William Foege has died. He was a central architect of smallpox eradication, pioneering surveillance-driven ring vaccination when vaccine supply was limited. That strategy helped eliminate the deadliest human pathogen we’ve ever known.
www.nytimes.com/2026/01/24/u...
www.nytimes.com/2026/01/24/u...
William H. Foege, Key Figure in the Eradication of Smallpox, Dies at 89
www.nytimes.com
January 25, 2026 at 7:38 AM
William Foege has died. He was a central architect of smallpox eradication, pioneering surveillance-driven ring vaccination when vaccine supply was limited. That strategy helped eliminate the deadliest human pathogen we’ve ever known.
www.nytimes.com/2026/01/24/u...
www.nytimes.com/2026/01/24/u...
New study finds correlation between climate driven temperature rise, increasingly unpredictable rain patterns + accelerating development of antibiotic resistance genes.
If picked up by a pathogen, resistant genes could make that pathogen harder to treat.
share.google/wLPIZWFxPi84...
1/3
If picked up by a pathogen, resistant genes could make that pathogen harder to treat.
share.google/wLPIZWFxPi84...
1/3
Climate crisis is accelerating antibiotic resistance across world, study says
Experts say climate change linked to 10% rise in salmonella antibiotic resistance genes between 1940 and 2023
share.google
May 27, 2026 at 10:41 AM
New study finds correlation between climate driven temperature rise, increasingly unpredictable rain patterns + accelerating development of antibiotic resistance genes.
If picked up by a pathogen, resistant genes could make that pathogen harder to treat.
share.google/wLPIZWFxPi84...
1/3
If picked up by a pathogen, resistant genes could make that pathogen harder to treat.
share.google/wLPIZWFxPi84...
1/3
What may sound like a spa day for frogs is all part of a global effort to fight the chytrid fungus — the deadly pathogen responsible for what scientists have called the largest disease-driven loss of vertebrates in recorded history. https://cnn.it/4rgdzLz
February 26, 2026 at 3:58 AM
What may sound like a spa day for frogs is all part of a global effort to fight the chytrid fungus — the deadly pathogen responsible for what scientists have called the largest disease-driven loss of vertebrates in recorded history. https://cnn.it/4rgdzLz
Review of 200 novel human #viruses over a century a reminder that pathogen emergence isn’t rare
Increased human-animal interaction, driven by factors such as urbanization and deforestation, has created new opportunities for pathogens to jump species.
www.cidrap.umn.edu/m...
Increased human-animal interaction, driven by factors such as urbanization and deforestation, has created new opportunities for pathogens to jump species.
www.cidrap.umn.edu/m...
January 2, 2026 at 9:29 PM
Review of 200 novel human #viruses over a century a reminder that pathogen emergence isn’t rare
Increased human-animal interaction, driven by factors such as urbanization and deforestation, has created new opportunities for pathogens to jump species.
www.cidrap.umn.edu/m...
Increased human-animal interaction, driven by factors such as urbanization and deforestation, has created new opportunities for pathogens to jump species.
www.cidrap.umn.edu/m...
Immunoseneszenz und Veränderungen der genetischen und epigenetischen Umgebung des Wirts. Dies gilt insbesondere unter Bedingungen von Entzündungen, Stress oder Immundysregulation, die es latenten Krankheitserregern ermöglichen, ihre Aktivität angesichts der Immunantwort des Wirts
August 13, 2025 at 4:54 PM
Immunoseneszenz und Veränderungen der genetischen und epigenetischen Umgebung des Wirts. Dies gilt insbesondere unter Bedingungen von Entzündungen, Stress oder Immundysregulation, die es latenten Krankheitserregern ermöglichen, ihre Aktivität angesichts der Immunantwort des Wirts
We consider it a public health emergency. Not all health threats are pathogen-driven and gun violence is the #1 threat to our kids.
February 28, 2025 at 4:28 AM
We consider it a public health emergency. Not all health threats are pathogen-driven and gun violence is the #1 threat to our kids.
Humidity-driven ABA depletion determines plant-pathogen competition for leaf water
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
Humidity-driven ABA depletion determines plant-pathogen competition for leaf water
Bacterial phytopathogens, such as Pseudomonas syringae pv. tomato ( Pst ) DC3000, induce water-soaked lesions in the leaf apoplast under high humidity, facilitating infection. However, it remains larg...
www.biorxiv.org
January 6, 2025 at 7:54 AM
Humidity-driven ABA depletion determines plant-pathogen competition for leaf water
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
Who couldn’t use a little OUTSIDE ASSISTANCE 🦠 ???
Intracellular 𝘗𝘴𝘦𝘶𝘥𝘰𝘮𝘰𝘯𝘢𝘴 𝘢𝘦𝘳𝘶𝘨𝘪𝘯𝘰𝘴𝘢 cells can only escape vacuoles with help from extracellular cells via type III secretion–driven Ca²⁺ influx, ultimately promoting pathogen spread in vivo.
Suzanne Fleiszig Lab @UCBerkeley in Nature Comm
Intracellular 𝘗𝘴𝘦𝘶𝘥𝘰𝘮𝘰𝘯𝘢𝘴 𝘢𝘦𝘳𝘶𝘨𝘪𝘯𝘰𝘴𝘢 cells can only escape vacuoles with help from extracellular cells via type III secretion–driven Ca²⁺ influx, ultimately promoting pathogen spread in vivo.
Suzanne Fleiszig Lab @UCBerkeley in Nature Comm
August 12, 2025 at 11:28 AM
Who couldn’t use a little OUTSIDE ASSISTANCE 🦠 ???
Intracellular 𝘗𝘴𝘦𝘶𝘥𝘰𝘮𝘰𝘯𝘢𝘴 𝘢𝘦𝘳𝘶𝘨𝘪𝘯𝘰𝘴𝘢 cells can only escape vacuoles with help from extracellular cells via type III secretion–driven Ca²⁺ influx, ultimately promoting pathogen spread in vivo.
Suzanne Fleiszig Lab @UCBerkeley in Nature Comm
Intracellular 𝘗𝘴𝘦𝘶𝘥𝘰𝘮𝘰𝘯𝘢𝘴 𝘢𝘦𝘳𝘶𝘨𝘪𝘯𝘰𝘴𝘢 cells can only escape vacuoles with help from extracellular cells via type III secretion–driven Ca²⁺ influx, ultimately promoting pathogen spread in vivo.
Suzanne Fleiszig Lab @UCBerkeley in Nature Comm
A "lab-on-a-contact lens" can measure the hormone serotonin in tears to gauge stress levels, researchers trace how an immune-suppressing drug has unexpectedly driven resistance in a fungal pathogen, and more this week in #ScienceTranslationalMedicine. https://scim.ag/4yFg6CV
September 16, 2026 at 9:00 PM
A "lab-on-a-contact lens" can measure the hormone serotonin in tears to gauge stress levels, researchers trace how an immune-suppressing drug has unexpectedly driven resistance in a fungal pathogen, and more this week in #ScienceTranslationalMedicine. https://scim.ag/4yFg6CV
Being a leftist nullifidian rebellious dissenting nonconformist eccentric person wearing a respirator in a hypernormalizing pathogen-craving world driven by greed, bigotry and privilege is, at the very least, exhausting.
November 5, 2025 at 9:18 AM
Being a leftist nullifidian rebellious dissenting nonconformist eccentric person wearing a respirator in a hypernormalizing pathogen-craving world driven by greed, bigotry and privilege is, at the very least, exhausting.
TRUMPISM GERM PATHOLOGY
Trumpism functions as a reward-driven political pathogen. When norm-breaking earns attention and avoids consequence, systems select for repetition. This framework maps the conditions that sustain it and the levers that can interrupt persistence.
Trumpism functions as a reward-driven political pathogen. When norm-breaking earns attention and avoids consequence, systems select for repetition. This framework maps the conditions that sustain it and the levers that can interrupt persistence.
January 8, 2026 at 6:02 PM
TRUMPISM GERM PATHOLOGY
Trumpism functions as a reward-driven political pathogen. When norm-breaking earns attention and avoids consequence, systems select for repetition. This framework maps the conditions that sustain it and the levers that can interrupt persistence.
Trumpism functions as a reward-driven political pathogen. When norm-breaking earns attention and avoids consequence, systems select for repetition. This framework maps the conditions that sustain it and the levers that can interrupt persistence.
I used to do more biodefense work than I do now.
The whole AI-driven pathogen development fear is *not new*. There were worries about the development of synthetic viruses, etc. for bioterror back when I was in undergrad, that hit all the same notes.
The whole AI-driven pathogen development fear is *not new*. There were worries about the development of synthetic viruses, etc. for bioterror back when I was in undergrad, that hit all the same notes.
September 18, 2026 at 9:31 PM
I used to do more biodefense work than I do now.
The whole AI-driven pathogen development fear is *not new*. There were worries about the development of synthetic viruses, etc. for bioterror back when I was in undergrad, that hit all the same notes.
The whole AI-driven pathogen development fear is *not new*. There were worries about the development of synthetic viruses, etc. for bioterror back when I was in undergrad, that hit all the same notes.
Humidity-driven ABA depletion determines plant-pathogen competition for leaf water https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1101/2025.01.04.631318v1
January 5, 2025 at 8:03 AM
Humidity-driven ABA depletion determines plant-pathogen competition for leaf water https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1101/2025.01.04.631318v1
Study of 60 years' worth of historic strains of #coffee wilt disease pathogen #Fusarium xylarioides by Lily Peck, Tim Barraclough &co reveals that host specificity & disease were driven by serial HGT events from F. oxysporum @plosbiology.bsky.social plos.io/4gnYTVk
December 6, 2024 at 11:30 AM
Study of 60 years' worth of historic strains of #coffee wilt disease pathogen #Fusarium xylarioides by Lily Peck, Tim Barraclough &co reveals that host specificity & disease were driven by serial HGT events from F. oxysporum @plosbiology.bsky.social plos.io/4gnYTVk
📚 𝐅𝐨𝐜𝐮𝐬𝐞𝐝 𝐑𝐞𝐯𝐢𝐞𝐰
"How to frustrate a plant pathogen" 🐛
From structural genomics to AI-driven protein design, this review explores new strategies for engineering broad-spectrum resistance against plant pathogen effectors.
✍️ Knight, Heddle and @adamrbentham.bsky.social
👉 doi.org/10.1111/tpj....
"How to frustrate a plant pathogen" 🐛
From structural genomics to AI-driven protein design, this review explores new strategies for engineering broad-spectrum resistance against plant pathogen effectors.
✍️ Knight, Heddle and @adamrbentham.bsky.social
👉 doi.org/10.1111/tpj....
How to frustrate a plant pathogen
Plant pathogens deploy large families of structurally related but sequence-diverse effector proteins to manipulate host cells, allowing them to evade immune recognition whilst maintaining the capacit...
doi.org
June 13, 2026 at 5:47 PM
📚 𝐅𝐨𝐜𝐮𝐬𝐞𝐝 𝐑𝐞𝐯𝐢𝐞𝐰
"How to frustrate a plant pathogen" 🐛
From structural genomics to AI-driven protein design, this review explores new strategies for engineering broad-spectrum resistance against plant pathogen effectors.
✍️ Knight, Heddle and @adamrbentham.bsky.social
👉 doi.org/10.1111/tpj....
"How to frustrate a plant pathogen" 🐛
From structural genomics to AI-driven protein design, this review explores new strategies for engineering broad-spectrum resistance against plant pathogen effectors.
✍️ Knight, Heddle and @adamrbentham.bsky.social
👉 doi.org/10.1111/tpj....
2/
- Monovalent vaccines protect against one strain or pathogen (e.g., Hepatitis B).
- Multivalent (combination) vaccines protect against several at once MMR, DTaP, or HPV-9.
Multivalent ≠ “rushed cocktail.” It’s a deliberate, data-driven design that broadens protection safely and efficiency.
- Monovalent vaccines protect against one strain or pathogen (e.g., Hepatitis B).
- Multivalent (combination) vaccines protect against several at once MMR, DTaP, or HPV-9.
Multivalent ≠ “rushed cocktail.” It’s a deliberate, data-driven design that broadens protection safely and efficiency.
October 7, 2025 at 3:20 PM
2/
- Monovalent vaccines protect against one strain or pathogen (e.g., Hepatitis B).
- Multivalent (combination) vaccines protect against several at once MMR, DTaP, or HPV-9.
Multivalent ≠ “rushed cocktail.” It’s a deliberate, data-driven design that broadens protection safely and efficiency.
- Monovalent vaccines protect against one strain or pathogen (e.g., Hepatitis B).
- Multivalent (combination) vaccines protect against several at once MMR, DTaP, or HPV-9.
Multivalent ≠ “rushed cocktail.” It’s a deliberate, data-driven design that broadens protection safely and efficiency.
🗓 Pathoplexus turns ONE! 🎂🎉
In the past year we’ve grown from 4 pathogens to a truly global, community-driven platform for transparent, equitable & impactful pathogen sequence sharing.
📰 Read the full update: pathoplexus.org/news/2025-08...
1/10
In the past year we’ve grown from 4 pathogens to a truly global, community-driven platform for transparent, equitable & impactful pathogen sequence sharing.
📰 Read the full update: pathoplexus.org/news/2025-08...
1/10
August 27, 2025 at 3:57 PM
🗓 Pathoplexus turns ONE! 🎂🎉
In the past year we’ve grown from 4 pathogens to a truly global, community-driven platform for transparent, equitable & impactful pathogen sequence sharing.
📰 Read the full update: pathoplexus.org/news/2025-08...
1/10
In the past year we’ve grown from 4 pathogens to a truly global, community-driven platform for transparent, equitable & impactful pathogen sequence sharing.
📰 Read the full update: pathoplexus.org/news/2025-08...
1/10
New Article: "Arbuscular mycorrhizal association regulates global root–seed coordination" rdcu.be/eBmpX
Global positive correlation between root diameter and seed size, driven by dual roles of arbuscular mycorrhiza in phosphorus uptake and pathogen defence.
Global positive correlation between root diameter and seed size, driven by dual roles of arbuscular mycorrhiza in phosphorus uptake and pathogen defence.
August 19, 2025 at 10:39 AM
New Article: "Arbuscular mycorrhizal association regulates global root–seed coordination" rdcu.be/eBmpX
Global positive correlation between root diameter and seed size, driven by dual roles of arbuscular mycorrhiza in phosphorus uptake and pathogen defence.
Global positive correlation between root diameter and seed size, driven by dual roles of arbuscular mycorrhiza in phosphorus uptake and pathogen defence.
Proud to share our work on frogs' dynamics with the chytrid pathogen during climate-driven range expansion (tinyurl.com/climateshift...). Many species are undergoing climate-driven shifts, & the incidence of emerging infectious disease events has also increased. How do the two interact? (1/7)
Amphibians' Expansion to Record Elevations Influences Chytrid (Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis) Infection Dynamics
Peruvian frogs underwent a climate-driven range expansion into deglaciating mountains, exposing themselves and their fungal pathogen Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis (Bd) to challenging new thermal env...
tinyurl.com
March 20, 2026 at 6:56 PM
Proud to share our work on frogs' dynamics with the chytrid pathogen during climate-driven range expansion (tinyurl.com/climateshift...). Many species are undergoing climate-driven shifts, & the incidence of emerging infectious disease events has also increased. How do the two interact? (1/7)
It's been truly stunning to me the amount of scientists and doctors who think we can just wash our hands of a novel pathogen first encountered 5 years ago. I used to believe these were data-driven experts who put health concerns first. That illusion has been trampled many times over.
October 28, 2025 at 2:01 PM
It's been truly stunning to me the amount of scientists and doctors who think we can just wash our hands of a novel pathogen first encountered 5 years ago. I used to believe these were data-driven experts who put health concerns first. That illusion has been trampled many times over.
Excited to share work led by the wonderful Gopi Viswanathan examining roles of granuloma neutrophils &defining bacterial transcriptional profiles within mycobacterial granulomas. Cool collab with Qingyun Liu at UNC for evolutionary analysis of granuloma-specific genes www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
Granuloma dual RNA-seq reveals composite transcriptional programs driven by neutrophils and necrosis within tuberculous granulomas
Dual host-pathogen transcriptional profiling defines granuloma-specific programs during mycobacterial infection.
www.science.org
January 22, 2026 at 12:56 PM
Excited to share work led by the wonderful Gopi Viswanathan examining roles of granuloma neutrophils &defining bacterial transcriptional profiles within mycobacterial granulomas. Cool collab with Qingyun Liu at UNC for evolutionary analysis of granuloma-specific genes www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
Yep. Spoiler alert: they found evidence of relapsing fever (lice-borne Borrelia spp) -and paratyphoid fever.
www.cell.com/current-biol...
www.cell.com/current-biol...
Paratyphoid fever and relapsing fever in 1812 Napoleon's devastated army
By implementing a phylogeny-driven approach for authenticating ultra-low-coverage
pathogen aDNA, Barbieri et al. detect Salmonella enterica Paratyphi C and Borrelia
recurrentis, agents of paratyphoid ...
www.cell.com
October 25, 2025 at 12:22 PM
Yep. Spoiler alert: they found evidence of relapsing fever (lice-borne Borrelia spp) -and paratyphoid fever.
www.cell.com/current-biol...
www.cell.com/current-biol...
This is the same logic Stephen Miller used to make it harder for immigrants to enter the US. It is the same logic that populists have always used to demonize immigrants.
And in RFK Jr's case, he is using it to cover up his own failures.
journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10....
And in RFK Jr's case, he is using it to cover up his own failures.
journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10....
April 21, 2026 at 5:26 PM
This is the same logic Stephen Miller used to make it harder for immigrants to enter the US. It is the same logic that populists have always used to demonize immigrants.
And in RFK Jr's case, he is using it to cover up his own failures.
journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10....
And in RFK Jr's case, he is using it to cover up his own failures.
journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10....
Greed has driven wars, colonization, slavery, environmental collapse, famine, and vast inequality. Each of those has killed or harmed more people than any single pathogen ever has.
Greed is the deadliest plague humanity has ever faced.
😞
Greed is the deadliest plague humanity has ever faced.
😞
September 9, 2025 at 8:10 PM
Greed has driven wars, colonization, slavery, environmental collapse, famine, and vast inequality. Each of those has killed or harmed more people than any single pathogen ever has.
Greed is the deadliest plague humanity has ever faced.
😞
Greed is the deadliest plague humanity has ever faced.
😞