Microbial Systems Ecology Lab
@micsysecolab.bsky.social
330 followers 8 following 8 posts
We study general principles that organise microbial systems, at ETH Zürich and Eawag | Posts by group members https://mse.ethz.ch
Posts Media Videos Starter Packs
micsysecolab.bsky.social
We are incredibly grateful to have spent three inspiring days in beautiful Blonay at our annual group retreat, discussing science and continuing our group tradition of forming human pyramids! 🤸
micsysecolab.bsky.social
Excited to share our new work! We found that bacteria can turn antagonism into a foraging strategy - by killing their neighbours, and eating their remains 🧫🔬💥
nonresidentdesi.bsky.social
Thrilled to share our new paper in @science.org describing our discovery that bacteria can switch from competitors to bonafide predators when resources run dry—arming nanoscale “spears” (T6SS) to stab & consume neighbours.

www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...

#MicroSKy #Microbiology
Antagonism as a foraging strategy in microbial communities
In natural habitats, nutrient availability limits bacterial growth. We discovered that bacteria can overcome this limitation by acquiring nutrients by lysing neighboring cells through contact-dependen...
www.science.org
micsysecolab.bsky.social
How does metabolic dependency evolve at the single cell level? 🔄

In our new preprint, Divvya Ramesh combines microfluidics, microscopy and modelling to show that the benefits of gene loss are highly context dependent.

Check it out here: www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
www.biorxiv.org
Reposted by Microbial Systems Ecology Lab
evolvedbiofilm.bsky.social
Olga Schubert from @eawag.bsky.social / @ethzurich.bsky.social on Causes and consequences of collective metabolism in microbial communities
#KNVM2025
micsysecolab.bsky.social
Check out our new perspective on spatial patterns in microbial communities, the product of an exciting collaboration led by Alyssa Henderson and @adelpanta.bsky.social ! 🧫
simonvanvliet.bsky.social
What determines the spatial structure of microbial communities? In our new review we discuss the factors and feedbacks that affect spatial patterning and methods to study them. Great collaboration w. @saramitri.bsky.social @adelpanta.bsky.social & @micsysecolab.bsky.social doi.org/10.1038/s415... 🦠
Schematic of factors and feedbacks driving spatial patterning in microbial communities. Spatial patterns emerge from growth and movement of cells, these are shaped by local chemical and physical environment, which in turn are shaped by activity of cells.
micsysecolab.bsky.social
We are so thrilled that Martin and Olga have won the Art of Leadership (ALEA) award - for being incredible group leaders who give us independence, support, trust, and ultimately prioritise our wellbeing above all else. We are so grateful to be co-led by them!
micsysecolab.bsky.social
Check out this new preprint on antagonism as a foraging strategy, led by the brilliant Astrid Stubbusch and @nonresidentdesi.bsky.social!
nonresidentdesi.bsky.social
New preprint! A bit of new direction for my research program: How can bacteria get nutrients when autonomous growth is not possible or passive leakage is not enough to support high growth? Shoot spearguns with toxins into other cells and leak out nutrients!

www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
Antagonism as a foraging strategy in microbial communities
In natural habitats, nutrient availability limits bacterial growth. We discovered that bacteria can overcome this limitation by acquiring nutrients through lysing neighboring cells via contact-depende...
www.biorxiv.org
Reposted by Microbial Systems Ecology Lab
micsysecolab.bsky.social
Check out our new paper, led by Astrid Stubbusch and @nonresidentdesi.bsky.social on bacterial degradation-dispersal cycles, out in @elife.bsky.social!
nonresidentdesi.bsky.social
New work out in @eLife! Possibly the last one in our series on bacterial aggregation behaviours on polysaccharides. We knew cells were engaging in collective behaviours. But how do they know when to leave and why? We provide potential answers in this work

elifesciences.org/articles/93855