It was my great pleasure to speak about "Emerging Marine Diseases" at the Ocean and Human Health Conference in Lisbon today. #OceanDecade #oceandecade

The long awaited DAAD Master's Student Exchange Kick-Off meeting today with the University Tecnico Lisboa, Institute for Bioengineering and Biosciences was a full success. Thanks to Tina Keller-Costa, Rodrigo Costa, Kristina Bayer, #DAAD Deutscher Akademischer Austauschdienst.

It’s finally out! Our paper on the bacterial symbionts of three White Sea sponges is here. A story that began in 2016 has reached its last chapter… or has it? We hope that by the time you finish our hefty tome — maybe around 2034 — we’ll release the sequel. journals.asm.org/doi/10.1128/...

🧽 Time to dive into more sponge genomes! 🌊🧬 EBP-affiliated projects are assembling never-before-sequenced sponge species and adding them to public genome databases. These efforts are unlocking exciting new avenues in evolution, symbiosis, and marine biotechnology.

Here's a new sponge genome and the associated metagenomes! lopez-lab.net/2025/08/30/c...

The first batch of #sponge #genome notes are now out! 🥳 from the 'Wellcome Open Research' publishing platform: Aplysina aerophoba, Crambe crambe, Chondrosia reniformis, Aphrocallistes beatrix, Eunapius fragilis, Spongilla lacustris...

From 1 genome for 15 years to 50+ hologenomes! Big moment in sponge evolutionary biology, and for understanding early animal evolution and host-microbe symbiosis!

Genome-scale metabolic modelling reveals interactions and key roles of symbiont clades in a sponge holobiont ->Nature | More info from EcoSearch

Chromosomal level sponge Diacarnus erythraeanus whole genome published. Congrats to Laura Steindler and the ASG Photosymbiosis hub. lopez-lab.net/2025/08/30/c...

Jose V. Lopez follows at the #biodiversity25 presenting about the giant barrel #sponge genome. We are facing massive extinction event in marine reefs so we need to study sponges before they disappear. Sponges have distinctive #symbiotic microbiomes providing important ecosystem services.

Say hello to our next set of members of the organizing committee for the Larval Biology Society! Get to know Shawn M. Arellano and Tyler Carrier!

🚨 In case you missed it… our 4-year time-series analysis of Arctic Ocean viruses is out now! Near-monthly samples — including through the dark, cold, polar winter ❄️ — using long-read metagenomics. Short thread 🧵👇

We are welcoming applications for a full professorship on Molecular and Evolutionary Zoology at Kiel Univerdity, Northern Germany, with fantastic facilities and infrastructure! @uni-kiel.de @crc1182.bsky.social @transevo.bsky.social www.nature.com/naturecareer...

Zombie cells in the ocean, a perfect topic for Halloween here at RD3 of GEOMAR. Great talk by @janbruewer.bsky.social it was great to have you here.

And here comes ASG Sponges genome note #15 for Corticium candelabrum, only the second genome for the class Homoscleromorpha, led by Manuel Maldonado, @lpita.bsky.social et al. lnkd.in/e-huUn3i Learn more: lnkd.in/ehRap3CW @moorefound.bsky.social @sangerinstitute.bsky.social

This promises to be interesting!

Interesting work on understudied sponge symbionts from the Arctic.

Genome note #14 on a sponge with a difficult name, Diacarnus erythraeanus, by Laura Steindler and team. A total of 9,758 sponge species have formally been described (WoRMS, as of Sept 2025) and the true diversity is still much higher. lnkd.in/eaGnwXFA lnkd.in/ehRap3CW

Genome note #13 on the Maltese sponge Agelas oroides,led by M Maldonado and L Pita. This massive sponge is threatened by climate change. wellcomeopenresearch.org/articles/10-... Learn more about the absorbing world of sponges: lnkd.in/ehRap3CW #GordonandBettyMooreFoundation #WellcomeSangerInstitute

Genome note # 12 on the bath sponge, Spongia lamella, led by #RodrigoCosta, Thierry Perez & teams. Bath sponges boast over 5000 years of cultural heritage and were already used by the ancient Roman soldiers for personal hygiene. lnkd.in/egRNPKMJ #GordonBettyMooreFoundation, #WellcomeSanger

Genome Note #11 on Petrosia ficiformis, one of the few sponges with intracellular symbionts, by Laura Steindler & team. lnkd.in/eVFW_sMH Learn more about the absorbing world of sponges: lnkd.in/ehRap3CW #GordonBettyMooreFoundation, #WellcomeSanger

Soaking up lots of love for sponges! We’re proud to be sponsoring the World Sponge Conference in Portugal, kicking off five weeks from today. Click here to see the programme: worldspongecommunity.com/program/ #WSC2025 📸 Sponges of the SE Pacific. Schmidt Ocean Institute @wscommunity.bsky.social

This week we’re at the World Sponge Conference in Portugal! Stay tuned for plenty of sponge-inspired content as we celebrate these ancient and vital ocean architects. If you are attending this week, come and visit our booth, located at the theatre hall entrance. @wscommunity.bsky.social

🚨 Abstract Deadline Extended to 28 July 🚨 🌱 Don’t miss your chance to join leading researchers and explore the cutting edge of biodiversity genomics. Join today and help shape the future of biodiversity science! 🔬 Genome Evolution 🧬 Symbiosis Genomics 🌿 Genomics of Speciation 🌎 Ecological Genomics

🌍🧽 The Aquatic Symbiosis Project, @utehentschel.bsky.social and @sangerinstitute.bsky.social are cranking out high-quality genome assemblies at record speed—setting the stage to answer remarkable questions about marine symbioses. 🌊🧬 👉 Blog: bit.ly/3INcrOA 📸 2 Elephant ear sponge: B. Mueller

🏆 Research integrity consultant and image forensics expert @elisabethbik.bsky.social has uncovered fraudulent data in over 7,600 scientific papers and exposed the practices of ‘paper mills’ that produce counterfeit scientific articles. She is honoured with the €200K Individual Award. Congrats!

ASG Sponges Genome Note #10 led by Jasper De Goeij and Ben Mueller. The scaffold-level genome sequence of an encrusting sponge, <i>Halisarca caerulea </i>Vacelet &amp; Donadey, 1987, and its associated microbial metagenome sequences, wellcomeopenresearch.org/articles/10-... (image by Ben Mueller)

ASG Sponges Genome Note #9 led by Emma Marangon & Australian team. The chromosomal genome sequence of the sponge <i>Cliona cf. orientalis </i>Thiele (1900) and its associated microbial metagenome sequences, wellcomeopenresearch.org/articles/10-... sangerinstitute.blog/2025/07/03/e...

ASG Sponges Genome Note #8 by @anariesgo.bsky.social and Spanish, French, German teams. The chromosomal genome sequence of the sponge, <i>Oscarella lobularis </i>(Schmidt, 1862) (Porifera, Homoscleromorpha) and its associated microbial metagenome sequences, wellcomeopenresearch.org/articles/10-...

ASG Sponges Genome Note #7 led by Joe Lopez. The chromosomal genome sequence of the giant barrel sponge, <i>Xestospongia muta</i> Schmidt 1870 and its associated microbial metagenome sequences, wellcomeopenresearch.org/articles/10-... sangerinstitute.blog/2025/07/03/e... (image by Brian K. Walker)

I went on a wild ride learning all things sponge symbioses 🎢 Funded by @moorefound.bsky.social, the collaborative researchers doing this work are so impressive 🌎 Thank you to @geomarkiel.bsky.social Prof. @utehentschel.bsky.social who gave time and intros to colleagues. What a great community!

Yes, marine sponges will be really unhappy. They can't run away and are just [quoting Townes van Zandt] waiting around to die

🌊 Sponge genomes are helping unlock the secrets of aquatic symbioses — and thanks to @sangerinstitute.bsky.social, researchers now have access to 50+ genomes. Excited to see how these new samples help advance understanding of #AquaticSymbiosis. 🧬

Marine sponges dont reveal their secrets easily. Curious? Read the blog below by @sangerinstitute.bsky.social

Very special seminar with coverage on the Human Virome Program, One Health Microbiome studies (humans and companion animals), & the microbiome Center that Curtis Huttenhower co-directs. Q&A session was quite rich with @psumbiome.bsky.social @dna-heligrace.bsky.social www.youtube.com/watch?v=4wK8...

ASG Sponges Genome Note #6. The chromosomal genome sequence of the kidney sponge, <i>Chondrosia reniformis </i>Nardo, 1847, and its associated microbial metagenome sequences, wellcomeopenresearch.org/articles/10-... (image credit to Manuel Maldonado) @ebpgenome.bsky.social @moorefound.bsky.social

ASG Sponges Genome Note # 5. The chromosomal genome sequence of the glass sponge <i>Aphrocallistes beatrix</i> Gray, 1858 and its associated microbial metagenome sequences, wellcomeopenresearch.org/articles/10-... Image credits to J. Cristobo. @moorefound.bsky.social @sangerinstitute.bsky.social

And here comes the genome of the Mediterranean sponge Crambe crambe... (image of the original specimen that went into sequencing by Manuel Maldonado) wellcomeopenresearch.org/articles/10-... www.moore.org/initiative-s...

The genome of the freshwater sponge Eunapius fragilis and its microbial symbionts is done. The image shows a wild specimen of Eunapius fragilis, surrounded by an Ephydatia sponge (credit to Sally Leys). wellcomeopenresearch.org/articles/10-... www.moore.org/initiative-s...

The genome of Aplysina aerophoba, the "golden sponge" is done. This sponge has a unique chemistry that makes it turn blue upon contact with air. wellcomeopenresearch.org/articles/10-... www.moore.org/initiative-s...

The chromosome-level genome sequences of the freshwater sponge, Spongilla lacustris (Linnaeus, 1759) and the chlorophyte cobiont Choricystis sp., and the associated microbial metagenome sequences (image by Sally Leys). wellcomeopenresearch.org/articles/10-... www.moore.org/initiative-s...

Our next #SpeciesDiscoveryWorkshop begins today at the South African Institute for Aquatic Biodiversity, in South Africa. A team of scientists are analysing suspected new species of sponges and octocorals, collected during the Nekton First Descent Seychelles (2018) and Maldives (2022) expeditions.

Something special is happening in a beautiful coastal setting this September! The global sponge community is coming together for the 12th World Sponge Conference in Vila do Conde (Portugal). Join us in shaping the future of sponge research and conservation 🤗 #WSC2025 #Science #Art #SpongeCommunity

The #CRC1182 metaorganism symposium on cellular #host-microbe crosstalk has just come to an end @geomarkiel.bsky.social Thanks to all for participating and special thanks to @utehentschel.bsky.social for organizing this wonderful event! www.metaorganism-research.com/news/cellula...

Looking forward to an exciting CRC 1182 Metaorganism symposium on host-microbe crosstalk. @crc1182.bsky.social @cpogoreutz.bsky.social @spencernyholm.bsky.social @manuelliebeke.bsky.social oliviaroth.bsky.social @tylerjcarrier.bsky.social @geomarkiel.bsky.social @daganlab.bsky.social

Attention long read metagenomists! This feels like an important read. Misassemblies stitching together bacteria, archaea, and euks all into the same contigs, yikes! Reports of circularisation isn’t robust. There’s a lot in here to ponder.

#JobOpportunity at University of Tasmania… 👋🐟🌿 🚨Deadline: Wed 9 April 🚨 🎣 #Postdoc in Seagrass Restoration, to aid recovery of red #handfish 🗓️ Fixed, full time – to June 2026 💰 $121,737 👀 careers.utas.edu.au/en/job/50094...

Looking for a PhD position and interested in evolution? Kiel, Germany, is a great place for this.