Happy to share new lab paper in @CurrentBiology driven by postdoc @Microbe_Fan and student Jessica Weckhorst on identifying #insulin signaling as key regulator of the gut #microbiome in #Celegans. FIND IT HERE: sciencedirect.com/science/ar… cc: @bcm_microbiome @bcmhouston 1/n

And the science begins! Remember the new experiments we promised with the arrival of the @northropgrumman Cygnus? Today we conducted MVP Cell‑09, which examines the effects of bacterial infection (Streptococcus pneumoniae) on heart tissue in microgravity. By leveraging the unique environment of space, where muscle tissue undergoes accelerated atrophy and bacterial infections can become more severe, researchers hope to create an enhanced model for studying how pneumonia damages the heart. Here, I am replacing the media (the nutrients that the cells need to grow) for the cells. I also prepared some of the units for RNA analysis and put them in the freezer, to be eventually returned to the ground for further experimentation.

Researchers are refining ways to grow food for future missions! 🌱🫛 Veg-06 recently arrived to the space station to study how spaceflight impacts plant-microbe interactions. A process that may provide the necessary nitrogen these plants need to grow.

Shoutout to our #microbiome experiments on the #ISS! #CBIOMES #wormsinspace #spacebiology #Celegans

A @NASA-funded investigation on the #ISS brings together B. Samuel @microbeMinded, S. Vanapalli and M. Driscoll to address #microgravity effects on the #gutMicrobiome and what that means on long-duration missions. bit.ly/4clyhnP @bcmhouston @TexasTech @RutgersU

Cutting NIH funds hurts all Americans. Why? Three main reasons: #1: These funds support a huge industry in all 50 states. For every $1 of NIH funding generated, there is a short-term return of ~$2.46 in economic activity1. The $4B in cuts will take away $10B from the economy.

If you are worried about how @NIH’s proposed 15% cap on research support will impact American competitiveness and biomedical innovation, call your reps! The more they hear from us as constituents and private citizens, the more likely they are to fight for science.

Here's our guide to states that allow same-day voter registration on Election Day — meaning you can still show up, register and cast your vote today. For more info, visit vote.gov or your local elections website, or read our story here: cbsnews.com/news/same-day-vo…

The formal job ad for our technician position is posted! Join us and help us learn more about oxytocin in the gut! jobs.rutgers.edu/postings/23…

I'm opening the doors to my very own microbial genomics research lab at @BCMFromtheLabs in Houston, TX. I'm looking for talented biologists to join me on this journey through sequence space. Featuring: - Wastewater and human virome - Phages, all of them - Microbial epigenomes

Congratulations, @BenhamPyleLab, @BoeynaemsSteven and @HongjieLi5, recipients of a 2024 @NIH Director's New #Innovator Award! @bcmhouston @BCMCancerCenter @bcmgenetics @TCHResearchNews @CPRITTexas commonfund.nih.gov/newinnova…

I’m so excited to join this fantastic group of early career scientists! Big shoutout to my @bcmhouston neighbors @HongjieLi5 and @BoeynaemsSteven, my fellow @Planaria1 lab alum @longhua_guo, and my former @stanfordcbio classmate @dianyang1117!

Absolutely bursting with C. elegans, @UMassChan , @MGHMolBio , Simches 7 pride this morning!!! Congrats Victor and Gary!!!!

Like everyone else in the C elegans community, I rejoice not only for the validation of usefulness of our favorite worm but for basic research. Take home lesson: Funding Agencies in all countries should support fundamental and blue sky research.