Bash the bug

Tiny microbes, big questions and plenty of curious minds at New Scientist Live! We had a brilliant time this weekend bringing our research to life🔬 Curious about what we got up to? Check out our blog post to see Droplet Detectives and Sinks Under Siege activities🦠 ➡️ bashthebug.net/2026/10/13/d...

Medical Research UK@medicalresearchuk.bsky.social

🦠🔬 What a weekend we had at New Scientist Live! We had so many brilliant conversations about the growing threat of superbugs and why research has never been more important. Thank you to our researchers for helping bring this vital research to life, and to everyone who stopped by our stand. 💚

bashthebug.netDroplet detectives and sinks under siege: MMM at New Scientist Live!How can bacteria spread from hospital sinks, and what can we do to stop them? We recently took our research to New Scientist Live, where researchers from Modernising Medical Microbiology (MMM) ran two interactive activities exploring bacterial transmission in hospital sinks. Over the course of the event, we spoke to more than 500 people, with children and families particularly keen to get involved!

Droplet detectives and sinks under siege: MMM at #NewScientistLive We spoke to over 500 people about how bacteria can spread from hospital sinks and how we might prevent it, with hands-on activities from our @BashTheBug team! Thanks to Medical Research UK for funding our stand! #Microbiology

bashthebug.netInfusoria BioArt exhibition exploring microbiology opens at the John Radcliffe HospitalBioArt exhibition exploring microbiology opens at the John Radcliffe Hospital A new display of work by artist Anna Dumitriu is now on show at the John Radcliffe Hospital, bringing together art, microbiology and research into healthcare-associated infections. The exhibition draws on research from Modernising Medical Microbiology into hospital environments, bacteria and antimicrobial resistance. Through BioArt, Anna’s work explores the microbial world that usually remains unseen and encourages people to think differently about the relationship between microorganisms, healthcare and our surroundings.

Infusoria BioArt exhibition exploring microbiology opens at the John Radcliffe Hospital! 📅 26 September – 6 November 2026 📍 Artlink Corridor Gallery, John Radcliffe Hospital, Oxford #ArtAndScience #Microbiology #AntimicrobialResistance #InfectionPrevention #PublicEngagement

bashthebug.netBeyond the basin: my research internship at OxfordHospital sinks are essential for handwashing, but beneath the basin lies a complex microbial environment that may present challenges for infection prevention. During my internship at the University of Oxford, I had the opportunity to contribute to research investigating the microorganisms found in hospital sinks and their potential relevance to patient safety. I worked under the supervision of Dr Aoife Kearney on the SELECTION project, building on Professor Nicole Stoesser and her colleagues’ research into hospital sink environments and healthcare-associated infections.

Beyond the basin: my research internship at Oxford Hospital sinks are essential for handwashing, but beneath the basin lies a complex microbial environment that may present challenges for infection prevention... Read more on our blog! #AMR #InfectionPrevention

bashthebug.netWhen microbiology becomes art: InfusoriaInfusoria 26 September – 6 November 2026Artlink Corridor Gallery, John Radcliffe Hospital, Oxford From hospital sinks to BioArt: our microbiology research inspires new exhibition Infusoria What does the microbial world of a hospital sink look like when viewed not only through the lens of microbiology, but through art? Research from Modernising Medical Microbiology (MMM) at the University of Oxford…

3 Sept

Microbiology is coming out of the lab! Infusoria, a new exhibition by MMM Artist-in-Residence Anna Dumitriu, runs in the JR Hospital from 26 Sept–6 Nov 2026. New works inspired by Oxford research explore hospital sinks, wastewater, water microbiomes and antimicrobial resistance.

bashthebug.netA closer look at microplastics! Recently, we visited UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology (UKCEH) to explore the analysis of microplastics in sink trap aspirates collected from hospital environments. It was a great opportunity to see the analytical process up close, exchange expertise and preliminary results, and take the next steps towards understanding which microplastics are present in these samples and their potential role in harbouring antimicrobial-resistant (AMR) bacteria.

27 Aug

A closer look at microplastics! Recently, we visited UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology (UKCEH) to explore the analysis of microplastics in sink trap aspirates collected from hospital environments.

Bash the bug reposted

26 Aug

A closer look at microplastics! Recently, we visited @ukceh.bsky.social to explore the analysis of #microplastics in sink trap aspirates collected from hospital environments. @afswinkels.bsky.social

bashthebug.netRisk factors for antimicrobial resistance in cancer patients and survivors: an electronic health record studyBloodstream infections occur when bacteria (which are germs that can cause disease) enter the blood and grow there. These infections are usually treated with antibiotics. However, bacteria can become resistant, meaning the antibiotics no longer work, and this is called antimicrobial resistance (AMR). It is a major worldwide health problem and people with cancer are especially at risk because both cancer treatments and the cancer itself weaken their immune systems (bodies own protection system).

3 Aug

Read our new blog post! Risk factors for antimicrobial resistance in cancer patients and survivors: an electronic health record study by Annie Hu

bashthebug.netWork experience: an exciting week at MMM!Over the last week I have had the pleasure of doing work experience here at MMM Labs, this has provided me with an incredible opportunity and skills that will benefit me greatly in the future such as pipetting and plating techniques. Over the course of the week, I have had the chance to talk to multiple members of the team and have had 1 on 1 conversations about their careers and certain topics such as bioinformatics, phylogenetic trees, environmental sampling from sinks and many more.

17 July

Work experience: an exciting week at MMM! Over the last week I have had the pleasure of doing work experience here at MMM Labs, this has provided me with an incredible opportunity and skills that will benefit me greatly in the future such as pipetting and plating techniques. Over the course of the…

Bash the bug reposted

Nick Sanderson

@nickdsandy.bsky.social

16 July

I named all the coffee machines in @modmedmicro.bsky.social

bashthebug.netWork experience: lab opportunities and career pathway chats!Over the last three days we had the pleasure of being introduced to the MMM team and the work they do. After understanding a bit more about lab safety, the pathways that lead to a role in microbiology, as well as how the lab performs sustainable practices, we were able to do our own hands-on experiments. We had the opportunity to amplify bacterial DNA using PCR to determine whether it carried a resistant gene to antibiotics.

1 July

Work experience: lab opportunities and career pathway chats! Over the last three days we had the pleasure of being introduced to the MMM team and the work they do...

Bash the bug reposted

WHO

@who.int

4 June

Sometimes, food can look good & still make you sick. You can reduce your risk of illness incl. by: ✅ Cooking meat all the way through ✅ Washing fruit & vegetable with safe water ✅ Keeping food at safe temp. 🆕 WHO estimates of the global burden of foodborne diseases 2026 ed. https://bit.ly/4dQyKQI

bashthebug.netNIHR webinar on BashTheBug on YouTubeBashTheBug was originally a large international citizen science project that invited anyone to help us classify how well different samples of M. tuberculosis grew in the presence of a range of antibiotics. It ran from 2017 to 2021 and in that time 46,427 people took part and collectively they classified 4,746,420 images of M. tuberculosis growing on different concentrations of one of 13 antibiotics.

1 June

NIHR webinar on BashTheBug on YouTube BashTheBug was originally a large international citizen science project that invited anyone to help us classify how well different samples of M. tuberculosis grew in the presence of a range of antibiotics. It ran from 2017 to 2021 and in that time 46,427…

We had an amazing time in Westgate, Oxford today! We had many attempts to 'bash the bug' and get the high score for the day on our dance mat 💃🕺 where overusing antibiotics causes resistance so you have to be careful what you're prescribing!💊 #AMR #ScienceOutreach #Microbiology #Oxford

And our DNA detective programme was a smash🕵‍♀️ Follow the bioinformatic instructions to figure out which patient in a ward has which infection, and work out from the hints which drugs will help the patient get better!

Thanks to the team for all their hardwork preparing and delivering the activities, especially in this heatwave! 🌞🌞🌞

Everybody loved the strawberry DNA extractions!🍓 Participants learnt how this technique can be used by scientists to diagnose infections in patients and the data used by doctors to see if the infection has any resistance and then choose which antibiotics to prescribe🧬 @oxfordbrc.bsky.social

The Mystery Outbreak poster was a hit! A cluedo-esque mystery where you had to follow the clues to find the source of illness in the hospital 🔍

Come and try our strawberry DNA extraction! 🍓Find out how this technique can be used by scientists to diagnose infections and choose which antibiotics to prescribe 💊 @oxfordbrc.bsky.social @ox.ac.uk #AMR #Oxford

We're ready at the @oxfordbrc.bsky.social! Come over and extract strawberry DNA, fight super bugs on the dance mat, or solve the mystery of the hospital outbreak! #AMR #PublicOutreach #Science

27 May

Come see us at the @oxfordbrc.bsky.social showcase! We'll be in Westgate, Oxford 10-3.30. We'll be bringing the dance mat so come and try to beat the germs with antibiotics and claim the high score💃🕺 #AMR #PublicOutreach @ox.ac.uk

Bash the bug reposted

TB Alert

@tb-alert.bsky.social

Did you know that the NHS offers free latent TB infection testing and treatment to people at greatest risk of TB? As at you GP surgery or find out more at www.thetruthabouttb.org. Prevention is better than cure. #worldtbday2026 #worldtbday

Bash the bug reposted

link.springer.comPredicting pyrazinamide resistance in Mycobacterium tuberculosis using a graph convolutional network - BMC MicrobiologyBMC Microbiology - Pyrazinamide is an important first-line antibiotic for treating tuberculosis, with resistance primarily driven by mutations in the pncA gene. Traditional machine learning models...

Replying to @modmedmicro.bsky.social

Using graph neural networks and protein structural data, we’ve also shown how deep learning can improve prediction of pyrazinamide resistance — highlighting the potential of structure-aware models to tackle complex antimicrobial resistance challenges. link.springer.com/article/10.1...

Bash the bug reposted

microbiologyresearch.orgCompensatory mutations are associated with increased in vitro growth in resistant clinical samples of Mycobacterium tuberculosisMutations in Mycobacterium tuberculosis associated with resistance to antibiotics often come with a fitness cost for the bacteria. Resistance to the first-line drug rifampicin leads to lower competiti...

Replying to @modmedmicro.bsky.social

We’ve explored compensatory mutations that can restore bacterial fitness in resistant strains, helping explain how resistant TB continues to spread — and reinforcing the urgency of better diagnostics and stewardship. www.microbiologyresearch.org/content/jour...

Bash the bug reposted

microbiologyresearch.orgAn improved catalogue for whole-genome sequencing prediction of bedaquiline resistance in Mycobacterium tuberculosis using a reproducible algorithmic approachBedaquiline (BDQ) has only been approved for use for just over a decade and is a key drug for treating multidrug-resistant tuberculosis; however, rising levels of resistance threaten to reduce its eff...

Replying to @modmedmicro.bsky.social

Our work on bedaquiline resistance (catomatic) provides a reproducible way to construct catalogues of resistance-associated variants — critical for protecting one of the key drugs used to treat MDR-TB. www.microbiologyresearch.org/content/jour...

Bash the bug reposted

microbiologyresearch.orgCharacterizing the performance of an antibiotic resistance prediction tool, gnomonicus, using a diverse test set of 2,663 Mycobacterium tuberculosis samplesTuberculosis remains a global health problem. Making it easier and quicker to identify which antibiotics an infection is likely to be susceptible to will be a key part of the solution. Whilst whole-ge...

Replying to @modmedmicro.bsky.social

We’ve developed tools like gnomonicus, which translate genomic data into actionable resistance predictions using the WHO catalogue, achieving >95% sensitivity and specificity for two key first-line drugs. www.microbiologyresearch.org/content/jour...

Bash the bug reposted

Replying to @modmedmicro.bsky.social

Our recent preprint shows that Oxford Nanopore sequencing, combined with improved DNA extraction and amplification, can deliver rapid and reliable genomic characterisation directly from clinical cultures — helping move toward real-time TB diagnostics. Read more: www.biorxiv.org/content/10.6...

biorxiv.orgbiorxiv.org

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@philipwfowler.bsky.social

On #WorldTBDay, it’s important to reflect on the scale of the challenge we’re facing. In 2024 alone, tuberculosis (TB) caused 1.23 million deaths worldwide, remaining the leading cause of death from a single infectious agent, according to WHO @ndm.ox.ac.uk

Bash the bug reposted

Philip Fowler

crypticproject.infoThe CRyPTIC project

Since 2017 the CRyPTIC project collected and collated 53,897 clinical TB samples with genetics and drug susceptibility testing data. You can download the datasets via crypticproject.info and v4.0.0 will appear later this year. #WorldTBDay @modmedmicro.bsky.social

bashthebug.netBash the Bug at ATOM FestivalDancing, Germs, and the Challenge of Antimicrobial Resistance We had a fantastic time this weekend at ATOM Festival in Abingdon, bringing microbiology to life with our Bash the Bug public engagement activities. With plenty of sunshine and a steady stream of curious visitors, it was the perfect setting to spark conversations about one of the biggest challenges in global health: …

17 Mar

Bash the Bug at ATOM Festival: Dancing, Germs, and the Challenge of Antimicrobial Resistance! We had a fantastic time this weekend at ATOM Festival in Abingdon, bringing microbiology to life with our Bash the Bug public engagement activities.

16 Mar

We had a brilliant time this weekend at ATOM Festival in Abingdon! ☀️🦠 We brought along our favourite interactive activities to help people learn about antimicrobial resistance #AMR, including our dance mat game where you fight germs with antibiotics, and we tested everyone’s handwashing skills!

UK Health Security Agency

16 Mar

It was fantastic to see so many people getting involved, asking great questions, and learning about microbiology in the sunshine. Thanks to everyone who came to say hello, and to our brilliant team for all their enthusiasm! #BashTheBug #Microbiology #PublicOutreach #ATOMFestival

Bash the bug reposted

@ukhsa.bsky.social

6 Mar

Science is everywhere: in our bodies, our food, our classrooms. This #BritishScienceWeek, meet e-Bug: UKHSA's free health education programme, which helps teachers bring infection science to life from early years to KS3. Curious? Find out more at 🔗 https://www.e-bug.eu/british-science-week

Bash the bug reposted

11 Feb

International Day of Women and Girls in Science 👩‍🔬 Proud to work alongside the scientists in our #microbiology lab whose work in antimicrobial resistance, public health and diagnostics has real-world impact! #WomenInScience #AMR #PublicHealth @medsci.ox.ac.uk @ox.ac.uk @oxfordbrc.bsky.social

Bash the bug reposted

ox.ac.ukWhat is UNIQplus? | University of OxfordThe UNIQplus programmeThe UNIQplus programme is aimed at supporting talented undergraduates from under-represented groups, who would find continuing into postgraduate study a challenge for reasons

9 Feb

MMM has an exciting UNIQ+ project running this summer -apply now! Bacteria, microplastics & resistance — what’s the connection? #Microplastics are everywhere, even in hospitals. But what happens when bacteria stick to them? Come and find out! @afswinkels.bsky.social @nstoesser.bsky.social

Bash the bug reposted

nstoesser.bsky.social

@nstoesser.bsky.social

30 Jan

Our project "Sardinia’s Invisible Marine Microbiome" is one of six 2026 #PartArt4OW participatory art initiatives! Excited to do this with the brilliant @annadumitriu.bsky.social (image credit), Sardinian scientists, citizens of Alghero, and colleagues in @modmedmicro.bsky.social @bashthebug.net

Bash the bug reposted

nstoesser.bsky.social

@nstoesser.bsky.social

13 Jan

Univ of Oxford UNIQ+ scheme applications open: 7-week research internship this Summer www.ox.ac.uk/admissions/g.... Lots of projects - one in our lab on microplastics & AMR & hospital environments at @modmedmicro.bsky.social led by Aram Swinkels www.ox.ac.uk/admissions/g... (Clin Med 04). Join us!

18 Dec 2025

🔬 New blog post! Infections after joint replacement are serious, and identifying the bacteria quickly is crucial for patient care. We explain our research into metagenomic sequencing—reading all DNA in a sample to identify bacteria without needing lab growth. 👉 tinyurl.com/mrh8ukha #AMR #Genomics

tinyurl.comNanopore adaptive sampling for bacterial identification from periprosthetic joint replacement tissueMetagenomic approaches to the diagnosis of prosthetic joint infections promise more accurate and more rapid diagnosis. However, the high host DNA to bacterial DNA ratio is a challenge. Nanopore adapti...

18 Dec 2025

Read the full paper here: tinyurl.com/2a5z6tt8

Bash the bug reposted

bit.lyCharacterizing the performance of an antibiotic resistance prediction tool, gnomonicus, using a diverse test set of 2,663 Mycobacterium tuberculosis samplesTuberculosis remains a global health problem. Making it easier and quicker to identify which antibiotics an infection is likely to be susceptible to will be a key part of the solution. Whilst whole-ge...

17 Dec 2025

Our paper is out in Microbial Genomics! 🧬 We evaluate gnomonicus, an open-source AMR prediction tool, using 2,663 Mycobacterium tuberculosis genomes—showing how WGS can deliver faster, scalable TB resistance predictions. Read the full paper here🔗 bit.ly/4iZepd1 #TB #AMR #Genomics

bashthebug.netDiagnosing infected replacement hip or knee jointsWhen patients suffer infections related to replaced knee or hip joints, medical teams need to know which bacteria are causing the problem. A promising new method called metagenomic sequencing reads all the DNA in a sample and can identify bacteria without needing them to grow in the lab. This could be faster than standard tests, and might give more complete information.

17 Dec 2025

Diagnosing infected replacement hip or knee joints When patients suffer infections related to replaced knee or hip joints, medical teams need to know which bacteria are causing the problem. A promising new method called metagenomic sequencing reads all the DNA in a sample and can identify bacteria…

bashthebug.netPlant sale for Oxford Hospitals CharityLast week the MMM Unit held a plant sale to raise some money for Oxford Hospitals Charity. The work had started some weeks before with lots of propagation of spider plants and sourcing of paper coffee pots (so we didn't have to buy any plastic pots). The stall was staffed all day -- by Katie Hopkins and Valentina Pennetta in the photo -- and a grand total of £212 was raised. It's the first year we've run an event like this and the team are already looking forward to next year!

1 Dec 2025

Plant sale for Oxford Hospitals Charity Last week the MMM Unit held a plant sale to raise some money for Oxford Hospitals Charity. The work had started some weeks before with lots of propagation of spider plants and sourcing of paper coffee pots (so we didn't have to buy any plastic pots). The…

20 Nov 2025

Our team wore blue for World Antimicrobial Awareness Week 2025💙 Research into how resistance emerges, spreads and can be prevented is vital. Our group works to understand these processes and develop better tools to detect, monitor and combat antimicrobial resistance. #WAAW @oxfordbrc.bsky.social

bashthebug.netDr Bernadette Young talking about FluoroquinolonesYou can listen to our very own Dr Bernadette Young talking about fluoroquinolones -- these are a very valuable and widely-used class of antibiotics -- on Episode 32 of the Communicable podcast. This prestigious podcast is published by the European Society of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases (ESCMID) and hence is aimed at clinicians so will be technical and detailed, you have been warned!

19 Nov 2025

Dr Bernadette Young talking about Fluoroquinolones You can listen to our very own Dr Bernadette Young talking about fluoroquinolones -- these are a very valuable and widely-used class of antibiotics -- on Episode 32 of the Communicable podcast. This prestigious podcast is published by the European…

19 Nov 2025

Why is antimicrobial awareness important? Antimicrobial resistant infections are rising. In the next 25 years an estimated 39.1 million people globally will die from infections with antimicrobial resistance. So what can you do to help? Something as simple as finishing your course of antibiotics!

19 Nov 2025

Follow us to find out more about antimicrobial resistance this World Antimicrobial Awareness Week! #WAAW #WAAW2025 #AMR @oxfordbrc.bsky.social

18 Nov 2025

Antimicrobial resistance occurs when bacteria, viruses, fungi & parasites change over time - leading to medicines being less effective against them. Here you see bacteria growing and antibiotics (the small discs) which kill the bacteria...unless they are resistant! #WAAW #AMR @oxfordbrc.bsky.social