
Professor of Biotic Interactions, University of Cambridge. @plantsci Fellow of King's College Cambridge. https://nitter.cf/t.co/jwE0Oewr6U
Cambridge, England
Joined May 2014
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Paper @PNASNews
We think nematodes break open plant cells, sense small molecules (termed effectostimulins), which switch on a master regulator SUGR1, which switches on effectors, which break cells.
Looks like a feed-forward loop driving infection.
pnas.org/doi/10.1073/pnas.24…
In new work, we report a surprising finding: prompting Evo 2 with a handful of sequences of shared function can steer the model to generate new sequences with similar function, a form of generative in-context learning (ICL). This is an emergent phenomenon that we did not anticipate during training.
In a first study, led by Alex Hao, we show that ICL enables few-shot design of mammalian regulatory elements, including novel enhancers with cell-type specificity for a neuronal subtype in the mouse brain.
In a second study, led by @garykbrixi and Alex Hao, we extend these results to the computational design of natural proteins, de novo antibodies, protein-RNA systems, and complete bacteriophage genomes.
As part of this work, we also release several useful new artifacts, including a highly efficient new inference stack. 1/n
Sebastian Eves-van den Akker retweeted
Postdoc opening in my lab! Looking for someone excited about genomes, symbionts and plant–insect interactions to join our team at @TheSainsburyLab 🧬🍄🌿🦟
Applications reviewed from 16 Nov.
buff.ly/WZtMcGs
VACANCY: Postdoctoral Researcher in the Berasategui Lab at TSL, Norwich, UK
An exciting opportunity to work with @berasymbionts at the interface of evolutionary genomics, plant pathology and insect symbiosis.
Application review starts 16 Nov 2026
buff.ly/WZtMcGs
Sebastian Eves-van den Akker retweeted
Congratulations to Dr Jeanne Salje on securing new funding to advance research into Lyme disease. The award will support work to better understand the disease and improve diagnosis and treatment.
🔗 bio.cam.ac.uk/news/new-fundi…
Sebastian Eves-van den Akker retweeted
Congratulations to Dr Adriane Esquivel Muelbert on being awarded a Philip Leverhulme Prize for her work on the impacts of global change on forest biodiversity & ecosystem functioning! 🍃
Read more: tinyurl.com/3jvcrxcr
Sebastian Eves-van den Akker retweeted
New publication about trap morphogenesis from the lab. We thank the editor and the reviewers for their constructive feedback during the review process which improved the quality of our work. Congrats @ChihYen_Kuo!! We wish you the best of luck for your next chapter in Geneva 🥳
How does a predatory fungus build a trap to capture a nematode? New work by @fungi_worms lab reveals how prey signals reorganize conserved polarity and cytoskeletal machinery to redirect hyphal growth, form a trap, & then switch gears to penetrate the prey hubs.la/Q04BzS4D0
Sebastian Eves-van den Akker retweeted
In Science, researchers present RFdiffusion3, a new generative AI system that designs proteins and nucleic acids atom by atom, which could enable the ability to engineer novel biomolecules with precise, complex functions.
Learn more: scim.ag/4hOQVIF
Sebastian Eves-van den Akker retweeted
Our new paper is out! AS109 enables transient gene expression across diverse crops, expanding the toolkit for studying gene function and plant immunity @AdamWu9527 @lderevnina @Freddie_King00
journals.plos.org/plosbiolog…
Sebastian Eves-van den Akker retweeted
Deadline approaching: Submit to the "Plant Immune Receptors in the Spotlight" focus issue by October 31! 🔦
Call for papers: Submit to the forthcoming MPMI Focus Issue, "Plant Immune Receptors in the Spotlight," by October 31, 2026!
Editors: @mpcontreras4, @sardineboy_DING, @ClemMarchal, @MariSchuster, and @WilsonLab
Learn more 👉 apsjournals.apsnet.org/mpmir…
This focus issue seeks to capture exciting developments across all areas of immune receptor biology that are pertinent to enhancing our understanding of the plant–pathogen interaction. The editors welcome submissions that investigate infection-related receptors—and the outcomes of receptor activation—at the molecular, cellular, structural, network, and/or evolutionary level in any plant host or pathogen system. Studies with clear translational potential are particularly encouraged. Submissions may include original research articles, short communications, or reviews that examine emerging trends and offer fresh perspectives on specific aspects of this broad and rapidly developing field. Through this collection, the editors hope to highlight major breakthroughs in receptor biology, identify critical knowledge gaps that continue to limit progress, and help pave the way toward practical solutions for sustainable disease management in agriculture.
#MPMI #Receptors #PlantScience #ReceptorBiology
Sebastian Eves-van den Akker retweeted
Come help me make a planet 🙃🚀🌎
We're hiring two scientists to do experiments that nobody has ever tried before.
APPLY: pioneer-labs.org/team
Priority deadline October 31 🎃
TELL YOUR FRIENDS
We're hiring two scientists to help engineer life for Mars 🦠🚀
🔧 Mars Simulation Systems: Build unusual experimental apparatus to test life under Martian conditions.
🧪 Materials: Develop and characterize biologically produced materials.
⏱ Priority deadline October 31; applications close November 14.
Apply: pioneer-labs.org/team
Sebastian Eves-van den Akker retweeted
Excellent candidates for 2027 Fellowship schemes are now invited to apply to attend our Research Fellowships Open Day. Deadline to apply is 07 December 2026.
Find out more: tinyurl.com/2p9swnb9
@slcuplants @Cambridge_SBS @CamBiochem
#PlantSciences
Sebastian Eves-van den Akker retweeted
Exciting development in plant single-cell proteomics 🟢🔵🔴⚪️⚫️🟤🟠🟡🟣
Happy to share the results of our first attempt at single-cell proteomics using Arabidopsis protoplasts, led by Sara
, with support from @bruker and @Cellenion.
doi.org/10.1093/pcp/pcag138
@PCP_EIC
Sebastian Eves-van den Akker retweeted
Our new preprint is out: how effector manipulation of a host enzyme is indirectly detected by plant NLR immune receptors.
Great work led by @EnochYuen with @nickeilmann and Yijun Wang.
🚨 How do plants detect when pathogens hijack their enzymes? 🦠
📄 Our new preprint shows effectors exploit TOPGAP, a Rab GAP regulating membrane trafficking 🚚 🌱 Plants sense its deregulation via the helper NLR NRC4 and execute cell death 💀
🔗 doi.org/10.64898/2026.10.06.…
Sebastian Eves-van den Akker retweeted
🚨 How do plants detect when pathogens hijack their enzymes? 🦠
📄 Our new preprint shows effectors exploit TOPGAP, a Rab GAP regulating membrane trafficking 🚚 🌱 Plants sense its deregulation via the helper NLR NRC4 and execute cell death 💀
🔗 doi.org/10.64898/2026.10.06.…
Sebastian Eves-van den Akker retweeted
How do "friendly" rhizobia build a legume nodule?
@AlbinTeulet found that
Type III effectors of symbiotic Rhizobia include diverse predicted transcriptional and post-transcriptional modulators.
journals.plos.org/plosbiolog…
Now @PLOSBiology
How do "friendly" rhizobia build a legume nodule? @AlbinTeulet found that some may carry hidden transcription factors - proteins that mimic DNA-binding folds to enter the plant nucleus and rewrite its developmental program.
biorxiv.org/content/10.64898…
(1/6)
Sebastian Eves-van den Akker retweeted
🧬 How does natural centromere variation influence chromosome inheritance?
Final call for a Postdoctoral Research Fellow in my group at Warwick — applications close tomorrow (7 Oct).
Centromeres • kinetochores • genetics • genomics • Arabidopsis
#Postdoc #PlantScience
Sebastian Eves-van den Akker retweeted
Welcome to join my group! Fully funded DTP PhD at @slcuplants Sainsbury Laboratory Cambridge University. Use AI foundation models to decode the regulatory grammar of plant cell identity. Open to international students. Deadline 8 Dec 2026.
bbsrcdtp.lifesci.cam.ac.uk/p…
Sebastian Eves-van den Akker retweeted
🏆 Nominations are open for IS-MPMI's 2027 Awards!
Know someone who's shaped molecular plant–microbe interactions? Nominate them for the Early Career Achievement Award or the Outstanding Achievement Award.
Deadline: 1 Dec 2026 👉 ismpmi.org/events/congress/a…
#PlantScience #ISMPMI




































