Nicole Dubilier
nicoledubilier.bsky.social
Nicole Dubilier
@nicoledubilier.bsky.social
Director Max Planck Institute Marine Microbiology
Head of Symbiosis Department
https://www.mpi-bremen.de/en/Department-of-Symbiosis.html
Prof at Uni Bremen, MARUM
symbiosis, microbiome, marine microbiology
And vice versa, sulfur-oxidizing bacteria are masters of colonizing marine hosts!
This was a wonderful collaboration with Sam Vohsen, Eslam Osman, Mandy Joye, Matt Saxton, grubervodicka.bsky.social, @ibaums.bsky.social
Corals are masters of obtaining nutrition via symbioses, in the light and in the dark: deep sea corals can associate with sulfur-oxidizing chemoautotrophs, expressing pathways that oxidize sulfur and fix C. Corals hosting them derive some carbon from chemosynthesis. link.springer.com/article/10.1...
Deep-sea corals near cold seeps associate with sulfur-oxidizing chemoautotrophs in the family Ca. Thioglobaceae - Microbiome
Background Corals are known for their symbiotic relationships, yet there is limited evidence of chemoautotrophic associations. This is despite some corals occurring near cold seeps where chemosymbiotic fauna abound including mussels that host sulfur-oxidizing chemoautotrophs from the SUP05 cluster (family Ca. Thioglobaceae). We investigated whether corals near cold seeps associate with related bacteria and report here that these associations are widespread. Results We screened corals, water, and sediment for Thioglobaceae using 16S metabarcoding and found ASVs associated with corals at high relative abundance (10 – 91%). These ASVs were specific to coral hosts, absent in water samples, and rare or absent in sediment samples. Using metagenomics and transcriptomics, we assembled the genome of one phylotype associated with Paramuricea sp. B3 (ASV 4) which contained the genetic potential to oxidize sulfur and fix carbon, and confirmed that these pathways were transcriptionally active. Furthermore, its relative abundance was negatively correlated with the stable isotopic composition of its host coral’s tissue suggesting some contribution of chemoautotrophy to the coral holobiont. Conclusions We propose that some lineages of Thioglobaceae may facultatively supplement the diet of their host corals through chemoautotrophy at seeps or may provide essential amino acids or vitamins. This is the first documented association between chemoautotrophic symbionts and corals at seeps and suggests that the footprint of chemosynthetic environments is wider than currently understood.
https://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s40168-025-02254-z?utm_source=rct_congratem[…]ampaign=oa_20251113&utm_content=10.1186%2Fs40168-025-02254-z
November 14, 2025 at 3:48 PM
Reposted by Nicole Dubilier
We are really proud of this report from our 3 colloquia convened by the AAM and supported by the Moore Foundation. A few experts even said they would use it as their introductory textbook for this area. Please check it out!
asm.org ASM @asm.org · 15d
How did life begin, and why does it matter? Scientists are tracing early microbial life–from LUCA to multicellularity–to unlock insights for biotech, climate science and even space exploration. Read the article: asm.org/articles/202...
Early Microbial Evolution | ASM.org
How did life begin, and why does it matter? Scientists are tracing early microbial life—from LUCA to multicellularity—to unlock insights for biotech, climate science and even space exploration.
asm.org
October 30, 2025 at 3:14 PM
Reposted by Nicole Dubilier
Extending microbiome research across diverse organisms is key to understand the complexity of host–microbe symbioses

In our latest study, we developed a protocol to generate #gnotobioticclams
We hope it will be useful for a wide range of bivalves to test microbial traits in nature and aquaculture
Generating gnotobiotic bivalves: a new method on Manila clam (Ruditapes philippinarum) | Microbiology Spectrum
The extensive diversity of host-microbe symbioses across ecosystems requires the use of different models to identify conserved and specific processes underlying such relationships. The need for novel models is particularly relevant in the context of the ...
journals.asm.org
August 25, 2025 at 10:33 AM
What a fruitful and valuable meeting - so grateful to @memartino.bsky.social and Raquel Peixoto for organizing! I learned so much about #marine #symbiosis. Looking forward to the next meeting!
The #TMHMS25 has just wrapped up!
It’s been four amazing days of stimulating discussions and sharing our science in a wonderfully relaxed and supportive atmosphere.
There was a truly genuine sense of community among all participants, which I really cherish.

Cheers, to the next one! 🌊
October 29, 2025 at 7:27 AM
Reposted by Nicole Dubilier
Thank you to our inspiring, diverse, and brilliant keynote speakers @symbionticism.bsky.social @momedinamunoz.bsky.social @jcamthrash.bsky.social Laura Steindler, Morten Limborg, Lone Gram, @cibiocm.bsky.social, @nicoledubilier.bsky.social, Jens Walter, @reefgenomics.bsky.social, Torsten Thomas.
October 27, 2025 at 2:10 PM
Reposted by Nicole Dubilier
🚨 We’re hiring! 🚨 @bruzos.bsky.social lab is seeking a highly motivated #PostDoc & a #PhD student to investigate the marine transmissible cancers. 🧬🌊

#sciencejobs #jobalert #researchjob #cancer #marinescience #symbiosis #bioinformatics #MaxPlanck
October 20, 2025 at 6:19 AM
Reposted by Nicole Dubilier
October 22, 2025 at 7:24 PM
Reposted by Nicole Dubilier
These. Were. Men. In. Their. 30s.

www.motherjones.com/politics/202...
No one in the GOP Hitler chat was a "kid"
We checked. Sorry, JD Vance.
www.motherjones.com
October 15, 2025 at 10:58 PM
Reposted by Nicole Dubilier
Today my @nytimes.com colleagues and I are launching a new series called Lost Science. We interview US scientists who can no longer discover something new about our world, thanks to this year‘s cuts. Here is my first interview with a scientist who studied bees and fires. Gift link: nyti.ms/3IWXbiE
nyti.ms
October 8, 2025 at 11:29 PM
Reposted by Nicole Dubilier
I will not back down.

Trump is now calling for the arrest of elected representatives checking his power.

What else is left on the path to full-blown authoritarianism?
October 8, 2025 at 1:44 PM
Reposted by Nicole Dubilier
🪸🧪 We’re hiring! Join our ERC-funded group at the @hifmb.de in Oldenburg, Germany to explore the cellular origins of photosymbiosis:⁣

𝟏 𝐏𝐨𝐬𝐭𝐝𝐨𝐜 + 𝟐 𝐏𝐡𝐃𝐬 𝐩𝐨𝐬𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬.⁣
Deadlines: Oct 29 & Nov 5. Links below. ⁣

Questions: nils.raedecker@hifmb.de⁣
#Photosymbiosis #HIFMB #ERC #AcademicJobs
October 6, 2025 at 12:27 PM
Reposted by Nicole Dubilier
If you’re applying to your dream lab for an internship/PhD/postdoc, always send a second email 1-2 weeks after the first one if you don’t hear back.

I promise we will be grateful rather than annoyed. My email inbox is a disaster and I’m quite junior - and very few of us have secretarial support
October 4, 2025 at 5:47 AM
Reposted by Nicole Dubilier
not a single news org signed. that's what it takes. stand together. everywhere, every time.
If you are following the story of The Pentagon's new policy, nicknamed, "you must check with us before you dream of doing any journalism," you may enjoy this update from @status.news
October 2, 2025 at 2:07 AM
Reposted by Nicole Dubilier
Dear @apnews.com

The republicans control congress. Democrats did not vote down anything. If the GOP wanted to fund the government, they could have changed the rules to pass a CR with a simple majority like they did 11 days ago to approve 48 trump appointees at once.

Fix your headline.
October 1, 2025 at 12:33 AM
Welcome MarMic Newbies!
Wel­come, MarMic Class of 2030!! 👩‍🔬

13 stu­dents from 8 countries have ar­rived to our In­ter­na­tional Max Planck Re­search School of Mar­ine Mi­cro­bi­o­logy MarMic.
We’re very happy to have you & look for­ward to the years ahead!
www.mpi-bremen.de/en/Welcome-M...
@maxplanck.de #marinebiology
October 1, 2025 at 5:53 AM
Reposted by Nicole Dubilier
Among them, a Poretsky Lab alum whom we miss very much here in Chicago (but are so excited for.)
Wel­come, MarMic Class of 2030!! 👩‍🔬

13 stu­dents from 8 countries have ar­rived to our In­ter­na­tional Max Planck Re­search School of Mar­ine Mi­cro­bi­o­logy MarMic.
We’re very happy to have you & look for­ward to the years ahead!
www.mpi-bremen.de/en/Welcome-M...
@maxplanck.de #marinebiology
October 1, 2025 at 2:25 AM
Reposted by Nicole Dubilier
As CNN offers daylong saturation coverage of the podcaster’s funeral, I went back and checked to see how CNN covered Melissa Hortman’s memorial on 6/28, where Walz spoke and Biden/Harris attended.

It got about four minutes during the hours it was happening—less than Jeff Bezos’s wedding that day.
September 21, 2025 at 9:45 PM
Reposted by Nicole Dubilier
Jimmy Kimmel and other late-night comedians have certainly said things about me that I found offensive, even outrageous.

It never crossed my mind to call up the networks and say, "Hey, get rid of this guy."

Because that's not how America works.
play.prx.org/listen?ge=pr...
The Political Scene | The New Yorker
The Washington Roundtable is joined by the former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and Keren Yarhi-Milo, the dean of the School of International and Public Affairs at Columbia University, to discuss...
play.prx.org
September 21, 2025 at 3:46 PM
Reposted by Nicole Dubilier
Border Czar Tom Homan was caught by the FBI accepting bribes - on camera - to deliver government contracts in exchange for $50,000 in cash.

Pam Bondi knew.

Kash Patel knew.

Emil Bove knew.

And they made the investigation go away.

A corrupt attempt to conceal brazen graft.
September 20, 2025 at 9:08 PM
Reposted by Nicole Dubilier
Agreed. I’ve been thinking a lot of David Rose this past week and about why the Ezra Kleins of this world did not think that it warranted the same kind of attention as the murder of Charlie Kirk.
"My thoughts turned to David Rose, who volunteered to try to prevent another such attack on our country, and then, when back home, ran toward danger once again to help his fellow Americans."
www.thebulwark.com/p/a-hero-dav...
A Hero We Didn’t Deserve
Remembering David Rose who ran towards danger.
www.thebulwark.com
September 20, 2025 at 7:36 PM
Reposted by Nicole Dubilier
Disney/ABC have a responsibility to refuse to participate in corruption.

Kimmel must be reinstated. If Disney/ABC agree to this extortion then perhaps creatives + workers should consider collective action to push back. Same w/buying park + cruise tickets if they bow.

People have power. Ask Target
September 20, 2025 at 1:13 AM
Reposted by Nicole Dubilier
In case you wonder which platforms are here to help creators thrive and which are here to tell us to eat shit, here’s the breakdown of likes for crab, 15 hours after posting. Follower count in () for more useful comparison.

TikTok(2k): 139
Instagram (22k): 719
Tumblr (13k): 12k
Bsky (52k): 22k
I wanted to get a video of this ghost crab but every time I got close to their hole they scuttled back in, so I tried getting clever with it. I made a little sandcastle and shoved my phone into it, hit record, and walked away. Crab was VERY suspicious of this addition to their environment.
September 20, 2025 at 4:09 AM
Reposted by Nicole Dubilier
There’s a leak - and a conceptual artist - at the Max Planck 👌
September 18, 2025 at 6:51 AM
Reposted by Nicole Dubilier
When journalism was cool. And risked everything to challenge power.
September 16, 2025 at 4:18 PM