Bacterial immune proteins have repeatedly evolved to become parts of eukaryotic immunity. But how?
Our new preprint uncovers a recent horizontal transfer event & shows how eukaryotes co-opted a toxic bacterial immune protein 🦠🧪🧵 1/
Our new preprint uncovers a recent horizontal transfer event & shows how eukaryotes co-opted a toxic bacterial immune protein 🦠🧪🧵 1/
May 2, 2026 at 2:36 PM
Bacterial immune proteins have repeatedly evolved to become parts of eukaryotic immunity. But how?
Our new preprint uncovers a recent horizontal transfer event & shows how eukaryotes co-opted a toxic bacterial immune protein 🦠🧪🧵 1/
Our new preprint uncovers a recent horizontal transfer event & shows how eukaryotes co-opted a toxic bacterial immune protein 🦠🧪🧵 1/
The mechanism is identical. The bad faith is absent. The absence of bad faith is not exoneration. It is the structural improvement that renders the machine immune to the legal instrument that eventually dismantled the TIRC,
May 25, 2026 at 7:28 PM
The mechanism is identical. The bad faith is absent. The absence of bad faith is not exoneration. It is the structural improvement that renders the machine immune to the legal instrument that eventually dismantled the TIRC,
TirC can make both puncta and filaments that span the yeast cells! We saw these structures even though the yeast barely expressed the proteins, because TirC was (again) very toxic to yeast. 6/
May 2, 2026 at 2:36 PM
TirC can make both puncta and filaments that span the yeast cells! We saw these structures even though the yeast barely expressed the proteins, because TirC was (again) very toxic to yeast. 6/
The Dirtbombs live at Mojo's in Columbia, Missouri, on March 18, 2006. @broknheadphones.bsky.social
The Dirtbombs ~ Live at Mojo's in Columbia, MO (2006)
YouTube video by TIRC Records
www.youtube.com
August 2, 2025 at 10:07 PM
The Dirtbombs live at Mojo's in Columbia, Missouri, on March 18, 2006. @broknheadphones.bsky.social
Do the amoeba proteins oligomerize in a eukaryotic cell? We worked with the Halfmann lab to measure this in yeast. Their elegant DAmFRET system showed that TirC & TirD both oligomerize, analogous to mammalian inflammasome proteins MAFV & PYCARD. For TirC (but not D) this requires the catalytic E. 5/
May 2, 2026 at 2:36 PM
Do the amoeba proteins oligomerize in a eukaryotic cell? We worked with the Halfmann lab to measure this in yeast. Their elegant DAmFRET system showed that TirC & TirD both oligomerize, analogous to mammalian inflammasome proteins MAFV & PYCARD. For TirC (but not D) this requires the catalytic E. 5/
Congrats to THIS INK RUNS COLD’s @josevillarrubia.bsky.social for his Eisner nomination for BEST COLORING, for TIRC and a ton of other incredible work! And congrats to all the nominees—I’m excited for TIRC to be represented by José and also to be a part of the Best Anthology nod, STARDUST!
May 14, 2026 at 5:47 PM
Congrats to THIS INK RUNS COLD’s @josevillarrubia.bsky.social for his Eisner nomination for BEST COLORING, for TIRC and a ton of other incredible work! And congrats to all the nominees—I’m excited for TIRC to be represented by José and also to be a part of the Best Anthology nod, STARDUST!
Big take away 2:
HGT of bacterial immune proteins is dangerous business! The risk of autoimmunity can be high, especially when regulation changes. We speculate that amoebae have other negative regulators outside of TirC that keep its toxicity in check. 11/
HGT of bacterial immune proteins is dangerous business! The risk of autoimmunity can be high, especially when regulation changes. We speculate that amoebae have other negative regulators outside of TirC that keep its toxicity in check. 11/
May 2, 2026 at 2:36 PM
Big take away 2:
HGT of bacterial immune proteins is dangerous business! The risk of autoimmunity can be high, especially when regulation changes. We speculate that amoebae have other negative regulators outside of TirC that keep its toxicity in check. 11/
HGT of bacterial immune proteins is dangerous business! The risk of autoimmunity can be high, especially when regulation changes. We speculate that amoebae have other negative regulators outside of TirC that keep its toxicity in check. 11/
We then made single, double & triple tirBCD- mutants in amoebae. All grew fine, but tirC- mutants had mild defects in their phagocytosis of bacteria. These results hint that the co-opted bacterial protein may have been repurposed for eukaryotic anti-bacterial immunity. 9/
May 2, 2026 at 2:36 PM
We then made single, double & triple tirBCD- mutants in amoebae. All grew fine, but tirC- mutants had mild defects in their phagocytosis of bacteria. These results hint that the co-opted bacterial protein may have been repurposed for eukaryotic anti-bacterial immunity. 9/
Re-issued the great Pro-Vel Records compilation, It Came From Uranus, yesterday. Do you have it? Download the full album for just a buck at tircrecords.bandcamp.com!
TIRC Records
Trouble in River City (TIRC) Records was established in St. Louis, Missouri, in 1999.
Proceeds from sales will go directly to our favorite charity, Parent Project Muscular Dystrophy (PPMD).
tircrecords.bandcamp.com
March 9, 2025 at 4:16 AM
Re-issued the great Pro-Vel Records compilation, It Came From Uranus, yesterday. Do you have it? Download the full album for just a buck at tircrecords.bandcamp.com!
Uranus was discovered on this day in 1781.
It Came From... Uranus, by TIRC Records
21 track album
tircrecords.bandcamp.com
March 14, 2025 at 12:53 AM
Uranus was discovered on this day in 1781.
However, when we overexpressed TirC in its native cell context, the amoebae were... essentially fine! Even though TirC still formed puncta in the cells. This was in stark contrast to the spontaneous in vitro activity and extreme toxicity in E. coli and yeast 8/
May 2, 2026 at 2:36 PM
However, when we overexpressed TirC in its native cell context, the amoebae were... essentially fine! Even though TirC still formed puncta in the cells. This was in stark contrast to the spontaneous in vitro activity and extreme toxicity in E. coli and yeast 8/
To summarize, the horizontally-acquired TIR is an NADase that readily oligomerizes and forms filaments, just like its close bacterial immune homolog. What do the amoebae use TirC for? We initially hypothesized that TirC might cause programmed cell death, similar to bacterial and plant TIRs 7/
May 2, 2026 at 2:36 PM
To summarize, the horizontally-acquired TIR is an NADase that readily oligomerizes and forms filaments, just like its close bacterial immune homolog. What do the amoebae use TirC for? We initially hypothesized that TirC might cause programmed cell death, similar to bacterial and plant TIRs 7/
TIRC Records half-page ad in the next issue of @razorcake.bsky.social! Look for it.
January 16, 2026 at 4:01 PM
TIRC Records half-page ad in the next issue of @razorcake.bsky.social! Look for it.
Big take away 1:
TirC was recently horizontally acquired and shows features of both bacterial and eukaryotic immunity. Its biochemistry and oligomerization are like bacterial TIRs, but its regulation at the gene and protein level are clearly different. 10/
TirC was recently horizontally acquired and shows features of both bacterial and eukaryotic immunity. Its biochemistry and oligomerization are like bacterial TIRs, but its regulation at the gene and protein level are clearly different. 10/
May 2, 2026 at 2:36 PM
Big take away 1:
TirC was recently horizontally acquired and shows features of both bacterial and eukaryotic immunity. Its biochemistry and oligomerization are like bacterial TIRs, but its regulation at the gene and protein level are clearly different. 10/
TirC was recently horizontally acquired and shows features of both bacterial and eukaryotic immunity. Its biochemistry and oligomerization are like bacterial TIRs, but its regulation at the gene and protein level are clearly different. 10/
Our collaborators in the Morehouse lab showed that amoeba TirC is indeed an NADase! It generates ADPR and nicotinamide, just like TIR-STING. But these studies were hard to do, because amoeba TirC is ✨spontaneously active✨ and highly toxic when expressed in E. coli. 4/
May 2, 2026 at 2:36 PM
Our collaborators in the Morehouse lab showed that amoeba TirC is indeed an NADase! It generates ADPR and nicotinamide, just like TIR-STING. But these studies were hard to do, because amoeba TirC is ✨spontaneously active✨ and highly toxic when expressed in E. coli. 4/
Inspired by fellow amazing creator @caspi.bsky.social I'm giving away a Runic Bundle to celebrate passing 1k followers!
Thimbleton Inksquire's Runic Compendium
Lich of the Lost module (16-20)
TIRC VTT tokens
The Printable Runic Card Deck
Follow me and reskeet to enter!
#DnD
Thimbleton Inksquire's Runic Compendium
Lich of the Lost module (16-20)
TIRC VTT tokens
The Printable Runic Card Deck
Follow me and reskeet to enter!
#DnD
November 27, 2024 at 7:03 PM
Inspired by fellow amazing creator @caspi.bsky.social I'm giving away a Runic Bundle to celebrate passing 1k followers!
Thimbleton Inksquire's Runic Compendium
Lich of the Lost module (16-20)
TIRC VTT tokens
The Printable Runic Card Deck
Follow me and reskeet to enter!
#DnD
Thimbleton Inksquire's Runic Compendium
Lich of the Lost module (16-20)
TIRC VTT tokens
The Printable Runic Card Deck
Follow me and reskeet to enter!
#DnD
HEY! Are you following TIRC Records on Bandcamp? It's a good way to get updates about, ya know, STUFF. TIRC stuff. Cuz sometimes I might forget to update our followers here and whatnot. I mean, hey, we're all getting older, right? So go here and add yourself to our Bandcamp mailing list why doncha?
TIRC Records
Rock'n'Fuckin' Roll since 1999.
Some of our earlier releases are no longer available. Deal with it.
Proceeds from current sales now support legal and humanitarian groups helping immigrant and margin...
tircrecords.bandcamp.com
December 12, 2025 at 8:24 PM
HEY! Are you following TIRC Records on Bandcamp? It's a good way to get updates about, ya know, STUFF. TIRC stuff. Cuz sometimes I might forget to update our followers here and whatnot. I mean, hey, we're all getting older, right? So go here and add yourself to our Bandcamp mailing list why doncha?
And there it is, 1k! ☺️As a thank you, and because I like sharing the cool things I helped to make, I'm giving away a Runic Bundle!
Thimbleton Inksquire's Runic Compendium
Lich of the Lost module (16-20)
TIRC VTT tokens
The Printable Runic Card Deck
Follow me and reskeet to enter!
Thimbleton Inksquire's Runic Compendium
Lich of the Lost module (16-20)
TIRC VTT tokens
The Printable Runic Card Deck
Follow me and reskeet to enter!
November 27, 2024 at 5:09 PM
And there it is, 1k! ☺️As a thank you, and because I like sharing the cool things I helped to make, I'm giving away a Runic Bundle!
Thimbleton Inksquire's Runic Compendium
Lich of the Lost module (16-20)
TIRC VTT tokens
The Printable Runic Card Deck
Follow me and reskeet to enter!
Thimbleton Inksquire's Runic Compendium
Lich of the Lost module (16-20)
TIRC VTT tokens
The Printable Runic Card Deck
Follow me and reskeet to enter!
Texas Internet Radio Chart Announces New TIRC Tex-Mex Airplay Chart
New chart launching in January 2027 will spotlight a Texas-rooted sound blending Texas Country and American roots music with Mexican-American influences
New chart launching in January 2027 will spotlight a Texas-rooted sound blending Texas Country and American roots music with Mexican-American influences
Texas Internet Radio Chart Announces New TIRC Tex-Mex Airplay Chart
New chart launching in January 2027 will spotlight a Texas-rooted sound blending Texas Country and American roots music with Mexican-American influences
tejanonation.net
September 22, 2026 at 7:51 PM
Texas Internet Radio Chart Announces New TIRC Tex-Mex Airplay Chart
New chart launching in January 2027 will spotlight a Texas-rooted sound blending Texas Country and American roots music with Mexican-American influences
New chart launching in January 2027 will spotlight a Texas-rooted sound blending Texas Country and American roots music with Mexican-American influences
When I was a young and spry 34 years old, I started this local label called Trouble in River City (TIRC) Records. The first release was a 27-track compilation CD called Landlocked & Loaded, and at the same time I also put out my first and only 7” single by local surf band, The Honkeys.
February 23, 2025 at 12:42 AM
When I was a young and spry 34 years old, I started this local label called Trouble in River City (TIRC) Records. The first release was a 27-track compilation CD called Landlocked & Loaded, and at the same time I also put out my first and only 7” single by local surf band, The Honkeys.
TIRC tees on sale for just $16 right now. Go grab one!
www.teepublic.com/t-shirt/7618...
www.teepublic.com/t-shirt/7618...
TIRC Records by psychofuzz
Trouble in River City (TIRC) Records, St. Louis, Missouri
www.teepublic.com
July 4, 2025 at 9:07 PM
TIRC tees on sale for just $16 right now. Go grab one!
www.teepublic.com/t-shirt/7618...
www.teepublic.com/t-shirt/7618...
Been working on the next TIRC release, a retrospective collection of instro-mental surf & hot rod tunes by the late, great, KNUCKEL DRAGER (sic) of Madison, Wisconsin.
January 27, 2026 at 3:25 PM
Been working on the next TIRC release, a retrospective collection of instro-mental surf & hot rod tunes by the late, great, KNUCKEL DRAGER (sic) of Madison, Wisconsin.
THIS INK RUNS COLD original art will be on hand at Booth 4701– #SDCC . Select published pages from TIRC and the Brush-Offs, along with other ephemera from the Space/Crime Continuum… come grab an actual piece of the odyssey!
July 17, 2025 at 7:09 PM
THIS INK RUNS COLD original art will be on hand at Booth 4701– #SDCC . Select published pages from TIRC and the Brush-Offs, along with other ephemera from the Space/Crime Continuum… come grab an actual piece of the odyssey!
As much as I don't wanna toot our own horn, backfiring in TIRC is a great start, but not the whole answer. We'd certainly need more varied types of caster disasters, but starting off with a big BOOM is a good knock on the door. Frankly, if we're speaking 5e, toss Wild Magic on everything /hj
December 17, 2024 at 1:37 PM
As much as I don't wanna toot our own horn, backfiring in TIRC is a great start, but not the whole answer. We'd certainly need more varied types of caster disasters, but starting off with a big BOOM is a good knock on the door. Frankly, if we're speaking 5e, toss Wild Magic on everything /hj
New video for the Bitter Ends ~ Just Another Day #garagerock #garagepunk #rocknroll #fuzzpunk #stlmusic
The Bitter Ends ~ Just Another Day (St. Louis Garage Rock)
YouTube video by TIRC Records
www.youtube.com
July 30, 2025 at 4:08 AM
New video for the Bitter Ends ~ Just Another Day #garagerock #garagepunk #rocknroll #fuzzpunk #stlmusic