Respiratory Microbiomes

Help me out #MicroSky - what are your favourite microbial/viral genetics practical classes for undergraduates that can be run across just two sessions?

Our part of the work was supported by Simran Patel, a brilliant MIBTP DTP PhD student on rotation with us and who is now continuing her main PhD project with @friendlymicrobe.bsky.social at Warwick.

We were also able to associate immunological markers of frailty with community structure of the microbiota and specific organisms. These could be alterations due to changes in immunity, or perhaps it could be a shift that anticipates the increased respiratory infection rates in this group of people

Though there are few microbiome studies in older people, it's already known that healthy older people do have different, more variable microbial communities to younger people. We found that the respiratory microbiota is really distinct in swabs from the back of the throat in frail older adults.

New pre-print from the group with our immunology friends! @kylie.belchamber.com led this study of frailty in older people. Our contribution was looking at the respiratory microbiome in younger, healthy older people and frail older people. www.biorxiv.org/content/10.6...

Incredible time at #AIR2026 covering breadth of respiratory infection, microbiomes and immunology with some really beautiful biology. Thanks to fellow committee members @resp-micro.bsky.social @drclairesmith.bsky.social @ewanharrison.bsky.social , Alex Kayongo and organisers @eventswcs.bsky.social

Very much looking forward to 2 days of great talks at #MMEG2025, and to catching up with @resp-micro.bsky.social and @jamesemcdonald.bsky.social.

Work on respiratory immunology or microbes? Interested in big data, omics or the latest in vitro models?... Treat your lab to a christmas present of AIR 2026 registration!

Feb 11th-13th, registration closing soon:
coursesandconferences.wellcomeconnectingscience.org/event/air-20...

We strongly encourage candidates of all different backgrounds and identities to apply. Each new group member is an opportunity for us to bring in a different perspective. We're committed to building an inclusive, supportive place for you to develop as a researcher and achieve your PhD.

Co-supervisors are Aaron Scott (Birmingham) and Rachel Clifford at the University of Nottingham

Deadline is 9th January and there is likely to be strong competition so do get in contact first if you're interested.

Come and join our respiratory microbiome group!

Smoke and Microbes: impact of smoking, vaping and pollution on the respiratory microbiome at University of Birmingham on FindAPhD.com PhD Project - Smoke and Microbes: impact of smoking, vaping and pollution on the respiratory microbiome at University of Birmingham, listed on FindAPhD.com

Really pleased to say we're able to advertise a fully funded PhD studentship supported by the MRC AIM DTP. Smoke and Microbes! Impact of Smoking, Vaping and Pollution on the Respiratory Microbiome www.findaphd.com/phds/project...

Last chance to register! #MMEG2025 is just two weeks away, and we’re shining a spotlight on two unmissable panel sessions at the event.

Abstract deadline for this meeting is Monday - still time to pull one together! Great mix of speakers covering the interface between immunology, infection and omics in respiratory disease.

Are these the happiest PhD students in the world? Brazil, Australia and Italy have the highest satisfaction scores in Nature’s global 2025 PhD survey — but are these nations really the best places to do a doctorate?

Globally, supervisor time, manageable workloads, and early‑stage optimism correlate most with satisfaction, while long hours consistently reduce it.

What has made the biggest difference for your #PhD experience?

Link to the Nature article:

We have a number of fully funded PhD opportunities supported by the MIBTP DTP in the Department of Microbes, Infection and Microbiomes in the University of Birmingham.

Topics from gut, vaginal and nasal microbiomes to AMR, Staph aureus and HPV in tonsils www.birmingham.ac.uk/about/colleg...

A flyer with a dark blue and black gradient background, with faint microbes decorating it. In the middle is a large yellow glowing "5" and underneath it reads "years of #BlackInMicro"

Thank you to everyone who has joined, backed us, and participated. Your impact goes beyond a hashtag; it's a lasting legacy. To keep #BlackInMicro alive, Donate: tinyurl.com/GiveBiM and Register to attend: linktr.ee/BlackInMicro (see links in bio) #BiMWeek2025

New respiratory 🫁 infection and microbiomes conference in Hinxton with stellar line up of speakers.

🚨 Submit your abstracts now! 🚨

Please RT

coursesandconferences.wellcomeconnectingscience.org/event/air-20...

The Kocurious case of Noodlococcus: genomic insights into Kocuria rhizophila from characterisation of a laboratory contaminant The laboratory contaminant strain Noodlococcus was named for its coccoid cells and unusual colony morphology, which resembled a pile of noodles. Along with laboratory characterisation and electron mic...

Published today!

'The Kocurious case of Noodlococcus: genomic insights into Kocuria rhizophila from characterisation of a laboratory contaminant'

A labour of love in the group, led by @gemccallum.bsky.social @biostan.bsky.social @prob91.bsky.social

www.microbiologyresearch.org/content/jour...

Senior Research Technician at University of Birmingham Explore an exciting academic career as a Senior Research Technician. Don't miss out on other academic jobs. Click to apply and explore more opportunities.

We are looking for a senior technician (can undertake PhD) at Uni of Birmingham (UK) to study chromatin replication and ubiquitylation using Xenopus egg extract. Deadline 28/10/25. Get in touch with me or @m-saponaro.bsky.social for informal inquiries. Please share.
www.jobs.ac.uk/job/DOW912/s...

Airway microbial communities, smoking and asthma in a general population sample - PubMed The study was funded by the Asmarley Trust and a Wellcome Joint Senior Investigator Award to WOCC and MFM (WT096964MA and WT097117MA). The Busselton Healthy Ageing Study is supported by the Government...

That's data from a study from an @imperialnhli.bsky.social study with the Busselton Health Study pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34425308/ All bacteria were down in total numbers, but Streptococcus species were more resilient and clinging on. We don't yet know why.

Really pleased to be involved with this study, we're going to lend our respiratory microbiome expertise to see what the impact of vaping is like. With smoking, the respiratory microbiome is already altered _before_ some people develop COPD - the dysbiosis has already happened.

Research Fellow at University of Birmingham Apply now for the Research Fellow role on jobs.ac.uk - the leading job board for higher education jobs. View details.

Job opportunity in my lab! We're looking for a post-doc to come join us for an exciting project exploring the evolution of #AMR and #hypervirulence in #klebsiella. Please share!! @unibirmingham.bsky.social Details: www.jobs.ac.uk/job/DOV067/r...

I don't know - I'm hoping an annual and I suspect if we do a good job it will be and if we don't...make the most out of this one! :D

Be thAIR or be squAIR

(My second entry into the organising committee pun competition. A winner there I think).

We've got human challenge models, in vitro models, microbiome and metagenomic diagnostics, interactions between bugs and immune system, single cell, spatial transcriptomics and it is ALL respiratory

Early notice of NEW Wellcome Conference -
AIR 2026: Genomic and Systems Approaches to Respiratory Infection, Microbiomes and Immunity 11th-13th February, sign up below for notifications

coursesandconferences.wellcomeconnectingscience.org/our-events/c...

It's immunulogy AND it's microbiology 🫁

Congratulations to Dr Sandhu!! Our first PhD student @resp-micro.bsky.social Operation Rainbow Unicorn is complete!! Thanks to examiners Karl Staples and Amanda Rossiter 🦄

Lucy (mid 20s white woman) holding a sign saying 'spread love' with a Petri dish on it containing heart shaped colonies, next to Mike (bearded white man) wearing a trans ally shirt and holding a rainbow flag.

Lucy holding her soread love sign with an asexual flag draped over her back.

Fabulous Brum Pride parade with the also fabulous @resp-micro.bsky.social #microsky 🧪🧫🏳️‍🌈

​The rise of the early cystic fibrosis lung coloniser, Haemophilus influenzae With the increasing availability of modulator therapies for people with cystic fibrosis, end-stage infection with Pseudomonas aeruginosa is becoming less common. But are we going to see a rise in the ...

Why should microbiologists working on #CysticFibrosis study Haemophilus influenzae? @phoebesilva.bsky.social explains all for @amiposts.bsky.social www.the-microbiologist.com/features/the... #MicroSky

Very happy to take informal enquiries to find out more, and interested in diverse skills, background and experience. There will also be other opportunities for PhDs funded by the HPRU so keep an eye out for those too.