Ben Jenkins
@benkinsjenkins.bsky.social
Molecular mechanisms of endosymbiosis | Herchel Smith fellow @camwallerlab | EMBO SEG @guse_lab | formerly @oxfordbiology | 🦠 Paramecium bursaria | 🪸 Aiptasia
Pinned
Ben Jenkins
@benkinsjenkins.bsky.social
· Mar 13
Check out our dispatch on apicomplexans that infect corals!
www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
These parasite-like partners have lost photosynthesis but retained chlorophyll... are they friend or foe?
@currentbiology.bsky.social #protistsonsky #symbiosky #microsky #coralreefs
www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
These parasite-like partners have lost photosynthesis but retained chlorophyll... are they friend or foe?
@currentbiology.bsky.social #protistsonsky #symbiosky #microsky #coralreefs
Reposted by Ben Jenkins
Dear all, registration for the upcoming EMBO/EMBL Symposium on "the cellular mechanics of symbiosis" is now OPEN 🤩 ! Feel free to register ! www.embl.org/about/info/c...
#EESSymbiosis #ProtistsOnSky #SymbioSky
@hassansalem.bsky.social @berasymbionts.bsky.social @embl.org
#EESSymbiosis #ProtistsOnSky #SymbioSky
@hassansalem.bsky.social @berasymbionts.bsky.social @embl.org
The cellular mechanics of symbiosis: sensing friend from foe
www.embl.org
September 29, 2025 at 8:15 AM
Dear all, registration for the upcoming EMBO/EMBL Symposium on "the cellular mechanics of symbiosis" is now OPEN 🤩 ! Feel free to register ! www.embl.org/about/info/c...
#EESSymbiosis #ProtistsOnSky #SymbioSky
@hassansalem.bsky.social @berasymbionts.bsky.social @embl.org
#EESSymbiosis #ProtistsOnSky #SymbioSky
@hassansalem.bsky.social @berasymbionts.bsky.social @embl.org
Reposted by Ben Jenkins
📢#TMHMS25 is just around the corner! 🦠🌊
Join us to dive into the latest discoveries in #marinehostmicrobesymbioses and explore how microbial superpowers can contribute to restoring ocean health!
Please share with fellow marine science and microbiology enthusiasts!
Join us to dive into the latest discoveries in #marinehostmicrobesymbioses and explore how microbial superpowers can contribute to restoring ocean health!
Please share with fellow marine science and microbiology enthusiasts!
August 19, 2025 at 1:42 PM
📢#TMHMS25 is just around the corner! 🦠🌊
Join us to dive into the latest discoveries in #marinehostmicrobesymbioses and explore how microbial superpowers can contribute to restoring ocean health!
Please share with fellow marine science and microbiology enthusiasts!
Join us to dive into the latest discoveries in #marinehostmicrobesymbioses and explore how microbial superpowers can contribute to restoring ocean health!
Please share with fellow marine science and microbiology enthusiasts!
@mingpapilio.bsky.social shaking up evolutionary theory at #eseb2025
Models linking species diversity with ecological stability may not be as straightforward as we thought! Amazing talk
Models linking species diversity with ecological stability may not be as straightforward as we thought! Amazing talk
August 18, 2025 at 1:24 PM
@mingpapilio.bsky.social shaking up evolutionary theory at #eseb2025
Models linking species diversity with ecological stability may not be as straightforward as we thought! Amazing talk
Models linking species diversity with ecological stability may not be as straightforward as we thought! Amazing talk
Reposted by Ben Jenkins
Check out our new preprint all about Pirsonia, a tiny killer of bloom-forming Coscinodiscus diatoms!
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
#protistsonsky #marinemicrobes 🌊🔬
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
#protistsonsky #marinemicrobes 🌊🔬
July 30, 2025 at 3:04 PM
Check out our new preprint all about Pirsonia, a tiny killer of bloom-forming Coscinodiscus diatoms!
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
#protistsonsky #marinemicrobes 🌊🔬
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
#protistsonsky #marinemicrobes 🌊🔬
Reposted by Ben Jenkins
Spent the week in Cambridge with @benkinsjenkins.bsky.social testing this custom made microscope to live image Aiptasia larvae. Got some cool videos that we hope to share very soon! Thanks for hosting me Ben!
July 4, 2025 at 7:43 AM
Spent the week in Cambridge with @benkinsjenkins.bsky.social testing this custom made microscope to live image Aiptasia larvae. Got some cool videos that we hope to share very soon! Thanks for hosting me Ben!
Very exciting!
Had a great time messing with microscopes and sea anemones with @micro-megs.bsky.social this week
Had a great time messing with microscopes and sea anemones with @micro-megs.bsky.social this week
Spent the week in Cambridge with @benkinsjenkins.bsky.social testing this custom made microscope to live image Aiptasia larvae. Got some cool videos that we hope to share very soon! Thanks for hosting me Ben!
July 4, 2025 at 4:44 PM
Very exciting!
Had a great time messing with microscopes and sea anemones with @micro-megs.bsky.social this week
Had a great time messing with microscopes and sea anemones with @micro-megs.bsky.social this week
Reposted by Ben Jenkins
🪸🌊 Hidden coral cities!
Scientists just found ancient “super reefs” in the Maldives’ twilight zone, thriving reefs that may help restore shallow corals threatened by climate change.
Source: www.mapthegiants.com
#Morivationmonday
Scientists just found ancient “super reefs” in the Maldives’ twilight zone, thriving reefs that may help restore shallow corals threatened by climate change.
Source: www.mapthegiants.com
#Morivationmonday
June 30, 2025 at 4:48 AM
🪸🌊 Hidden coral cities!
Scientists just found ancient “super reefs” in the Maldives’ twilight zone, thriving reefs that may help restore shallow corals threatened by climate change.
Source: www.mapthegiants.com
#Morivationmonday
Scientists just found ancient “super reefs” in the Maldives’ twilight zone, thriving reefs that may help restore shallow corals threatened by climate change.
Source: www.mapthegiants.com
#Morivationmonday
Reposted by Ben Jenkins
📢 Deadline extended to May 5!
Join our #ESEB2025 symposium on symbioses in microbial eukaryotes - from the origin of organelles to their roles in ecosystem functioning. Share your work and meet our great speakers @cstairs.bsky.social & @benkinsjenkins.bsky.social
#ESEB25 #Symbiosis #ProtistOnSky
Join our #ESEB2025 symposium on symbioses in microbial eukaryotes - from the origin of organelles to their roles in ecosystem functioning. Share your work and meet our great speakers @cstairs.bsky.social & @benkinsjenkins.bsky.social
#ESEB25 #Symbiosis #ProtistOnSky
🚨 Just under two weeks left to submit your abstract for ESEB2025 - don’t miss the chance to be part of the Symposium on the Evolution of Symbiosis and Interactions in Microbial Eukaryotes 🦠🔬
📅 Abstract deadline: April 25, 2025
🔗 More: eseb2025.com/list-of-symposia
#ESEB25 #Symbiosis #ProtistOnSky
📅 Abstract deadline: April 25, 2025
🔗 More: eseb2025.com/list-of-symposia
#ESEB25 #Symbiosis #ProtistOnSky
May 1, 2025 at 5:22 PM
📢 Deadline extended to May 5!
Join our #ESEB2025 symposium on symbioses in microbial eukaryotes - from the origin of organelles to their roles in ecosystem functioning. Share your work and meet our great speakers @cstairs.bsky.social & @benkinsjenkins.bsky.social
#ESEB25 #Symbiosis #ProtistOnSky
Join our #ESEB2025 symposium on symbioses in microbial eukaryotes - from the origin of organelles to their roles in ecosystem functioning. Share your work and meet our great speakers @cstairs.bsky.social & @benkinsjenkins.bsky.social
#ESEB25 #Symbiosis #ProtistOnSky
Reposted by Ben Jenkins
First study from the lab is out! We describe ApuRs, a new family of microbial rhodopsins unique from apusomonads. ApuRs represent the first anion-conducting rhodopsin channels that can be controlled by UV light, offering potential as new optogenetic tools. #protistsonsky
doi.org/10.1101/2025...
👇
doi.org/10.1101/2025...
👇
April 18, 2025 at 9:07 AM
First study from the lab is out! We describe ApuRs, a new family of microbial rhodopsins unique from apusomonads. ApuRs represent the first anion-conducting rhodopsin channels that can be controlled by UV light, offering potential as new optogenetic tools. #protistsonsky
doi.org/10.1101/2025...
👇
doi.org/10.1101/2025...
👇
Reposted by Ben Jenkins
Corals maintain stable populations of essential photosynthetic symbionts by controlling their cell cycle, not by eating them! Our new #PNAS paper monitored and modelled #aiptasia cell cycle, autophagy, and expulsion for over a year. #symbiosis #microbiology www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/...
April 4, 2025 at 12:04 AM
Corals maintain stable populations of essential photosynthetic symbionts by controlling their cell cycle, not by eating them! Our new #PNAS paper monitored and modelled #aiptasia cell cycle, autophagy, and expulsion for over a year. #symbiosis #microbiology www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/...
I am obviously biased, but this should be a great conference (as long as you don't mind hearing me go on about Paramecium and corals) ! 🦠🪸
🚨 Just under two weeks left to submit your abstract for ESEB2025 - don’t miss the chance to be part of the Symposium on the Evolution of Symbiosis and Interactions in Microbial Eukaryotes 🦠🔬
📅 Abstract deadline: April 25, 2025
🔗 More: eseb2025.com/list-of-symposia
#ESEB25 #Symbiosis #ProtistOnSky
📅 Abstract deadline: April 25, 2025
🔗 More: eseb2025.com/list-of-symposia
#ESEB25 #Symbiosis #ProtistOnSky
April 14, 2025 at 2:29 PM
I am obviously biased, but this should be a great conference (as long as you don't mind hearing me go on about Paramecium and corals) ! 🦠🪸
Reposted by Ben Jenkins
I've been busy the last couple years developing Aiptasia as a genetically tractable model organism to study corals. Here you can see me injecting CRISPR-Cas9 into these fragile little Aiptasia zygotes. Hopefully soon we will have our very first mutant lines!
April 14, 2025 at 2:19 PM
I've been busy the last couple years developing Aiptasia as a genetically tractable model organism to study corals. Here you can see me injecting CRISPR-Cas9 into these fragile little Aiptasia zygotes. Hopefully soon we will have our very first mutant lines!
Reposted by Ben Jenkins
Absolutely phenomenal week for the #EESWildModels.
A pure celebration of biological wonders, and incredibly engaged participants.
Thanks to all the co-organizers and @events.embl.org for making this possible !
See you in 2027 ? (please fill the feedback form)
A pure celebration of biological wonders, and incredibly engaged participants.
Thanks to all the co-organizers and @events.embl.org for making this possible !
See you in 2027 ? (please fill the feedback form)
April 12, 2025 at 11:56 AM
Absolutely phenomenal week for the #EESWildModels.
A pure celebration of biological wonders, and incredibly engaged participants.
Thanks to all the co-organizers and @events.embl.org for making this possible !
See you in 2027 ? (please fill the feedback form)
A pure celebration of biological wonders, and incredibly engaged participants.
Thanks to all the co-organizers and @events.embl.org for making this possible !
See you in 2027 ? (please fill the feedback form)
Reposted by Ben Jenkins
Very excited for this first of its kind EMBO/EMBL Symposium on the Wild Frontiers of Model Organisms.
So far Session 1 is a blast, from aiptasia symbiosis, oyster vibrio phage interactions, !!
#EESWildModels
@embldbunit.bsky.social
@embl.org
So far Session 1 is a blast, from aiptasia symbiosis, oyster vibrio phage interactions, !!
#EESWildModels
@embldbunit.bsky.social
@embl.org
Kicked off the #EESWildModels at @embl.org 🐟🦠🍄🟫🪰🐟
@floravincent.bsky.social started the sessions with a little survey to sample the range of expertise/skills
Really diverse range of expertise amongst the attendees 💯
@events.embl.org
@floravincent.bsky.social started the sessions with a little survey to sample the range of expertise/skills
Really diverse range of expertise amongst the attendees 💯
@events.embl.org
April 8, 2025 at 2:15 PM
Very excited for this first of its kind EMBO/EMBL Symposium on the Wild Frontiers of Model Organisms.
So far Session 1 is a blast, from aiptasia symbiosis, oyster vibrio phage interactions, !!
#EESWildModels
@embldbunit.bsky.social
@embl.org
So far Session 1 is a blast, from aiptasia symbiosis, oyster vibrio phage interactions, !!
#EESWildModels
@embldbunit.bsky.social
@embl.org
I had a wild time presenting my coral work for the first time at EMBO/EMBL #EESWildModels.
Massive thanks to @embl.org @events.embl.org and the organisers for putting this together. It was a real pleasure to interact with so many weird and wonderful creatures...
...and their model organisms (!!)
Massive thanks to @embl.org @events.embl.org and the organisers for putting this together. It was a real pleasure to interact with so many weird and wonderful creatures...
...and their model organisms (!!)
April 11, 2025 at 1:11 PM
I had a wild time presenting my coral work for the first time at EMBO/EMBL #EESWildModels.
Massive thanks to @embl.org @events.embl.org and the organisers for putting this together. It was a real pleasure to interact with so many weird and wonderful creatures...
...and their model organisms (!!)
Massive thanks to @embl.org @events.embl.org and the organisers for putting this together. It was a real pleasure to interact with so many weird and wonderful creatures...
...and their model organisms (!!)
Reposted by Ben Jenkins
Very excited and proud to finally share this story! 🐙
We discovered surprising roles for dopamine and acetylcholine in the Octopus visual system…
doi.org/10.1101/2025...
We discovered surprising roles for dopamine and acetylcholine in the Octopus visual system…
doi.org/10.1101/2025...
Novel dopaminergic neurotransmission in the Octopus visual system
Coleoid cephalopods such as the common octopus have a complex visual system, with a camera-type eye and a large optic lobe, that evolved independently from its counterpart in vertebrates. However, the...
doi.org
April 4, 2025 at 5:04 PM
Very excited and proud to finally share this story! 🐙
We discovered surprising roles for dopamine and acetylcholine in the Octopus visual system…
doi.org/10.1101/2025...
We discovered surprising roles for dopamine and acetylcholine in the Octopus visual system…
doi.org/10.1101/2025...
Reposted by Ben Jenkins
Culturing of two Asgard archaea in the Hodarchaeales order - the closest relatives to eukaryotes
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
www.biorxiv.org
March 20, 2025 at 7:02 AM
Culturing of two Asgard archaea in the Hodarchaeales order - the closest relatives to eukaryotes
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
Reposted by Ben Jenkins
I'm pleased to introduce our new paper rooting the eukaryote Tree of Life (eToL) that resulted from a collaboration led by PhD student Kelsey Williamson and a large group of collaborators doi.org/10.1038/s415...htt
A robustly rooted tree of eukaryotes reveals their excavate ancestry - Nature
The root of the eukaryote Tree of Life is estimated from a new, larger dataset of mitochondrial proteins including all known eukaryotic supergroups, showing it lies between two multi-supergroup assemb...
doi.org
March 14, 2025 at 11:38 AM
I'm pleased to introduce our new paper rooting the eukaryote Tree of Life (eToL) that resulted from a collaboration led by PhD student Kelsey Williamson and a large group of collaborators doi.org/10.1038/s415...htt
Reposted by Ben Jenkins
🚨 New paper alert! 🚨
A robustly rooted tree of eukaryotes sheds light on their deep evolutionary ancestry—suggesting that the Last Eukaryotic Common Ancestor (LECA) may have had an excavate-like cell architecture. 🧵🔬 (1/) www.nature.com/articles/s41...
A robustly rooted tree of eukaryotes sheds light on their deep evolutionary ancestry—suggesting that the Last Eukaryotic Common Ancestor (LECA) may have had an excavate-like cell architecture. 🧵🔬 (1/) www.nature.com/articles/s41...
A robustly rooted tree of eukaryotes reveals their excavate ancestry - Nature
The root of the eukaryote Tree of Life is estimated from a new, larger dataset of mitochondrial proteins including all known eukaryotic supergroups, showing it lies between two multi-supergroup assemb...
www.nature.com
March 12, 2025 at 4:39 PM
🚨 New paper alert! 🚨
A robustly rooted tree of eukaryotes sheds light on their deep evolutionary ancestry—suggesting that the Last Eukaryotic Common Ancestor (LECA) may have had an excavate-like cell architecture. 🧵🔬 (1/) www.nature.com/articles/s41...
A robustly rooted tree of eukaryotes sheds light on their deep evolutionary ancestry—suggesting that the Last Eukaryotic Common Ancestor (LECA) may have had an excavate-like cell architecture. 🧵🔬 (1/) www.nature.com/articles/s41...
Check out our dispatch on apicomplexans that infect corals!
www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
These parasite-like partners have lost photosynthesis but retained chlorophyll... are they friend or foe?
@currentbiology.bsky.social #protistsonsky #symbiosky #microsky #coralreefs
www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
These parasite-like partners have lost photosynthesis but retained chlorophyll... are they friend or foe?
@currentbiology.bsky.social #protistsonsky #symbiosky #microsky #coralreefs
March 13, 2025 at 12:11 PM
Check out our dispatch on apicomplexans that infect corals!
www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
These parasite-like partners have lost photosynthesis but retained chlorophyll... are they friend or foe?
@currentbiology.bsky.social #protistsonsky #symbiosky #microsky #coralreefs
www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
These parasite-like partners have lost photosynthesis but retained chlorophyll... are they friend or foe?
@currentbiology.bsky.social #protistsonsky #symbiosky #microsky #coralreefs
Reposted by Ben Jenkins
In our new paper we discuss how modern coexistence theory can help microbial ecologists tackle fundamental & applied questions, and how microbial systems can help to push coexistence theory forward! With Andrew Letten and Dave Armitage (@darmitage.bsky.social). doi.org/10.1111/1462...
Coexistence Theory for Microbial Ecology, and Vice Versa
Classical models from theoretical ecology are seeing increasing uptake in microbial ecology, but there remains rich potential for closer cross-pollination. Here we explore opportunities for stronger ....
doi.org
March 12, 2025 at 5:35 AM
In our new paper we discuss how modern coexistence theory can help microbial ecologists tackle fundamental & applied questions, and how microbial systems can help to push coexistence theory forward! With Andrew Letten and Dave Armitage (@darmitage.bsky.social). doi.org/10.1111/1462...
Reposted by Ben Jenkins
PhD position available in Ceske Budejovice (Czechia), funded by ERC KLEPTOS, to study plastid endosymbiosis in kleptoplastidic protists. Are you curious about this process and do you like sampling/cultivation of protists? Join our team by applying here: jobs.bc.cas.cz/en/detail/243
#protistsonsky
#protistsonsky
March 12, 2025 at 8:24 AM
PhD position available in Ceske Budejovice (Czechia), funded by ERC KLEPTOS, to study plastid endosymbiosis in kleptoplastidic protists. Are you curious about this process and do you like sampling/cultivation of protists? Join our team by applying here: jobs.bc.cas.cz/en/detail/243
#protistsonsky
#protistsonsky
Reposted by Ben Jenkins
New corallicolid pub in @currentbiology.bsky.social!🪸🧬
Highlights:
🌳 Phylogenomic support for Corallicolids as sister to the Ichthyocolids
☀️Corallicolids express nuclear & plastid encoded Chl biosynthesis genes
❌Multiple, parallel losses of CBP in Apicomplexa
#ProtistsOnSky #CoralReefs #MicroSky
Highlights:
🌳 Phylogenomic support for Corallicolids as sister to the Ichthyocolids
☀️Corallicolids express nuclear & plastid encoded Chl biosynthesis genes
❌Multiple, parallel losses of CBP in Apicomplexa
#ProtistsOnSky #CoralReefs #MicroSky
Phylogenomics of coral-infecting corallicolids reveal multiple independent losses of chlorophyll biosynthesis in apicomplexan parasites
Jacko-Reynolds et al. present multi-protein phylogenetics supporting corallicolids
as a late-branching apicomplexan, closely related to coccidians. The expression of
chlorophyll biosynthesis genes in ...
www.cell.com
February 18, 2025 at 7:50 PM
New corallicolid pub in @currentbiology.bsky.social!🪸🧬
Highlights:
🌳 Phylogenomic support for Corallicolids as sister to the Ichthyocolids
☀️Corallicolids express nuclear & plastid encoded Chl biosynthesis genes
❌Multiple, parallel losses of CBP in Apicomplexa
#ProtistsOnSky #CoralReefs #MicroSky
Highlights:
🌳 Phylogenomic support for Corallicolids as sister to the Ichthyocolids
☀️Corallicolids express nuclear & plastid encoded Chl biosynthesis genes
❌Multiple, parallel losses of CBP in Apicomplexa
#ProtistsOnSky #CoralReefs #MicroSky
Reposted by Ben Jenkins
February 20, 2025 at 4:07 PM
Reposted by Ben Jenkins
Paper came out today that represents a long trip for many members of my lab. It took years to get these methods to work and gather the data so everyone involved should be very proud of the interesting outcome. Thanks to the whole gang for their perseverance on this one!
February 20, 2025 at 2:55 PM
Paper came out today that represents a long trip for many members of my lab. It took years to get these methods to work and gather the data so everyone involved should be very proud of the interesting outcome. Thanks to the whole gang for their perseverance on this one!