Thibaut Brunet
@thibautbrunet.bsky.social
Evolutionary cell biology / evolution of morphogenesis / animal origins / choanoflagellates @institutpasteur.bsky.social
https://research.pasteur.fr/en/team/evolutionary-cell-biology-and-evolution-of-morphogenesis/
https://research.pasteur.fr/en/team/evolutionary-cell-biology-and-evolution-of-morphogenesis/
Pinned
Latest from ours: www.cell.com/cell-reports...
This is two stories in one: a case study/cautionary tale on developing genetic tools in new organisms, and the first hint at a gene regulatory network for choanoflagellate multicellular development (which turn out to involve a Hippo/YAP/ECM loop!) A 🧵
This is two stories in one: a case study/cautionary tale on developing genetic tools in new organisms, and the first hint at a gene regulatory network for choanoflagellate multicellular development (which turn out to involve a Hippo/YAP/ECM loop!) A 🧵
Reposted by Thibaut Brunet
Happy to see our study out! We define the sequence determinants for miRNA-target interactions in flies and provide a foundation for improving computational prediction of miRNA-mediated regulation in Drosophila.
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
#miRNA, @natcomms.nature.com, @rti-umasschan.bsky.social
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
#miRNA, @natcomms.nature.com, @rti-umasschan.bsky.social
Biochemical principles of miRNA targeting in flies - Nature Communications
MicroRNAs guide Argonaute proteins to repress gene expression. Here, the authors define the binding rules for five Drosophila miRNAs, showing a narrow preference for canonical seed sites and identifyi...
www.nature.com
February 6, 2026 at 8:39 AM
Happy to see our study out! We define the sequence determinants for miRNA-target interactions in flies and provide a foundation for improving computational prediction of miRNA-mediated regulation in Drosophila.
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
#miRNA, @natcomms.nature.com, @rti-umasschan.bsky.social
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
#miRNA, @natcomms.nature.com, @rti-umasschan.bsky.social
Retraction with honor
This is a beautiful case of how real science happens & serious scientists work. Kudos to both set of authors: “This has been a humbling experience, but one that speaks to the self-correcting nature of the scientific endeavor.” www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
RETRACTED: Integrative phylogenomics positions sponges at the root of the animal tree
Determining whether sponges or ctenophores root the animal tree has important implications for understanding early animal evolution. Here, we examined support for these competing hypotheses by constru...
www.science.org
February 6, 2026 at 10:53 PM
Retraction with honor
Reposted by Thibaut Brunet
This is a beautiful case of how real science happens & serious scientists work. Kudos to both set of authors: “This has been a humbling experience, but one that speaks to the self-correcting nature of the scientific endeavor.” www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
RETRACTED: Integrative phylogenomics positions sponges at the root of the animal tree
Determining whether sponges or ctenophores root the animal tree has important implications for understanding early animal evolution. Here, we examined support for these competing hypotheses by constru...
www.science.org
February 6, 2026 at 7:35 PM
This is a beautiful case of how real science happens & serious scientists work. Kudos to both set of authors: “This has been a humbling experience, but one that speaks to the self-correcting nature of the scientific endeavor.” www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
Reposted by Thibaut Brunet
Extremophile alert!
Registration is OPEN for the 2026 EMBO Archaeal workshop in Cambridge.
Spaces are limited, so register soon with an abstract if you’d like to give a talk.
If you can’t come in person, we are welcoming virtual attendees. So join us online where all talks will be screened!
Registration is OPEN for the 2026 EMBO Archaeal workshop in Cambridge.
Spaces are limited, so register soon with an abstract if you’d like to give a talk.
If you can’t come in person, we are welcoming virtual attendees. So join us online where all talks will be screened!
Sign up now for the EMBO Workshop "#MolecularBiology of #Archaea: Life Through the Prism of Archaea" in Cambridge, UK, 6–10 July 2026.
Deadline: 15 April
https://meetings.embo.org/event/26-archaea
#EMBOArchaeaBiology #EMBOevents #CellBiology #StructuralBiology #ecology #evolution #biophysics 🧪
Deadline: 15 April
https://meetings.embo.org/event/26-archaea
#EMBOArchaeaBiology #EMBOevents #CellBiology #StructuralBiology #ecology #evolution #biophysics 🧪
February 5, 2026 at 3:58 PM
Extremophile alert!
Registration is OPEN for the 2026 EMBO Archaeal workshop in Cambridge.
Spaces are limited, so register soon with an abstract if you’d like to give a talk.
If you can’t come in person, we are welcoming virtual attendees. So join us online where all talks will be screened!
Registration is OPEN for the 2026 EMBO Archaeal workshop in Cambridge.
Spaces are limited, so register soon with an abstract if you’d like to give a talk.
If you can’t come in person, we are welcoming virtual attendees. So join us online where all talks will be screened!
Reposted by Thibaut Brunet
Thank you @mollyherring.bsky.social for the stunning showcase 😍
Like what you see? Come ExM with us! Let’s flood the internet with microbial marvels 🦠
#ProtistsOnSky #MicroEvoSky 🧪🔬🌍
@dudinlab.bsky.social @centriolelab.bsky.social @moorefound.bsky.social @embl.org @erc.europa.eu @embo.org
Like what you see? Come ExM with us! Let’s flood the internet with microbial marvels 🦠
#ProtistsOnSky #MicroEvoSky 🧪🔬🌍
@dudinlab.bsky.social @centriolelab.bsky.social @moorefound.bsky.social @embl.org @erc.europa.eu @embo.org
February 4, 2026 at 8:43 PM
Thank you @mollyherring.bsky.social for the stunning showcase 😍
Like what you see? Come ExM with us! Let’s flood the internet with microbial marvels 🦠
#ProtistsOnSky #MicroEvoSky 🧪🔬🌍
@dudinlab.bsky.social @centriolelab.bsky.social @moorefound.bsky.social @embl.org @erc.europa.eu @embo.org
Like what you see? Come ExM with us! Let’s flood the internet with microbial marvels 🦠
#ProtistsOnSky #MicroEvoSky 🧪🔬🌍
@dudinlab.bsky.social @centriolelab.bsky.social @moorefound.bsky.social @embl.org @erc.europa.eu @embo.org
Reposted by Thibaut Brunet
New paper out! Here's a puzzle: phototrophy, the ability to use light for energy, is one of life's great innovations. It evolved early and transformed the biosphere. But it evolved 2x. Why not just once, why not more? Our work suggests the answer is priority effects.
www.nature.com/articles/s44...
www.nature.com/articles/s44...
Priority effects inhibit the repeated evolution of phototrophy - npj Complexity
npj Complexity - Priority effects inhibit the repeated evolution of phototrophy
www.nature.com
February 3, 2026 at 9:37 PM
New paper out! Here's a puzzle: phototrophy, the ability to use light for energy, is one of life's great innovations. It evolved early and transformed the biosphere. But it evolved 2x. Why not just once, why not more? Our work suggests the answer is priority effects.
www.nature.com/articles/s44...
www.nature.com/articles/s44...
Reposted by Thibaut Brunet
glad so many of you *like* the 𝘝𝘢𝘮𝘱𝘺𝘳𝘦𝘭𝘭𝘢 having lunch 🙂
but don't miss the recent work of beryl rapaport et al. on another amoeba, 🔥 𝘐𝘯𝘤𝘦𝘯𝘥𝘪𝘢𝘮𝘰𝘦𝘣𝘢 𝘤𝘢𝘴𝘤𝘢𝘥𝘦𝘯𝘴𝘪𝘴 🔥dancing at 63°C
on STC 👉 smallthingsconsidered.blog/schaechter/2...
but don't miss the recent work of beryl rapaport et al. on another amoeba, 🔥 𝘐𝘯𝘤𝘦𝘯𝘥𝘪𝘢𝘮𝘰𝘦𝘣𝘢 𝘤𝘢𝘴𝘤𝘢𝘥𝘦𝘯𝘴𝘪𝘴 🔥dancing at 63°C
on STC 👉 smallthingsconsidered.blog/schaechter/2...
February 3, 2026 at 5:02 PM
glad so many of you *like* the 𝘝𝘢𝘮𝘱𝘺𝘳𝘦𝘭𝘭𝘢 having lunch 🙂
but don't miss the recent work of beryl rapaport et al. on another amoeba, 🔥 𝘐𝘯𝘤𝘦𝘯𝘥𝘪𝘢𝘮𝘰𝘦𝘣𝘢 𝘤𝘢𝘴𝘤𝘢𝘥𝘦𝘯𝘴𝘪𝘴 🔥dancing at 63°C
on STC 👉 smallthingsconsidered.blog/schaechter/2...
but don't miss the recent work of beryl rapaport et al. on another amoeba, 🔥 𝘐𝘯𝘤𝘦𝘯𝘥𝘪𝘢𝘮𝘰𝘦𝘣𝘢 𝘤𝘢𝘴𝘤𝘢𝘥𝘦𝘯𝘴𝘪𝘴 🔥dancing at 63°C
on STC 👉 smallthingsconsidered.blog/schaechter/2...
Reposted by Thibaut Brunet
from viruses to lipid transfer and multiple symbiosis in early eukaryotes...
#cellbiologyofeukaryogenesis @sbcf.bsky.social
#cellbiologyofeukaryogenesis @sbcf.bsky.social
February 3, 2026 at 2:12 PM
from viruses to lipid transfer and multiple symbiosis in early eukaryotes...
#cellbiologyofeukaryogenesis @sbcf.bsky.social
#cellbiologyofeukaryogenesis @sbcf.bsky.social
Reposted by Thibaut Brunet
traveling in the planktonic universe using virtual reality!
#cellbiologyofeukariogenesis @sbcf.bsky.social
#cellbiologyofeukariogenesis @sbcf.bsky.social
February 3, 2026 at 1:01 PM
traveling in the planktonic universe using virtual reality!
#cellbiologyofeukariogenesis @sbcf.bsky.social
#cellbiologyofeukariogenesis @sbcf.bsky.social
Reposted by Thibaut Brunet
Condolences to nearly everyone in ecology and evolution today on your grant rejection!
February 2, 2026 at 8:20 PM
Condolences to nearly everyone in ecology and evolution today on your grant rejection!
Reposted by Thibaut Brunet
Comparative Genomics of Unicellular Eukaryotes (San Feliu, Spain):
Abstract submission is open, with a short deadline! comparativegenomics2026.com
Join us as we explore the most diverse, surprising, and still largely uncharted branches of the eukaryotic tree.
Abstract submission is open, with a short deadline! comparativegenomics2026.com
Join us as we explore the most diverse, surprising, and still largely uncharted branches of the eukaryotic tree.
February 2, 2026 at 6:49 PM
Comparative Genomics of Unicellular Eukaryotes (San Feliu, Spain):
Abstract submission is open, with a short deadline! comparativegenomics2026.com
Join us as we explore the most diverse, surprising, and still largely uncharted branches of the eukaryotic tree.
Abstract submission is open, with a short deadline! comparativegenomics2026.com
Join us as we explore the most diverse, surprising, and still largely uncharted branches of the eukaryotic tree.
Reposted by Thibaut Brunet
Now with the final graphic ✨
Beautiful artwork by Sonia Monti (scientific-visualization-solutions.com). Design by @embo.org
🧬 The Rules of the Game
📍 @gimmfoundation.bsky.social, Oeiras (PT) | June 2–5, 2026
🗓️ Register by March 1st
👉 meetings.embo.org/event/26-cel...
Beautiful artwork by Sonia Monti (scientific-visualization-solutions.com). Design by @embo.org
🧬 The Rules of the Game
📍 @gimmfoundation.bsky.social, Oeiras (PT) | June 2–5, 2026
🗓️ Register by March 1st
👉 meetings.embo.org/event/26-cel...
February 2, 2026 at 5:20 PM
Now with the final graphic ✨
Beautiful artwork by Sonia Monti (scientific-visualization-solutions.com). Design by @embo.org
🧬 The Rules of the Game
📍 @gimmfoundation.bsky.social, Oeiras (PT) | June 2–5, 2026
🗓️ Register by March 1st
👉 meetings.embo.org/event/26-cel...
Beautiful artwork by Sonia Monti (scientific-visualization-solutions.com). Design by @embo.org
🧬 The Rules of the Game
📍 @gimmfoundation.bsky.social, Oeiras (PT) | June 2–5, 2026
🗓️ Register by March 1st
👉 meetings.embo.org/event/26-cel...
Reposted by Thibaut Brunet
As several people reached out after the deadline was passed, we have reopened the inscriptions for this fantastic meeting until Feb 10. There are limited spaces left though, so please sign up ASAP. If the seats are all gone, we will close the inscription!
Come join us in beautiful Roscoff for this Conference Jacques Monod on Developmental regulation: from molecular to ecological niches
May 18-22, 2026 Roscoff, France
Abstract deadline: January 31, 2026
Apply here: cjm.sb-roscoff.fr/en
May 18-22, 2026 Roscoff, France
Abstract deadline: January 31, 2026
Apply here: cjm.sb-roscoff.fr/en
February 2, 2026 at 12:23 PM
As several people reached out after the deadline was passed, we have reopened the inscriptions for this fantastic meeting until Feb 10. There are limited spaces left though, so please sign up ASAP. If the seats are all gone, we will close the inscription!
Reposted by Thibaut Brunet
The Romantic Discovery of Radiolaria in the Ocean
#microbiology #Radiolaria #protists #MicroSky
doi.org/10.1111/jeu....
#microbiology #Radiolaria #protists #MicroSky
doi.org/10.1111/jeu....
February 1, 2026 at 7:12 PM
The Romantic Discovery of Radiolaria in the Ocean
#microbiology #Radiolaria #protists #MicroSky
doi.org/10.1111/jeu....
#microbiology #Radiolaria #protists #MicroSky
doi.org/10.1111/jeu....
Reposted by Thibaut Brunet
San Francisco standing with Minnesota--my sister-in-law is in the exclamation point
February 1, 2026 at 12:42 PM
San Francisco standing with Minnesota--my sister-in-law is in the exclamation point
Reposted by Thibaut Brunet
New research published! I wanted to write about this, because I think the DE-Score *might* be the thing I'm proudest of so far!
All my career I have dreamt of finding something so clean. The DE-Score is a way to tell when amino acid data stops being informative. 1/7
academic.oup.com/sysbio/advan...
All my career I have dreamt of finding something so clean. The DE-Score is a way to tell when amino acid data stops being informative. 1/7
academic.oup.com/sysbio/advan...
The Dayhoff Exchange Score: A new metric to quantify entropic site saturation in amino acid datasets prior to phylogenetic analysis
Abstract. Entropic site saturation is a persistent problem in phylogenetic analyses, where it can hinder the accuracy of topology reconstruction. It is fun
academic.oup.com
February 1, 2026 at 10:18 AM
New research published! I wanted to write about this, because I think the DE-Score *might* be the thing I'm proudest of so far!
All my career I have dreamt of finding something so clean. The DE-Score is a way to tell when amino acid data stops being informative. 1/7
academic.oup.com/sysbio/advan...
All my career I have dreamt of finding something so clean. The DE-Score is a way to tell when amino acid data stops being informative. 1/7
academic.oup.com/sysbio/advan...
Reposted by Thibaut Brunet
Excited to share this detailed biophysical study of #PhaseSeparation in the Pyrenoid, an algal microcompartment that fixes a third of the Earth's #CO2 🌏. We combine methods across scales, in vitro 🧪 and in vivo 🦠
Thanks for the very fun collaboration! 🤗
#PlantScience 🌾 #TeamTomo 🔬 #LivingPhysics 🧬🧶
Thanks for the very fun collaboration! 🤗
#PlantScience 🌾 #TeamTomo 🔬 #LivingPhysics 🧬🧶
How does molecular valency shape condensate assembly and function? We used the CO2-fixing organelle in algae—the pyrenoid—to find out… 🧵
Preprint here!:
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.6...
@cellarchlab.com @phaips.vd.st @biologyatyork.bsky.social
#Rubisco #PhaseSeparation #Condensates #Pyrenoid
Preprint here!:
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.6...
@cellarchlab.com @phaips.vd.st @biologyatyork.bsky.social
#Rubisco #PhaseSeparation #Condensates #Pyrenoid
January 30, 2026 at 3:50 PM
Excited to share this detailed biophysical study of #PhaseSeparation in the Pyrenoid, an algal microcompartment that fixes a third of the Earth's #CO2 🌏. We combine methods across scales, in vitro 🧪 and in vivo 🦠
Thanks for the very fun collaboration! 🤗
#PlantScience 🌾 #TeamTomo 🔬 #LivingPhysics 🧬🧶
Thanks for the very fun collaboration! 🤗
#PlantScience 🌾 #TeamTomo 🔬 #LivingPhysics 🧬🧶
Reposted by Thibaut Brunet
What if the immune system held a key to brain health ? 🧠
Research by Aleksandra Deczkowska @adeczkowska.bsky.social at the Institut Pasteur shows constant immune–brain dialogue, and how modulating immunity could help prevent or treat neurological diseases.
Research by Aleksandra Deczkowska @adeczkowska.bsky.social at the Institut Pasteur shows constant immune–brain dialogue, and how modulating immunity could help prevent or treat neurological diseases.
January 30, 2026 at 4:16 PM
What if the immune system held a key to brain health ? 🧠
Research by Aleksandra Deczkowska @adeczkowska.bsky.social at the Institut Pasteur shows constant immune–brain dialogue, and how modulating immunity could help prevent or treat neurological diseases.
Research by Aleksandra Deczkowska @adeczkowska.bsky.social at the Institut Pasteur shows constant immune–brain dialogue, and how modulating immunity could help prevent or treat neurological diseases.
Reposted by Thibaut Brunet
Nicole King will give a seminar in College de France on the 10th of february at 11.30, telling us about the secret lives of choanoflagellates. Don’t hesitate to join!
January 20, 2026 at 2:21 PM
Nicole King will give a seminar in College de France on the 10th of february at 11.30, telling us about the secret lives of choanoflagellates. Don’t hesitate to join!
Reposted by Thibaut Brunet
CLOSING SOON: Applications for Group Leader roles at our Janelia Research Campus close Feb. 3! Have original, transformative ideas for experimental approaches in imaging, molecular engineering, protein chemistry, mass spectrometry, & beyond? Learn more: janelia.org/groupleader 🧪
January 30, 2026 at 6:16 PM
CLOSING SOON: Applications for Group Leader roles at our Janelia Research Campus close Feb. 3! Have original, transformative ideas for experimental approaches in imaging, molecular engineering, protein chemistry, mass spectrometry, & beyond? Learn more: janelia.org/groupleader 🧪
Reposted by Thibaut Brunet
The day is finally here!! On behalf of all the co-organizers the Comparative Genomics of Unicellular Eukaryotes website is open.
comparativegenomics2026.com
Invited speakers will be added to the website in the coming weeks. Watch this (well, that^) space!
comparativegenomics2026.com
Invited speakers will be added to the website in the coming weeks. Watch this (well, that^) space!
CGUE 2026 – Comparative Genomics of Unicellular Eukaryotes 2026. San Feliu, Spain. 5-10 October
comparativegenomics2026.com
January 30, 2026 at 4:20 PM
The day is finally here!! On behalf of all the co-organizers the Comparative Genomics of Unicellular Eukaryotes website is open.
comparativegenomics2026.com
Invited speakers will be added to the website in the coming weeks. Watch this (well, that^) space!
comparativegenomics2026.com
Invited speakers will be added to the website in the coming weeks. Watch this (well, that^) space!
Reposted by Thibaut Brunet
Deadline Tomorrow! Students, postdocs, PIs, do not miss the opportunity for short talks and posters as this meeting!
Come join us in beautiful Roscoff for this Conference Jacques Monod on Developmental regulation: from molecular to ecological niches
May 18-22, 2026 Roscoff, France
Abstract deadline: January 31, 2026
Apply here: cjm.sb-roscoff.fr/en
May 18-22, 2026 Roscoff, France
Abstract deadline: January 31, 2026
Apply here: cjm.sb-roscoff.fr/en
January 30, 2026 at 8:13 AM
Deadline Tomorrow! Students, postdocs, PIs, do not miss the opportunity for short talks and posters as this meeting!
Reposted by Thibaut Brunet
Love seeing the archaeal work at EMBL highlighted! 🥰 Feels great to be part of a growing community pushing this fascinating biology forward! #teamArchaea #EMBL 🧫🤓🧪🌏
Archaea may not be well known, nor well studied, but these microorganisms can live in the most extreme environments, but also right on our skin. They’re everywhere.
EMBL researchers are now exploring their unique ecosystem adaptability and link to evolution.
www.embl.org/news/science...
EMBL researchers are now exploring their unique ecosystem adaptability and link to evolution.
www.embl.org/news/science...
January 29, 2026 at 9:43 AM
Love seeing the archaeal work at EMBL highlighted! 🥰 Feels great to be part of a growing community pushing this fascinating biology forward! #teamArchaea #EMBL 🧫🤓🧪🌏
Reposted by Thibaut Brunet
Registration is open for the inaugural GRC conference in the Function of Evolving Systems. Aug 9-14, 2026, Waterville Valley. Truly stellar speaker lineup. Student/postdoc fellowships are available! Please come join us! www.grc.org/function-of-... @joybergelson.bsky.social
www.grc.org
January 29, 2026 at 3:03 PM
Registration is open for the inaugural GRC conference in the Function of Evolving Systems. Aug 9-14, 2026, Waterville Valley. Truly stellar speaker lineup. Student/postdoc fellowships are available! Please come join us! www.grc.org/function-of-... @joybergelson.bsky.social
Reposted by Thibaut Brunet
New preprint from my team! led by @remitrimbour.bsky.social in collaboration with the @saezlab.bsky.social, we developped ReCoN a new method to model multicellular coordination and its underlying molecular mechanisms.
📜 Paper: lnkd.in/eJ8SfFNH
💻 Code: lnkd.in/e-qx2iNp
📜 Paper: lnkd.in/eJ8SfFNH
💻 Code: lnkd.in/e-qx2iNp
lnkd.in
January 29, 2026 at 2:38 PM
New preprint from my team! led by @remitrimbour.bsky.social in collaboration with the @saezlab.bsky.social, we developped ReCoN a new method to model multicellular coordination and its underlying molecular mechanisms.
📜 Paper: lnkd.in/eJ8SfFNH
💻 Code: lnkd.in/e-qx2iNp
📜 Paper: lnkd.in/eJ8SfFNH
💻 Code: lnkd.in/e-qx2iNp