Professor of Biotic Interactions, University of Cambridge. @plantsci Fellow of King's College Cambridge. https://xitter.cf/t.co/jwE0Oewr6U

Cambridge, England
Joined May 2014
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…
4
25
76
5,313
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
18
169
15
607
45,690
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
2
5
226
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
12
24
2
121
10,628
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
7
8
1,060
Sebastian Eves-van den Akker retweeted
Exciting development in plant single-cell proteomics 🟢🔵🔴⚪️⚫️🟤🟠🟡🟣
1
4
32
3,038
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.…
18
35
1,481
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.…
3
15
2
28
6,163
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)
2
21
45
2,231
Sebastian Eves-van den Akker retweeted
Plant Microbe Enthusiasts! Register for our next FREE Road to Jeju Legends in IS-MPMI Webinar featuring Eva Kondorosi, happening October 28, 2026: uchicago.zoom.us/webinar/reg…
8
11
731
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
1
2
2
168
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…
7
1
11
828
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
5
7
422
Sebastian Eves-van den Akker retweeted
🚨 Please share! 🚨 I'm recruiting a fully funded 4-year Gatsby Sainsbury PhD studentship at Durham! 🌱🤖 Designing plant immune receptors from scratch, combining AI protein design with structural biology and plant immunity. benthamlab.org shorturl.at/U2PdV
1
54
106
4,997
Sebastian Eves-van den Akker retweeted
Reminder: our next Legends of IS-MPMI webinar with @jonathandgjones is TOMORROW! Completely free to members and non-members alike. Register using the link below 👇
Plant-Microbe enthusiasts! The next Road to Jeju Legends of ISMPMI series speaker is Jonathan Jones. The webinar is free to attend, but you must register: uchicago.zoom.us/webinar/reg… Attend live on September 30, 2026 3pm UTC or watch it later on the ismpmi.org.
7
1
8
1,437
Sebastian Eves-van den Akker retweeted
Nominations are open for IS-MPMI’s 2027 Early Career Achievement Award​​ and the Outstanding Achievement Award. These recognize the outstanding science, teaching, mentoring, outreach, and service to the community of our members​. Nominate by 1 Dec, 2026. ismpmi.org/events/congress/a….
5
5
619
Sebastian Eves-van den Akker retweeted
We are looking for a new team member! Our lab offers a postdoctoral staff scientist position. If you share our fascination with plant-microbe interactions, take a look: ag-doehlemann.botanik.uni-ko…
48
2
121
12,383
Sebastian Eves-van den Akker retweeted
Today @ScienceMagazine A noncontiguous code for RNA-guided DNA recognition at the origin of CRISPR-Cas | Science science.org/doi/10.1126/scie…
1
27
158
16,306
Nice - time to update lectures :)
Two decades after revealing the mechanism of action of auxin, we have now uncovered the molecular mystery of another plant hormone: salicylic acid (SA), the precursor of aspirin that most of us have taken at some point in our lives. We were surprised again rdcu.be/EbdVwEStSHha
247
Sebastian Eves-van den Akker retweeted
Two decades after revealing the mechanism of action of auxin, we have now uncovered the molecular mystery of another plant hormone: salicylic acid (SA), the precursor of aspirin that most of us have taken at some point in our lives. We were surprised again rdcu.be/EbdVwEStSHha
3
32
4
129
12,646