Seth Bordenstein
@symbionticism.bsky.social
Scientist, Huck Professor: Microbiome, Virome, Symbiosis, Evolution, Genetics, Phylosymbiosis, Holobiont, Wolbachia, Phage | Director of One Health Microbiome Center @psumbiome.bsky.social | SciEd: @wolbachiaproj.bsky.social | @holobiontbiology.bsky.social
Pinned
The disciplinary matrix of holobiont biology
Uniting life’s seen and unseen realms guides a conceptual advance in research
www.science.org
Microbiomes are the foundation of the biosphere. Hosts such as humans, bees, and plants have never been just hosts. They are complex units of biological organization upon which various forces act to shape composition, form, and function. www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
Reposted by Seth Bordenstein
Poster deadline for the Keystone Microbiome Meeting in Banff is December 30th www.keystonesymposia.org/conferences/...
Will be a great meeting focused on human microbiomes, spanning basic, mechanistic, and applied. Organized by myself, @amibhatt.bsky.social , and Harry Sokol. Join us!
Will be a great meeting focused on human microbiomes, spanning basic, mechanistic, and applied. Organized by myself, @amibhatt.bsky.social , and Harry Sokol. Join us!
Human Microbiome: From Models and Mechanism to Medicine | Keystone Symposia
Join us at the Keystone Symposia on Human Microbiome: From Models and Mechanism to Medicine, January 2026, in Banff, with field leaders!
www.keystonesymposia.org
December 1, 2025 at 6:35 PM
Poster deadline for the Keystone Microbiome Meeting in Banff is December 30th www.keystonesymposia.org/conferences/...
Will be a great meeting focused on human microbiomes, spanning basic, mechanistic, and applied. Organized by myself, @amibhatt.bsky.social , and Harry Sokol. Join us!
Will be a great meeting focused on human microbiomes, spanning basic, mechanistic, and applied. Organized by myself, @amibhatt.bsky.social , and Harry Sokol. Join us!
Reposted by Seth Bordenstein
It is amazing to me that, in my lifetime, I have seen HIV/AIDS go from a death sentence to a medication-manageable condition
two men are sitting at a table in a kitchen talking to each other . one of the men is wearing a beanie .
ALT: two men are sitting at a table in a kitchen talking to each other . one of the men is wearing a beanie .
media.tenor.com
December 1, 2025 at 12:47 PM
It is amazing to me that, in my lifetime, I have seen HIV/AIDS go from a death sentence to a medication-manageable condition
Reposted by Seth Bordenstein
Excited to finally see STREAMS guidelines for environmental and host-associated microbiome studies out today in @natmicrobiol.nature.com www.nature.com/articles/s41...
STREAMS guidelines: standards for technical reporting in environmental and host-associated microbiome studies - Nature Microbiology
This Consensus Statement presents the standards for technical reporting in environmental and host-associated microbiome studies (STREAMS) guidelines.
www.nature.com
December 1, 2025 at 6:44 PM
Excited to finally see STREAMS guidelines for environmental and host-associated microbiome studies out today in @natmicrobiol.nature.com www.nature.com/articles/s41...
Our education partners of the Wolbachia Project bring real-world biotech to high school students worldwide. The donation of a testimonial is worth a lion's share of reward. ⬇️
It’s Giving Week!
Today we’re highlighting The Wolbachia Project, an education initiative bringing real microbiome + biotech research into classrooms.
From 2022–2025, it’s partnered with ~400 teachers and ~20,000 students globally. 🌍
Help us grow this impact: www.huck.psu.edu/institutes-a...
Today we’re highlighting The Wolbachia Project, an education initiative bringing real microbiome + biotech research into classrooms.
From 2022–2025, it’s partnered with ~400 teachers and ~20,000 students globally. 🌍
Help us grow this impact: www.huck.psu.edu/institutes-a...
December 1, 2025 at 11:39 PM
Our education partners of the Wolbachia Project bring real-world biotech to high school students worldwide. The donation of a testimonial is worth a lion's share of reward. ⬇️
Petrosiidae sponges were collected by submersible, dredging, or snorkeling from the Caribbean Region, Red Sea, and Indo-Pacific Region. Sample sites spanned marine caves, coral reefs, mangroves, etc. #Phylosymbisosis exists in several pockets of the tree.
onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/...
onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/...
Host Evolutionary History Drives Prokaryotic Diversity in the Globally Distributed Sponge Family Petrosiidae
Sponge microbial communities play a crucial role in marine ecosystem functioning and serve as a rich source of bioactive compounds. While host identity is recognised as a major determinant of microbi....
onlinelibrary.wiley.com
November 30, 2025 at 1:32 PM
Petrosiidae sponges were collected by submersible, dredging, or snorkeling from the Caribbean Region, Red Sea, and Indo-Pacific Region. Sample sites spanned marine caves, coral reefs, mangroves, etc. #Phylosymbisosis exists in several pockets of the tree.
onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/...
onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/...
Reposted by Seth Bordenstein
🧡 Happy Thanksgiving from the One Health Microbiome Center!
We’re grateful for our community of researchers, students, partners, and supporters who make our work possible. Thank you for all that you do.
Wishing you a safe, restful, and joyful holiday.
We’re grateful for our community of researchers, students, partners, and supporters who make our work possible. Thank you for all that you do.
Wishing you a safe, restful, and joyful holiday.
November 27, 2025 at 3:53 PM
🧡 Happy Thanksgiving from the One Health Microbiome Center!
We’re grateful for our community of researchers, students, partners, and supporters who make our work possible. Thank you for all that you do.
Wishing you a safe, restful, and joyful holiday.
We’re grateful for our community of researchers, students, partners, and supporters who make our work possible. Thank you for all that you do.
Wishing you a safe, restful, and joyful holiday.
Reposted by Seth Bordenstein
With Seth Bordenstein @symbionticism.bsky.social
, we can welcome another great speaker to SeedCon 2026 seedcon.org.
👉 Don’t miss Seth’s talk at the first #Seed #Microbiome Conference, May 5–7, 2026 in Potsdam, Germany!
, we can welcome another great speaker to SeedCon 2026 seedcon.org.
👉 Don’t miss Seth’s talk at the first #Seed #Microbiome Conference, May 5–7, 2026 in Potsdam, Germany!
November 26, 2025 at 10:47 AM
With Seth Bordenstein @symbionticism.bsky.social
, we can welcome another great speaker to SeedCon 2026 seedcon.org.
👉 Don’t miss Seth’s talk at the first #Seed #Microbiome Conference, May 5–7, 2026 in Potsdam, Germany!
, we can welcome another great speaker to SeedCon 2026 seedcon.org.
👉 Don’t miss Seth’s talk at the first #Seed #Microbiome Conference, May 5–7, 2026 in Potsdam, Germany!
Reposted by Seth Bordenstein
Want to see something that will fry your brain? Disappearing reappearing plaques on P aeruginosa @dominickfaith.bsky.social
🧫🦠🧪
🧫🦠🧪
November 25, 2025 at 11:42 PM
Want to see something that will fry your brain? Disappearing reappearing plaques on P aeruginosa @dominickfaith.bsky.social
🧫🦠🧪
🧫🦠🧪
One week to go and thousands will come together to support @pennstateuniv.bsky.social for Giving Tuesday. We invite you to help define the future of microbiome science with @psumbiome.bsky.social.
Give now: www.huck.psu.edu/institutes-a...
youtu.be/uL14gKx33ic?...
Give now: www.huck.psu.edu/institutes-a...
youtu.be/uL14gKx33ic?...
Advancing One Health Microbiome Research: Join Us in Making an Impact
YouTube video by One Health Microbiome Center at Penn State
youtu.be
November 25, 2025 at 8:45 PM
One week to go and thousands will come together to support @pennstateuniv.bsky.social for Giving Tuesday. We invite you to help define the future of microbiome science with @psumbiome.bsky.social.
Give now: www.huck.psu.edu/institutes-a...
youtu.be/uL14gKx33ic?...
Give now: www.huck.psu.edu/institutes-a...
youtu.be/uL14gKx33ic?...
This is the now and future.
"All raw sequencing data, genome assemblies, and annotations of B. pseudoalternata #hologenome were deposited" ✔️
www.cell.com/cell-host-mi...
"All raw sequencing data, genome assemblies, and annotations of B. pseudoalternata #hologenome were deposited" ✔️
www.cell.com/cell-host-mi...
Hologenomic insights into the molecular adaptation of deep-sea coral Bathypathes pseudoalternata
Wei et al. reveal how deep-sea corals partner with symbionts in the extreme environment
using the hologenome of Bathypathes pseudoalternata. A division of labor shows that
the host provides a protecte...
www.cell.com
November 21, 2025 at 3:23 PM
This is the now and future.
"All raw sequencing data, genome assemblies, and annotations of B. pseudoalternata #hologenome were deposited" ✔️
www.cell.com/cell-host-mi...
"All raw sequencing data, genome assemblies, and annotations of B. pseudoalternata #hologenome were deposited" ✔️
www.cell.com/cell-host-mi...
Reposted by Seth Bordenstein
A longer look at our new IUCN Species Survival Commission for Microbes academic.oup.com/sumbio/artic...
This article provides more details on what we hope to achieve over the next 18 months.
This article provides more details on what we hope to achieve over the next 18 months.
Safeguarding microbial biodiversity: microbial conservation specialist group within the species survival commission of the International Union for Conservation of Nature
Abstract. As the first and dominant life forms on the planet, microorganisms underpin all ecological and organismal systems that drive planetary functionin
academic.oup.com
November 20, 2025 at 11:56 PM
A longer look at our new IUCN Species Survival Commission for Microbes academic.oup.com/sumbio/artic...
This article provides more details on what we hope to achieve over the next 18 months.
This article provides more details on what we hope to achieve over the next 18 months.
Reposted by Seth Bordenstein
An incredibly deserved award, Thomas!! A true trailblazer!
Today we announce the launch of the MICROBIOME MEDAL, an annual recognition that embodies our commitment @psumbiome.bsky.social to honor a singular scholar or group of scholars who nobly extend excellence, acumen, and ingenuity in the microbiome sciences worldwide. www.psu.edu/news/huck-in...
Host-microbiome interaction biologist to receive inaugural Microbiome Medal | Penn State University
The One Health Microbiome Center will present the inaugural Microbiome Medal to Thomas Bosch on Dec 12. Bosch, a developmental biologist, zoologist and distinguished senior professor at Kiel Universit...
www.psu.edu
November 19, 2025 at 7:42 PM
An incredibly deserved award, Thomas!! A true trailblazer!
Today we announce the launch of the MICROBIOME MEDAL, an annual recognition that embodies our commitment @psumbiome.bsky.social to honor a singular scholar or group of scholars who nobly extend excellence, acumen, and ingenuity in the microbiome sciences worldwide. www.psu.edu/news/huck-in...
Host-microbiome interaction biologist to receive inaugural Microbiome Medal | Penn State University
The One Health Microbiome Center will present the inaugural Microbiome Medal to Thomas Bosch on Dec 12. Bosch, a developmental biologist, zoologist and distinguished senior professor at Kiel Universit...
www.psu.edu
November 19, 2025 at 7:26 PM
Today we announce the launch of the MICROBIOME MEDAL, an annual recognition that embodies our commitment @psumbiome.bsky.social to honor a singular scholar or group of scholars who nobly extend excellence, acumen, and ingenuity in the microbiome sciences worldwide. www.psu.edu/news/huck-in...
The 2026 One Health Microbiome Symposium takes place May 13–14, 2026 in the tips of the Appalachia. The pencil of science is sharp for this gathering. Come help us write the script of the finished product. Best part is the implausible $60 registration. See you there! www.huck.psu.edu/institutes-a...
November 18, 2025 at 3:31 PM
The 2026 One Health Microbiome Symposium takes place May 13–14, 2026 in the tips of the Appalachia. The pencil of science is sharp for this gathering. Come help us write the script of the finished product. Best part is the implausible $60 registration. See you there! www.huck.psu.edu/institutes-a...
Reposted by Seth Bordenstein
"As HOLOBIONTS, insects are associated with diverse microbiota (Bacteria, Archaea, eucaryotic microorganisms, and viruses) that affect their fitness (positively or negatively)." Sidenote: microbes that do not impact fitness are also part of the holobiont www.nature.com/articles/s41...
Bacteria associated with the cereal leaf beetle act as the insect’s allies in adapting to protease inhibitors, but impair its development in laboratory condition - Scientific Reports
Scientific Reports - Bacteria associated with the cereal leaf beetle act as the insect’s allies in adapting to protease inhibitors, but impair its development in laboratory condition
www.nature.com
November 15, 2025 at 9:07 PM
"As HOLOBIONTS, insects are associated with diverse microbiota (Bacteria, Archaea, eucaryotic microorganisms, and viruses) that affect their fitness (positively or negatively)." Sidenote: microbes that do not impact fitness are also part of the holobiont www.nature.com/articles/s41...
Reposted by Seth Bordenstein
Starting this week, I set aside one hour each week to meet ECRs outside my group who want to discuss career development, mentorship, or any non-technical professional questions.
Here is a blog that explains my motivation for this and how to schedule a meeting:
merenlab.org/2025/11/16/E...
Here is a blog that explains my motivation for this and how to schedule a meeting:
merenlab.org/2025/11/16/E...
ECR connection: Meet Meren when you need to
A means for ECRs to get advice from a senior scientist outside of their support network
merenlab.org
November 16, 2025 at 4:56 PM
Starting this week, I set aside one hour each week to meet ECRs outside my group who want to discuss career development, mentorship, or any non-technical professional questions.
Here is a blog that explains my motivation for this and how to schedule a meeting:
merenlab.org/2025/11/16/E...
Here is a blog that explains my motivation for this and how to schedule a meeting:
merenlab.org/2025/11/16/E...
Invaluable moments spent with the Curtis Huttenhower and @psumbiome.bsky.social this week, solidifying collaborative paths over Brazilian dinner (priorities) and One Health Microbiome Science. Curtis charts the microbiome and virome maps for many. Hat tip to @erika-ganda.bsky.social for commanding.
November 16, 2025 at 11:42 PM
Invaluable moments spent with the Curtis Huttenhower and @psumbiome.bsky.social this week, solidifying collaborative paths over Brazilian dinner (priorities) and One Health Microbiome Science. Curtis charts the microbiome and virome maps for many. Hat tip to @erika-ganda.bsky.social for commanding.
Reposted by Seth Bordenstein
Nice write up of our paper here, thanks! 🧫🦠
dailyneuron.com/how-gut-micr...
dailyneuron.com/how-gut-micr...
How Gut Microbes Transmit Behavior Across Generations - Daily Neuron
A new study reveals how gut microbes transmit behavior, showing microbes alone can pass traits like activity levels between generations.
dailyneuron.com
November 14, 2025 at 7:04 AM
Nice write up of our paper here, thanks! 🧫🦠
dailyneuron.com/how-gut-micr...
dailyneuron.com/how-gut-micr...
Wowza, there it is @jlsteenwyk.bsky.social! Creative study.
NEW pub in @science.org 🥳
Is it sponges (panels A & B) or comb jellies (C & D) that root the animal tree of life?
For over 15 years, #phylogenomic studies have been divided.
We provide new evidence suggesting that...
🔗: www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
Is it sponges (panels A & B) or comb jellies (C & D) that root the animal tree of life?
For over 15 years, #phylogenomic studies have been divided.
We provide new evidence suggesting that...
🔗: www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
November 14, 2025 at 7:21 AM
Wowza, there it is @jlsteenwyk.bsky.social! Creative study.
Reposted by Seth Bordenstein
NSF is open again!
A few comments:
*Please be patient.
During a shutdown NSF employees cannot open computers or respond to emails.
*Merit review will continue. However panels won’t resume until after Dec 8th.
*POs remain excited and committed to advancing science and the scientific workforce.
A few comments:
*Please be patient.
During a shutdown NSF employees cannot open computers or respond to emails.
*Merit review will continue. However panels won’t resume until after Dec 8th.
*POs remain excited and committed to advancing science and the scientific workforce.
November 13, 2025 at 5:58 PM
NSF is open again!
A few comments:
*Please be patient.
During a shutdown NSF employees cannot open computers or respond to emails.
*Merit review will continue. However panels won’t resume until after Dec 8th.
*POs remain excited and committed to advancing science and the scientific workforce.
A few comments:
*Please be patient.
During a shutdown NSF employees cannot open computers or respond to emails.
*Merit review will continue. However panels won’t resume until after Dec 8th.
*POs remain excited and committed to advancing science and the scientific workforce.
A few weeks ago, I got to hike the Vallunga Trail in the Italian dolomites with my friend and colleague @momedinamunoz.bsky.social. It’s a 6 mile valley hike with autumn peak foliage in an area that escaped most of the tourists. Locals were trailing with their kids and cameras. Still soaking it in.
November 9, 2025 at 5:26 PM
A few weeks ago, I got to hike the Vallunga Trail in the Italian dolomites with my friend and colleague @momedinamunoz.bsky.social. It’s a 6 mile valley hike with autumn peak foliage in an area that escaped most of the tourists. Locals were trailing with their kids and cameras. Still soaking it in.
Reposted by Seth Bordenstein
Expressions of interest are now open to host the @isvm-society.bsky.social #VOM28 conference.
Let us know if you'd like to host the world's leading conference on viruses of microbes!
isvm.org
#phagesky #virus
Let us know if you'd like to host the world's leading conference on viruses of microbes!
isvm.org
#phagesky #virus
ISVM – International Society for Viruses of Microorganisms
isvm.org
November 3, 2025 at 11:36 PM
Expressions of interest are now open to host the @isvm-society.bsky.social #VOM28 conference.
Let us know if you'd like to host the world's leading conference on viruses of microbes!
isvm.org
#phagesky #virus
Let us know if you'd like to host the world's leading conference on viruses of microbes!
isvm.org
#phagesky #virus
Reposted by Seth Bordenstein
Paradoxical role of new endosymbiotic associations: they facilitate the emergence of new partnerships, but inhibit deeper integration between hosts and guests (by favoring uncoordinated reproduction over synchronized ones). That is, easy come, easy go. #Endosymbiosis doi.org/10.1101/2025...
October 29, 2025 at 3:41 PM
Paradoxical role of new endosymbiotic associations: they facilitate the emergence of new partnerships, but inhibit deeper integration between hosts and guests (by favoring uncoordinated reproduction over synchronized ones). That is, easy come, easy go. #Endosymbiosis doi.org/10.1101/2025...
🎙️ Arturo is a leading scholar and thought leader in medical microbiology and infectious disease research. Please join us at the One Health Microbiome Symposium. He is in a league of professors who have long championed the "One Health" concept — which makes his perspective indispensable.
November 3, 2025 at 2:56 PM
🎙️ Arturo is a leading scholar and thought leader in medical microbiology and infectious disease research. Please join us at the One Health Microbiome Symposium. He is in a league of professors who have long championed the "One Health" concept — which makes his perspective indispensable.