Fantastic opportunity to do a postdoc on evolutionary theory in pathogens, with wonderful mentors, and in Vancouver 🇨🇦
🧪 🦠 #EvoSky #ViroSky #IDSky #SocialViruses
🧪 🦠 #EvoSky #ViroSky #IDSky #SocialViruses
Come join us at beautiful UBC! The King Lab is recruiting a Post-doc Fellow to develop mathematical theory on infectious disease evolution and emergence, together with Ben Ashby (SFU) #zoonoses #biodiversity www.zoology.ubc.ca/kinglab/join...
Join Us! | King Lab
Are you interested in joining the King Lab? More information here!
www.zoology.ubc.ca
March 31, 2025 at 3:56 PM
Fantastic opportunity to do a postdoc on evolutionary theory in pathogens, with wonderful mentors, and in Vancouver 🇨🇦
🧪 🦠 #EvoSky #ViroSky #IDSky #SocialViruses
🧪 🦠 #EvoSky #ViroSky #IDSky #SocialViruses
Can we use social evolution to fight pathogens? @asgriffin.bsky.social and I review the evidence for 'cheat therapy' in bacteria and viruses...
🧪🦠 #socialviruses #evosky #virosky
1/3
🧪🦠 #socialviruses #evosky #virosky
1/3
Excited to see review with @asherleeks.bsky.social out today in Nature Antimicrobials and Resistance. We compare application of social evolution to treatment of infection in bacteria and viruses: very different stories! rdcu.be/eftKw @biology.ox.ac.uk @erc.europa.eu @naturerevmicro.bsky.social
Exploiting social traits for clinical applications in bacteria and viruses
npj Antimicrobials and Resistance - Exploiting social traits for clinical applications in bacteria and viruses
rdcu.be
March 28, 2025 at 6:03 PM
Can we use social evolution to fight pathogens? @asgriffin.bsky.social and I review the evidence for 'cheat therapy' in bacteria and viruses...
🧪🦠 #socialviruses #evosky #virosky
1/3
🧪🦠 #socialviruses #evosky #virosky
1/3
The Social Lives of Viruses is coming to Vancouver, Canada, from 4th-8th August 2026!
This is a free meeting dedicated to all aspects of virus-virus interactions & evolution.
To apply: socialviruses.zoology.ubc.ca
@sociovirology.bsky.social #socialviruses #evosky #lovevirology #virosky
This is a free meeting dedicated to all aspects of virus-virus interactions & evolution.
To apply: socialviruses.zoology.ubc.ca
@sociovirology.bsky.social #socialviruses #evosky #lovevirology #virosky
April 14, 2026 at 1:52 PM
The Social Lives of Viruses is coming to Vancouver, Canada, from 4th-8th August 2026!
This is a free meeting dedicated to all aspects of virus-virus interactions & evolution.
To apply: socialviruses.zoology.ubc.ca
@sociovirology.bsky.social #socialviruses #evosky #lovevirology #virosky
This is a free meeting dedicated to all aspects of virus-virus interactions & evolution.
To apply: socialviruses.zoology.ubc.ca
@sociovirology.bsky.social #socialviruses #evosky #lovevirology #virosky
@rowancallumg.bsky.social and @liyamiksovsky.bsky.social demonstrating our newest lab tradition - creating virus snowflakes (designed by @socialinfluenza.bsky.social ) out of submitted grants and fellowships.
🧪 #socialviruses
🧪 #socialviruses
October 31, 2025 at 9:51 PM
@rowancallumg.bsky.social and @liyamiksovsky.bsky.social demonstrating our newest lab tradition - creating virus snowflakes (designed by @socialinfluenza.bsky.social ) out of submitted grants and fellowships.
🧪 #socialviruses
🧪 #socialviruses
Amazing example of influenza cheat/cooperator cycles in this recent paper - the repeatability of the oscillatory cycles is so striking
Congrats to @alnajifg.bsky.social , @christopherbrooke.bsky.social , @vignuzzilab.bsky.social & friends
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
🧪 #socialviruses
Congrats to @alnajifg.bsky.social , @christopherbrooke.bsky.social , @vignuzzilab.bsky.social & friends
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
🧪 #socialviruses
November 28, 2025 at 7:20 PM
Amazing example of influenza cheat/cooperator cycles in this recent paper - the repeatability of the oscillatory cycles is so striking
Congrats to @alnajifg.bsky.social , @christopherbrooke.bsky.social , @vignuzzilab.bsky.social & friends
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
🧪 #socialviruses
Congrats to @alnajifg.bsky.social , @christopherbrooke.bsky.social , @vignuzzilab.bsky.social & friends
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
🧪 #socialviruses
Want to join us for Social Viruses in Vancouver this summer?
One week to go until we start looking at applications (May 7th).
To apply: socialviruses.zoology.ubc.ca
#socialviruses #evosky #lovevirology #virosky
One week to go until we start looking at applications (May 7th).
To apply: socialviruses.zoology.ubc.ca
#socialviruses #evosky #lovevirology #virosky
The Social Lives of Viruses is coming to Vancouver, Canada, from 4th-8th August 2026!
This is a free meeting dedicated to all aspects of virus-virus interactions & evolution.
To apply: socialviruses.zoology.ubc.ca
@sociovirology.bsky.social #socialviruses #evosky #lovevirology #virosky
This is a free meeting dedicated to all aspects of virus-virus interactions & evolution.
To apply: socialviruses.zoology.ubc.ca
@sociovirology.bsky.social #socialviruses #evosky #lovevirology #virosky
May 2, 2026 at 8:36 PM
Want to join us for Social Viruses in Vancouver this summer?
One week to go until we start looking at applications (May 7th).
To apply: socialviruses.zoology.ubc.ca
#socialviruses #evosky #lovevirology #virosky
One week to go until we start looking at applications (May 7th).
To apply: socialviruses.zoology.ubc.ca
#socialviruses #evosky #lovevirology #virosky
I gave a talk last year at TEDxNewEngland aimed at introducing the idea of viral sociality to a general audience, including implications for evolution & virology. Video now available online below.
#socialviruses #evosky #virosky 🧪
#socialviruses #evosky #virosky 🧪
The social lives of viruses | Asher Leeks | TEDxNewEngland
YouTube video by TEDx Talks
www.youtube.com
October 7, 2025 at 10:38 PM
I gave a talk last year at TEDxNewEngland aimed at introducing the idea of viral sociality to a general audience, including implications for evolution & virology. Video now available online below.
#socialviruses #evosky #virosky 🧪
#socialviruses #evosky #virosky 🧪
Congratulations to @alexrob.bsky.social , @alisonfeder.bsky.social , and Ben Kerr on this beautiful study, using evolutionary theory to study antiviral resistance dynamics when resistance is social...
#socialviruses #evosky 🧪
#socialviruses #evosky 🧪
So excited to share this work led by @alexrob.bsky.social with Ben Kerr!
We investigated a poliovirus capsid inhibitor that exploits a breakdown in the genotype-phenotype map to prevent drug resistance evolution. Or does it?
See Alex's thread, but a few extras:
#socialviruses #evosky #virosky 🧪
We investigated a poliovirus capsid inhibitor that exploits a breakdown in the genotype-phenotype map to prevent drug resistance evolution. Or does it?
See Alex's thread, but a few extras:
#socialviruses #evosky #virosky 🧪
My first lead author paper is out with Ben Kerr and @alisonfeder.bsky.social! We found that making an antiviral too strong can sometimes make resistance easier to evolve. This has implications for how we design drugs, choose doses, and think about viral evolution in the face of treatment. (1/n)
December 13, 2025 at 12:24 AM
Congratulations to @alexrob.bsky.social , @alisonfeder.bsky.social , and Ben Kerr on this beautiful study, using evolutionary theory to study antiviral resistance dynamics when resistance is social...
#socialviruses #evosky 🧪
#socialviruses #evosky 🧪
So excited to share this work led by @alexrob.bsky.social with Ben Kerr!
We investigated a poliovirus capsid inhibitor that exploits a breakdown in the genotype-phenotype map to prevent drug resistance evolution. Or does it?
See Alex's thread, but a few extras:
#socialviruses #evosky #virosky 🧪
We investigated a poliovirus capsid inhibitor that exploits a breakdown in the genotype-phenotype map to prevent drug resistance evolution. Or does it?
See Alex's thread, but a few extras:
#socialviruses #evosky #virosky 🧪
My first lead author paper is out with Ben Kerr and @alisonfeder.bsky.social! We found that making an antiviral too strong can sometimes make resistance easier to evolve. This has implications for how we design drugs, choose doses, and think about viral evolution in the face of treatment. (1/n)
Intracellular interactions shape antiviral resistance outcomes in poliovirus via eco-evolutionary feedback - Nature Ecology & Evolution
A model of intrahost poliovirus replication shows that, after several rounds of replication, pocapavir, a poliovirus capsid inhibitor, collapses viral density, preventing intracellular interactions th...
www.nature.com
December 10, 2025 at 9:07 PM
So excited to share this work led by @alexrob.bsky.social with Ben Kerr!
We investigated a poliovirus capsid inhibitor that exploits a breakdown in the genotype-phenotype map to prevent drug resistance evolution. Or does it?
See Alex's thread, but a few extras:
#socialviruses #evosky #virosky 🧪
We investigated a poliovirus capsid inhibitor that exploits a breakdown in the genotype-phenotype map to prevent drug resistance evolution. Or does it?
See Alex's thread, but a few extras:
#socialviruses #evosky #virosky 🧪
I made a starter pack for researchers who study various aspects of viral sociality. It's woefully incomplete and has lots of room to grow, so do message me if I've missed you!
go.bsky.app/3PfgjkP
#SocialViruses 🦠 🧪
go.bsky.app/3PfgjkP
#SocialViruses 🦠 🧪
November 17, 2024 at 2:40 PM
I made a starter pack for researchers who study various aspects of viral sociality. It's woefully incomplete and has lots of room to grow, so do message me if I've missed you!
go.bsky.app/3PfgjkP
#SocialViruses 🦠 🧪
go.bsky.app/3PfgjkP
#SocialViruses 🦠 🧪
I am very grateful that the lab will be funded by NSERC for the next five years. This Discovery Grant will allow us to develop social evolution theory for viruses, including addressing many of the questions set out in our recent JEB review (doi.org/10.1111/jeb....).
#SocialViruses 🧪 🦠 #newPI
(1/2)
#SocialViruses 🧪 🦠 #newPI
(1/2)
Open questions in the social lives of viruses
Abstract. Social interactions among viruses occur whenever multiple viral genomes infect the same cells, hosts, or populations of hosts. Viral social inter
doi.org
April 3, 2025 at 9:01 PM
I am very grateful that the lab will be funded by NSERC for the next five years. This Discovery Grant will allow us to develop social evolution theory for viruses, including addressing many of the questions set out in our recent JEB review (doi.org/10.1111/jeb....).
#SocialViruses 🧪 🦠 #newPI
(1/2)
#SocialViruses 🧪 🦠 #newPI
(1/2)
We're recruiting!
We're looking for two graduate students to join us at UBC in Vancouver.
Fully funded and open to global applicants, with flexible start-date. Topics include theory, bioinformatics, and microbiology.
More details: asherleeks.com/apply
#socialviruses #evosky #virosky 🧪
We're looking for two graduate students to join us at UBC in Vancouver.
Fully funded and open to global applicants, with flexible start-date. Topics include theory, bioinformatics, and microbiology.
More details: asherleeks.com/apply
#socialviruses #evosky #virosky 🧪
April 28, 2026 at 3:27 AM
We're recruiting!
We're looking for two graduate students to join us at UBC in Vancouver.
Fully funded and open to global applicants, with flexible start-date. Topics include theory, bioinformatics, and microbiology.
More details: asherleeks.com/apply
#socialviruses #evosky #virosky 🧪
We're looking for two graduate students to join us at UBC in Vancouver.
Fully funded and open to global applicants, with flexible start-date. Topics include theory, bioinformatics, and microbiology.
More details: asherleeks.com/apply
#socialviruses #evosky #virosky 🧪
For those not able to make it to #socialviruses this year, Sam is live-tweeting all three days of talks, touching on all aspects of social evolution in viruses!
#evosky #virosky 🧪 🦠 🔬
#evosky #virosky 🧪 🦠 🔬
August 6, 2026 at 12:48 AM
For those not able to make it to #socialviruses this year, Sam is live-tweeting all three days of talks, touching on all aspects of social evolution in viruses!
#evosky #virosky 🧪 🦠 🔬
#evosky #virosky 🧪 🦠 🔬
Announcing the Social Lives of Viruses 2024!
Do you study social evolution in viruses? Do you want to?
Join us in Puerto Rico this June for a 50-person meeting dedicated to viral sociality. All costs covered.
Apply here: forms.gle/sHTEcHJjryDh...
#ViroSky
#MicroSky
#EvoSky
#SocialViruses
Do you study social evolution in viruses? Do you want to?
Join us in Puerto Rico this June for a 50-person meeting dedicated to viral sociality. All costs covered.
Apply here: forms.gle/sHTEcHJjryDh...
#ViroSky
#MicroSky
#EvoSky
#SocialViruses
January 22, 2024 at 8:34 PM
Announcing the Social Lives of Viruses 2024!
Do you study social evolution in viruses? Do you want to?
Join us in Puerto Rico this June for a 50-person meeting dedicated to viral sociality. All costs covered.
Apply here: forms.gle/sHTEcHJjryDh...
#ViroSky
#MicroSky
#EvoSky
#SocialViruses
Do you study social evolution in viruses? Do you want to?
Join us in Puerto Rico this June for a 50-person meeting dedicated to viral sociality. All costs covered.
Apply here: forms.gle/sHTEcHJjryDh...
#ViroSky
#MicroSky
#EvoSky
#SocialViruses
#SocialViruses in Vancouver! I’m honored to have been a part of this incredible group of sociovirologists. Thank you @asherleeks.bsky.social and @sociovirology.bsky.social for having me, and everyone else who helped make for such a fascinating reassorting and recombining of ideas! #phagesky #virosky
August 8, 2026 at 9:18 PM
#SocialViruses in Vancouver! I’m honored to have been a part of this incredible group of sociovirologists. Thank you @asherleeks.bsky.social and @sociovirology.bsky.social for having me, and everyone else who helped make for such a fascinating reassorting and recombining of ideas! #phagesky #virosky
A cool interview with @sociovirology.bsky.social about paths through science, and social evolution in viruses, on @markowenmartin.bsky.social's podcast.
youtu.be/w2KEAdqYTks?...
#SocialViruses 🧪 #evosky #virosky
youtu.be/w2KEAdqYTks?...
#SocialViruses 🧪 #evosky #virosky
Matters Microbial #68: Social Evolution in Viruses
YouTube video by MicrobeTV
youtu.be
December 9, 2024 at 4:03 PM
A cool interview with @sociovirology.bsky.social about paths through science, and social evolution in viruses, on @markowenmartin.bsky.social's podcast.
youtu.be/w2KEAdqYTks?...
#SocialViruses 🧪 #evosky #virosky
youtu.be/w2KEAdqYTks?...
#SocialViruses 🧪 #evosky #virosky
It was great to write a brief commentary with @sociovirology.bsky.social on @nanamikubota.bsky.social and @vscooper.micropopbio.org's recent discovery of cheat-driven cycles in Pseudomonas (www.cell.com/current-biol... - amazing example of the tragedy of the commons!
🧪 #socialviruses #evosky
🧪 #socialviruses #evosky
Phage–bacteria dynamics: The tragedy of the commons at hyperspeed
A recent study found that apparently stable coexistence between a clinically important
pathogen, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and its integrated prophages can break down, setting
off an evolutionary cycle ...
www.cell.com
December 4, 2025 at 8:56 PM
It was great to write a brief commentary with @sociovirology.bsky.social on @nanamikubota.bsky.social and @vscooper.micropopbio.org's recent discovery of cheat-driven cycles in Pseudomonas (www.cell.com/current-biol... - amazing example of the tragedy of the commons!
🧪 #socialviruses #evosky
🧪 #socialviruses #evosky
Had a wonderful time at the #SocialViruses meeting in Puerto Rico and met so many great people! Thank you so much to Asher and Sam for organizing this and for allowing me to share my story on cheater phages!
June 8, 2024 at 5:07 PM
Had a wonderful time at the #SocialViruses meeting in Puerto Rico and met so many great people! Thank you so much to Asher and Sam for organizing this and for allowing me to share my story on cheater phages!
Phage coexistence, even when you least expect it.
Check out @norapyenson.bsky.social's study showing the repeated assembly of diverse phage communities: www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
Also Nora's bsky thread here: bsky.app/profile/nora...
#SocialViruses #virosky #evosky 🧪🦠
Check out @norapyenson.bsky.social's study showing the repeated assembly of diverse phage communities: www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
Also Nora's bsky thread here: bsky.app/profile/nora...
#SocialViruses #virosky #evosky 🧪🦠
December 19, 2024 at 12:25 PM
Phage coexistence, even when you least expect it.
Check out @norapyenson.bsky.social's study showing the repeated assembly of diverse phage communities: www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
Also Nora's bsky thread here: bsky.app/profile/nora...
#SocialViruses #virosky #evosky 🧪🦠
Check out @norapyenson.bsky.social's study showing the repeated assembly of diverse phage communities: www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
Also Nora's bsky thread here: bsky.app/profile/nora...
#SocialViruses #virosky #evosky 🧪🦠
One week left to apply to the Social Lives of Viruses 2024!
50-person meeting on viral sociality, from virology to evolution, in Puerto Rico this June. All welcome; free accommodation and registration.
Apply here: forms.gle/SvgCix9Njr8r...
#SocialViruses
#ViroSky #MicroSky #EvoSky
50-person meeting on viral sociality, from virology to evolution, in Puerto Rico this June. All welcome; free accommodation and registration.
Apply here: forms.gle/SvgCix9Njr8r...
#SocialViruses
#ViroSky #MicroSky #EvoSky
Announcing the Social Lives of Viruses 2024!
Do you study social evolution in viruses? Do you want to?
Join us in Puerto Rico this June for a 50-person meeting dedicated to viral sociality. All costs covered.
Apply here: forms.gle/sHTEcHJjryDh...
#ViroSky
#MicroSky
#EvoSky
#SocialViruses
Do you study social evolution in viruses? Do you want to?
Join us in Puerto Rico this June for a 50-person meeting dedicated to viral sociality. All costs covered.
Apply here: forms.gle/sHTEcHJjryDh...
#ViroSky
#MicroSky
#EvoSky
#SocialViruses
February 8, 2024 at 2:48 PM
One week left to apply to the Social Lives of Viruses 2024!
50-person meeting on viral sociality, from virology to evolution, in Puerto Rico this June. All welcome; free accommodation and registration.
Apply here: forms.gle/SvgCix9Njr8r...
#SocialViruses
#ViroSky #MicroSky #EvoSky
50-person meeting on viral sociality, from virology to evolution, in Puerto Rico this June. All welcome; free accommodation and registration.
Apply here: forms.gle/SvgCix9Njr8r...
#SocialViruses
#ViroSky #MicroSky #EvoSky
Was great to be in Puerto Rico for #SocialViruses, learned a lot of amazing science, and always so nice to meet (again) and chat with virus-inclined friends (old and new 😁). Thanks again @asherleeks.bsky.social and Sam for organizing !
June 8, 2024 at 1:06 PM
Was great to be in Puerto Rico for #SocialViruses, learned a lot of amazing science, and always so nice to meet (again) and chat with virus-inclined friends (old and new 😁). Thanks again @asherleeks.bsky.social and Sam for organizing !
I'll be speaking about viral sociality at TEDxNewEngland on Wednesday 25th September, alongside a great lineup of other speakers.
List of speakers & tickets here for anyone in the Boston area who might want to come: tedxnewengland.com/speakers
#TEDxNE #SocialViruses #LoveVirology
List of speakers & tickets here for anyone in the Boston area who might want to come: tedxnewengland.com/speakers
#TEDxNE #SocialViruses #LoveVirology
TEDxNewEngland
Bridging the gaps
tedxnewengland.com
September 11, 2024 at 5:19 PM
I'll be speaking about viral sociality at TEDxNewEngland on Wednesday 25th September, alongside a great lineup of other speakers.
List of speakers & tickets here for anyone in the Boston area who might want to come: tedxnewengland.com/speakers
#TEDxNE #SocialViruses #LoveVirology
List of speakers & tickets here for anyone in the Boston area who might want to come: tedxnewengland.com/speakers
#TEDxNE #SocialViruses #LoveVirology
I am enjoying #SocialViruses2026 in Vancouver, organized by @asherleeks.bsky.social and @sociovirology.bsky.social.
Also, we finally got our #GeneticConflict in #Herpesviruses review published in #VirusEvolution, first conceived at the 2024 #SocialViruses meeting in Puerto Rico!
Also, we finally got our #GeneticConflict in #Herpesviruses review published in #VirusEvolution, first conceived at the 2024 #SocialViruses meeting in Puerto Rico!
Antagonistic Co-Evolution Throughout the Herpesvirus Life Cycle
Abstract. Herpesviruses are a widespread and diverse family of large double stranded DNA viruses. Narrow host ranges maintained over long evolutionary time
academic.oup.com
August 6, 2026 at 9:37 PM
I am enjoying #SocialViruses2026 in Vancouver, organized by @asherleeks.bsky.social and @sociovirology.bsky.social.
Also, we finally got our #GeneticConflict in #Herpesviruses review published in #VirusEvolution, first conceived at the 2024 #SocialViruses meeting in Puerto Rico!
Also, we finally got our #GeneticConflict in #Herpesviruses review published in #VirusEvolution, first conceived at the 2024 #SocialViruses meeting in Puerto Rico!
Very pleased to have our review on social evolution in viruses out in JEB last week. The best part of this review was that JEB solicited six commentaries from others in the field. A quick thread on these... (1/n)
#SocialViruses #ViroSky #EvoSky
onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/...
#SocialViruses #ViroSky #EvoSky
onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/...
Open questions in the social lives of viruses
Social interactions among viruses are diverse and pervasive, with the potential to affect every stage of the viral lifecycle. Here, we explore some of the challenges and opportunities that these inte....
onlinelibrary.wiley.com
November 30, 2023 at 5:45 PM
Very pleased to have our review on social evolution in viruses out in JEB last week. The best part of this review was that JEB solicited six commentaries from others in the field. A quick thread on these... (1/n)
#SocialViruses #ViroSky #EvoSky
onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/...
#SocialViruses #ViroSky #EvoSky
onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/...
💻 Open source Cytoscape app available here:
Cytoscape App Store - SocialViruses
apps.cytoscape.org
October 7, 2025 at 10:02 AM
💻 Open source Cytoscape app available here: