Category: Uncategorized

Pacific-based ascidian, Trididemnum clinides Kott, 1977, whole genome is now published

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Another Aquatic Symbiosis Genome (ASG) Project Genome Note has been published. This time on the chromosomal level whole genome sequence of the photosymbiotic ascidian, Trididemnum clinides Kott, 1977 and its microbial associates’ metagenomes. This species lives with microbial symbiont Prochloron, which can also attribute to its production of interesting natural products. Thanks to our collaborator Euichi Hirose … Continue reading Pacific-based ascidian, Trididemnum clinides Kott, 1977, whole genome is now published

The Whole Nuclear Genome of the Giant Caribbean Barrel Sponge, Xestospongia muta, and its Microbial Symbiont Community Now Completely Sequenced

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The NSU MMG Laboratory is happy to announce that a chromosomal-level, whole nuclear genome of the giant barrel sponge, Xestospongia muta, and its microbial cohort, has now been published by our photosymbiotic and sponge hubs of the Sanger/Moore Aquatic Symbiosis Genome Project. https://wellcomeopenresearch.org/articles/10-336/v1 (Photo credits go to Liz Fromuth and Brian K. Walker). Among sessile marine … Continue reading The Whole Nuclear Genome of the Giant Caribbean Barrel Sponge, Xestospongia muta, and its Microbial Symbiont Community Now Completely Sequenced

New publication has characterized the microbial degradation of polyhydroxyalkanoate (PHA) drinking straws in a coastal marine setting

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Plastic pollution represents a huge environmental problem, and drinking straws are a major component of such pollution. It is estimated that 8.3 billion plastic straws contaminate the world’s beaches. Fortunately, there is a burgeoning market for biodegradable polymers that may ultimately reduce marine plastic pollution. Relatedly, light blue Phade drinking straws made of biodegradable polyhydroxyalkanoate … Continue reading New publication has characterized the microbial degradation of polyhydroxyalkanoate (PHA) drinking straws in a coastal marine setting

Stacy Brown defends her thesis on New River microbiomes

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Congratulations to Stacy Brown, next MS student in the MMG lab to successfully defend her thesis “Microbial Community and Water Quality Assessment of Crassostrea virginica Habitats in Southeast Florida”. Her project was an interesting convergence of her community organizing and participation (Urban Farming Institute, SFAEP) on local water quality (oyster rehabilitation) and using microbiome profiles … Continue reading Stacy Brown defends her thesis on New River microbiomes

Symbiosis Seminar by Dr. Todd LaJeunesse at 2025 HCAS Graduate Symposium

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For those interested in coral symbiosis, our college was treated to a riveting seminar by Professor Todd LaJeunesse at our bi-ennial HCAS Graduate Research Science Symposium last month. He described the history of Symbiodinium research and his own role in advancing the field. A recording of Dr. LaJeunesse’s riveting talk is available via this link.

MMG students win presentation awards

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Bioinformatics MS student Emma Gellman won first place student talk for her presentation, “Characterization of Potential Marine Microbial Degraders of PHA using Phade Straws” at the recent HCAS Graduate Science Research Symposium at the Guy Harvey Oceanographic Center in February 2025. This was followed by another first place win by Molecular Microbiology and Genomics (MMG) … Continue reading MMG students win presentation awards

Mesocosm experiments followed by transcriptome analyses reveal active genes and pathways during a cyanobacterial bloom in S. Florida

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Working with an Army Corp of Engineers Engineer Research and Development Center (ACE ERDC) funded project while in the Lopez laboratory, research scientist Lauren Krausfeldt has generated significant DNA sequence or “-omics” (comprehensive genomic) datasets that will serve multiple efforts and scientists working in the Lake O ecosystem. The second bloom research paper from our … Continue reading Mesocosm experiments followed by transcriptome analyses reveal active genes and pathways during a cyanobacterial bloom in S. Florida

Paisley Samuel attends “Sample to Genome Course” at the Sanger Institute

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As part of the Aquatic Symbiosis Genome Project, the Wellcome Sanger Institute has been generously providing training workshops in genomics and bioinformatics to early career researchers. The latest was the “Sample to Genome Course” at Hinxton Hall, from 6th-12th October 2024. The course introduced and revealed the details from the Darwin Tree of Life genome … Continue reading Paisley Samuel attends “Sample to Genome Course” at the Sanger Institute

New paper on Octopus microbiome paper by Chelsea Bennice et al.

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Congratulations to Dr. Chelsea Bennice, postdoctoral fellow at Florida Atlantic University and local octopus expert for her new paper –https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/marine-science/articles/10.3389/fmars.2024.1448199/full.. She is well known in our balmy S. Florida region for her dedication and strong efforts to understand the ecology and behavior of these highly intelligent cephalopods (for example see – https://www.changingseas.tv/season-8/804/). It was a … Continue reading New paper on Octopus microbiome paper by Chelsea Bennice et al.

New paper characterizes diverse cyanobacterial communities which possess several genetic tools to deal with bloom conditions in Lake Okeechobee, FL

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Kudos to Dr. Lauren Krausfeldt, the lab and our many collaborators (from FGCU, USGS, CosmosID), for our first publication from this Army Corp of Engineers project studying microbial communities in Lake Okeechobee!! This effort took much patience, perseverance and a great team effort. Thanks also to the Aquatic Nuisance Species Research Program of ACE for … Continue reading New paper characterizes diverse cyanobacterial communities which possess several genetic tools to deal with bloom conditions in Lake Okeechobee, FL