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Honored to be selected to write this review as a member of the New Voices in Microbiology 2026 Cohort with @asm.org and #IAIJournal
Image of Gina saying “I was selected! Infection and Immunity New Voices in Microbiology”
October 12, 2026 at 6:10 PM
asm.org
#MicrobiologyMonday: Pathogens like Staphylococcus aureus secrete proteases that remodel the host environment. Degradomics allows for broad mapping of protease activity across host tissues and cell proteomes. Learn more in #IAIJournal: asm.social/37N
The power of degradomics versus canonical approaches to protease substrate identification.
October 12, 2026 at 4:33 PM
asm.org
Curli fibers produced by E. coli initiate innate immune responses at mucosal surfaces. Researchers engineered E. coli Nissle 1917 to produce modified curli fibers designed to reduce TLR2 signaling through2 mechanistically distinct strategies. #IAIJournal: asm.social/36I
Conceptual overview of curli fiber engineering to modulate TLR2 signaling.
September 30, 2026 at 11:22 AM
asm.org
🚀 Lead the next chapter of #IAIJournal! Following 10 years of exceptional service by Editor in Chief (EIC) Andreas Bäumler, Ph.D., ASM seeks applications/nominations for the next EIC. The initial 5-year term begins July 1, 2027. Apply or nominate by Sept. 18: asm.social/33R
Apply by September 18 to lead Infection and Immunity journal!
August 27, 2026 at 11:13 AM
asm.org
🧫Uncover the strategies microbes use to compete, survive & dominate! ⚔️#IAIJournal invites papers for a special collection on Bacterial Antagonism & Microbial Competition. Learn more and submit by March 31: asm.social/33j
Submit your paper to IAI's Bacterial Antagonism & Microbial Competition collection! Deadline: March 31, 2027.
August 20, 2026 at 1:51 PM
asm.org
It has been posited that H. pylori's role in gastric cancer is merely to initiate inflammation, and once the later stages of disease develop, it becomes dispensable. However, epidemiological and molecular studies support a different paradigm. #IAIJournal: asm.social/31c
Helicobacter pylori (Hp) infection promotes gastric cancer development. The so-called Correa cascade of gastric cancer development is shown.
July 21, 2026 at 3:07 PM
asm.org
Outer membrane vesicles (OMVs) secreted by Bacteroides can be an important mechanism of host-pathogen interactions in the colon by reducing CFTR Cl⁻ secretion; the effects on CFTR Cl⁻ secretion depend on the strain of Bacteroides fragilis. #IAIJournal: asm.social/2Y7
Representative en face images of human colon organoids on Transwell filters. (A) DAPI labeling of nuclei. (B) Chromogranin A immunofluorescence of enterochromaffin cells. (C) Immunofluorescence of MUC2. (D) Composite of panels A–C revealing that MUC2 and Chromogranin A are expressed in different cell types. (E) Immunofluorescence of SLC26A3 (DRA, a Cl⁻/HCO⁻3 exchanger). (F) DAPI labeling of nuclei. (G) Composite of panels E and F. Scale bar in panel g is 50 μm
June 10, 2026 at 4:11 PM
asm.org
N. gonorrhoeae can infect intact corneal epithelium and cause blindness. Using a corneal epithelium tissue model, scientists show that bacterial adherence depends on the functional type IV pilus in the early stages of infection. #IAIJournal journals.asm.org/doi/10.1128/...
graphic of bacterial adherence
May 26, 2026 at 8:57 PM
asm.org
#MicrobiologyMonday: By shaping immune responses and producing metabolites, the gut‑lung axis offers possibilities for microbiome‑based therapies for respiratory diseases—though more research is needed to turn promise into practice. #IAIJournal: asm.social/2RZ
Key limitations of GM modulation in influencing lung diseases.
March 30, 2026 at 2:25 PM
asm.org
Maternal microbial ecosystems are key in shaping reproductive physiology and pregnancy outcomes. While the gut microbiota has been extensively studied, the roles of microbes in other body regions are less clear. This #IAIJournal review provides insights: asm.social/2OQ
Pregnancy-associated shifts in maternal microbiota across multiple body sites can signal to the placenta, influencing its function and fetal development.
February 17, 2026 at 6:25 PM
asm.org
#MicrobiologyMonday: Cells can die in a lot of ways. Bacteria modulate and are modulated by host cell death. Insights on the mechanisms underlying these interactions can offer potential routes to control microbiota-associated diseases. #IAIJournal: asm.social/2MJ
Prominent programmed cell death pathways include the major sources of extracellular metabolite release. Bacteria/metabolites that can exploit/modulate these pathways are given in red with arrows facing away, lines indicating inhibition and arrows pointing towards bacteria indicate utilization. Table 1 provides further details and references. DAMP; danger-associated molecular pattern. PAMP; pathogen-associated molecular pattern. MOMP; mitochondrial outer membrane permeabilization. AMPs; antimicrobial peptides. GSH; glutathione. Panx1; Pannexin-1 membrane channel.
January 26, 2026 at 3:10 PM
asm.org
Enterococcus faecalis is one of the most commonly isolated pathogens from chronic wounds. In #IAIJournal, researchers report that the bacterium survives and replicates intracellularly within neutrophils, which may contribute to its ability to persist. asm.social/2KO
Intracellular clusters of E. faecalis within neutrophils in the murine wound bed at 24 h p.i. Mice were wounded and infected with 106 CFU of E. faecalis OG1RF.
January 5, 2026 at 4:41 PM
asm.org
Despite its beneficial roles in the gut, Bacteroides fragilis is also the most commonly isolated anaerobe in clinical infections. This #IAIJournal study suggests AMR is widespread among intestinal and extra-intestinal B. fragilis clinical isolates: asm.social/2Ik
Per decade increase of antimicrobial resistance genes among B. fragilis strains. The percentage of strains with the indicated antimicrobial resistance gene, as identified by whole genome sequencing, is shown by decade of isolation: 1970s or earlier (n = 6), 1980s (n = 37), 1990s (n = 9), 2000s (n = 28), 2010s, (n = 182), and 2020s (n = 132). Antimicrobial resistance genes are displayed on the X axis along with antibiotic class, and decade of isolation on the Y axis.
December 2, 2025 at 3:58 PM
asm.org
Vaginal colonization with Lactobacilli protect against group B Streptococcus (GBS). Notably, delivering L. crispatus to vaginal epithelial cells via electrospun nanofibers modulates inflammatory signaling during established GBS infection. #IAIJournal: asm.social/2AG
Effect of EFs-Lc application prior to GBS infection. (A) Schematic depicts the experimental design where VK2/E6E7 transwells were treated with EFs-Lc, blank EFs, free L. crispatus (Lc), or mock treatment (PBS) for 24 hours before GBS or mock (PBS) infection. Created in BioRender. Doster, R. (n.d.) https://BioRender.com/judciyo (B) SEM images of VK2/E6E7 transwells following treatments with EFs, EFs-Lc, L. crispatus (Lc), or mock treatment alone (left) or followed by GBS infection (right). Yellow measurement bar represents 10 m, and yellow triangles denote areas of colocalization of GBS and L. crispatus. (C, D) Quantification of L. crispatus (C) and GBS (D) from the apical transwell chamber after treatment and 24 hours of GBS infection. (E, F) Quantification of IL-8 (E) and IL-1RA (F) from transwell basal supernatants. Bars represent the mean of four biological replicates ±SEM.
September 12, 2025 at 4:27 PM
asm.org
Microbes rarely exist alone; instead, they live in dynamic communities. In #IAIJournal, researchers discuss the interplay between the host environment & microbiome metabolism & the impacts on disease progression in host-associated polymicrobial communities. asm.social/2yf
Drivers of microbial community dynamics in host-associated environments. Environmental factors, such as nutrient availability, oxygen, pH, and tissue topography, collectively shape the composition and microbiome metabolism of microbial communities within the host. The central panel represents a snapshot of a microbial community at a given time. The right panel illustrates community dynamics, including temporal shifts in microbial populations and interactions between community members that drive community composition and the microbiome metabolism. Microbial interactions are categorized as cooperative (blue) or competitive (red), reflecting the ecological forces that influence microbial stability, succession, and pathogenicity. This conceptual map emphasizes the context-dependent nature of microbial behavior and the importance of studying communities within physiologically relevant environments. Created in BioRender. Arriaga, S. (2025)
August 20, 2025 at 5:56 PM
asm.org
Chlamydia trachomatis infection triggers production and secretion of type I IFNs that induce PD-L1 upregulation, which may contribute to the intracellular bacterium's evasion of adaptive immune responses. Learn more in #IAIJournal: asm.social/2kS
Type I IFNs contribute to PD-L1 upregulation during C. trachomatis infection in vivo.
March 25, 2025 at 7:14 PM
asm.org
Sphingosine, found on epithelial cells but undetectable in cystic fibrosis patients, kills P. aeruginosa via degradation of cardiolipin, leading to severe membrane changes; mammalian cells lack membranous cardiolipin & remain unharmed. #IAIJournal: journals.asm.org/doi/10.1128/...
Electron microscopy of P. aeruginosa after treatment with sphingosine. P. aeruginosa ATCC 27853 were treated with 20 µM sphingosine (SPH) for 10 min or 30 min or left untreated, fixed, embedded, and analyzed by electron microscopy. A higher concentration of sphingosine was used because 108 CFU P. aeruginosa were used in these experiments to obtain a pellet, which we were able to process. Shown is each a representative picture from at least 50 visualized cells. The arrows in the images in the upper row indicate some of the membrane blebs, and the arrows in the image in the lower row indicate typical membrane rolls. Scale bar sizes in the images: left column (both images) and middle and right column (upper images), each 200 nm; middle column (lower image), 50 nm; right column (lower image), 100 nm.
March 18, 2025 at 2:47 PM
asm.org
Enteroaggregative Escherichia coli (EAEC) adherence is mediated by aggregative adherence fimbriae (AAFs). Research in #IAIJournal provides insights into the structural features determining AAF/II binding to mucin, sialic acid & human intestinal cells. asm.social/2jG
Quantification of AafA expression and biofilm formation in a panel of AafA variants with single amino acid substitutions.
March 11, 2025 at 6:34 PM
asm.org
Using a reproducible human cell-based airway infection model, researchers illustrate the complex scenario of prolonged airway colonization, emphasizing the remarkable adaptability of P. aeruginosa to challenging infection environments. #IAIJournal: journals.asm.org/doi/10.1128/...
Prolonged infection of Calu-3 cells with P. aeruginosa in the presence of tobramycin.
February 26, 2025 at 3:46 PM
asm.org
Scientists evaluated the efficacy of a small extracellular vesicle-based vaccine against circulating strains of Salmonella isolated from wastewater, providing a strategy for developing effective preventative measures against infection. #IAIJournal: asm.social/2fW
Isolation and characterization of Salmonella strains from wastewater samples. (A) A total of 120 Salmonella isolates were collected from qPCR-invA-positive wastewater samples in Gainesville. The isolation process involved an initial enrichment phase in TSB, followed by selection on MSRV plates and further biochemical confirmation on XLD plates. Serotyping and sequencing were performed by the State of Florida Department of Health using SeqSero2, with successful serotyping of 21 isolates. (B) Phylogenetic analysis indicating the taxonomy and evolutionary distance between the selected Salmonella isolates.
January 22, 2025 at 4:32 PM
asm.org
In Salmonella, penicillin-binding protein (PBP) 2 is required for proper function of the pathogenicity island-1 (SPI-1) T3SS but is dispensable for motility, whereas the lack of any of the morphogenetic PBPs increases SPI-2 T3SS activity. #IAIJournal: asm.social/2fr
The morphogenetic PBP2 is required for SPI-1 T3SS activity. (A) Coomassie staining of whole cell-associated proteins and secreted proteins of the indicated strains grown in LB pH 5.8 to stationary phase. The position of the SPI-1 proteins SipA, SipB, SipC, and SipD is indicated, as well as flagellins FliC and FljB. Positions and size (in kDa) of molecular weight markers are shown. (B) Levels of SipC detected by Western blotting in whole cell-associated and secreted protein extracts of the indicated isogenic mutants. The volumes loaded of whole cell and supernatant extracts in panels (A) and (B) correspond to 2.75 × 107 and 2.75 × 109 bacteria, respectively. Coomassie staining of the PVDF membrane used in the Western blot is shown as loading control; (C) Levels of the SPI-1 structural protein PrgK in mutants lacking PBP2 or PBP2SAL grown overnight in LB pH 5.8. A null prgK mutant was run in parallel as negative control. Asterisks denote non-specific bands; (D) Secretion of SipC is not altered in the absence of the major PG synthases PBP1A or PBP1B. The Coomassie staining of the same samples run on a gel is shown as loading control; (E) Motility assay of S. Typhimurium mutants lacking morphogenetic PBPs. Shown are the motility halos observed after 6 h of growth in semi-solid motility medium pH 4.6 (see Materials and Methods). Data are representative of two biological replicates.
January 13, 2025 at 4:34 PM
asm.org
Expression of bb0689, an RpoS-regulated gene encoding an outer surface lipoprotein with unknown function, is a key contributor to the optimal infection of Borrelia burgdorferi in animals. Learn more in #IAIJournal: journals.asm.org/doi/10.1128/...
Bioluminescence imaging of B. burgdorferi in living mice. Groups of C3H mice were injected intradermally with OY444 (WT), the bb0689 mutant OY470 (Mut), or the complemented strain OY601 (Com) at a dose of 10,000 spirochetes per mouse. At various time points post infection, mice were injected with D-luciferin and analyzed using a Perkin Elmer IVIS imaging system. To obtain a global assessment of di
January 7, 2025 at 12:15 PM