Our lab is proud to present our latest work harnessing Bridge Recombinase for genome-scale editing in diverse bacteria, microbiome editing, and programmable horizontal gene transfer.

bioRxiv Synthetic Biology@biorxiv-synthbio.bsky.social · 3mo ago

Bridge recombinase enables versatile rewriting of bacterial genomes https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.64898/2026.04.29.721476v1

Really crazy that these massive genes are 6% of the 1.5 Mbp genome in this bee gut symbiont:

Genome Biology and Evolution@genomebiolevol.bsky.social · 6mo ago

Pedersen et al. investigated the evolution and structure of Giant1-5 extracellular surface proteins in a defensive symbiont of the honeybee. 🔗 doi.org/10.1093/gbe/evag011 #genome #evolution #microbesky

#SynBYSS conference is scheduled on Jun 8-11, 2026 in Barcelona. Given the 100-year celebration of Architect Gaudi in Barcelona, we suggest early booking of hotels. Details can be found: www.jcvi.org/events/synbyss (speakers, abstract submission & registration) @jcvi.org @marcguellc.bsky.social

SynBYSS

The International SynBYSS Conference is focused on bringing together the synthetic biology community with the explicit goal of developing young...

jcvi.org

We are extremely excited to share our newly designed lab website with our friends and scientific community: www.diamondlab.bio Design/coding performed by @gabo-bellamy.bsky.social with help from @leymiloslavich.bsky.social for infrastructure support. Huge thanks for bringing to fruition!!!

🚨 Our Lab is HIRING! If you are interested in characterizing model microbiomes using genome-resolved methods, statistical/metabolic modeling, and/or machine learning please submit an application here: aprecruit.berkeley.edu/JPF05234 #postdoc #sciencejobs #biology #microbiome

Postdoc - Microbiome - Innovative Genomics Institute

University of California, Berkeley is hiring. Apply now!

aprecruit.berkeley.edu

I'm delighted our paper is out: doi.org/10.1093/isme... With new SAR11 isolate genomes and time-series metagenomes, we reveal coastal and offshore SAR11 ecotypes, identify associated metabolic traits, and pinpoint selective gene sweeps as a likely evolutionary driver to niche partitioning. 🌊🦠

Habitat-specificity in SAR11 is associated with a few genes under high selection

Abstract. The order Pelagibacterales (SAR11) is the most abundant group of heterotrophic bacteria in the global surface ocean, where individual sublineages

doi.org

Read more here: innovativegenomics.org/news/a-micro...

A Microbial Blueprint for Climate-Smart Cows

A Microbial Blueprint for Climate-Smart Cows - Innovative Genomics Institute (IGI)

innovativegenomics.org

UC Davis Research@ucdavisresearch.bsky.social · 9mo ago

Researchers @ucdavis.bsky.social & @ucberkeleyofficial.bsky.social have identified which microbes in a cow's gut could help reduce methane. It brings them a step closer to engineering gut microbes to create more climate-friendly cows. @innovativegenomics.bsky.social www.ucdavis.edu/food/news/en...

What if we could reprogram a cow's gut so it burps way less methane?🐮👏 @ucdavis.bsky.social & @innovativegenomics.bsky.social scientists found which microbes might help reduce methane w/o harming the cow. Boost that microbe & cows could become naturally cleaner for the climate! bit.ly/4oGv5YE 🧪

Proud to finally have this work published and freely available for everyone: microbiomejournal.biomedcentral.com/articles/10....

We are thrilled to announce our latest publication in the Microbiome journal in collaboration with @thehesslab.bsky.social Supplementation with red seaweed in cows reduces methane and induces previously uncharacterized hydrogenotropic bacteria. microbiomejournal.biomedcentral.com/articles/10....

Red seaweed supplementation suppresses methanogenesis in the rumen, revealing potentially advantageous traits among hydrogenotrophic bacteria - Microbiome

Background Macroalgae belonging to the genus Asparagopsis have shown to reduce methane (CH4) production during rumen fermentation, while increasing feed efficiency when added to the feed of cattle. Ho...

microbiomejournal.biomedcentral.com

📣🦠 New preprint: @savagecatsonly.bsky.social has got you covered with a new approach to building bacterial deletion libraries with unprecedented speed and ease: ow.ly/ltja50WSjBu

Telehealth companies increasingly are marketing “microdoses” of GLP-1 drugs — despite how there is virtually no evidence that smaller-than-standard doses are safe or effective.

How microdosing GLP-1 drugs became a longevity ‘craze’

Internet companies are helping stoke enthusiasm for “microdosing” weight-loss drugs for wellness, mood and joint pain.

washingtonpost.com

Self-cloning crops could transform agriculture – thanks to research from IGI's Venkatesan Sundaresan, who was awarded the 2024 Wolf Prize for his research on apomixis. Read more in this feature from @nature.com: ow.ly/Q7v350WQyne

Our paper on model cyanobacterial communities by @andrejakust.bsky.social is finally typeset and looks beautiful, check it out: academic.oup.com/ismej/articl...

Model cyanobacterial consortia reveal a consistent core microbiome independent of inoculation source or cyanobacterial host species

Abstract. Cyanobacteria are integral to biogeochemical cycles, influence climate processes, and hold promise for commercial applications. In natural habita

academic.oup.com

Out now – our reader-friendly 2025 overview of #CRISPR clinical trials! Learn about how CRISPR is being used to treat #HeartDisease, #cancer, #lupus, #RareDiseases, and more! Read here: ow.ly/mRPl50WneTS 🧬

Congrats to IGI's @pcronald.bsky.social on receiving the President’s Award for the Advancement of the Common Good from Stanford University! 🎉 Read more: news.stanford.edu/stories/2025...

UC Berkeley researchers tweaked a key enzyme involved in microbial methane production to understand the different environments on Earth that generate the greenhouse gas. news.berkeley.edu/2025/08/14/s...

Scientists hack microbes to identify environmental sources of methane - Berkeley News

UC Berkeley researchers tweaked a key enzyme involved in microbial methane production to understand the unique fingerprints of different environments on Earth that generate the greenhouse gas.

news.berkeley.edu

Did you know that the illustrations in our resources like CRISPRpedia and our illustrated scientific glossary are free to use for non-commercial, educational purposes? Tag us to show us how you're using them! innovativegenomics.org/science-x-art/

‼️Diamond Lab is considering potential a new postdoctoral researcher. If you have strong interests in microbiomes, metagenomics, machine learning, or rumen biology drop us a line and shoot us a CV!

Love these!!! Now let’s see some communities in watercolor

Artologica aka Michele Banks @artologica.net · last yr.

New itty-bitty paintings: your favorite bacteria in purple and blue watercolor #sciart ko-fi.com/s/897c718b0e 🦠

Think about all the amazing chemotropic microbes that must support this system!!! I hope they took samples

Nature@nature.com · last yr.

This surprisingly relaxing footage is from SIX MILES under the ocean – and it’s the deepest ecosystem yet discovered

Did you know that the illustrations in our resources like CRISPRpedia are free to use for non-commercial, educational purposes? Check out our Science x Art page to see a selection of work from our designers & artists. Tag us to show us how you're using them! innovativegenomics.org/science-x-art/ 🧬🎨

Science x Art

Science x Art - Innovative Genomics Institute (IGI)

innovativegenomics.org

Rally nice review on plasmid leading strand anti defense and establishment @bursteinlab.bsky.social www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...

Strategies for zygotic gene expression during plasmid establishment

Conjugative plasmids are key drivers of horizontal gene transfer and the spread of antimicrobial resistance. Their successful establishment in new hos…

sciencedirect.com

The Ronda lab's newest publication on targeted editing: www.nature.com/articles/s41...

Precise virulence inactivation using a CRISPR-associated transposase for combating Enterobacteriaceae gut pathogens - Nature Biomedical Engineering

A self-transmissible CRISPR-associated transposase system encodes a nanobody payload to treat Shiga toxin infections.

nature.com

Out now in Nature Biomedical Engineering from IGI's Carlotta Ronda @rondalab.bsky.social — a novel way to precisely edit the genomes of microbes in the microbiome to defeat harmful infections. Read more: ow.ly/efsS50WsVen

IGI Investigator Carlotta Ronda's New Tool for Precision Microbiome Editing

IGI Investigator Carlotta Ronda's New Tool for Precision Microbiome Editing - Innovative Genomics Institute (IGI)

innovativegenomics.org

We’re thrilled to announce IGI–Bakar Labs. This new building will allow the IGI to continue expanding our impact in health and agricultural applications of #CRISPR, and will be shared with the Bakar Labs incubator for growing biotech companies. Learn more: news.berkeley.edu/2025/07/17/c...

CRISPR researchers and startup entrepreneurs will share new building in UC Berkeley's Innovation Zone - Berkeley News

A planned addition to the campus's Innovation Zone will expand lab space for the Innovative Genomics Institute and build out the largest innovation hub — Bakar Labs — at any U.S. university.

news.berkeley.edu

Very excited to now share publicly that @innovativegenomics.bsky.social will be expanding to an amazing new building in the 2028 - 2029 academic year! innovativegenomics.org/news/igi-bak...

CRISPR Researchers and Startup Entrepreneurs Will Share New Building in UC Berkeley's Innovation Zone

CRISPR Researchers and Startup Entrepreneurs Will Share New Building in UC Berkeley's Innovation Zone - Innovative Genomics Institute (IGI)

innovativegenomics.org

Our friends @thehesslab.bsky.social are actively looking for postdoctoral researchers interested in anerobic microbiology, and studying the rumen microbiome. #microbiologists #bioinformatics #microbiomes Check out their website: hesslab.com

Out now in TIME — @jenniferdoudna.bsky.social on IGI's new initiative, teaming up with the @chanzuckerberg.bsky.social to create a new center for pediatric #CRISPR cures! Read here: ow.ly/E5un50WnbCi

The $20 Million Bet on CRISPR to Cure Rare Childhood Diseases

The center will bring custom gene-editing treatments to children.

ow.ly

Hot off the presses: our reader-friendly 2025 overview of #CRISPR clinical trials! 🧬 Check it out here: ow.ly/mRPl50WneTS