Dacks Lab (Evolutionary Cell Biology)
@dackslabecb.bsky.social
This is the professional account for the Evolutionary Cell Biology lab of Prof. Joel Dacks.
My first bluesky post of 2026. I was away in the UK, for meetings with colleagues but also got to sneak in a few visits with more friends, old and new alike. In what has been a turbulent and disquieting year across the world already, personal connections and support are more important than ever.
January 20, 2026 at 8:45 PM
My first bluesky post of 2026. I was away in the UK, for meetings with colleagues but also got to sneak in a few visits with more friends, old and new alike. In what has been a turbulent and disquieting year across the world already, personal connections and support are more important than ever.
Reposted by Dacks Lab (Evolutionary Cell Biology)
🎄 Just published 🎉! Our ongoing genome sequencing of the basal dinoflagellate Oxyrrhis marina uncovered a new lineage of endogenized Polinton-like viruses, OmPLV. Notably, OmPLV encodes ... [cont]
#VirEvol #MicroSky #Mevosky #SymbioSky #ProtistsOnSky
#VirEvol #MicroSky #Mevosky #SymbioSky #ProtistsOnSky
Endogenized polinton-like viruses in the dinoflagellate Oxyrrhis marina uncover novel PolB fusion
Marine viruses are ubiquitous entities that impact the biology of a large fraction of prokaryotic and eukaryotic diversity. Dinoflagellates are heterotrophic, mixotrophic and photosynthetic eukaryotes...
doi.org
December 23, 2025 at 4:39 PM
🎄 Just published 🎉! Our ongoing genome sequencing of the basal dinoflagellate Oxyrrhis marina uncovered a new lineage of endogenized Polinton-like viruses, OmPLV. Notably, OmPLV encodes ... [cont]
#VirEvol #MicroSky #Mevosky #SymbioSky #ProtistsOnSky
#VirEvol #MicroSky #Mevosky #SymbioSky #ProtistsOnSky
What a great way to end the year! This work, with a superb team, gave us the chance to put out some ideas about the evolution of meiosis (and other organellar systems) during eukaryogenesis. Congratulations especially to our undergrad Lisa Matsuo on her first ever paper:)
@cloeucl.bsky.social
@cloeucl.bsky.social
Matsuo, @dackslabecb.bsky.social et al. perform comparative genomics and phylogenetic analyses of eukaryote paralogous DNA recombinases Rad51 and meiosis-specific DMC1, showing they resolve separately from any archaeal RadA sequences.
🔗 doi.org/10.1093/gbe/evaf240
#genome #evolution #meiosis
🔗 doi.org/10.1093/gbe/evaf240
#genome #evolution #meiosis
December 23, 2025 at 5:11 PM
What a great way to end the year! This work, with a superb team, gave us the chance to put out some ideas about the evolution of meiosis (and other organellar systems) during eukaryogenesis. Congratulations especially to our undergrad Lisa Matsuo on her first ever paper:)
@cloeucl.bsky.social
@cloeucl.bsky.social
Wow! Super exciting science:)
Just on time for the holidays! Happy to share the published version of the discovery of leptophytes, a new deep-branching and widespread group of microalgae based on plastid MAGs (ptMAGs). Now with additional support from a mitochondrial MAG (mtMAG) of leptophytes.
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
Identification of a deep-branching lineage of algae using environmental plastid genomes - Nature Communications
Here, the authors leverage data from the Tara Oceans expeditions to perform a phylogeny-guided plastid genome-resolved metagenomic survey and provide 660 non-redundant plastid genomes from marine alga...
www.nature.com
December 18, 2025 at 7:38 PM
Wow! Super exciting science:)
The first candle of Channukah; the lights on a Christmas tree; the solstice as the time when the days get brighter; they are about finding a light in the darkest of times.
Intentionally looking for, and appreciating something positive, when things seem dire can be a powerful act.
Now and always.
Intentionally looking for, and appreciating something positive, when things seem dire can be a powerful act.
Now and always.
December 15, 2025 at 9:06 PM
The first candle of Channukah; the lights on a Christmas tree; the solstice as the time when the days get brighter; they are about finding a light in the darkest of times.
Intentionally looking for, and appreciating something positive, when things seem dire can be a powerful act.
Now and always.
Intentionally looking for, and appreciating something positive, when things seem dire can be a powerful act.
Now and always.
Reposted by Dacks Lab (Evolutionary Cell Biology)
This is fucking grim. Somebody invented a white guy, an "IT professional" named Edward Crabtree, who stopped the Bondi shooting and spread it all over the internet, which was picked up by AI agents and slop aggregation sites.
The real hero is a fruit stand owner named Ahmed el Ahmed.
The real hero is a fruit stand owner named Ahmed el Ahmed.
December 14, 2025 at 8:02 PM
This is fucking grim. Somebody invented a white guy, an "IT professional" named Edward Crabtree, who stopped the Bondi shooting and spread it all over the internet, which was picked up by AI agents and slop aggregation sites.
The real hero is a fruit stand owner named Ahmed el Ahmed.
The real hero is a fruit stand owner named Ahmed el Ahmed.
Reposted by Dacks Lab (Evolutionary Cell Biology)
And another Asgard paper. Cells in motion! Wow! www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
Dynamic protrusions mediate unique crawling motility in Asgard Archaea (Promethearchaeota)
Crawling motility is a hallmark of eukaryotic cells and requires a dynamic actin cytoskeleton, regulated adhesion, and spatially organized signalling pathways. Asgard archaea (phylum Promethearchaeota...
www.biorxiv.org
December 2, 2025 at 5:04 PM
And another Asgard paper. Cells in motion! Wow! www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
Haven't posted here in a bit. But the public school teachers' strike is over, my program grant is submitted, and our household is now COVID-free.
Heard a great seminar today, had a catch up with a long-time collaborator, and taught a grad class to a very talented set of students. Happy Friday!
Heard a great seminar today, had a catch up with a long-time collaborator, and taught a grad class to a very talented set of students. Happy Friday!
November 22, 2025 at 3:41 AM
Haven't posted here in a bit. But the public school teachers' strike is over, my program grant is submitted, and our household is now COVID-free.
Heard a great seminar today, had a catch up with a long-time collaborator, and taught a grad class to a very talented set of students. Happy Friday!
Heard a great seminar today, had a catch up with a long-time collaborator, and taught a grad class to a very talented set of students. Happy Friday!
Reposted by Dacks Lab (Evolutionary Cell Biology)
We are looking for a PhD student to work on an exciting plastid endosymbiosis in microbial eukaryotes. This position involves sampling, exciting microscopy such as CARDFISH, ExM and FIBSEM, single-cell transcriptomics and more. #protistsonsky 1/2
November 12, 2025 at 9:50 AM
We are looking for a PhD student to work on an exciting plastid endosymbiosis in microbial eukaryotes. This position involves sampling, exciting microscopy such as CARDFISH, ExM and FIBSEM, single-cell transcriptomics and more. #protistsonsky 1/2
Reposted by Dacks Lab (Evolutionary Cell Biology)
Our paper on the #genome of the Trebouxia #photobiont from Xanthoria is now out in @newphyt.bsky.social! Check below for a near-chromosome level assembly, secretome analysis, evidence of ancient HGT, and transcriptomic comparison of the alga in symbiosis and in pure culture
doi.org/10.1111/nph.70728
doi.org/10.1111/nph.70728
November 12, 2025 at 3:46 PM
Our paper on the #genome of the Trebouxia #photobiont from Xanthoria is now out in @newphyt.bsky.social! Check below for a near-chromosome level assembly, secretome analysis, evidence of ancient HGT, and transcriptomic comparison of the alga in symbiosis and in pure culture
doi.org/10.1111/nph.70728
doi.org/10.1111/nph.70728
Holy smokes!!!!
An Asgard archaeon with internal membrane compartments
Brilliant study led by @fmacleod.bsky.social and Andriko von Kügelgen. Tight collaboration with @buzzbaum.bsky.social and lab. Congrats to all authors!
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
Brilliant study led by @fmacleod.bsky.social and Andriko von Kügelgen. Tight collaboration with @buzzbaum.bsky.social and lab. Congrats to all authors!
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
November 8, 2025 at 12:16 AM
Holy smokes!!!!
Reposted by Dacks Lab (Evolutionary Cell Biology)
Exciting day for the lab: our 1rst paper is officially out in @currentbiology.bsky.social 🥳 Wonderful collaboration wt @gautamdey.bsky.social showing how Cryo-ExM achieves consistent immunostaining in diverse diatoms, from the lab and the natural environment 1/n
#ProtistsOnSky
tinyurl.com/2zxaund7
#ProtistsOnSky
tinyurl.com/2zxaund7
October 31, 2025 at 3:27 PM
Exciting day for the lab: our 1rst paper is officially out in @currentbiology.bsky.social 🥳 Wonderful collaboration wt @gautamdey.bsky.social showing how Cryo-ExM achieves consistent immunostaining in diverse diatoms, from the lab and the natural environment 1/n
#ProtistsOnSky
tinyurl.com/2zxaund7
#ProtistsOnSky
tinyurl.com/2zxaund7
Reposted by Dacks Lab (Evolutionary Cell Biology)
Excited to share our new paper!
Tepsin and AP4 mediate transport from the trans-Golgi to the plant-like vacuole in Toxoplasma gondii.
A great collaboration between the Meissner, Jiménez-Ruiz, and Dacks labs 🙌
#Toxoplasma #Apicomplexa #Golgi #CellBiology #Parasites
Tepsin and AP4 mediate transport from the trans-Golgi to the plant-like vacuole in Toxoplasma gondii.
A great collaboration between the Meissner, Jiménez-Ruiz, and Dacks labs 🙌
#Toxoplasma #Apicomplexa #Golgi #CellBiology #Parasites
Tepsin and AP4 mediate transport from the trans-#Golgi to the plant-like vacuole in #toxoplasma, say Janessa Grech, Elena Jiménez-Ruiz @jimenezruizlab.bsky.social, Markus Meissner @meissnerlab.bsky.social & colleagues @lmumuenchen.bsky.social: rupress.org/jcb/article/...
#Microbiology #Cytoskeleton
#Microbiology #Cytoskeleton
October 20, 2025 at 1:36 PM
Excited to share our new paper!
Tepsin and AP4 mediate transport from the trans-Golgi to the plant-like vacuole in Toxoplasma gondii.
A great collaboration between the Meissner, Jiménez-Ruiz, and Dacks labs 🙌
#Toxoplasma #Apicomplexa #Golgi #CellBiology #Parasites
Tepsin and AP4 mediate transport from the trans-Golgi to the plant-like vacuole in Toxoplasma gondii.
A great collaboration between the Meissner, Jiménez-Ruiz, and Dacks labs 🙌
#Toxoplasma #Apicomplexa #Golgi #CellBiology #Parasites
Reposted by Dacks Lab (Evolutionary Cell Biology)
See companion study from Grech et al. @jimenezruizlab.bsky.social @meissnerlab.bsky.social: rupress.org/jcb/article/...
Vesicle adaptors in malaria parasites show conservation and flexibility of protein sorting machinery
Cubillán-Marín et al. find that the vesicle adaptors AP-1, AP-3, and AP-4 are all important for the survival of malaria blood-stage parasites and that thes
rupress.org
October 13, 2025 at 8:45 PM
See companion study from Grech et al. @jimenezruizlab.bsky.social @meissnerlab.bsky.social: rupress.org/jcb/article/...
Reposted by Dacks Lab (Evolutionary Cell Biology)
🔎Check out this image from one of the articles in our Sept/Oct issue:
🔬Two Nanochloropsis gaditana cells visualized by quick-freeze deep-etch electron
▶️Read the article: Goodenough & Roth. Ultrastructure of the Endoplasmic Reticulum in Eukaryotic Microalgae. doi.org/10.1111/jeu....
#protistsonsky
🔬Two Nanochloropsis gaditana cells visualized by quick-freeze deep-etch electron
▶️Read the article: Goodenough & Roth. Ultrastructure of the Endoplasmic Reticulum in Eukaryotic Microalgae. doi.org/10.1111/jeu....
#protistsonsky
October 15, 2025 at 4:13 PM
🔎Check out this image from one of the articles in our Sept/Oct issue:
🔬Two Nanochloropsis gaditana cells visualized by quick-freeze deep-etch electron
▶️Read the article: Goodenough & Roth. Ultrastructure of the Endoplasmic Reticulum in Eukaryotic Microalgae. doi.org/10.1111/jeu....
#protistsonsky
🔬Two Nanochloropsis gaditana cells visualized by quick-freeze deep-etch electron
▶️Read the article: Goodenough & Roth. Ultrastructure of the Endoplasmic Reticulum in Eukaryotic Microalgae. doi.org/10.1111/jeu....
#protistsonsky
Always happy to be involved in work that better explains how parasite cells function. Especially in a group like apicomplexans with such a global health impact (Malaria, Theileria, Cryptosporidium).
The more we know, the better people are able to find ways to combat them.
doi.org/10.1083/jcb....
The more we know, the better people are able to find ways to combat them.
doi.org/10.1083/jcb....
Tepsin and AP4 mediate transport from the trans-Golgi to the plant-like vacuole in toxoplasma | Journal of Cell Biology | Rockefeller University Press
Toxoplasma gondii tepsin (TgTEP) interacts with the AP4 adaptor complex and clathrin to mediate actin- and myosin F–dependent vesicle trafficking from the
doi.org
October 15, 2025 at 3:29 AM
Always happy to be involved in work that better explains how parasite cells function. Especially in a group like apicomplexans with such a global health impact (Malaria, Theileria, Cryptosporidium).
The more we know, the better people are able to find ways to combat them.
doi.org/10.1083/jcb....
The more we know, the better people are able to find ways to combat them.
doi.org/10.1083/jcb....
OK sure, it started out as a typo, but I d like the idea measuring of a gene or protein's "Conswervation". Just feels more groovy and less judgemental than 'divergence".
September 15, 2025 at 3:57 PM
OK sure, it started out as a typo, but I d like the idea measuring of a gene or protein's "Conswervation". Just feels more groovy and less judgemental than 'divergence".
Reposted by Dacks Lab (Evolutionary Cell Biology)
What you're looking at is a brand new protist species! 🤯🔬
Isn't it beautiful?
This image is just a glimpse of what's to come. We can't wait to share our full findings soon, in partnership with Guifré @beaplab.bsky.social @luisjagago.bsky.social. Stay tuned! #NewSpecies #protistsonSky #diversity
Isn't it beautiful?
This image is just a glimpse of what's to come. We can't wait to share our full findings soon, in partnership with Guifré @beaplab.bsky.social @luisjagago.bsky.social. Stay tuned! #NewSpecies #protistsonSky #diversity
September 9, 2025 at 4:21 PM
What you're looking at is a brand new protist species! 🤯🔬
Isn't it beautiful?
This image is just a glimpse of what's to come. We can't wait to share our full findings soon, in partnership with Guifré @beaplab.bsky.social @luisjagago.bsky.social. Stay tuned! #NewSpecies #protistsonSky #diversity
Isn't it beautiful?
This image is just a glimpse of what's to come. We can't wait to share our full findings soon, in partnership with Guifré @beaplab.bsky.social @luisjagago.bsky.social. Stay tuned! #NewSpecies #protistsonSky #diversity
Reposted by Dacks Lab (Evolutionary Cell Biology)
One is the best EMBO/EMBL symposium is coming up and it’s going to be AWESOME. Save the date !
🚨 Save the date! Thrilled to be co-organizing the next iteration of the @embl.org Symposium on the Cellular Mechanics of Symbiosis (📅 March 17-20), w/ @floravincent.bsky.social, @hassansalem.bsky.social & Tom Richards.
www.embl.org/about/info/c...
#EESSymbiosis #Symbiosis #SymbioSky #MicroSky 🦠
www.embl.org/about/info/c...
#EESSymbiosis #Symbiosis #SymbioSky #MicroSky 🦠
The cellular mechanics of symbiosis: sensing friend from foe
www.embl.org
September 9, 2025 at 2:44 PM
One is the best EMBO/EMBL symposium is coming up and it’s going to be AWESOME. Save the date !
Reposted by Dacks Lab (Evolutionary Cell Biology)
New #ISEPpapers! Towards a trait-based framework for protist ecology and evolution: Mahwash Jamy et al. www.cell.com/trends/micro...
#protists #algae #microbes #ecology #evolution
#protists #algae #microbes #ecology #evolution
September 7, 2025 at 12:17 PM
New #ISEPpapers! Towards a trait-based framework for protist ecology and evolution: Mahwash Jamy et al. www.cell.com/trends/micro...
#protists #algae #microbes #ecology #evolution
#protists #algae #microbes #ecology #evolution
I reflect on the changes in the past year and introduce and explain the rationale for JEM's newly established AI guidelines. Most importantly, this piece discusses what I see as the core mission of the journal: to provide a venue for the voices of Protistologists.
Hope you like it.
Hope you like it.
Editor-in-Chief Joel Dacks looks back on the year and shares some of our new initiatives, including "Issue Highlight" image and AI use guidance.
Read about these initiatives and more in the Editor's Message
onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/...
#protistsonsky
Read about these initiatives and more in the Editor's Message
onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/...
#protistsonsky
Summer 2025 Editor‐In‐Chief Message
You have to enable JavaScript in your browser's settings in order to use the eReader.
onlinelibrary.wiley.com
September 5, 2025 at 5:34 PM
I reflect on the changes in the past year and introduce and explain the rationale for JEM's newly established AI guidelines. Most importantly, this piece discusses what I see as the core mission of the journal: to provide a venue for the voices of Protistologists.
Hope you like it.
Hope you like it.
Reposted by Dacks Lab (Evolutionary Cell Biology)
New #ISEPpapers! Selective loss of ATP carriers in favour of SLC25A43 orthologues in metamonad #mitochondria adapted to #anaerobiosis: Natalia Janowicz et al. royalsocietypublishing.org/doi/full/10....
#Protists #Microbes #Evolution #Metamonads #Anaerobes #ProtistsOnSky
#Protists #Microbes #Evolution #Metamonads #Anaerobes #ProtistsOnSky
August 28, 2025 at 4:36 PM
New #ISEPpapers! Selective loss of ATP carriers in favour of SLC25A43 orthologues in metamonad #mitochondria adapted to #anaerobiosis: Natalia Janowicz et al. royalsocietypublishing.org/doi/full/10....
#Protists #Microbes #Evolution #Metamonads #Anaerobes #ProtistsOnSky
#Protists #Microbes #Evolution #Metamonads #Anaerobes #ProtistsOnSky
Reposted by Dacks Lab (Evolutionary Cell Biology)
New #ISEPpapers! The fluid dynamics and functional diversity of the flagella of free-living flagellates orbit.dtu.dk/en/publicati...
#Protists #Microbes #FluidDynamics #Biophysics
#Protists #Microbes #FluidDynamics #Biophysics
August 28, 2025 at 2:09 PM
New #ISEPpapers! The fluid dynamics and functional diversity of the flagella of free-living flagellates orbit.dtu.dk/en/publicati...
#Protists #Microbes #FluidDynamics #Biophysics
#Protists #Microbes #FluidDynamics #Biophysics
Reposted by Dacks Lab (Evolutionary Cell Biology)
I had missed this when it came out at the end of last year, but I am glad to see some of my *favourite* eukaryotic supergroups marked as resolved #protistsonsky
www.jstage.jst.go.jp/article/ipsj...
www.jstage.jst.go.jp/article/ipsj...
August 29, 2025 at 11:20 AM
I had missed this when it came out at the end of last year, but I am glad to see some of my *favourite* eukaryotic supergroups marked as resolved #protistsonsky
www.jstage.jst.go.jp/article/ipsj...
www.jstage.jst.go.jp/article/ipsj...
Reposted by Dacks Lab (Evolutionary Cell Biology)
