Behind the Paper
The real stories behind the latest research papers, from conception to publication, the highs and the lows
A bacterial change of scene: a story about membrane filtration.
At the start of my PhD I had an interesting discussion with my colleague Florian Beyer (co-author on this paper) about the ecological features of synthetic membranes. This discussion set the objective of this paper; understanding which physiological features bacteria require to colonize synthetic membranes. Our quest has uncovered valuable information that pinpoints bacterial weaknesses that could potentially be used to control membrane biofouling.
A Parasite’s Structural Proteins Shed Light on its Perplexing Physiology
Research on understudied proteins in Toxoplasma gondii gives researchers new insights into how this parasite maintains its structural stability and provides a tool for studying a structure previously observed only through electron microscopy
IT’S ALL A MATTER OF TIMING: VIRUS REPLICATION AND CIRCADIAN RHYTHMS.
Our circadian clock controls many physiological functions, including our metabolism and immune responses. Since our susceptibility to infection is dependent on the time of day, can viruses exploit circadian pathways to their advantage? Our study shows how the circadian regulators Bmal1 and Rev-Erbα regulate flavivirus replication.
Can more productive agriculture also be sustainable and resilient?
Innovations in farm system management and smart use of natural capital underlie the bulk of recent agricultural productivity growth. Coordinated research on total factor productivity (TFP) can show us how to ‘do more with less’ in agriculture, enhancing the sustainability and resilience of farming systems.
