MIC.RO
Laboratory of Marine Multi-partner Symbioses
LAB NEWS
New paper published in Protist
A beautiful ciliate with very intriguing ectosymbionts – Spirorhynchus verrucosus – has been long forgotten by science. Now we know it is yet another genus of the obligately anaerobic Muranotrichea, isolated so far only in marine and brackish shallow coastal hypoxic environments.
Well, the sister of Spirorhynchus verrucosus has been livin' in the deep sea of Santa Barbara Basin since the 90's!
Read more about this wonderful collaboratove work of Bill Bourland & Cepicka Lab, Roxanne Beinart, and Joan Bernhard enabling deep sea sampling in the new Protist paper at https://doi.org/10.1016/j.protis.2025.126129.
There is so much to say about this journey. If you want to hear the story behind, check out our first blogpost.
June 2025 - GRC Animal–Microbe Symbiosis Gordon Research Conference, Portland, Maine
On the week of June 15-20, 2025, I attended the Animal–Microbe Symbiosis Gordon Research Conference in Portland, Maine. This conference is especially important in my field and felt very relevant to my studies, because it highlights different models of symbiosis, but specifically those involving microbes.
Many of the talks were outside of my research focus, but I found them eye-opening. Topics like host–symbiont cross-talk, symbiont acquisition, and innovating genomic approaches gave me new ideas that I can apply to my project.
Beyond the academic side, I had a lot of fun on a conference cruise, where I even got to see seals. I also met many experienced graduate students, postdocs, and researchers, and learned more about what life in academia can look like. These conversations gave me a sense of direction and reassured me that I’m on the right path. I left the conference feeling motivated to work harder on my research — and with the realization that I actually know more about my work than I give myself credit for.
I am grateful to the Carl Storm Underrepresented Fellowship, without which I would not have been able to attend, and to the GRC organizers and board for putting together such a valuable meeting. Most of all, I’d like to thank my PI for encouraging me to attend and supporting me in this experience.
Catalina Aponte-Cartagena
June 2025 - Department of Marine Sciences UPRM - Student Maxwell/Hanrahan Foudation Grant
I'm very proud of Catalina and Gina, who have received funds for their fieldwork through the department's the Maxwell/Hanrahan Grants, which support field biologists around the world in accessing scientific equipment, gear or materials for their fieldwork. Through Small Grants in Field Biology, the Maxwell/Hanrahan Foundation supports undergraduate- and graduate-level Field Research Fellowships and Internships at an array of US-based research institutions to provide early scientists with meaningful, hands-on experiences that can make a difference in their careers. Congratulations!
September 2024 - Cayo Caracoles, La Parguera, Puerto Rico
On Monday, we isolated samples from mangrove sediments surrounding the beautiful Cayo Caracoles near the Department of Marine Sciences UPRM at Magueyes, La Parguera. Click above to see images from our first fieldwork with new lab members Catalina Aponte-Cartagena and Gina Fuller!
