Reference: Płoszka Z., Nowak K.H., Tischer M., Michalik A., Kolasa M.R., Łukasik P. (2025): Dissecting multitrophic interactions: The relationships among Entomophthora, their dipteran hosts, and associated bacteria. J Invertebrate Pathology 213: 108425 doi.org/10.1016/j.ji...
Congrats all!

Highlights:
• Molecular records for Entomophthora’s new host clades from an unexplored bioregion - Greenland
• Confirmed high host-specificity of the pathogens;
• Provided the first records of bacteria seemingly associating with pathogen-killed flies;
• Validated multi-target sequencing approach

A new paper by our team @ioes-ju.bsky.social just published in J Invert Pathol @jinvertpathol.bsky.social!

In Diptera-#Entomophthora system, we show how simultaneously #sequencing #insect, #fungal #pathogen, and bacterial marker genes can aid biodiversity and biological interaction discovery.

The newly assembled planthopper-Bartonellaceae genomes range in size from <2 Mb to 158 kb. The one most reduced lacks any essential amino acid biosynthesis genes, contrasting with all other insect-associated bacteria with ultra-reduced genomes, or other genes with obvious importance to hosts! 2/2

New preprint from our lab! We show that #Bartonellaceae bacteria, mostly known as mammalian #pathogens, also colonizes #planthoppers. The planthopper #symbionts typically resemble related ant symbionts in nutritional functions, but show a much greater breadth of #genome sizes and functions. 1/2

Now this is really cool! Double-extreme #genome reduction in #endosymbionts from #planthoppers. They go all the way down to ca. 50 kbps!!! 1/2

doi.org/10.1101/2025...

Work by @annamichalik.bsky.social, @sympiotr.bsky.social, and others not here

#SymbioSky

We had an amazing time filled with inspiring discussions on Ophiocordyceps, symbiosis, and our collaborative research. Exciting plans ahead! @sympiotr.bsky.social

It was great to host in Kraków Dr. João Araújo from the Natural History Museum of Denmark, University of Copenhagen. During his visit, João gave a fascinating talk entitled “The diversity and evolution of Ophiocordyceps fungi through zombies and symbionts“.

Save the date 📅: The PhD Summer School on Host-microbe Symbioses is taking place from 6-19 of July in Oeiras, Portugal.
Registration is opening soon!
Learn more 👉 gimm.idloom.events/phd-summer-s...

@gimmfoundation.bsky.social @moorefound.bsky.social
@crc1182.bsky.social #CIFAR #CBR

Call for Papers: Genomics in Symbiosis
We are excited to invite you to contribute to the special collection of BMC Genomics: Genomics in Symbiosis.
We welcome manuscripts that explore the genomics of symbiotic interactions across all domains of life #SymbioSky
www.biomedcentral.com/collections/...

We are very proud to announce our new paper published in mSystems, in which we described unique bacterial association and transmission mechanisms alongside other unique symbiosis evolutionary patterns!
journals.asm.org/doi/10.1128/...

yes - you can add me to your Microbiology feed :)

Thanks Sean!

Also, we found unusual genomic changes in ancient nutritional endosymbionts Sulcia and Vidania. #Sulcia genome experienced multiple rearrangements and fragmentation. #Vidania lost many genes, resulting in the smallest stand-alone bacterial genome described so far - at 109 kb.

We showed that Acetobacteraceae symbionts can utilize Sulcia symbiont cells as vessels for transmission across host generations.
Acetobacteraceae symbiont’s genomic features suggest a unique combination of ability to horizontally transmit among species and confer nutritional benefits

Our preprint describing the unusual strategy of #symbiont transmission and previously unreported level of genome reduction and reorganization in a #planthopper symbiotic system has just been published - with @diecasfranco @sympiotr et al
doi.org/10.1101/2023... 
#SymbioSky #EvoSky #EvoBiol

Thanks Alejandro!
It's great to join this fantastic symbiosis community!