Fabien Burki
@fburki.bsky.social
Exploring the great microbial eukaryote diversity and evolution, one protist at a time. I’m fascinated by this question: how have #plastids evolved? #ProtistsOnSky | Associate Prof at Uppsala University. My lab: https://www.burki-lab.net/
Reposted by Fabien Burki
Closely related microbes tend to live in similar communities across Earth’s environments.
We call this pattern community conservatism - extending established ecological patterns to the microbial world.
🧬🌍 #MicrobialEcology #Evolution
Read the full article here: doi.org/10.1038/s415...
We call this pattern community conservatism - extending established ecological patterns to the microbial world.
🧬🌍 #MicrobialEcology #Evolution
Read the full article here: doi.org/10.1038/s415...
January 16, 2026 at 10:17 AM
Closely related microbes tend to live in similar communities across Earth’s environments.
We call this pattern community conservatism - extending established ecological patterns to the microbial world.
🧬🌍 #MicrobialEcology #Evolution
Read the full article here: doi.org/10.1038/s415...
We call this pattern community conservatism - extending established ecological patterns to the microbial world.
🧬🌍 #MicrobialEcology #Evolution
Read the full article here: doi.org/10.1038/s415...
Reposted by Fabien Burki
Forgot to add #ProtistsOnSky
Out now in Environmental Microbiome! 🧬
By re-analyzing microbialite sequencing data, we show that chromerid algae (the closest photosynthetic relatives of apicomplexans) are consistent and widespread associates of microbialites across diverse marine and freshwater environments worldwide 🌎
By re-analyzing microbialite sequencing data, we show that chromerid algae (the closest photosynthetic relatives of apicomplexans) are consistent and widespread associates of microbialites across diverse marine and freshwater environments worldwide 🌎
Modern microbialites harbor an undescribed diversity of chromerid algae - Environmental Microbiome
Background Chromerid algae are the closest photosynthetic relatives of apicomplexan parasites. While chromerids have been central to understanding the evolutionary transition from free-living algae to...
link.springer.com
January 15, 2026 at 5:05 PM
Forgot to add #ProtistsOnSky
Reposted by Fabien Burki
Ever wonder why some projects just work and others slowly eat your soul? In this paper by @urialonlab.bsky.social discuss the importance of choosing both interesting and actually doable ideas. Impact matters as well as feasibility!
January 14, 2026 at 7:43 AM
Ever wonder why some projects just work and others slowly eat your soul? In this paper by @urialonlab.bsky.social discuss the importance of choosing both interesting and actually doable ideas. Impact matters as well as feasibility!
Reposted by Fabien Burki
If you're interested in biodiversity in freshwater ecosystems, there's just a few days to apply for our PhD project: Ecological Surveillance using High-Throughput Quantitative Imaging at @uniofbath.bsky.social .
Deadline: January 16th!
Apply: is.gd/svXBcr
Image: www.planktoscope.org/how-it-works
Deadline: January 16th!
Apply: is.gd/svXBcr
Image: www.planktoscope.org/how-it-works
January 13, 2026 at 2:07 PM
If you're interested in biodiversity in freshwater ecosystems, there's just a few days to apply for our PhD project: Ecological Surveillance using High-Throughput Quantitative Imaging at @uniofbath.bsky.social .
Deadline: January 16th!
Apply: is.gd/svXBcr
Image: www.planktoscope.org/how-it-works
Deadline: January 16th!
Apply: is.gd/svXBcr
Image: www.planktoscope.org/how-it-works
Reposted by Fabien Burki
Isadonna Tengganu and Ke Hu develop transfection and ExM protocols for Chromera velia, enabling direct comparisons with its parasitic apicomplexan relative, Toxoplasma gondi.
journals.biologists.com/jcs/article/...
journals.biologists.com/jcs/article/...
January 13, 2026 at 9:53 AM
Isadonna Tengganu and Ke Hu develop transfection and ExM protocols for Chromera velia, enabling direct comparisons with its parasitic apicomplexan relative, Toxoplasma gondi.
journals.biologists.com/jcs/article/...
journals.biologists.com/jcs/article/...
Reposted by Fabien Burki
🎓🏫🧪🔬📖
In a world full of gut reactions, a nuanced view of how Nature became what it is today. Never apart from its cultural or social (and economics) phenomena.
This is one of the most interesting reads of late.
In a world full of gut reactions, a nuanced view of how Nature became what it is today. Never apart from its cultural or social (and economics) phenomena.
This is one of the most interesting reads of late.
January 10, 2026 at 10:00 PM
🎓🏫🧪🔬📖
In a world full of gut reactions, a nuanced view of how Nature became what it is today. Never apart from its cultural or social (and economics) phenomena.
This is one of the most interesting reads of late.
In a world full of gut reactions, a nuanced view of how Nature became what it is today. Never apart from its cultural or social (and economics) phenomena.
This is one of the most interesting reads of late.
Reposted by Fabien Burki
Thought I would share an SEM image of a Meringosphaera I picked at Klubban (West Coast of Sweden) for my first post on Bluesky :) #protistsonsky
January 8, 2026 at 1:33 PM
Thought I would share an SEM image of a Meringosphaera I picked at Klubban (West Coast of Sweden) for my first post on Bluesky :) #protistsonsky
Welcome here Anne @annewalraven.bsky.social
January 8, 2026 at 12:59 PM
Welcome here Anne @annewalraven.bsky.social
An attempt at expanding a "naked" heterotrophic Paulinella culture. Unfortunately our antibodies did not work, but still pretty cool. Until next try... #protistsonsky
January 8, 2026 at 11:44 AM
An attempt at expanding a "naked" heterotrophic Paulinella culture. Unfortunately our antibodies did not work, but still pretty cool. Until next try... #protistsonsky
Reposted by Fabien Burki
I have a postdoc position in metagenomic exploration available in my group. Candidates with documented experience in phylo & metagenomics and preferably with petabase-scale data mining and GLM workflows are encouraged to apply. Come join us! 🧬🦠💻
Please repost
Apply here: www.wur.nl/en/vacancy/p...
Please repost
Apply here: www.wur.nl/en/vacancy/p...
January 5, 2026 at 10:45 PM
I have a postdoc position in metagenomic exploration available in my group. Candidates with documented experience in phylo & metagenomics and preferably with petabase-scale data mining and GLM workflows are encouraged to apply. Come join us! 🧬🦠💻
Please repost
Apply here: www.wur.nl/en/vacancy/p...
Please repost
Apply here: www.wur.nl/en/vacancy/p...
Reposted by Fabien Burki
New #ISEPpapers #preprint! Environmental #phylogenetics supports a steady diversification of crown #eukaryotes starting from the mid Proterozoic www.biorxiv.org/content/10.6...
#Protists #Microbes #Evolution #Phylogeny #Proterozoic #Eukaryogenesis
#Protists #Microbes #Evolution #Phylogeny #Proterozoic #Eukaryogenesis
January 2, 2026 at 1:33 PM
New #ISEPpapers #preprint! Environmental #phylogenetics supports a steady diversification of crown #eukaryotes starting from the mid Proterozoic www.biorxiv.org/content/10.6...
#Protists #Microbes #Evolution #Phylogeny #Proterozoic #Eukaryogenesis
#Protists #Microbes #Evolution #Phylogeny #Proterozoic #Eukaryogenesis
Reposted by Fabien Burki
A free, open-access library of high-quality organism illustrations for science communication
A free, open-access library of high-quality organism illustrations for science communication
We create vector graphics of model organisms and emerging biological research organisms to enhance our publications. We’re sharing these editable graphics under a CC0 license for other scientists to...
doi.org
December 29, 2025 at 6:03 PM
A free, open-access library of high-quality organism illustrations for science communication
Reposted by Fabien Burki
End-of-year preprint dump! A collaboration with @messorensen.bsky.social and German and Korean colleagues: "The phylogenetic context for the origin of a unique purple-green photosymbiosis "
doi.org/10.64898/202...
doi.org/10.64898/202...
December 23, 2025 at 2:51 PM
End-of-year preprint dump! A collaboration with @messorensen.bsky.social and German and Korean colleagues: "The phylogenetic context for the origin of a unique purple-green photosymbiosis "
doi.org/10.64898/202...
doi.org/10.64898/202...
Reposted by Fabien Burki
Amazing several millimeters diameter single* celled acantharian. It is huge.
*presumably it is multi-nucleated and has hundreds of symbionts, but still! Way bigger than the ones I see locally. Only one set of spikes!
*presumably it is multi-nucleated and has hundreds of symbionts, but still! Way bigger than the ones I see locally. Only one set of spikes!
This is what I’m really here for :) These are the radiolarians we have been finding. Chock full of photosynthetic symbionts in a very interesting pattern- but no idea on the species. Doing some oxygen experiments and will sequence! #oceanography #zooplankton #christmasatsea ❤️🌊 #microsky
December 23, 2025 at 3:21 AM
Amazing several millimeters diameter single* celled acantharian. It is huge.
*presumably it is multi-nucleated and has hundreds of symbionts, but still! Way bigger than the ones I see locally. Only one set of spikes!
*presumably it is multi-nucleated and has hundreds of symbionts, but still! Way bigger than the ones I see locally. Only one set of spikes!
Reposted by Fabien Burki
Discovery of the most intron-rich eukaryotic genome phys.org/news/2025-12...
New #ISEPpapers: Nuclear #genome sequencing reveals the highly intron-rich architecture of the chlorarachniophyte alga Amorphochlora amoebiformis academic.oup.com/dnaresearch/...
#Protists #Algae #Microbes #Genomics
New #ISEPpapers: Nuclear #genome sequencing reveals the highly intron-rich architecture of the chlorarachniophyte alga Amorphochlora amoebiformis academic.oup.com/dnaresearch/...
#Protists #Algae #Microbes #Genomics
December 21, 2025 at 6:01 PM
Discovery of the most intron-rich eukaryotic genome phys.org/news/2025-12...
New #ISEPpapers: Nuclear #genome sequencing reveals the highly intron-rich architecture of the chlorarachniophyte alga Amorphochlora amoebiformis academic.oup.com/dnaresearch/...
#Protists #Algae #Microbes #Genomics
New #ISEPpapers: Nuclear #genome sequencing reveals the highly intron-rich architecture of the chlorarachniophyte alga Amorphochlora amoebiformis academic.oup.com/dnaresearch/...
#Protists #Algae #Microbes #Genomics
Reposted by Fabien Burki
De novo genome sequence assembly of the model algal endosymbiont Micractinium conductrix derived from its host Paramecium bursaria 186b.
Guy Leonard, Irma Vitonyte, Fiona R Savory, Erika M Hansson, Duncan D Cameron, Michael Brockhurst, Thomas A Richards
bioRxiv doi: doi.org/10.64898/202...
Guy Leonard, Irma Vitonyte, Fiona R Savory, Erika M Hansson, Duncan D Cameron, Michael Brockhurst, Thomas A Richards
bioRxiv doi: doi.org/10.64898/202...
De novo genome sequence assembly of the model algal endosymbiont Micractinium conductrix derived from its host Paramecium bursaria 186b
Endosymbiosis is a major driver of evolutionary innovation and underpins the function of diverse ecosystems. The origins and evolution of endosymbiosis are challenging to study experimentally due to t...
doi.org
December 17, 2025 at 8:32 PM
De novo genome sequence assembly of the model algal endosymbiont Micractinium conductrix derived from its host Paramecium bursaria 186b.
Guy Leonard, Irma Vitonyte, Fiona R Savory, Erika M Hansson, Duncan D Cameron, Michael Brockhurst, Thomas A Richards
bioRxiv doi: doi.org/10.64898/202...
Guy Leonard, Irma Vitonyte, Fiona R Savory, Erika M Hansson, Duncan D Cameron, Michael Brockhurst, Thomas A Richards
bioRxiv doi: doi.org/10.64898/202...
Reposted by Fabien Burki
Thanks @jcellsci.bsky.social for this opportunity to contribute to your centenary collection with our take on the state of the field - 10 years after its modern reincarnation 🧪🌍
W/ @alebenoit.bsky.social @eelcotromer.bsky.social @fritzlaylin.bsky.social
journals.biologists.com/jcs/article/...
W/ @alebenoit.bsky.social @eelcotromer.bsky.social @fritzlaylin.bsky.social
journals.biologists.com/jcs/article/...
Evolutionary cell biology comes of age
Summary: This Perspective discusses how the discipline of evolutionary cell biology, by integrating evolutionary theory, comparative physiology and modern molecular approaches, works to understand how...
journals.biologists.com
December 19, 2025 at 4:13 PM
Thanks @jcellsci.bsky.social for this opportunity to contribute to your centenary collection with our take on the state of the field - 10 years after its modern reincarnation 🧪🌍
W/ @alebenoit.bsky.social @eelcotromer.bsky.social @fritzlaylin.bsky.social
journals.biologists.com/jcs/article/...
W/ @alebenoit.bsky.social @eelcotromer.bsky.social @fritzlaylin.bsky.social
journals.biologists.com/jcs/article/...
Just on time for the holidays! Happy to share the published version of the discovery of leptophytes, a new deep-branching and widespread group of microalgae based on plastid MAGs (ptMAGs). Now with additional support from a mitochondrial MAG (mtMAG) of leptophytes.
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
Identification of a deep-branching lineage of algae using environmental plastid genomes - Nature Communications
Here, the authors leverage data from the Tara Oceans expeditions to perform a phylogeny-guided plastid genome-resolved metagenomic survey and provide 660 non-redundant plastid genomes from marine alga...
www.nature.com
December 18, 2025 at 9:48 AM
Just on time for the holidays! Happy to share the published version of the discovery of leptophytes, a new deep-branching and widespread group of microalgae based on plastid MAGs (ptMAGs). Now with additional support from a mitochondrial MAG (mtMAG) of leptophytes.
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
Reposted by Fabien Burki
So excited to see this preprint out!! There is so much gold hiding in public eDNA studies, just waiting for taxon-focused investigations to pull out stories like this. Congrats on a great analysis @annaschreck.bsky.social @symbiosisrox.bsky.social
New preprint led by @annaschreck.bsky.social that capitalized on the wealth of publicly available 18S rRNA datasets to explore the oceanic distribution and diversity of understudied anaerobic ciliates. www.biorxiv.org/content/10.6...
A meta-analysis of environmental sequencing data reveals the global distribution and hidden diversity of marine anaerobic ciliates
Anaerobic protists are diverse, ecologically important members of anoxic microbial communities, acting as grazers, nutrient cyclers, and partners in multi-domain associations, yet remain understudied ...
www.biorxiv.org
December 16, 2025 at 10:12 PM
So excited to see this preprint out!! There is so much gold hiding in public eDNA studies, just waiting for taxon-focused investigations to pull out stories like this. Congrats on a great analysis @annaschreck.bsky.social @symbiosisrox.bsky.social
Reposted by Fabien Burki
Our raxtax tool for taxonomic classification is published: it is 2.7–100 times faster than competing tools but equally accurate - raxtax has increasing speedups with growing query and reference sequence numbers compared to existing tools: academic.oup.com/bioinformati...
December 17, 2025 at 8:01 AM
Our raxtax tool for taxonomic classification is published: it is 2.7–100 times faster than competing tools but equally accurate - raxtax has increasing speedups with growing query and reference sequence numbers compared to existing tools: academic.oup.com/bioinformati...
Reposted by Fabien Burki
Are you very busy but still want to learn what Aphelids are and why they are important to understand the evolution of Fungi?
Then check out our “Quick guide” on Aphelids published in collaboration with @deemteam.bsky.social, Sergey and Guifré. #protistsonsky
doi.org/10.1016/j.cu...
Then check out our “Quick guide” on Aphelids published in collaboration with @deemteam.bsky.social, Sergey and Guifré. #protistsonsky
doi.org/10.1016/j.cu...
December 15, 2025 at 5:41 PM
Are you very busy but still want to learn what Aphelids are and why they are important to understand the evolution of Fungi?
Then check out our “Quick guide” on Aphelids published in collaboration with @deemteam.bsky.social, Sergey and Guifré. #protistsonsky
doi.org/10.1016/j.cu...
Then check out our “Quick guide” on Aphelids published in collaboration with @deemteam.bsky.social, Sergey and Guifré. #protistsonsky
doi.org/10.1016/j.cu...
It has been so rewarding to combine all these different expertise
This work started more than 5 years ago and combines molecular phylogenetics, diversification models, paleoecology and micropaleontology, requiring ~136 CPU-years 🧬💻! A lovely interdisciplinary collaboration with @phoebefossil.bsky.social, Hélèn Morlon and @fburki.bsky.social.
#ProtistsOnSky
#ProtistsOnSky
December 15, 2025 at 8:23 AM
It has been so rewarding to combine all these different expertise
Reposted by Fabien Burki
New preprint out! Using ~75k environmental OTUs + 77 fossil calibrations, we reconstructed a Proterozoic timeline of eukaryote evolution. Our results show crown eukaryotes were already diversifying >1.6 Ga, long before the first undisputed fossils (~1.05 Ga).
🔗 DOI: www.biorxiv.org/content/10.6...
🔗 DOI: www.biorxiv.org/content/10.6...
December 15, 2025 at 8:19 AM
New preprint out! Using ~75k environmental OTUs + 77 fossil calibrations, we reconstructed a Proterozoic timeline of eukaryote evolution. Our results show crown eukaryotes were already diversifying >1.6 Ga, long before the first undisputed fossils (~1.05 Ga).
🔗 DOI: www.biorxiv.org/content/10.6...
🔗 DOI: www.biorxiv.org/content/10.6...
Reposted by Fabien Burki
Aha, I realized that I forgot to add #ProtistsOnSky and #SymbioSky to this thread highlighting our recent respiratory endosymbiont paper.
Respiratory endosymbionts, that allow their ciliate hosts to breathe nitrate instead of (or in addition to) oxygen are frequent members of the wastewater microbiome. 🦠 🖥️🧬
Great to see this work by @louison-nicolas.bsky.social published in ISME coummuncations!
doi.org/10.1093/isme...
Great to see this work by @louison-nicolas.bsky.social published in ISME coummuncations!
doi.org/10.1093/isme...
Validate User
doi.org
December 12, 2025 at 12:15 PM
Aha, I realized that I forgot to add #ProtistsOnSky and #SymbioSky to this thread highlighting our recent respiratory endosymbiont paper.