Wen-Cong Huang
@wentsunghwang.bsky.social
PhD candidate @anja1.bsky.social group @NIOZ and @UvA 🇳🇱. Interested in molecular evolution, Archaea and cell biology. https://w-huang.com
Reposted by Wen-Cong Huang
Very happy to share our recent work @cultivarium.bsky.social on genetic tools for Ideonella sakaiensis, a (Betaproteo-)bacterium that degrades PET plastic.
We identified a plasmid vector for the strain and generated a large RB-TnSeq library, screening for genes impacting plastic degradation.
We identified a plasmid vector for the strain and generated a large RB-TnSeq library, screening for genes impacting plastic degradation.
November 12, 2025 at 7:05 PM
Very happy to share our recent work @cultivarium.bsky.social on genetic tools for Ideonella sakaiensis, a (Betaproteo-)bacterium that degrades PET plastic.
We identified a plasmid vector for the strain and generated a large RB-TnSeq library, screening for genes impacting plastic degradation.
We identified a plasmid vector for the strain and generated a large RB-TnSeq library, screening for genes impacting plastic degradation.
Reposted by Wen-Cong Huang
Functional genomics in a microbe that degrades and metabolizes PET plastic https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1101/2025.11.11.687616v1
November 12, 2025 at 2:17 AM
Functional genomics in a microbe that degrades and metabolizes PET plastic https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1101/2025.11.11.687616v1
Reposted by Wen-Cong Huang
🧙♀️ Something is brewing in the WitChi cauldron…
After some excellent peer review feedback, a new update of WitChi is taking shape, refining how we detect and prune compositional bias in phylogenomic alignments.
Stay tuned for the next release!
🧙♀️ Can’t model it? Prune it!
github.com/stephkoest/w...
After some excellent peer review feedback, a new update of WitChi is taking shape, refining how we detect and prune compositional bias in phylogenomic alignments.
Stay tuned for the next release!
🧙♀️ Can’t model it? Prune it!
github.com/stephkoest/w...
October 31, 2025 at 9:59 AM
🧙♀️ Something is brewing in the WitChi cauldron…
After some excellent peer review feedback, a new update of WitChi is taking shape, refining how we detect and prune compositional bias in phylogenomic alignments.
Stay tuned for the next release!
🧙♀️ Can’t model it? Prune it!
github.com/stephkoest/w...
After some excellent peer review feedback, a new update of WitChi is taking shape, refining how we detect and prune compositional bias in phylogenomic alignments.
Stay tuned for the next release!
🧙♀️ Can’t model it? Prune it!
github.com/stephkoest/w...
Reposted by Wen-Cong Huang
Come join the Workshop on Phylogenomics in Cesky Krumlov, Czechia, from January 25 through February 7, 2026!
Applications close November 15!
#phylogenetics #evolution #genomics #ai
evomics.org/apply-worksh...
Applications close November 15!
#phylogenetics #evolution #genomics #ai
evomics.org/apply-worksh...
Apply: Workshop on Phylogenomics 2026 - Evolution and Genomics
Application for the 2026 Workshop on Phylogenomics Use this form to apply for the 2026 Workshop on Phylogenomics being held in Cesky Krumlov, Czechia from 25th January through 7th February, ...
evomics.org
October 29, 2025 at 7:23 PM
Come join the Workshop on Phylogenomics in Cesky Krumlov, Czechia, from January 25 through February 7, 2026!
Applications close November 15!
#phylogenetics #evolution #genomics #ai
evomics.org/apply-worksh...
Applications close November 15!
#phylogenetics #evolution #genomics #ai
evomics.org/apply-worksh...
Reposted by Wen-Cong Huang
Exultant to have been awarded a Vidi grant by the Dutch Research Council (NWO)! Can't wait to get started!
Stay tuned for two upcoming (PhD student & postdoc) positions to study archaeal genome evolution.
Also huge congrats to my colleague @dorotakawa.bsky.social!
www.uu.nl/en/news/21-v...
Stay tuned for two upcoming (PhD student & postdoc) positions to study archaeal genome evolution.
Also huge congrats to my colleague @dorotakawa.bsky.social!
www.uu.nl/en/news/21-v...
21 Vidi grants awarded to Utrecht-based researchers
21 researchers from Utrecht University, University Medical Center Utrecht, and Princess Máxima Center have each been awarded a Vidi grant worth up to €850,000.
www.uu.nl
October 23, 2025 at 12:49 PM
Exultant to have been awarded a Vidi grant by the Dutch Research Council (NWO)! Can't wait to get started!
Stay tuned for two upcoming (PhD student & postdoc) positions to study archaeal genome evolution.
Also huge congrats to my colleague @dorotakawa.bsky.social!
www.uu.nl/en/news/21-v...
Stay tuned for two upcoming (PhD student & postdoc) positions to study archaeal genome evolution.
Also huge congrats to my colleague @dorotakawa.bsky.social!
www.uu.nl/en/news/21-v...
Reposted by Wen-Cong Huang
Live cell imaging of Ca. Nha. antarcticus and Hrr. lacusprofundi using agarose pads. Protocol now live!
www.archaea.bio/protocols/li...
www.archaea.bio/protocols/li...
Live Cell Imaging of Ca. Nha. antarcticus and Hrr. lacusprofundi using agarose pads
This protocol is an adapted form of the protocol developed for imaging haloarchaea (Liao et al., 2021) and subsequently applied to co-cultures containing nanohaloarchaea and haloarchaea (Hamm et al., ...
www.archaea.bio
October 15, 2025 at 11:19 AM
Live cell imaging of Ca. Nha. antarcticus and Hrr. lacusprofundi using agarose pads. Protocol now live!
www.archaea.bio/protocols/li...
www.archaea.bio/protocols/li...
Reposted by Wen-Cong Huang
There's a PhD position now available with me in Bath, on the evolution of symbiosis. www.findaphd.com/phds/project.... The supervisory team also includes @anja1.bsky.social @phil-donoghue.bsky.social and others. NB, this is open both to UK-based students *and* to international students :)
The genomic basis of symbiotic integration at University of Bath on FindAPhD.com
PhD Project - The genomic basis of symbiotic integration at University of Bath, listed on FindAPhD.com
www.findaphd.com
October 9, 2025 at 9:39 AM
There's a PhD position now available with me in Bath, on the evolution of symbiosis. www.findaphd.com/phds/project.... The supervisory team also includes @anja1.bsky.social @phil-donoghue.bsky.social and others. NB, this is open both to UK-based students *and* to international students :)
Reposted by Wen-Cong Huang
Great new trait of #Methanoperedens archaea: Carbon monoxide metabolism in freshwater anaerobic #methanotrophic archaea #aom #anme
Egas @cuwelte.bsky.social et al #microbiology @ribesresearch.bsky.social
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
Egas @cuwelte.bsky.social et al #microbiology @ribesresearch.bsky.social
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
September 18, 2025 at 7:26 AM
Great new trait of #Methanoperedens archaea: Carbon monoxide metabolism in freshwater anaerobic #methanotrophic archaea #aom #anme
Egas @cuwelte.bsky.social et al #microbiology @ribesresearch.bsky.social
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
Egas @cuwelte.bsky.social et al #microbiology @ribesresearch.bsky.social
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
Reposted by Wen-Cong Huang
Huang, @tweethinking.bsky.social, Sepang et al. use phylogenetic analyses to reveal that the Njordarchaeales and Panguiarchaeales constitute the new class Njordarchaeia within Asgard archaea.
🔗 doi.org/10.1093/molbev/msaf201
#evobio #molbio #archaea
🔗 doi.org/10.1093/molbev/msaf201
#evobio #molbio #archaea
Phylogenomic Analyses Reveal that Panguiarchaeum Is a Clade of Genome-Reduced Asgard Archaea Within the Njordarchaeia
Abstract. The Asgard archaea are a diverse archaeal phylum important for our understanding of cellular evolution because they include the lineage that gave
doi.org
September 8, 2025 at 4:50 PM
Huang, @tweethinking.bsky.social, Sepang et al. use phylogenetic analyses to reveal that the Njordarchaeales and Panguiarchaeales constitute the new class Njordarchaeia within Asgard archaea.
🔗 doi.org/10.1093/molbev/msaf201
#evobio #molbio #archaea
🔗 doi.org/10.1093/molbev/msaf201
#evobio #molbio #archaea
Reposted by Wen-Cong Huang
New preprint up now!
Interested in the evolution of halophily within DPANN archaea we decided to investigate the sister phylum to the Nanohaloarchaeota, GTDB phylum EX4484-52, for which we propose the name Caliditerrarchaeota
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
Interested in the evolution of halophily within DPANN archaea we decided to investigate the sister phylum to the Nanohaloarchaeota, GTDB phylum EX4484-52, for which we propose the name Caliditerrarchaeota
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
Caliditerrarchaeota, a new sister to Nanohaloarchaeota, provides insights into the evolution of DPANN halophily
The Nanohaloarchaeota are a clade of halophilic symbionts with small cells and genomes. Originally placed within the Euryarchaeota, they are now widely thought to belong to the DPANN archaea. However,...
www.biorxiv.org
August 8, 2025 at 6:49 AM
New preprint up now!
Interested in the evolution of halophily within DPANN archaea we decided to investigate the sister phylum to the Nanohaloarchaeota, GTDB phylum EX4484-52, for which we propose the name Caliditerrarchaeota
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
Interested in the evolution of halophily within DPANN archaea we decided to investigate the sister phylum to the Nanohaloarchaeota, GTDB phylum EX4484-52, for which we propose the name Caliditerrarchaeota
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
academic.oup.com/mbe/advance-...
Happy to share this one. We investigated the #phylogenetic placement and #genome_evolution of Pangui/Njordarchaea-unique #Asgardarchaea that might have undergone genome reduction...
Happy to share this one. We investigated the #phylogenetic placement and #genome_evolution of Pangui/Njordarchaea-unique #Asgardarchaea that might have undergone genome reduction...
August 14, 2025 at 7:28 PM
academic.oup.com/mbe/advance-...
Happy to share this one. We investigated the #phylogenetic placement and #genome_evolution of Pangui/Njordarchaea-unique #Asgardarchaea that might have undergone genome reduction...
Happy to share this one. We investigated the #phylogenetic placement and #genome_evolution of Pangui/Njordarchaea-unique #Asgardarchaea that might have undergone genome reduction...
Reposted by Wen-Cong Huang
Out in @natbiotech.nature.com: Metagenome taxonomy profilers usually ignore unknown species. SingleM is an accurate profiler which doesn't, even detecting phyla with no MAGs. Profiles of 700,000 metagenomes at sandpiper.qut.edu.au. A 🧵
July 16, 2025 at 9:59 PM
Out in @natbiotech.nature.com: Metagenome taxonomy profilers usually ignore unknown species. SingleM is an accurate profiler which doesn't, even detecting phyla with no MAGs. Profiles of 700,000 metagenomes at sandpiper.qut.edu.au. A 🧵
#Asgard,#phylogeny
1/ 🧵 Does MAGs contamination affect the placement of Njord as suggested by Zhang et al, 2025? www.nature.com/articles/s41...
Our updated analysis suggests instead... www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
1/ 🧵 Does MAGs contamination affect the placement of Njord as suggested by Zhang et al, 2025? www.nature.com/articles/s41...
Our updated analysis suggests instead... www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
Phylogenomic analyses reveal that Panguiarchaeum is a clade of genome-reduced Asgard archaea within the Njordarchaeia
The Asgard archaea are a diverse archaeal phylum important for our understanding of cellular evolution because they include the lineage that gave rise to eukaryotes. Recent phylogenomic work has focus...
www.biorxiv.org
May 23, 2025 at 10:19 AM
#Asgard,#phylogeny
1/ 🧵 Does MAGs contamination affect the placement of Njord as suggested by Zhang et al, 2025? www.nature.com/articles/s41...
Our updated analysis suggests instead... www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
1/ 🧵 Does MAGs contamination affect the placement of Njord as suggested by Zhang et al, 2025? www.nature.com/articles/s41...
Our updated analysis suggests instead... www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
Reposted by Wen-Cong Huang
GTDB Release 10-RS226 (16th April 2025) has been published
gtdb.ecogenomic.org
gtdb.ecogenomic.org
GTDB - Genome Taxonomy Database
The Genome Taxonomy Database (GTDB) is an initiative to establish a standardised microbial taxonomy based on genome phylogeny.
gtdb.ecogenomic.org
April 17, 2025 at 12:20 PM
GTDB Release 10-RS226 (16th April 2025) has been published
gtdb.ecogenomic.org
gtdb.ecogenomic.org
Reposted by Wen-Cong Huang
Dating Bacteria is hard due to the lack of maxima. Assuming aerobes likely postdated the GOE gave us better resolved ages, but also surprised us, but not Dr Dayhoff, showing O2 use predated its atmospheric rise by 900 Mys and helped oxygenic photosynthesis to evolve. www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
April 4, 2025 at 1:20 AM
Dating Bacteria is hard due to the lack of maxima. Assuming aerobes likely postdated the GOE gave us better resolved ages, but also surprised us, but not Dr Dayhoff, showing O2 use predated its atmospheric rise by 900 Mys and helped oxygenic photosynthesis to evolve. www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
Reposted by Wen-Cong Huang
Job announcement: a four-year postdoc position in phylogenomics at the Milner Centre for Evolution, Bath, with James Clark and me (I'm moving to Bath later in the year...). www.bath.ac.uk/jobs/Vacancy...
ED12442 Research Associate in Phylogenomics (fixed-term) - Jobs at Bath
www.bath.ac.uk
February 18, 2025 at 9:26 AM
Job announcement: a four-year postdoc position in phylogenomics at the Milner Centre for Evolution, Bath, with James Clark and me (I'm moving to Bath later in the year...). www.bath.ac.uk/jobs/Vacancy...
Reposted by Wen-Cong Huang
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1... A new collaborative paper with Anja Spang, Wen-Cong Huang, @chrisrinke.bsky.social @ettema.bsky.social @ssolo.bsky.social Zheng-Shuang Hua Maraike Probst and Lenard Szantho. We investigated the phylogenetic position and metabolic evolution of Panguiarchaeum.
Phylogenomic analyses reveal that Panguiarchaeum is a clade of genome-reduced Asgard archaea
The Asgard archaea are a diverse archaeal phylum that includes the host lineage from which eukaryotes evolved. Due to the importance of the Asgard archaea for our understanding of cellular evolution a...
www.biorxiv.org
February 17, 2025 at 4:59 PM
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1... A new collaborative paper with Anja Spang, Wen-Cong Huang, @chrisrinke.bsky.social @ettema.bsky.social @ssolo.bsky.social Zheng-Shuang Hua Maraike Probst and Lenard Szantho. We investigated the phylogenetic position and metabolic evolution of Panguiarchaeum.