New preprint in the lab! "Single-cell metabolomics reveals infection-specific metabolic reprogramming of human macrophages". Led by Paula Martínez, with @cbuch.bsky.social , Sandrine Aros and @jytinevez.bsky.social How does Legionella pneumophila reshape host metabolism at the single-cell scale? 🧵👇

bioRxiv Microbiology@biorxiv-microbiol.bsky.social · 2d ago

Single-cell metabolomics reveals infection-specific metabolic reprogramming of human macrophages https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.64898/2026.09.03.749052v1

Infected macrophages are heterogeneous and bulk metabolomics hides this diversity. Thus, we developed SpatialMetProfiler: MALDI mass-spectrometry imaging + microscopy + image registration → linking the metabolic spectrum of each macrophage to its infection status. We profiled >11,000 single cells

It is our great pleasure to Welcome you to the 11th International Conference on Legionella from September 7-11 2026 in Zūrich, legionella2026.com Registration is Open legionella2026.com/registration/ Early Bird fée Till June 25. Come and join us for this exciting Event!!

It is our great pleasure to Welcome you to the 11th International Conference on Legionella from September 7-11 2026 in Zūrich, legionella2026.com Registration is Open legionella2026.com/registration/ Early Bird fée Till June 25. Come and join us for this exciting Event!!

Crucial Gram-positive Type IV Secretion System protein TraF is a structural homolog of Type VII Secretion System protein EssB/YukC in #microLife @femsjournals.bsky.social academic.oup.com/microlife/ad...

Crucial Gram-positive Type IV Secretion System protein TraF is a structural homolog of Type VII Secretion System protein EssB/YukC

Abstract. Type IV secretion systems (T4SS) are found in both monoderm and diderm bacteria. The broad-host-range conjugative plasmid pIP501 from Enterococcu

academic.oup.com

Engineered phages evade the complete defense repertoire of highly phage-resistant MRSA clinical isolates https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.64898/2026.03.26.714447v1

Happy to share the final version of my postdoc work on bacterial CBASS immunity with @aaronwhiteley.bsky.social published in @cp-cellhostmicrobe.bsky.social www.cell.com/cell-host-mi...

Bacterial 2′,3′-cGAMP activates a SAVED effector to form membrane-disrupting filaments and restrict phage replication

Tak et al. discover that bacteria use 2′,3′-cGAMP, the same signaling molecule employed by mammalian cGAS-STING, for phage defense. In response to phage, 2′,3′-cGAMP activates filament formation of Ca...

cell.com

Our last paper is out at IAI @asm.org . With @cbuch.bsky.social, at @pasteur.fr . Congrats Francisco & Paula ! Mitochondrial Complex I emerges as a common energetic checkpoint distinguishing virulent from secretion-deficient bacteria during Legionella and Salmonella infection of human macrophages.

The genomic diversity and spatial patterns of Mycobacterium bovis in Ireland revealed by whole genome sequencing rdcu.be/e50zT

New tools for Streptococcal cell biology! congrats to Johann Mignolet and Virginie Libante! doi.org/10.1093/fems...

A Modular Genetic Toolbox for Precise Gene Regulation and Multi-Color Imaging in Streptococci

Abstract. Fluorescent labeling is a powerful tool in microbiology allowing live cell imaging and providing insights into dynamic cellular processes, quanti

doi.org

Let's celebrate excellence together as we recognize the winners of the 2025 FEMS Journals Article Awards. These awards recognize the outstanding contributions of researchers who have pushed the boundaries of knowledge in the field of microbiology: buff.ly/OZ2eTKA

New research from @pasteur.fr reveals how 𝐿𝑒𝑔𝑖𝑜𝑛𝑒𝑙𝑙𝑎 uses LpDot1 to methylate SFPQ, disrupting paraspeckles & rewiring host splicing, dampening immune genes like NF-κB2 & CD45 for survival. ✍️ @cbuch.bsky.social, @mrolando.bsky.social & coll. 📖 Read the preprint: shorturl.at/kFh8z #MicroSky

Bacterial targeting of host paraspeckles uncovers a new SFPQ-based regulation https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.64898/2026.01.11.698932v1

🇬🇧🇫🇷 "By working together we can overcome challenges faster" Pasteur Foundation UK launched the formal @institutpasteur x @ox.ac.uk partnership in London. From climate to AMR, cross-border collaboration is science's engine. ↘️ www.pasteurfoundation.uk/pasteur-oxfo...

De-DUFing the DUFs 🧩 @franznarberhaus.bsky.social lab uncovers how small DUF1127 proteins regulate #phosphate uptake by binding the sensor kinase PhoR. Their conserved role from Agrobacterium to E. coli highlights how even small DUFs can shape bacterial physiology 🦠 buff.ly/jJd9Eho

Thus, single-cell metabolic dynamics can forecast infection outcomes. In the spirit of @stephenwolfram.bsky.social's ideas, bacterial infection exhibits pockets of computational reducibility at the single-cell scale. Might this point to new ways to predict infection progression?

So we trained an explainable Machine Learning model using Δψm + mROS dynamics, and the AI model predicted which infected cell will support replication with 83% accuracy before bacterial replication begins

What make these permissive macrophages different? Before bacteria replicate, macrophages that will permit bacterial growth already show sustained mitochondrial membrane potential (Δψm) and higher mitochondrial ROS (mROS). These are early mitochondrial signals of permissive cells!

We tracked thousands of living primary human macrophages during infection with Legionella pneumophila, using high-throughput live imaging + our BATLI backtracking software. Legionella only replicates in ~20% infected primary macrophages! www.nature.com/articles/s41...

Backtracking metabolic dynamics in single cells predicts bacterial replication in human macrophages - Nature Communications

Computational models can help to explain the dynamics of cellular infection with pathogens. Here the authors use computational models to assess the single cell infection parameters of human macrophage...

nature.com

New paper finally out on @natcomms.nature.com! Led by first author Maria Dramé with the collaboration of Francisco Garcia, @cbuch.bsky.social and @jytinevez.bsky.social at @pasteur.fr. Early mitochondrial signals in single human macrophages predict later Legionella replication. Link + details👇🧵

Some #Pseudomonas aeruginosa strains naturally lack the major virulence system T3SS. 🦠 @inaattree.bsky.social & @cbuch.bsky.social labs reveal that avirulent isolates still produce valuable metabolites (e.g. rhamnolipids, elastase, pyoverdine)—making them promising for #biotech use. buff.ly/JST7ZR1

Save the date! The @pasteur.fr Pasteur course on image analysis is announced: It will happen from the 1st of June to the 5th 2026. This year there will be only one track: the Early Career Investigator track (beginners). 👇

I am so proud to be part of this work, that we initiated Fernando de la Cruz and I, when he was on sabbatical in my lab in 2009... it took so much time for this achievement, 1000 thanks to Raúl Fernández-López! this brought me back to my PhD on cyanobacteria genetics. www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/...

Mutations in the circadian cycle drive adaptive plasticity in cyanobacteria | PNAS

Circadian clocks allow organisms to anticipate daily fluctuations in light and temperature, but how this anticipatory role promotes adaptation to d...

pnas.org

New publication | Science Advances www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...

Plasticity of ventricle position after heart looping in heterotaxy with right isomerism

The left/right position of ventricles needs to be maintained after heart looping, an unexpected step affected in heterotaxy.

science.org

🔎 Find us at the 77th #DGHM Meeting in #Jena! Gabriele Pradel, Anja Lührmann, Sandra Reuter, Bärbel Stecher and others are happy to tell you more about our German network for women in infection research! 💜 👩‍🔬@gabrielepradel.bsky.social @sandrareuter.bsky.social @baerboletta.bsky.social

Phages are promising against antibiotic-resistant bacteria—but resistance can emerge. 🦠 New work from @baerboletta.bsky.social lab shows E. coli can resist phages in the lab, but in the gut that resistance comes at a cost: context is crucial for #PhageTherapy success. buff.ly/NLOjnE2

Delighted to see our paper studying the evolution of plasmids over the last 100 years, now out! Years of work by Adrian Cazares, also Nick Thomson @sangerinstitute.bsky.social - this version much improved over the preprint. Final version should be open access, apols. Thread 1/n

🦠 Mycobacteria aren't just tough, they're interior designers! 🦠 Check out our latest #preprint 🚨, led by our PhD student @camimille.bsky.social , where we show that #Mycobacterium tuberculosis builds secret cytoplasmic membranes to adapt its metabolism and sneak past immunity 🤫 Thread coming soon!

bioRxiv Microbiology@biorxiv-microbiol.bsky.social · 12mo ago

Nitrate-responsive Mycobacterial Intracytoplasmic Membranes dampen Inflammation during Mycobacterium tuberculosis Infection https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1101/2025.09.17.676823v1

🇪🇺 Smooth publishing experience with #microLife, the new @femsjournals.bsky.social journal of the European Academy for Microbiology. 🙏 @erc.europa.eu, F.R.S-FNRS & WEL-RI for support 4/4

🚨New paper out! #MicroSky Studying obligate predators like Bdellovibrio bacteriovorus is tricky—essential genes for predation are also essential for survival. We expanded its genetic toolbox: 🧬promoters to fine-tune expression 🧬IPTG-inducible system 🧬CRISPRi for rapid knockdown bit.ly/46GUn2c 1/4

Expanding the genetic toolbox of the obligate predatory bacterium Bdellovibrio bacteriovorus with inducible gene expression and CRISPR interference

Inducible gene expression and CRISPR interference-mediated depletion in the predatory bacterium Bdellovibrio bacteriovorus.

academic.oup.com