A step forward in discovering Buchnera's key to the aphid's heart, published today! Thanks to Jerry Maeda and other authors--a great team -- and to the helpful reviewers #SymbioSky doi: doi.org/10.1038/s415...

A secreted endosymbiont protein essential for colonizing host cells - Nature

SyeA was present in the Buchnera ancestor, is secreted into the host cytoplasm, is homologous to secreted effectors of bacterial pathogens and is essential for Buchnera transmission.

doi.org

Really grateful to have gotten to be a part of this paper just as my post doc started. Really neat stuff! A secreted endosymbiont protein essential for colonizing host cells www.nature.com/articles/s41...

A secreted endosymbiont protein essential for colonizing host cells - Nature

SyeA was present in the Buchnera ancestor, is secreted into the host cytoplasm, is homologous to secreted effectors of bacterial pathogens and is essential for Buchnera transmission.

nature.com

What happens when a psyllid’s menu changes? 🍽️Our new paper (from two phenomenal honors students) reveals that differences in essential amino acids in plant diets reshapes symbiotic organ structure and alters insect fitness. Dive in: doi.org/10.1016/j.is...

What happens when a psyllid’s menu changes? 🍽️Our new paper (from two phenomenal honors students) reveals that differences in essential amino acids in plant diets reshapes symbiotic organ structure and alters insect fitness. Dive in: doi.org/10.1016/j.is...

How specific are heritable symbioses? And what can we learn from swapping obligate symbionts across host species? We address this in our latest, led by @inespons.bsky.social & in our collaboration w/ @microbiome.bsky.social 🦠🪲 Out today in @natcomms.nature.com! 1/n www.nature.com/articles/s41...

*correct link Very excited to share a preprint from stellar lab postdoc, Dr. Younghwan Kwak. “Intrahost mutational dynamics parallel long-term genome evolution in endosymbionts” Cool, skillful work and a nifty story! #symbiosis #insects #evolution www.biorxiv.org/content/10.6...

There’ll be several opportunities to join the group, starting w/ a PhD studentship via the BBSRC-NRP Doctoral Training Partnership. Team up w/ us, @saskiahogenhout.bsky.social & @berasymbionts.bsky.social to answer how microbes shape insect behavior: biodtp.norwichresearchpark.ac.uk/projects/mic...

Microbial determinants of behaviour in herbivorous beetles (SALEM_J26DTP) | Doctoral Training Partnership

Many animals rely on beneficial microbes for nutrition, defence, or reproduction. In this project, the student will explore an exciting new dimension of these relationships:

biodtp.norwichresearchpark.ac.uk

We have a new one out! Six, D.L., Alverson, H. & Bullington, L. Ecological stoichiometry of mountain pine beetle, its mutualist fungi, and the disease white pine blister rust in whitebark pine. Oecologia 207, 176 (2025). doi.org/10.1007/s004...

Ecological stoichiometry of mountain pine beetle, its mutualist fungi, and the disease white pine blister rust in whitebark pine - Oecologia

Ecological stoichiometry can help clarify how symbionts and other co-occurring organisms mediate nutrient deficiencies for hosts. We used ecological stoichiometry (comparisons of elemental composition...

doi.org

From beginning to end: the synecology of tree‐killing bark beetles, fungi, and trees - Six - Biological Reviews - Wiley Online Library 😁WE HAVE A NEW ONE OUT. Two years in the making. Give it a look! onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/...

From beginning to end: the synecology of tree‐killing bark beetles, fungi, and trees

Over a century of research has revealed an amazing complexity of behaviours and physiological adaptations that allow tiny bark beetles to overcome large trees, sometimes resulting in outbreaks that k...

onlinelibrary.wiley.com

Super fun collaboration with Diana Percy and Patrick Degnan. #symbiosis #genome evolution #psyllids #Bvitamins

Genome Biology and Evolution@genomebiolevol.bsky.social · 12mo ago

@hansenlab.bsky.social et al. study the evolution of bacterial symbionts of Pariaconus psyllids in Hawaii, demonstrating that island biogeography and host plant ecology shape symbiont losses and codiversification patterns. 🔗 doi.org/10.1093/gbe/evaf153 #genome #evolution #symbiont

@haraipapilio.bsky.social paper on evolution of Wolbachia MK mechanism through prophage acquisition in molina butterflies - avoiding suppression by the host. Now out! #symbiosky www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti.... With @daisukekageyama.bsky.social @bolinabug.bsky.social and others

Evolution of Wolbachia male-killing mechanism within a host species

Male-killing bacterial symbionts, prevalent in arthropods, skew population sex ratios by selectively killing male progeny, profoundly impacting ecolog…

sciencedirect.com

I know this is a weird time to ask, but are there post doc positions in symbiosis available in the next year? I know a talented microscopy/microbiology student who is going to be on the job market soon. Open to work outside the US, but is an American student if that makes a difference🧪🦠

New study from my lab and former grad Dr. Kwak shows Liberibacter psyllaurous, a dual insect symbiont and plant pathogen, boosts psyllid fitness by providing essential nutrients like arginine. A rare case of nutritional benefits from non-obligate symbionts #symbiosis journals.asm.org/doi/10.1128/...

A dual insect symbiont and plant pathogen improves insect host fitness under arginine limitation | mBio

Unlike obligate symbionts that are permanently associated with their hosts, facultative symbionts rarely show direct nutritional contributions, especially under nutrient-limited conditions. This study...

journals.asm.org

Base-modified nucleotides mediate immune signaling in bacteria www.science.org/doi/abs/10.1... #jcampubs

Base-modified nucleotides mediate immune signaling in bacteria

Signaling from pathogen sensing to effector activation is a fundamental principle of cellular immunity. While cyclic (oligo)nucleotides have emerged as key signaling molecules, the existence of other ...

science.org

We're searching for a postdoc to study insect-microbe symbiosis in our lab at UNC Chapel Hill. Application can be found here: unc.peopleadmin.com/postings/295...

Applications are now open for fully-funded #PhD positions at the Max Planck Institute for Biology and Friedrich Miescher Laboratory. The new cohort starts September 2025. Find out more about the projects you could be working on: www.phd.tuebingen.mpg.de #IMPRS

Are you or do you know someone interested in symbiosis research? Anaeramoeba is an exciting organism to explore symbiosis in a low-oxygen environment. Less than a week (December 6) to apply for the PhD position in my group! uu.varbi.com/en/what:job/... Please share widely!

Still some time to apply. Please share the ad.

Antti Karkman@anttikarkman.bsky.social · 2y ago

There’s an open postdoc position in our EIC funded project FIBRE-MATCH at the University of Helsinki, Finland. Further information in the ad. jobs.helsinki.fi/job-invite/3...

The Department of Pathology at UC San Diego is hiring a new Department Chair! We are comprised of basic, translational, and physician scientists working on cancer, neurological disease, microbial infection, and inflammatory disease. Please share & repost! 🧪 apol-recruit.ucsd.edu/JPF03983

Department of Pathology, Chair

University of California, San Diego is hiring. Apply now!

apol-recruit.ucsd.edu

Fun new paper led by @greghurst.bsky.social &co using genomics to show that facultative symbiont genomes get bigger as they adapt to life inside a host (through HGT & loss of CRISPR) before undergoing genome reduction as they become obligate #symbiosky #microsky www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...

Genome dynamics across the evolutionary transition to endosymbiosis

Endosymbiosis—where a microbe lives and replicates within a host—is an important contributor to organismal function that has accelerated evolutionary …

sciencedirect.com

Post doc position of possible interest at UC Davis: ohi.vetmed.ucdavis.edu/careers On "ecological and environmental drivers of zoonotic virus emergence, transmission and circulation and the development of innovative technology and approaches for transdisciplinary pandemic research."

Careers

Postdoctoral ResearcherSalary Range: $67,000-$79,000 USD per yearLocation: Onsite, UC DavisApplication Deadline: November 29, 2024

ohi.vetmed.ucdavis.edu

Applications are open for the Microbial Population Biology GRS and GRC! The GRS is a fun day for grad students and postdocs to network before the full GRC starts, and is co-chaired this year by me and Laura Suttenfield Get your applications in by Jan 15! #evosky 🦠🧪 www.grc.org/microbial-po...