Luis Orellana (Coto)
@cotoorellana.bsky.social
Microbial Ecology and Evolution | Investigating microbes through the eyes of ones and zeros
Group Leader @ Max Planck Institute for Marine Microbiology
🇨🇱→🇺🇸→🇩🇪 #Fulbright #ERCStG
Group Leader @ Max Planck Institute for Marine Microbiology
🇨🇱→🇺🇸→🇩🇪 #Fulbright #ERCStG
Pinned
Average nucleotide identity — the backbone of modern ecological genomics - Nature Reviews Genetics
In this Journal Club, Luis Orellana recalls a 2005 publication by Konstantinidis and Tiedje that introduced average nucleotide identity as a sequence-based metric to determine the relatedness between ...
www.nature.com
The average nucleotide identity (ANI) underpins how we map microbial diversity, compare species, and connect genomes to ecology.
I wrote a short piece reflecting on the discovery and significance of this metric (and really enjoyed digging into the context and story behind it!) #microsky 🧬
I wrote a short piece reflecting on the discovery and significance of this metric (and really enjoyed digging into the context and story behind it!) #microsky 🧬
Reposted by Luis Orellana (Coto)
Excellent work from @aroneys.bsky.social here. Free to read version at rdcu.be/ePJp4
November 13, 2025 at 11:12 AM
Excellent work from @aroneys.bsky.social here. Free to read version at rdcu.be/ePJp4
Reposted by Luis Orellana (Coto)
ICYMI: New online! Average nucleotide identity — the backbone of modern ecological genomics
Average nucleotide identity — the backbone of modern ecological genomics
Nature Reviews Genetics, Published online: 30 October 2025; doi:10.1038/s41576-025-00911-5In this Journal Club, Luis Orellana recalls a 2005 publication by Konstantinidis and Tiedje that introduced average nucleotide identity as a sequence-based metric to determine the relatedness between two genomes, which helped to operationally define bacterial species.
www.nature.com
November 6, 2025 at 2:29 PM
ICYMI: New online! Average nucleotide identity — the backbone of modern ecological genomics
Reposted by Luis Orellana (Coto)
New online! Average nucleotide identity — the backbone of modern ecological genomics
Average nucleotide identity — the backbone of modern ecological genomics
Nature Reviews Genetics, Published online: 30 October 2025; doi:10.1038/s41576-025-00911-5In this Journal Club, Luis Orellana recalls a 2005 publication by Konstantinidis and Tiedje that introduced average nucleotide identity as a sequence-based metric to determine the relatedness between two genomes, which helped to operationally define bacterial species.
www.nature.com
October 30, 2025 at 2:28 PM
New online! Average nucleotide identity — the backbone of modern ecological genomics
The average nucleotide identity (ANI) underpins how we map microbial diversity, compare species, and connect genomes to ecology.
I wrote a short piece reflecting on the discovery and significance of this metric (and really enjoyed digging into the context and story behind it!) #microsky 🧬
I wrote a short piece reflecting on the discovery and significance of this metric (and really enjoyed digging into the context and story behind it!) #microsky 🧬
Average nucleotide identity — the backbone of modern ecological genomics - Nature Reviews Genetics
In this Journal Club, Luis Orellana recalls a 2005 publication by Konstantinidis and Tiedje that introduced average nucleotide identity as a sequence-based metric to determine the relatedness between ...
www.nature.com
October 30, 2025 at 9:11 PM
The average nucleotide identity (ANI) underpins how we map microbial diversity, compare species, and connect genomes to ecology.
I wrote a short piece reflecting on the discovery and significance of this metric (and really enjoyed digging into the context and story behind it!) #microsky 🧬
I wrote a short piece reflecting on the discovery and significance of this metric (and really enjoyed digging into the context and story behind it!) #microsky 🧬
We are live from Bremen! #microsky
Welcome @ecologicalgenomics.bsky.social – we are excited to read and share your news here! 😀👉🦠🌊🔬
Hello, world! 👋
We are the Ecological Genomics group at the Max Planck Institute for Marine Microbiology 🌊🧬🔬
Our group officially started in April 2025, and we’ll be using this space to share updates about our research, team, and publications.
Stay tuned! 🚀
🔗 www.mpi-bremen.de/en/ERC-Resea...
We are the Ecological Genomics group at the Max Planck Institute for Marine Microbiology 🌊🧬🔬
Our group officially started in April 2025, and we’ll be using this space to share updates about our research, team, and publications.
Stay tuned! 🚀
🔗 www.mpi-bremen.de/en/ERC-Resea...
October 8, 2025 at 5:51 PM
We are live from Bremen! #microsky
Reposted by Luis Orellana (Coto)
Two new positions are available at the MPI for Evolutionary Biology to support development of our genomics facility. Both stand to become permanent. Both offer a ton of opportunity to engage in a wide range of creative science.
Pls repost 🙏
www.evolbio.mpg.de/3838377/job_...
Pls repost 🙏
www.evolbio.mpg.de/3838377/job_...
Two full-time positions | Bioinformatician (m/f/d) + Applications Specialist (m/f/d) - Molecular Biology
The Genome Facility at the Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Biology in Plön is seeking to fill two positions (full time) to support and expand our core facility services.
www.evolbio.mpg.de
October 6, 2025 at 11:17 AM
Two new positions are available at the MPI for Evolutionary Biology to support development of our genomics facility. Both stand to become permanent. Both offer a ton of opportunity to engage in a wide range of creative science.
Pls repost 🙏
www.evolbio.mpg.de/3838377/job_...
Pls repost 🙏
www.evolbio.mpg.de/3838377/job_...
Reposted by Luis Orellana (Coto)
Structures of methane-activating enzyme in elusive archaea
@mariecmueller.bsky.social @cuwelte.bsky.social @mpimarinemicrobio.bsky.social
#methane #ANME #archaea #MCR #microbiology #biochemistry #StructuralBiology
mpi-bremen.de/en/Structure...
@mariecmueller.bsky.social @cuwelte.bsky.social @mpimarinemicrobio.bsky.social
#methane #ANME #archaea #MCR #microbiology #biochemistry #StructuralBiology
mpi-bremen.de/en/Structure...
September 9, 2025 at 11:32 AM
Structures of methane-activating enzyme in elusive archaea
@mariecmueller.bsky.social @cuwelte.bsky.social @mpimarinemicrobio.bsky.social
#methane #ANME #archaea #MCR #microbiology #biochemistry #StructuralBiology
mpi-bremen.de/en/Structure...
@mariecmueller.bsky.social @cuwelte.bsky.social @mpimarinemicrobio.bsky.social
#methane #ANME #archaea #MCR #microbiology #biochemistry #StructuralBiology
mpi-bremen.de/en/Structure...
Reposted by Luis Orellana (Coto)
The #MaxPlanckPostdocProgram offers a guaranteed contract of at least 3 years, targeted mentoring, and career workshops. The call for applications is open now! 🚀 Take advantage of this opportunity and browse the job vacancies. www.mpg.de/en/max-planc...
September 1, 2025 at 8:46 AM
The #MaxPlanckPostdocProgram offers a guaranteed contract of at least 3 years, targeted mentoring, and career workshops. The call for applications is open now! 🚀 Take advantage of this opportunity and browse the job vacancies. www.mpg.de/en/max-planc...
Reposted by Luis Orellana (Coto)
I'm very happy to share that our paper describing the evolution of sex chromosomes in brown algae is out!🎉 This project was a long journey, but it came together into a nice story 🧬 🌊 Grateful to everyone who helped along the way!
New research: With ancient origins & surprising flexibility, #BrownAlgae reveal a compelling story of sex chromosome evolution. This could rewrite how we view sex determination. Learn more: s.gwdg.de/YDoZ3L
Congrats to @agalip.bsky.social & Josue Barrera for their work in @natecoevo.nature.com
Congrats to @agalip.bsky.social & Josue Barrera for their work in @natecoevo.nature.com
August 29, 2025 at 5:38 AM
I'm very happy to share that our paper describing the evolution of sex chromosomes in brown algae is out!🎉 This project was a long journey, but it came together into a nice story 🧬 🌊 Grateful to everyone who helped along the way!
Reposted by Luis Orellana (Coto)
You know sulfoquinovose (SQ)?
No?!
You should if you are interested in diet-gut microbiome 🦠🧫interactions 😉
SQ is a sulfosugar that this part of a ubiquitous sulfonolipid in photosynthetic organisms and thus part of your diet - if you like leafy greens and algae 🥬
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
No?!
You should if you are interested in diet-gut microbiome 🦠🧫interactions 😉
SQ is a sulfosugar that this part of a ubiquitous sulfonolipid in photosynthetic organisms and thus part of your diet - if you like leafy greens and algae 🥬
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
Sulfoquinovose is a select nutrient of prominent bacteria and a source of hydrogen sulfide in the human gut - The ISME Journal
The ISME Journal - Sulfoquinovose is a select nutrient of prominent bacteria and a source of hydrogen sulfide in the human gut
www.nature.com
August 7, 2025 at 1:49 PM
You know sulfoquinovose (SQ)?
No?!
You should if you are interested in diet-gut microbiome 🦠🧫interactions 😉
SQ is a sulfosugar that this part of a ubiquitous sulfonolipid in photosynthetic organisms and thus part of your diet - if you like leafy greens and algae 🥬
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
No?!
You should if you are interested in diet-gut microbiome 🦠🧫interactions 😉
SQ is a sulfosugar that this part of a ubiquitous sulfonolipid in photosynthetic organisms and thus part of your diet - if you like leafy greens and algae 🥬
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
Reposted by Luis Orellana (Coto)
Happy to share our Practical Guide on Environmental Genomics for Prokaryotic Nomenclature, led by @nathanernster.bsky.social and part of SAM's special issue on @seqcode.bsky.social
www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
A practical guide on environmental genomics for prokaryotic systematics
Environmental shotgun sequencing can provide great insight into microbial community profiles, functional capabilities, and the recovery of metagenome-…
www.sciencedirect.com
August 5, 2025 at 1:47 PM
Happy to share our Practical Guide on Environmental Genomics for Prokaryotic Nomenclature, led by @nathanernster.bsky.social and part of SAM's special issue on @seqcode.bsky.social
www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
Reposted by Luis Orellana (Coto)
Happy to share our Practical Guide on Environmental Genomics for Prokaryotic Nomenclature, led by @nathanernster.bsky.social and part of SAM's special issue on @seqcode.bsky.social
www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
A practical guide on environmental genomics for prokaryotic systematics
Environmental shotgun sequencing can provide great insight into microbial community profiles, functional capabilities, and the recovery of metagenome-…
www.sciencedirect.com
August 5, 2025 at 5:03 PM
Reposted by Luis Orellana (Coto)
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 🧵
🎉 Excited to share our latest work led by Tomeu! We deeply sequenced water column and sediment metagenomes using PacBio. Among the key findings: Woeseiaceae bacteria adapt to benthic vs. planktonic niches with distinct metabolic strategies.
@tomeuviver.bsky.social @mpimarinemicrobio.bsky.social
@tomeuviver.bsky.social @mpimarinemicrobio.bsky.social
Great news!! Our latest metagenomic study is out, exploring niche differentiation between benthic and planktonic microorganisms, with a special focus on the Woeseiaceae.
@cotoorellana.bsky.social @mpimarinemicrobio.bsky.social
environmentalmicrobiome.biomedcentral.com/articles/10....
@cotoorellana.bsky.social @mpimarinemicrobio.bsky.social
environmentalmicrobiome.biomedcentral.com/articles/10....
Comparative metagenomics indicates metabolic niche differentiation of benthic and planktonic Woeseiaceae - Environmental Microbiome
Background Benthic microbiomes exhibit remarkable temporal stability, contrasting with the dynamic, substrate-driven successions of bacterioplankton. Nonetheless, understanding their role in carbon cy...
environmentalmicrobiome.biomedcentral.com
June 24, 2025 at 7:06 AM
🎉 Excited to share our latest work led by Tomeu! We deeply sequenced water column and sediment metagenomes using PacBio. Among the key findings: Woeseiaceae bacteria adapt to benthic vs. planktonic niches with distinct metabolic strategies.
@tomeuviver.bsky.social @mpimarinemicrobio.bsky.social
@tomeuviver.bsky.social @mpimarinemicrobio.bsky.social
I’ve officially started my research group at the MPI for Marine Microbiology! I’m incredibly grateful for the opportunity to begin this new chapter in Bremen, with the support of the @erc.europa.eu (Starting Grant ERODERS) and the @maxplanck.de. Excited to share what we discover—stay tuned!
Welcome! The Ecological Genomics Group is here!
Led by Luis H. Orellana (Coto @cotoorellana.bsky.social), the group focuses on uncovering the roles, evolutionary dynamics, and interactions of marine microbes.
@erc.europa.eu Starting Grant “ERODERS”
mpi-bremen.de/en/We-welcom...
Led by Luis H. Orellana (Coto @cotoorellana.bsky.social), the group focuses on uncovering the roles, evolutionary dynamics, and interactions of marine microbes.
@erc.europa.eu Starting Grant “ERODERS”
mpi-bremen.de/en/We-welcom...
We welcome the Ecological Genomics Group
mpi-bremen.de
June 10, 2025 at 1:27 PM
I’ve officially started my research group at the MPI for Marine Microbiology! I’m incredibly grateful for the opportunity to begin this new chapter in Bremen, with the support of the @erc.europa.eu (Starting Grant ERODERS) and the @maxplanck.de. Excited to share what we discover—stay tuned!
Reposted by Luis Orellana (Coto)
We have a new 3-year postdoc position in our group at the @hifmb.de to study plasmids and plasmids systems of the marine environment to survey their utility in microbial responses to environmental change.
Please see the official job ad here, and spread the word:
jobs.awi.de/Vacancies/20...
Please see the official job ad here, and spread the word:
jobs.awi.de/Vacancies/20...
PostDoc in ecology and evolution of plasmids in polar waters at HIFMB (f/d/m)
Layout AWI HIPP extern, englisch
jobs.awi.de
June 5, 2025 at 8:09 AM
We have a new 3-year postdoc position in our group at the @hifmb.de to study plasmids and plasmids systems of the marine environment to survey their utility in microbial responses to environmental change.
Please see the official job ad here, and spread the word:
jobs.awi.de/Vacancies/20...
Please see the official job ad here, and spread the word:
jobs.awi.de/Vacancies/20...
Reposted by Luis Orellana (Coto)
@rossenzhao.bsky.social's shiny new phage profiling tool for finding (novel) phage in metagenome reads a la SingleM. New SingleM release also brings @ace-gtdb.bsky.social R226. Manuscript is draft, but working code is here pre-pre-publication. Feedback most welcome.
May 16, 2025 at 12:04 PM
@rossenzhao.bsky.social's shiny new phage profiling tool for finding (novel) phage in metagenome reads a la SingleM. New SingleM release also brings @ace-gtdb.bsky.social R226. Manuscript is draft, but working code is here pre-pre-publication. Feedback most welcome.
Reposted by Luis Orellana (Coto)
NIH funding supporting the HMMER and Infernal software projects has been terminated. NIH states that our work, as well as all other federally funded research at Harvard, is of no benefit to the US.
May 22, 2025 at 12:42 PM
NIH funding supporting the HMMER and Infernal software projects has been terminated. NIH states that our work, as well as all other federally funded research at Harvard, is of no benefit to the US.
Reposted by Luis Orellana (Coto)
Bacterial symbionts enjoy their seasonal produce! Our new work shows how chemosynthetic symbionts adjust their energy sources during seasonal upwelling in the Tropical Eastern Pacific, highlighting the resilience of animal-microbe partnerships to environmental change journals.asm.org/doi/10.1128/...
Seasonal transcriptomic shifts reveal metabolic flexibility of chemosynthetic symbionts in an upwelling region | mSystems
The oceans are undergoing rapid change, and marine animals together with their associated
microorganisms must adjust to these changes. While microbes are known to play a critical
role in animal health...
journals.asm.org
May 23, 2025 at 8:06 AM
Bacterial symbionts enjoy their seasonal produce! Our new work shows how chemosynthetic symbionts adjust their energy sources during seasonal upwelling in the Tropical Eastern Pacific, highlighting the resilience of animal-microbe partnerships to environmental change journals.asm.org/doi/10.1128/...
Reposted by Luis Orellana (Coto)
Dear fellow olds - recognize that the term 'next generation sequencing' is confusing to those that never had experience with the first generation. Also - what 'generation' are we on anyways?
May 7, 2025 at 8:32 PM
Dear fellow olds - recognize that the term 'next generation sequencing' is confusing to those that never had experience with the first generation. Also - what 'generation' are we on anyways?
Reposted by Luis Orellana (Coto)
🚀 Apply now 🚀
The new Max Planck #Postdoc Program offers a guaranteed contract of at least 3 years, targeted mentoring, and career workshops.
postdocprogram.mpg.de
#ScienceCareer #PostdocProgram
The new Max Planck #Postdoc Program offers a guaranteed contract of at least 3 years, targeted mentoring, and career workshops.
postdocprogram.mpg.de
#ScienceCareer #PostdocProgram
April 1, 2025 at 8:15 AM
🚀 Apply now 🚀
The new Max Planck #Postdoc Program offers a guaranteed contract of at least 3 years, targeted mentoring, and career workshops.
postdocprogram.mpg.de
#ScienceCareer #PostdocProgram
The new Max Planck #Postdoc Program offers a guaranteed contract of at least 3 years, targeted mentoring, and career workshops.
postdocprogram.mpg.de
#ScienceCareer #PostdocProgram
Reposted by Luis Orellana (Coto)
Great thread on graduate positions in Austria and Germany. For more info on our graduate program see marmic.mpg.de/marmic2/. The deadline for this year's MSc program has passed, but PhD program doesn't have a deadline.
March 1, 2025 at 4:41 PM
Great thread on graduate positions in Austria and Germany. For more info on our graduate program see marmic.mpg.de/marmic2/. The deadline for this year's MSc program has passed, but PhD program doesn't have a deadline.
Reposted by Luis Orellana (Coto)
Roughly 6,000 readers answered our poll, with many declaring that Bluesky was nicer, kinder and less antagonistic to science than X
https://go.nature.com/42tH8Ai
https://go.nature.com/42tH8Ai
Bluesky’s science takeover: 70% of Nature poll respondents use platform
Roughly 6,000 readers answered our poll, with many declaring that Bluesky was nicer, kinder and less antagonistic to science than X.
go.nature.com
January 24, 2025 at 11:52 AM
Roughly 6,000 readers answered our poll, with many declaring that Bluesky was nicer, kinder and less antagonistic to science than X
https://go.nature.com/42tH8Ai
https://go.nature.com/42tH8Ai
Reposted by Luis Orellana (Coto)
Calling all structural enthusiasts! An accurate depiction of the structure of DNA in #Lego is under 2000 supporters away from being considered to become a real set!
It even has Franklin, Watson, and Crick minifigures and a Lego photgraph 51 and Bragg's law!
ideas.lego.com/projects/c92...
It even has Franklin, Watson, and Crick minifigures and a Lego photgraph 51 and Bragg's law!
ideas.lego.com/projects/c92...
Lego DNA 2.0: Double Helix History
Step into the extraordinary world of Lego DNA 2.0: Double Helix History, a celebration of the 70th anniversary of the landmark DNA structure ...
ideas.lego.com
January 17, 2025 at 2:08 PM
Calling all structural enthusiasts! An accurate depiction of the structure of DNA in #Lego is under 2000 supporters away from being considered to become a real set!
It even has Franklin, Watson, and Crick minifigures and a Lego photgraph 51 and Bragg's law!
ideas.lego.com/projects/c92...
It even has Franklin, Watson, and Crick minifigures and a Lego photgraph 51 and Bragg's law!
ideas.lego.com/projects/c92...
Reposted by Luis Orellana (Coto)
I'm very happy to report that Matt Schechter's PhD work is now online as a pre-print:
"Ribosomal protein phylogeography offers quantitative insights into the efficacy of genome-resolved surveys of microbial communities", www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
Here's a little 🧵 about it.
"Ribosomal protein phylogeography offers quantitative insights into the efficacy of genome-resolved surveys of microbial communities", www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
Here's a little 🧵 about it.
January 17, 2025 at 3:31 PM
I'm very happy to report that Matt Schechter's PhD work is now online as a pre-print:
"Ribosomal protein phylogeography offers quantitative insights into the efficacy of genome-resolved surveys of microbial communities", www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
Here's a little 🧵 about it.
"Ribosomal protein phylogeography offers quantitative insights into the efficacy of genome-resolved surveys of microbial communities", www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
Here's a little 🧵 about it.