Olga Lastovetsky
@olastovetsky.bsky.social
Assistant Professor at University College Dublin, Ireland. PI #MIntlab, studying bacterial-fungal symbioses, evolution, arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi
Had a great time presenting at the latest ROOT-BENEFIT COST Action WG2 webinar youtu.be/NqJJvwWcLOI highlighting our research on #AMF and their endobacteria #MInt @rootbenefit.bsky.social
Sixth Webinar Root-Benefit COST ACTION WG2 (Part 2): Dr. Olga Lastovesky (University College Dublin)
YouTube video by Root-Benefit European COST ACTION
youtu.be
November 10, 2025 at 3:58 PM
Had a great time presenting at the latest ROOT-BENEFIT COST Action WG2 webinar youtu.be/NqJJvwWcLOI highlighting our research on #AMF and their endobacteria #MInt @rootbenefit.bsky.social
Reposted by Olga Lastovetsky
✨ Paper spotlight ✨
Mycelial Dynamics in Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi
nph.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/...
(🧵 1/5) Arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi form vast underground hyphal networks that support plant life.
Mycelial Dynamics in Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi
nph.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/...
(🧵 1/5) Arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi form vast underground hyphal networks that support plant life.
October 30, 2025 at 12:11 AM
✨ Paper spotlight ✨
Mycelial Dynamics in Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi
nph.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/...
(🧵 1/5) Arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi form vast underground hyphal networks that support plant life.
Mycelial Dynamics in Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi
nph.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/...
(🧵 1/5) Arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi form vast underground hyphal networks that support plant life.
Reposted by Olga Lastovetsky
📢 It is tomorrow!!!
The first webinar in our second WG2 series!!
We will have the pleasure of having two excellent speakers:
- Prof. Andrea Genre (University of Turin, Italy).
- Dr. Olga Lastovetsky (University College Dublin, Ireland)
#costaction
conectava.csic.es/B/raf-k1s-mp...
The first webinar in our second WG2 series!!
We will have the pleasure of having two excellent speakers:
- Prof. Andrea Genre (University of Turin, Italy).
- Dr. Olga Lastovetsky (University College Dublin, Ireland)
#costaction
conectava.csic.es/B/raf-k1s-mp...
October 23, 2025 at 11:11 AM
📢 It is tomorrow!!!
The first webinar in our second WG2 series!!
We will have the pleasure of having two excellent speakers:
- Prof. Andrea Genre (University of Turin, Italy).
- Dr. Olga Lastovetsky (University College Dublin, Ireland)
#costaction
conectava.csic.es/B/raf-k1s-mp...
The first webinar in our second WG2 series!!
We will have the pleasure of having two excellent speakers:
- Prof. Andrea Genre (University of Turin, Italy).
- Dr. Olga Lastovetsky (University College Dublin, Ireland)
#costaction
conectava.csic.es/B/raf-k1s-mp...
Reposted by Olga Lastovetsky
Metagraph: the new search engine that can quickly sift through the staggering volumes of biological data housed in public repositories
go.nature.com/48lM8Kh
go.nature.com/48lM8Kh
‘Google for DNA’ brings order to biology’s big data
MetaGraph compresses vast data archives into a search engine for scientists, opening up new frontiers of biological discovery.
go.nature.com
October 8, 2025 at 4:22 PM
Metagraph: the new search engine that can quickly sift through the staggering volumes of biological data housed in public repositories
go.nature.com/48lM8Kh
go.nature.com/48lM8Kh
Reposted by Olga Lastovetsky
Sexually dimorphic # microbiota in #Ginkgo #biloba
📖https://buff.ly/Th3jr4k
by Lin et al.
@WileyPlantSci #PlantSci
📖https://buff.ly/Th3jr4k
by Lin et al.
@WileyPlantSci #PlantSci
Host-mediated homogeneous selection on specific bacterial and fungal taxa exhibits significant sexual dimorphism in Ginkgo biloba.
nph.onlinelibrary.wiley.com
September 29, 2025 at 10:01 PM
Reposted by Olga Lastovetsky
What Everyone Should Know About Fungi by Age 15
4️⃣ Mycorrhizal fungi help draw down ~13 billion tons of carbon into the soil annually–nearly 1/3 of global emissions from fossil fuels.
See the top 10 list (buff.ly/56WQ1oO) and follow for new fungal facts.
4️⃣ Mycorrhizal fungi help draw down ~13 billion tons of carbon into the soil annually–nearly 1/3 of global emissions from fossil fuels.
See the top 10 list (buff.ly/56WQ1oO) and follow for new fungal facts.
September 29, 2025 at 11:42 AM
What Everyone Should Know About Fungi by Age 15
4️⃣ Mycorrhizal fungi help draw down ~13 billion tons of carbon into the soil annually–nearly 1/3 of global emissions from fossil fuels.
See the top 10 list (buff.ly/56WQ1oO) and follow for new fungal facts.
4️⃣ Mycorrhizal fungi help draw down ~13 billion tons of carbon into the soil annually–nearly 1/3 of global emissions from fossil fuels.
See the top 10 list (buff.ly/56WQ1oO) and follow for new fungal facts.
Reposted by Olga Lastovetsky
📢🍄Job alert🍄📢
The Department of Plant Biology at University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign is hiring an Assistant Professor in Mycology/Plant-Fungal Interactions. Deadline to apply: 31 October 2025.
illinois.csod.com/ux/ats/caree...
The Department of Plant Biology at University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign is hiring an Assistant Professor in Mycology/Plant-Fungal Interactions. Deadline to apply: 31 October 2025.
illinois.csod.com/ux/ats/caree...
Assistant Professor- Department of Plant Biology
Duties & Responsibilities
illinois.csod.com
September 13, 2025 at 4:05 PM
📢🍄Job alert🍄📢
The Department of Plant Biology at University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign is hiring an Assistant Professor in Mycology/Plant-Fungal Interactions. Deadline to apply: 31 October 2025.
illinois.csod.com/ux/ats/caree...
The Department of Plant Biology at University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign is hiring an Assistant Professor in Mycology/Plant-Fungal Interactions. Deadline to apply: 31 October 2025.
illinois.csod.com/ux/ats/caree...
Reposted by Olga Lastovetsky
Reposted by Olga Lastovetsky
The 2025 agar art contest is open and accepting submissions until Oct. 26! The theme is “Microbes Make the World Go Round.” Submit your artwork and showcase the vital role microbes play in our daily lives. All are welcome to apply! See contest details: asm.org/events/asm-a...
September 12, 2025 at 5:21 PM
The 2025 agar art contest is open and accepting submissions until Oct. 26! The theme is “Microbes Make the World Go Round.” Submit your artwork and showcase the vital role microbes play in our daily lives. All are welcome to apply! See contest details: asm.org/events/asm-a...
Reposted by Olga Lastovetsky
🚀The Future is Fungi Award is back—ready to back the next wave of fungi innovators!
The awards' mission is to catalyze groundbreaking fungal innovations that address some of humanity’s biggest environmental challenges—and to support the startups and science entrepreneurs pioneering these solutions.
The awards' mission is to catalyze groundbreaking fungal innovations that address some of humanity’s biggest environmental challenges—and to support the startups and science entrepreneurs pioneering these solutions.
September 13, 2025 at 8:02 AM
🚀The Future is Fungi Award is back—ready to back the next wave of fungi innovators!
The awards' mission is to catalyze groundbreaking fungal innovations that address some of humanity’s biggest environmental challenges—and to support the startups and science entrepreneurs pioneering these solutions.
The awards' mission is to catalyze groundbreaking fungal innovations that address some of humanity’s biggest environmental challenges—and to support the startups and science entrepreneurs pioneering these solutions.
Reposted by Olga Lastovetsky
Giraffes, long considered a single species, are in fact four. https://scim.ag/4n2po6f
Giraffes are four distinct species, major report confirms
The revised classification will help ensure different giraffe populations are adequately protected, conservationists say
scim.ag
August 31, 2025 at 7:32 PM
Giraffes, long considered a single species, are in fact four. https://scim.ag/4n2po6f
Reposted by Olga Lastovetsky
#MicrobiologyMonday: How do fungi see the world?🍄👁️They can detect colors using photoreceptors, with blue light serving as a key signal to guide fungal growth. In #MMBRJournal, researchers explore the role of photoreceptors in fungal biology: asm.social/2yD
August 25, 2025 at 4:36 PM
#MicrobiologyMonday: How do fungi see the world?🍄👁️They can detect colors using photoreceptors, with blue light serving as a key signal to guide fungal growth. In #MMBRJournal, researchers explore the role of photoreceptors in fungal biology: asm.social/2yD
Reposted by Olga Lastovetsky
Out now!
🍫🦠A defined microbial community reproduces attributes of fine flavour #chocolate fermentation
By Gabriel Castrillo, David Salt & co
#microsky #microbiomesky 🧪
Read it here: www.nature.com/articles/s41...
🍫🦠A defined microbial community reproduces attributes of fine flavour #chocolate fermentation
By Gabriel Castrillo, David Salt & co
#microsky #microbiomesky 🧪
Read it here: www.nature.com/articles/s41...
A defined microbial community reproduces attributes of fine flavour chocolate fermentation - Nature Microbiology
An in-depth microbiological and metagenomic analysis of Colombian farm and fermentation facilities resulted in the design of a defined microbial community that can reproduce the flavour of fine chocol...
www.nature.com
August 18, 2025 at 3:35 PM
Out now!
🍫🦠A defined microbial community reproduces attributes of fine flavour #chocolate fermentation
By Gabriel Castrillo, David Salt & co
#microsky #microbiomesky 🧪
Read it here: www.nature.com/articles/s41...
🍫🦠A defined microbial community reproduces attributes of fine flavour #chocolate fermentation
By Gabriel Castrillo, David Salt & co
#microsky #microbiomesky 🧪
Read it here: www.nature.com/articles/s41...
Reposted by Olga Lastovetsky
One of my favourite papers of 2025 so far and its on chocolate! 🍫
A defined microbial community reproduces attributes of fine flavour chocolate fermentation
🧪 Read the paper here: www.nature.com/articles/s41...
🔎 The associated news & views here: www.nature.com/articles/s41...
A defined microbial community reproduces attributes of fine flavour chocolate fermentation
🧪 Read the paper here: www.nature.com/articles/s41...
🔎 The associated news & views here: www.nature.com/articles/s41...
A defined microbial community reproduces attributes of fine flavour chocolate fermentation - Nature Microbiology
An in-depth microbiological and metagenomic analysis of Colombian farm and fermentation facilities resulted in the design of a defined microbial community that can reproduce the flavour of fine chocol...
www.nature.com
August 18, 2025 at 3:19 PM
One of my favourite papers of 2025 so far and its on chocolate! 🍫
A defined microbial community reproduces attributes of fine flavour chocolate fermentation
🧪 Read the paper here: www.nature.com/articles/s41...
🔎 The associated news & views here: www.nature.com/articles/s41...
A defined microbial community reproduces attributes of fine flavour chocolate fermentation
🧪 Read the paper here: www.nature.com/articles/s41...
🔎 The associated news & views here: www.nature.com/articles/s41...
Reposted by Olga Lastovetsky
🍄Mark your calendars for March 17-22, 2026 for #Fungal26! Registration will open October 25, 2025. We can’t wait to see you at Asilomar in absolutely beautiful Pacific Grove, California. Start planning today!
🔗Stay updated on all the important information at buff.ly/BjAlE2j.
🔗Stay updated on all the important information at buff.ly/BjAlE2j.
August 11, 2025 at 6:02 PM
🍄Mark your calendars for March 17-22, 2026 for #Fungal26! Registration will open October 25, 2025. We can’t wait to see you at Asilomar in absolutely beautiful Pacific Grove, California. Start planning today!
🔗Stay updated on all the important information at buff.ly/BjAlE2j.
🔗Stay updated on all the important information at buff.ly/BjAlE2j.
Reposted by Olga Lastovetsky
Reposted by Olga Lastovetsky
Nearly one-third of all retracted papers at PLoS ONE can be traced back to just 45 researchers who served as editors at the journal
go.nature.com/4frnv04
go.nature.com/4frnv04
Exclusive: retraction-prone editors identified at megajournal PLoS ONE
Nature - Study says small editor group handled many problematic manuscripts — and a Nature investigation finds out who they are.
go.nature.com
August 9, 2025 at 11:15 AM
Nearly one-third of all retracted papers at PLoS ONE can be traced back to just 45 researchers who served as editors at the journal
go.nature.com/4frnv04
go.nature.com/4frnv04
Reposted by Olga Lastovetsky
A new special issue of Science explores the immune system at the molecular and cellular level and how it has evolved to govern multiple facets of human health.
Learn more: scim.ag/3IYhnk7
Learn more: scim.ag/3IYhnk7
August 7, 2025 at 6:05 PM
A new special issue of Science explores the immune system at the molecular and cellular level and how it has evolved to govern multiple facets of human health.
Learn more: scim.ag/3IYhnk7
Learn more: scim.ag/3IYhnk7
Reposted by Olga Lastovetsky
Theory of host-microbe symbioses: Challenges & opportunities
Discussion on mathematical modeling of microbial symbioses with 3 noted areas requiring advancement: nested ecology w/in host or holobiont, holobiont population dynamics & symbiont-mediated speciation
www.cell.com/cell-host-mi...
Discussion on mathematical modeling of microbial symbioses with 3 noted areas requiring advancement: nested ecology w/in host or holobiont, holobiont population dynamics & symbiont-mediated speciation
www.cell.com/cell-host-mi...
Theory of host-microbe symbioses: Challenges and opportunities
Growing insight into microbial symbioses highlights the need to model these systems
mathematically. We discuss three areas requiring theoretical advancement: nested ecology
within a host or holobiont,...
www.cell.com
July 14, 2025 at 12:47 PM
Theory of host-microbe symbioses: Challenges & opportunities
Discussion on mathematical modeling of microbial symbioses with 3 noted areas requiring advancement: nested ecology w/in host or holobiont, holobiont population dynamics & symbiont-mediated speciation
www.cell.com/cell-host-mi...
Discussion on mathematical modeling of microbial symbioses with 3 noted areas requiring advancement: nested ecology w/in host or holobiont, holobiont population dynamics & symbiont-mediated speciation
www.cell.com/cell-host-mi...
Reposted by Olga Lastovetsky
Living organisms utilize electrical signaling to perceive and respond to environmental stimuli.
Buffi et al. summarize methodological approaches and challenges in electrical signaling in filamentous #fungi.
buff.ly/92Ztpip
#FEMSMicrobiolRev
Buffi et al. summarize methodological approaches and challenges in electrical signaling in filamentous #fungi.
buff.ly/92Ztpip
#FEMSMicrobiolRev
July 26, 2025 at 8:00 AM
Living organisms utilize electrical signaling to perceive and respond to environmental stimuli.
Buffi et al. summarize methodological approaches and challenges in electrical signaling in filamentous #fungi.
buff.ly/92Ztpip
#FEMSMicrobiolRev
Buffi et al. summarize methodological approaches and challenges in electrical signaling in filamentous #fungi.
buff.ly/92Ztpip
#FEMSMicrobiolRev
Reposted by Olga Lastovetsky
Excited to share our first paper on the symbiosis between chlamydiae and social amoebae showing in detail the adaptations of endosymbionts to the social life style of their host! 🎉
Exciting new research! Matthias Horn & Lukas Helmlinger from #CeMESS uncover how chlamydiae thrive in social amoebae by skipping their extracellular stage.
Read their groundbreaking study in Current Biology (@currentbiology.bsky.social):
🔗 cemess.univie.ac.at/news/detail-...
Read their groundbreaking study in Current Biology (@currentbiology.bsky.social):
🔗 cemess.univie.ac.at/news/detail-...
New Paper: Chlamydiae give up extracellular stage to thrive in social amoebae
Many intracellular bacteria rely on an extracellular stage to move between hosts – but what happens when that’s no longer needed? A new study, now published in Current Biology, reveals a striking exam...
cemess.univie.ac.at
July 9, 2025 at 1:03 PM
Excited to share our first paper on the symbiosis between chlamydiae and social amoebae showing in detail the adaptations of endosymbionts to the social life style of their host! 🎉
Reposted by Olga Lastovetsky
Forty years after the first effort to extract mummy DNA, researchers have finally generated a full genome sequence from an ancient Egyptian
https://go.nature.com/44O0Sze
https://go.nature.com/44O0Sze
First human genome from ancient Egypt sequenced from 4,800-year-old teeth
Nature - Forty years after the first effort to extract mummy DNA, researchers have finally generated a full genome sequence from an ancient Egyptian.
go.nature.com
July 6, 2025 at 10:43 AM
Forty years after the first effort to extract mummy DNA, researchers have finally generated a full genome sequence from an ancient Egyptian
https://go.nature.com/44O0Sze
https://go.nature.com/44O0Sze
Reposted by Olga Lastovetsky
🚨 Final days to register! ⌛️
Don’t wait until the last minute ⏰ —secure your spot and get ready to connect with scientists from around the world in stunning Crete! 🌍🧫
Let’s advance fungal biology together!
🔗 ifbc2025.maich.gr
📣 REGISTER NOW!
🔁 Share to reach the whole myco-community!
#IFBC25
Don’t wait until the last minute ⏰ —secure your spot and get ready to connect with scientists from around the world in stunning Crete! 🌍🧫
Let’s advance fungal biology together!
🔗 ifbc2025.maich.gr
📣 REGISTER NOW!
🔁 Share to reach the whole myco-community!
#IFBC25
July 5, 2025 at 3:58 AM
🚨 Final days to register! ⌛️
Don’t wait until the last minute ⏰ —secure your spot and get ready to connect with scientists from around the world in stunning Crete! 🌍🧫
Let’s advance fungal biology together!
🔗 ifbc2025.maich.gr
📣 REGISTER NOW!
🔁 Share to reach the whole myco-community!
#IFBC25
Don’t wait until the last minute ⏰ —secure your spot and get ready to connect with scientists from around the world in stunning Crete! 🌍🧫
Let’s advance fungal biology together!
🔗 ifbc2025.maich.gr
📣 REGISTER NOW!
🔁 Share to reach the whole myco-community!
#IFBC25
Reposted by Olga Lastovetsky
ASM’s Agar Art Exhibit is live tonight at E2Art Gallery in LA! Guests are exploring artwork created with living microbes by scientists and artists from around the world. Thanks for joining us to celebrate where art meets science. View the collection: asm.social/2tc
June 21, 2025 at 3:18 AM
ASM’s Agar Art Exhibit is live tonight at E2Art Gallery in LA! Guests are exploring artwork created with living microbes by scientists and artists from around the world. Thanks for joining us to celebrate where art meets science. View the collection: asm.social/2tc
This Saturday 14th June come watch 12 amazing scientists discuss their research on the streets of Dublin 🧬 🧪 🧫 @ucddublin.bsky.social @ucdresearch.bsky.social
🧪👩🔬This Sat 14 June, 12 scientists will bring their fascinating research to Dublin city centre! #SoapboxScience
Drop by South King St 1-4pm to join them in exploring topics ranging from nematodes & reptiles, to DNA & human health at this FREE event.
ucd.ie/research/new...
Drop by South King St 1-4pm to join them in exploring topics ranging from nematodes & reptiles, to DNA & human health at this FREE event.
ucd.ie/research/new...
June 10, 2025 at 6:28 PM
This Saturday 14th June come watch 12 amazing scientists discuss their research on the streets of Dublin 🧬 🧪 🧫 @ucddublin.bsky.social @ucdresearch.bsky.social