George O'Toole (he/him/his)

I'm out! Thanks for all those who have followed posts on JB and our lab research. Please find me at BlueSky @geiselbiofilm.bsky.social

New in JB: Roberge & Burrows review the role of the PilB ATPase and other factors in the assembly of type IV pili. journals.asm.org/doi/10.1128/jb… @ASMicrobiology @JBacteriology

TfpY is a conserved accessory protein found in type IV pili (T4P)-expressing bacteria. While T4P are often phage receptors, research in #JBacteriology suggests TfpY does not mediate phage defense, but instead facilitates efficient pilus assembly/function. asm.social/2gA

New in JB: Romanov and O'Connor will teach you about the history of Legionella, and its tremendous role as a tool to understand host biology. pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/39636264/ @ASMicrobiology @JBacteriology

Pls share: Tenure-Track Assistant Professor of Microbiology, Hofstra University, NY Full ad and application link: hofstra.peopleadmin.com/postings/5041

My last week on X. Please find me at @GeiselBiofilm on BlueSky

New in JB: Garretto, Woods et al. examine 2,248 clinical E. faecium isolates and show that Bacteriocin 43 (bac43) is highly conserved and increasing in prevalence, which has implications for infections/spread by this pathogen. @asm.org #Jbacteriology journals.asm.org/doi/10.1128/jb…

Know an outstanding lecturer? Nominate them for the ASM Distinguished Lecturer (ASMDL) roster, a group of accomplished scientists who deliver lectures & participate in career development & mentoring activities at ASM Branch meetings. Submit by Jan. 28! asm.social/2g5

Join us!

New in JB: Brezovská, Krásný et al. show that a σA-MoaB2 interaction modulates gene expression in. M smegmatis - and they solve the structure of MoaB2, too. journals.asm.org/doi/10.1128/jb… @ASMicrobiology @JBacteriology

Pls share: Penn State Berks, a college of Penn State University in suburban Reading, has a Tenure-track appointment in biology with a focus in prokaryotic microbiology starting August 2025. A Ph.D. in microbiology or a related field is required. berks.psu.edu

2 weeks til my X-it. If you are interested in biofilms and ASM publishing, please join me on Blue Sky: @geiselbiofilm.bsky.social

A new direction for research in the lab around carbon sequestration! irving.dartmouth.edu/news/2025/01/t…

JB Editor's Choice: Ramírez-Guadiana, Rudner et al. perform a genetic screen to identify spore germination genes. Their data support a model whereby GerY, GerT, and the GerP play a role in the transit of nutrients across the spore coat. journals.asm.org/doi/10.1128/jb… @ASMicrobiology

Mycobacterium abscessus (Mabs) is often found in the cystic fibrosis (CF) lung, where it forms biofilms. Exogenous heme alters Mabs biofilms by preventing formation of a submerged film and promoting the growth of unattached aggregates. @JournalSpectrum: asm.social/2fM

Just published a new paper with our collaborator here at Dartmouth - Mukul Sharma. This project leverages disciplines from micro to earth sciences to oceanography to explore a new mechanism of carbon sequestration. nature.com/articles/s4159…

JB Editor's Choice: Carey, Parsek et al. explore the regulation of the Psl matrix component by QS. journals.asm.org/doi/abs/10.112… @ASMicrobiology @JBacteriology

Hi all: I will be X-iting this feed soon and moving to BlueSky: Find me at @geiselbiofilm for all things JB, ASM journals and O'Toole lab and Dartmouth microbiology related posts. I'll keep you posted.