David Zappulla

Biomedical researcher & professor studying telomerase RNP, telomeres, lncRNAs, & senescence. Opinions are my own, not necessarily those of my employer. (He/him)

[David Zappulla @dczapp]

We have now published @MCBJournal our secondary-structure model for the 1212 nt 𝘚. 𝘱𝘰𝘮𝘣𝘦 telomerase RNA, derived largely from bioinformatic and phylogenetic analyses of genomic data.
Furthermore, our 𝘪𝘯 𝘷𝘪𝘷𝘰 studies:
(1) map TER1 RNA's functionally important domains vs. dispensable regions
(2) show that the three-way junction can be repositioned in the RNA while still providing its essential function.
These findings regarding the fission-yeast telomerase RNA are reminiscent of what we have found in the *evolutionarily distant* organism 𝘚. 𝘤𝘦𝘳𝘦𝘷𝘪𝘴𝘪𝘢𝘦.
Overall, studying telomerase RNP in yeasts continues to advance our understanding of the RNA world, while also getting us closer to cancer- and aging-inhibiting interventions.
https://t.co/C4ekqVOZsX
@LehighU @Lehigh_CAS @BioLehigh @tandfonline

[Hopkins Med News @HopkinsMedNews]

A recent study shows a personalized vaccine for melanoma cut the risk of cancer returning after five years. @HopkinsMedicine @NBCNews
https://t.co/lUGbA7qcol

[David Zappulla @dczapp]

Any other molecular biologists seen Project Hail Mary in the theater yet? Fun!

https://t.co/H92jUA9cXv

[Michael Mina @michaelmina_lab]

Remarkable and awesome

Congrats @Regeneron and congrats to science for discoveries that unlock step changes in human well being

[Leslie Vosshall PhD @leslievosshall]

📢🎉@hhmi_science competition for the next cohorts of #HannaGray Fellows and #FreemanHrabowski Scholars opening 11/3/2026. Senior postdocs and faculty within 7 years of appointment. Up to $10M over 10 yrs, + salary & benefits. Spread the word and consider applying! https://t.co/quJ6VJuO8L

[NASA @NASA]

Hello, Moon. It’s great to be back.

Here’s a taste of what the Artemis II astronauts photographed during their flight around the Moon. Check out more photos from the mission: https://t.co/rzM1P0QbOl

[Michael Mina @michaelmina_lab]

Strep throat is both a terrible illness particularly when left untreated.

And to get it diagnosed and treated is, for many people, terribly burdensome - costing time to get into a do , money to see a doc, time waiting for a result…

This is why we started Anywhere Dx - to make strep testing and getting treatment simple and accessible

[Anywhere Dx @AnywhereDx]

We live in a world where strep testing hasn’t changed in 20 years. But it can, and we’re ready for it.

And then we’re going to do it again. With UTIs, STIs, and more.

Are you with us? Let’s go.

https://t.co/C22LPvfJoN

[Tomas Malinauskas @t_malinauskas]

Self-replicating molecules such as RNA are considered a plausible foundation for the origin of life on Earth. A remarkably small RNA molecule of only 45 nucleotides (QT45) that can synthesize itself and its complementary strand is now published in Science: https://t.co/itChluJ2Mu

[Extreme Temperatures Around The World @extremetemps]

ABSOLTELY CRAZY EVENT IN GREENLAND

+7.1C Qanaaq at 76N pulverized its January record

Dozens of records have been smashed in pieces allover Greenland every days for the past several weeks:
Definitely One of the most extreme events the world has ever seen,anywhere,anytime.

[Eric Topol @EricTopol]

Remarkable story of high school team who used CRISPR to make a rapid diagnostic test strip for Lyme disease, speeding dx from 2 weeks to days

[David Zappulla @dczapp]

Thank you very much to Peter Baumann for his expert input in this extensive project focused on fission yeast!
https://t.co/5gSnKiIRTs
And thank you also to my lab's co-authors for their years of great research leading to this published product!

[David Zappulla @dczapp]

We have now published @MCBJournal our secondary-structure model for the 1212 nt 𝘚. 𝘱𝘰𝘮𝘣𝘦 telomerase RNA, derived largely from bioinformatic and phylogenetic analyses of genomic data.
Furthermore, our 𝘪𝘯 𝘷𝘪𝘷𝘰 studies:
(1) map TER1 RNA's functionally important domains vs. dispensable regions
(2) show that the three-way junction can be repositioned in the RNA while still providing its essential function.
These findings regarding the fission-yeast telomerase RNA are reminiscent of what we have found in the *evolutionarily distant* organism 𝘚. 𝘤𝘦𝘳𝘦𝘷𝘪𝘴𝘪𝘢𝘦.
Overall, studying telomerase RNP in yeasts continues to advance our understanding of the RNA world, while also getting us closer to cancer- and aging-inhibiting interventions.
https://t.co/C4ekqVOZsX
@LehighU @Lehigh_CAS @BioLehigh @tandfonline

[David Zappulla @dczapp]

Here are some of the prior papers regarding telomerase RNA and its role as a flexible scaffold in the RNP complex: https://t.co/9aCVDZvfq1

[PoliticsGirl @IAmPoliticsGirl]

Don’t get it twisted. If SNAP goes, know who to blame…

[Johns Hopkins Medicine @HopkinsMedicine]

“The results from this study demonstrate how powerful mRNA medicines truly are and that they are revolutionising our treatment of cancer,” Dr. Coller told ecancer. https://t.co/XwCVuvzB34

[Brian Krassenstein @krassenstein]

BREAKING: Horrific flooding in Santa Cruz, Jamaica, as Historic Category 5 Hurricane Melissa made landfall.

I fear that the destruction from this storm will be catastrophic.

[Hunte☈ Fowkes @StrmchsrHunterF]

Nevermind, beaten. -4.75C. The driest eye in recorded history in every basin on earth.

[Tae Seok Moon @Moon_Synth_Bio]

Prof. Hamilton Smith at J. Craig Venter Institute, a Nobel laureate for discovering type II restriction enzymes, passed away last night.

A huge loss in Science, but his legacy will be remembered.
@JCVenterInst @NobelPrize

https://t.co/zjhTRij7tC

[Dr. Catharine Young @DrCatharineY]

Wow! Early results from MD Anderson show mRNA COVID vaccines may enhance cancer immunotherapy.

Vaccinated patients starting checkpoint inhibitors within 100 days of vaccine lived nearly 2x as long.

A powerful example of how NCI mRNA investments may redefine cancer treatment.