Shamphavi Sivabalasarma
@sshamphavi.bsky.social
Postdoc in Navarro lab, DMF-UNIL,Switzerland
Jumping between bacterial and archaeal domains with a microscope
❄️🔬#teamtomo
Jumping between bacterial and archaeal domains with a microscope
❄️🔬#teamtomo
Pinned
www.biorxiv.org
You ever wondered whether your favorite archaeon has a surface structure or even an archaellum? Say no more! We screened for the presence of archaeal TFF machineries in all archaeal phyla and help you with that! Check it out here: www.biorxiv.org/content/10.6... (1/n)
Reposted by Shamphavi Sivabalasarma
I am delighted to share our latest paper on mycomembrane protein assembly which came out last week in @pnas.org This was a fantastic collaboration between my former colleague, Elizabeth (#Betsy) Hart, and my first PhD student, Dieuwertje (#Didi) de Bruin.
www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/... (1/n)
www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/... (1/n)
www.pnas.org
October 6, 2026 at 7:03 AM
I am delighted to share our latest paper on mycomembrane protein assembly which came out last week in @pnas.org This was a fantastic collaboration between my former colleague, Elizabeth (#Betsy) Hart, and my first PhD student, Dieuwertje (#Didi) de Bruin.
www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/... (1/n)
www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/... (1/n)
Reposted by Shamphavi Sivabalasarma
Our paper on the dynamics of Asgard archaea (Promethearchaeota) is now out in Nature!
Huge thanks to the reviewers for helping make the manuscript stronger.
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
Two “Lokis” stained for Lokiactin (FastAct, magenta), reaching toward each other to celebrate 🎉
#archaea
Huge thanks to the reviewers for helping make the manuscript stronger.
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
Two “Lokis” stained for Lokiactin (FastAct, magenta), reaching toward each other to celebrate 🎉
#archaea
October 1, 2026 at 8:39 AM
Our paper on the dynamics of Asgard archaea (Promethearchaeota) is now out in Nature!
Huge thanks to the reviewers for helping make the manuscript stronger.
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
Two “Lokis” stained for Lokiactin (FastAct, magenta), reaching toward each other to celebrate 🎉
#archaea
Huge thanks to the reviewers for helping make the manuscript stronger.
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
Two “Lokis” stained for Lokiactin (FastAct, magenta), reaching toward each other to celebrate 🎉
#archaea
Reposted by Shamphavi Sivabalasarma
New preprint from Dodonova lab 🔔! Capturing multiple states by cryo-EM❄️, we show for the first time how archaeal RNA Polymerase engages a nucleosome and forms direct contacts with histones! 🧬
Great work by Gabriele & a fantastic collaboration with Dina Grohmann! 🧵
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.6...
Great work by Gabriele & a fantastic collaboration with Dina Grohmann! 🧵
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.6...
September 30, 2026 at 11:58 AM
New preprint from Dodonova lab 🔔! Capturing multiple states by cryo-EM❄️, we show for the first time how archaeal RNA Polymerase engages a nucleosome and forms direct contacts with histones! 🧬
Great work by Gabriele & a fantastic collaboration with Dina Grohmann! 🧵
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.6...
Great work by Gabriele & a fantastic collaboration with Dina Grohmann! 🧵
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.6...
Reposted by Shamphavi Sivabalasarma
Interested in #archaea, #methane, #cell-envelopes?
New paper out @nature.com !
We discovered an enzyme that specifically cleaves the cell wall of methanogens, revealing a new chemical structure of archaeal peptidoglycan, 50 yrs after its first description
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
#MicroSky 🧵👇
New paper out @nature.com !
We discovered an enzyme that specifically cleaves the cell wall of methanogens, revealing a new chemical structure of archaeal peptidoglycan, 50 yrs after its first description
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
#MicroSky 🧵👇
www.nature.com
September 23, 2026 at 3:19 PM
Interested in #archaea, #methane, #cell-envelopes?
New paper out @nature.com !
We discovered an enzyme that specifically cleaves the cell wall of methanogens, revealing a new chemical structure of archaeal peptidoglycan, 50 yrs after its first description
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
#MicroSky 🧵👇
New paper out @nature.com !
We discovered an enzyme that specifically cleaves the cell wall of methanogens, revealing a new chemical structure of archaeal peptidoglycan, 50 yrs after its first description
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
#MicroSky 🧵👇
Reposted by Shamphavi Sivabalasarma
... For the sponsoring the talk and poster prizes, that went to @fannyleblanc.bsky.social and Aurélien Gregor 🎊.
And huge thanks to @sofie-dot-rec.bsky.social, @phaips.vd.st and Imre Gonda for teaching the workshop on sample prep, data collection and processing on the 2nd day.
#cryoET #TeamTOMO
And huge thanks to @sofie-dot-rec.bsky.social, @phaips.vd.st and Imre Gonda for teaching the workshop on sample prep, data collection and processing on the 2nd day.
#cryoET #TeamTOMO
September 22, 2026 at 7:05 PM
... For the sponsoring the talk and poster prizes, that went to @fannyleblanc.bsky.social and Aurélien Gregor 🎊.
And huge thanks to @sofie-dot-rec.bsky.social, @phaips.vd.st and Imre Gonda for teaching the workshop on sample prep, data collection and processing on the 2nd day.
#cryoET #TeamTOMO
And huge thanks to @sofie-dot-rec.bsky.social, @phaips.vd.st and Imre Gonda for teaching the workshop on sample prep, data collection and processing on the 2nd day.
#cryoET #TeamTOMO
Reposted by Shamphavi Sivabalasarma
Ribosome profiling reveals translational dynamics between an archaeal virus and its host https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.64898/2026.09.13.751334v1
September 16, 2026 at 3:16 AM
Ribosome profiling reveals translational dynamics between an archaeal virus and its host https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.64898/2026.09.13.751334v1
Reposted by Shamphavi Sivabalasarma
Molecular basis of N2 fixation in a hyperthermophilic archaeon www.nature.com/articles/s41... #jcampubs
Molecular basis of N2 fixation in a hyperthermophilic archaeon - Nature Communications
Nitrogenases are enzymes that convert atmospheric N2 into ammonia, thus providing bioavailable nitrogen to living organisms. Here, Maslać et al. describe a highly thermostable, simple nitrogenase from...
www.nature.com
September 8, 2026 at 8:14 PM
Molecular basis of N2 fixation in a hyperthermophilic archaeon www.nature.com/articles/s41... #jcampubs
Reposted by Shamphavi Sivabalasarma
A wild publishing ride to get here... but finally!
(first bioRxiv: January 5th, 2024 🙃)
Amazing work from @lorenzlamm.bsky.social and colleagues 🤗
Special thanks to the community who jumped early on the boat, sharing feedback and training data to make MemBrain v2 a reality 🙏🏽
(first bioRxiv: January 5th, 2024 🙃)
Amazing work from @lorenzlamm.bsky.social and colleagues 🤗
Special thanks to the community who jumped early on the boat, sharing feedback and training data to make MemBrain v2 a reality 🙏🏽
MemBrain v2: an end-to-end tool for the analysis of membranes in cryo-electron tomography - Nature Methods
MemBrain v2 enables streamlined analysis of membranes in cryo-electron tomography by providing user-friendly tools for membrane segmentation, membrane protein localization and spatial analysis, suppor...
www.nature.com
September 8, 2026 at 9:48 AM
A wild publishing ride to get here... but finally!
(first bioRxiv: January 5th, 2024 🙃)
Amazing work from @lorenzlamm.bsky.social and colleagues 🤗
Special thanks to the community who jumped early on the boat, sharing feedback and training data to make MemBrain v2 a reality 🙏🏽
(first bioRxiv: January 5th, 2024 🙃)
Amazing work from @lorenzlamm.bsky.social and colleagues 🤗
Special thanks to the community who jumped early on the boat, sharing feedback and training data to make MemBrain v2 a reality 🙏🏽
Reposted by Shamphavi Sivabalasarma
Congratulations to @florianwollweber.bsky.social, the recently appointed Group Leader at EMBL Grenoble, who received an ERC Starting Grant worth approximately €2 million to investigate the origins of eukaryotic cell complexity.
bit.ly/4gNwEBk
bit.ly/4gNwEBk
September 3, 2026 at 12:39 PM
Congratulations to @florianwollweber.bsky.social, the recently appointed Group Leader at EMBL Grenoble, who received an ERC Starting Grant worth approximately €2 million to investigate the origins of eukaryotic cell complexity.
bit.ly/4gNwEBk
bit.ly/4gNwEBk
Reposted by Shamphavi Sivabalasarma
Our new paper with @ckellison.bsky.social. is finally out!
We identify an ancient and widely conserved mechanism that promotes initiation of fiber polymerization in type IV pili and type II secretion systems.
We identify an ancient and widely conserved mechanism that promotes initiation of fiber polymerization in type IV pili and type II secretion systems.
β-strand addition within tip initiation complexes licenses assembly of diverse type IV filaments | PNAS
PilC/PilY1 proteins are tip-located adhesins of type IV pili (T4P) that are critical
for T4P function in diverse behaviors including twitching moti...
www.pnas.org
August 31, 2026 at 7:47 PM
Our new paper with @ckellison.bsky.social. is finally out!
We identify an ancient and widely conserved mechanism that promotes initiation of fiber polymerization in type IV pili and type II secretion systems.
We identify an ancient and widely conserved mechanism that promotes initiation of fiber polymerization in type IV pili and type II secretion systems.
Reposted by Shamphavi Sivabalasarma
Molecular architecture of colossal surface layers from hyperthermophilic archaea
Led by @idocaspy.bsky.social (Ido)
In collaboration with @mkrupovic.bsky.social and @vikramalva.bsky.social labs
doi.org/10.64898/202...
Led by @idocaspy.bsky.social (Ido)
In collaboration with @mkrupovic.bsky.social and @vikramalva.bsky.social labs
doi.org/10.64898/202...
August 23, 2026 at 7:20 AM
Molecular architecture of colossal surface layers from hyperthermophilic archaea
Led by @idocaspy.bsky.social (Ido)
In collaboration with @mkrupovic.bsky.social and @vikramalva.bsky.social labs
doi.org/10.64898/202...
Led by @idocaspy.bsky.social (Ido)
In collaboration with @mkrupovic.bsky.social and @vikramalva.bsky.social labs
doi.org/10.64898/202...
Reposted by Shamphavi Sivabalasarma
Excited to share what I've been working on with an incredible team! Visualisation of Asgard viruses on cell surfaces and vesicles, and a story of complex viral interactions. Preprint: www.biorxiv.org/content/10.6...
@brendanburns999.bsky.social @belindaferrari.bsky.social @xabivc.bsky.social
@brendanburns999.bsky.social @belindaferrari.bsky.social @xabivc.bsky.social
August 13, 2026 at 10:32 AM
Excited to share what I've been working on with an incredible team! Visualisation of Asgard viruses on cell surfaces and vesicles, and a story of complex viral interactions. Preprint: www.biorxiv.org/content/10.6...
@brendanburns999.bsky.social @belindaferrari.bsky.social @xabivc.bsky.social
@brendanburns999.bsky.social @belindaferrari.bsky.social @xabivc.bsky.social
Hot, acidic and an endlessly fascinating archaeal model organism! Check out our review on Sulfolobus acidocaldarius🥳
With the 50th anniversary of #Archaea research coming up, read our latest review on one of its defining (and my favorite) model organisms: Sulfolobus acidocaldarius. #ArchaeaSky
@archaellum.bsky.social, @sshamphavi.bsky.social,
@michaelspaedt.bsky.social
journals.asm.org/doi/10.1128/...
@archaellum.bsky.social, @sshamphavi.bsky.social,
@michaelspaedt.bsky.social
journals.asm.org/doi/10.1128/...
August 6, 2026 at 4:14 PM
Hot, acidic and an endlessly fascinating archaeal model organism! Check out our review on Sulfolobus acidocaldarius🥳
Reposted by Shamphavi Sivabalasarma
The manuscript introducing ArchaeaHQ is still under review😴
As science can't wait...
I'm making available a version of the dashboard we use. vee-lab.eu/archaeahq
Here the user can have quick access to the information in the database, and select specific genomes of interest. Enjoy 🎉
As science can't wait...
I'm making available a version of the dashboard we use. vee-lab.eu/archaeahq
Here the user can have quick access to the information in the database, and select specific genomes of interest. Enjoy 🎉
July 27, 2026 at 2:35 PM
The manuscript introducing ArchaeaHQ is still under review😴
As science can't wait...
I'm making available a version of the dashboard we use. vee-lab.eu/archaeahq
Here the user can have quick access to the information in the database, and select specific genomes of interest. Enjoy 🎉
As science can't wait...
I'm making available a version of the dashboard we use. vee-lab.eu/archaeahq
Here the user can have quick access to the information in the database, and select specific genomes of interest. Enjoy 🎉
Reposted by Shamphavi Sivabalasarma
Two types of sheathed archaellum structures from Haloarcula marismortui differ in their outer layer architectures
#microbiology #archaea #MicroSky #ArchaeaSky
@natcomms.nature.com
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
#microbiology #archaea #MicroSky #ArchaeaSky
@natcomms.nature.com
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
Two types of sheathed archaellum structures from Haloarcula marismortui differ in their outer layer architectures - Nature Communications
Archaea can swim using rotating helical filaments called archaella. Here, Meshcheryakov et al. report that the cryo-EM structures of two types of archaella from Haloarcula marismortui display a unique...
www.nature.com
July 27, 2026 at 6:59 AM
Two types of sheathed archaellum structures from Haloarcula marismortui differ in their outer layer architectures
#microbiology #archaea #MicroSky #ArchaeaSky
@natcomms.nature.com
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
#microbiology #archaea #MicroSky #ArchaeaSky
@natcomms.nature.com
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
Reposted by Shamphavi Sivabalasarma
Reposted by Shamphavi Sivabalasarma
Systematic identification of cell division proteins in haloarchaea and the discovery of a membrane anchor for the Z ring https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.64898/2026.07.16.738847v1
July 16, 2026 at 12:20 PM
Systematic identification of cell division proteins in haloarchaea and the discovery of a membrane anchor for the Z ring https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.64898/2026.07.16.738847v1
Reposted by Shamphavi Sivabalasarma
Some bacteria do not live as individuals. They build multicellular filaments and connect neighboring cells through tiny cell-cell junctions.
Cyanobacteria are among the most beautiful examples 😍 In our new paper, we reveal first molecuar insights on the cyanobacterial septal junction architecture 🧵
Cyanobacteria are among the most beautiful examples 😍 In our new paper, we reveal first molecuar insights on the cyanobacterial septal junction architecture 🧵
July 10, 2026 at 9:38 AM
Some bacteria do not live as individuals. They build multicellular filaments and connect neighboring cells through tiny cell-cell junctions.
Cyanobacteria are among the most beautiful examples 😍 In our new paper, we reveal first molecuar insights on the cyanobacterial septal junction architecture 🧵
Cyanobacteria are among the most beautiful examples 😍 In our new paper, we reveal first molecuar insights on the cyanobacterial septal junction architecture 🧵
Reposted by Shamphavi Sivabalasarma
🚨 New in @natmicrobiol.nature.com! We reveal how the antibiotic target PBP1b fortifies the E.coli division site against osmotic rupture. Proud this was completed in our independent labs @dmf-unil.bsky.social, with @avettiger.bsky.social. Congratulations to all authors! 🦠❄️🔬 #teamtomo
bit.ly/3SCbOg1
👇
bit.ly/3SCbOg1
👇
The penicillin-binding protein PBP1b fortifies the Escherichia coli division site against osmotic rupture - Nature Microbiology
A specific isoform of PBP1b functions independently of the activator protein, LpoB, to drive generation of a wedge-like peptidoglycan structure that strengthens the division site in Escherichia coli.
doi.org
July 3, 2026 at 9:39 AM
🚨 New in @natmicrobiol.nature.com! We reveal how the antibiotic target PBP1b fortifies the E.coli division site against osmotic rupture. Proud this was completed in our independent labs @dmf-unil.bsky.social, with @avettiger.bsky.social. Congratulations to all authors! 🦠❄️🔬 #teamtomo
bit.ly/3SCbOg1
👇
bit.ly/3SCbOg1
👇
Reposted by Shamphavi Sivabalasarma
ohhhhh man it is another amazing paper from @masarunobu.bsky.social
that's a Microgenomates growing on a Chloroflexi:
that's a Microgenomates growing on a Chloroflexi:
June 23, 2026 at 4:26 AM
ohhhhh man it is another amazing paper from @masarunobu.bsky.social
that's a Microgenomates growing on a Chloroflexi:
that's a Microgenomates growing on a Chloroflexi:
Reposted by Shamphavi Sivabalasarma
Diese ausführliche und äußerst informative Dokumentation zeigt, welche Rolle Stickstoffdünger in der Landwirtschaft spielen und wie die Arbeit von Thomas Ott und seinem Team dazu beiträgt, die Lebensmittelproduktion nachhaltiger zu machen. Schauen Sie doch mal rein! 🌱🍅🧪
A new documentary on scientific approaches to replace industrial nitrogen fertilizers is now online @artefr.bsky.social (only in DE/FR). Among them is our and @pierremarcdelaux.bsky.social's work @ensa-research.bsky.social further supported by @cibss.bsky.social. www.arte.tv/de/videos/11...
Dünger der Zukunft: Die Stickstoff-Revolution - Die ganze Doku | ARTE
Ohne künstlichen Stickstoffdünger wären die hohen Erträge der industriellen Landwirtschaft undenkbar. Doch der intensive Einsatz schädigt das Klima. Weltweit wird nach klimafreundlichen Alternativen g...
www.arte.tv
June 21, 2026 at 9:32 AM
Diese ausführliche und äußerst informative Dokumentation zeigt, welche Rolle Stickstoffdünger in der Landwirtschaft spielen und wie die Arbeit von Thomas Ott und seinem Team dazu beiträgt, die Lebensmittelproduktion nachhaltiger zu machen. Schauen Sie doch mal rein! 🌱🍅🧪
Reposted by Shamphavi Sivabalasarma
Excited to share our new preprint! 🧬❄️ by brilliant @mdreimann.bsky.social and great collaborators!
Using cryo-ET&EM, we reveal archaeal chromatin in a near-native state: variable-beads-on-a-string fibers shaped by growth phase and histone composition #ArchaeaSky
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.6...
Using cryo-ET&EM, we reveal archaeal chromatin in a near-native state: variable-beads-on-a-string fibers shaped by growth phase and histone composition #ArchaeaSky
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.6...
June 19, 2026 at 7:04 AM
Excited to share our new preprint! 🧬❄️ by brilliant @mdreimann.bsky.social and great collaborators!
Using cryo-ET&EM, we reveal archaeal chromatin in a near-native state: variable-beads-on-a-string fibers shaped by growth phase and histone composition #ArchaeaSky
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.6...
Using cryo-ET&EM, we reveal archaeal chromatin in a near-native state: variable-beads-on-a-string fibers shaped by growth phase and histone composition #ArchaeaSky
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.6...
Reposted by Shamphavi Sivabalasarma
A multilayered cell envelope of a member of the Chloroflexota offers an anchoring platform for the archaellum
#microbiology #archaea #bacteria #MicroSky
doi.org/10.3389/fmic...
#microbiology #archaea #bacteria #MicroSky
doi.org/10.3389/fmic...
June 17, 2026 at 8:29 AM
A multilayered cell envelope of a member of the Chloroflexota offers an anchoring platform for the archaellum
#microbiology #archaea #bacteria #MicroSky
doi.org/10.3389/fmic...
#microbiology #archaea #bacteria #MicroSky
doi.org/10.3389/fmic...
Reposted by Shamphavi Sivabalasarma
🛠️💉It's time for engineering contractile injection systems! @chipericson.bsky.social & @davidschaumann.bsky.social introduce programmable CIS - PROCIS, combining tail length control, non-native cargo loading, and cell retargeting all in one system! www.biorxiv.org/content/10.6... 🧵 1/5
June 1, 2026 at 8:29 AM
🛠️💉It's time for engineering contractile injection systems! @chipericson.bsky.social & @davidschaumann.bsky.social introduce programmable CIS - PROCIS, combining tail length control, non-native cargo loading, and cell retargeting all in one system! www.biorxiv.org/content/10.6... 🧵 1/5
Reposted by Shamphavi Sivabalasarma
Active virus-host system in a Lokiarchaeon culture www.biorxiv.org/content/10.6...
May 26, 2026 at 10:43 AM
Active virus-host system in a Lokiarchaeon culture www.biorxiv.org/content/10.6...