The EMBL Sabbatical Fellowship Programme keeps growing, offering participants collaborative insights and access to world-class technology.

EMBL’s Sabbatical Fellowship Programme is slowly growing, attracting participants from around the world with its collaborative insights and access to world-class technologies.

www.embl.org/news/connect...

05.01.2026 12:50 β€” πŸ‘ 14    πŸ” 4    πŸ’¬ 1    πŸ“Œ 2
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UK will rejoin Erasmus student scheme in 2027 The UK left in December 2020 as part of the post-Brexit trade deal with the EU negotiated by Boris Johnson.

Good news! Erasmus is a great scheme. www.bbc.com/news/article...

17.12.2025 14:07 β€” πŸ‘ 6    πŸ” 1    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
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Fab afternoon at the MHD festive gathering πŸŽ‰ congratulations to the winning quiz team and @johncorrigall.bsky.social for most festive outfit.

15.12.2025 15:37 β€” πŸ‘ 10    πŸ” 4    πŸ’¬ 1    πŸ“Œ 0
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AlphaFold predictions are valuable hypotheses and accelerate but do not replace experimental structure determination - Nature Methods An analysis of AlphaFold protein structure predictions shows that while in many cases the predictions are highly accurate, there are also many instances where the predicted structures or parts of pred...

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

14.12.2025 16:54 β€” πŸ‘ 25    πŸ” 15    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0

Truly heroic effort by Robin Lissner in
@wilbertbitter.bsky.social's group to knock out every single lipoprotein in Mycobacterium marinum. He found a lot of cool stuff, and we were fortunate to help out with some of it. Check out the paper here: journals.asm.org/doi/10.1128/...

12.12.2025 21:16 β€” πŸ‘ 4    πŸ” 1    πŸ’¬ 3    πŸ“Œ 0

@kshbeckham is following 20 prominent accounts