Ben Larson
@blarson.bsky.social
Protists, microscopy, biophysics, evolution. Interested in how cells control shape and movement https://www.benlarson.org
Natura in minimis maxima
Asst Prof, RPI | Postdoc, UCSF, Wallace Marshall | PhD, UCBerkeley, Nicole King | BA, Physics, Reed College
Natura in minimis maxima
Asst Prof, RPI | Postdoc, UCSF, Wallace Marshall | PhD, UCBerkeley, Nicole King | BA, Physics, Reed College
Pinned
Ben Larson
@blarson.bsky.social
· Aug 26
What could be more exciting than watching Euplotes scurry around under the microscope? How about adding some raptorial predation by supergiant cannibal cells?
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
Video by Vittorio Boscaro.
1/n
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
Video by Vittorio Boscaro.
1/n
Reposted by Ben Larson
Weird word of the day: "kleptosquamy." The testate amoeba Awerintzewia cyclostoma steals scales from other amoeboid organisms to build its own shell. This one has robbed Quadrulella, Netzelia, various euglyphids, and even an Acanthocystis. Kleptosquamy! #amoebae #ProtistsOnSky #biology #nature
November 21, 2025 at 12:00 AM
Weird word of the day: "kleptosquamy." The testate amoeba Awerintzewia cyclostoma steals scales from other amoeboid organisms to build its own shell. This one has robbed Quadrulella, Netzelia, various euglyphids, and even an Acanthocystis. Kleptosquamy! #amoebae #ProtistsOnSky #biology #nature
Reposted by Ben Larson
Hot off the press! Our latest paper led by @fernpizza.bsky.social, understanding how plasmids evolve inside cells. These small, self-replicating DNA circles live inside bacteria and carry antibiotic resistance genes, but also compete with one another to replicate. 1/
www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
Intracellular competition shapes plasmid population dynamics
From populations of multicellular organisms to selfish genetic elements, conflicts between levels of biological organization are central to evolution. Plasmids are extrachromosomal, self-replicating g...
www.science.org
November 20, 2025 at 9:42 PM
Hot off the press! Our latest paper led by @fernpizza.bsky.social, understanding how plasmids evolve inside cells. These small, self-replicating DNA circles live inside bacteria and carry antibiotic resistance genes, but also compete with one another to replicate. 1/
www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
Reposted by Ben Larson
The lab’s first pre-print! We investigated how growth-inducing Erk activity waves are regulated in regenerating zebrafish scales. We discovered that Erk waves are followed by waves of expression of their own inhibitors, as predicted by excitable waves theory. tinyurl.com/26r2cmpj
November 20, 2025 at 6:11 PM
The lab’s first pre-print! We investigated how growth-inducing Erk activity waves are regulated in regenerating zebrafish scales. We discovered that Erk waves are followed by waves of expression of their own inhibitors, as predicted by excitable waves theory. tinyurl.com/26r2cmpj
Reposted by Ben Larson
✨Opportunity to join the 🦁🦠 Predatory Bacteria lab!
My lab will move to University of Bern (CH) in April 2026 based on my #ERCStG.
Therefore, we are looking for:
-a PhD student (shorturl.at/mt0LR)
-a 50% Technical Assistant/Lab manager (shorturl.at/0IIKe)
🙏Thanks for sharing.
#MicroSky
My lab will move to University of Bern (CH) in April 2026 based on my #ERCStG.
Therefore, we are looking for:
-a PhD student (shorturl.at/mt0LR)
-a 50% Technical Assistant/Lab manager (shorturl.at/0IIKe)
🙏Thanks for sharing.
#MicroSky
November 19, 2025 at 7:01 PM
✨Opportunity to join the 🦁🦠 Predatory Bacteria lab!
My lab will move to University of Bern (CH) in April 2026 based on my #ERCStG.
Therefore, we are looking for:
-a PhD student (shorturl.at/mt0LR)
-a 50% Technical Assistant/Lab manager (shorturl.at/0IIKe)
🙏Thanks for sharing.
#MicroSky
My lab will move to University of Bern (CH) in April 2026 based on my #ERCStG.
Therefore, we are looking for:
-a PhD student (shorturl.at/mt0LR)
-a 50% Technical Assistant/Lab manager (shorturl.at/0IIKe)
🙏Thanks for sharing.
#MicroSky
Reposted by Ben Larson
✨ A study in nature.com from our Faculty at @unikarlova.cuni.cz reveals Solarion arienae, a rare #protist forming a newly identified eukaryotic supersroup Disparia. A unique window into early #eukaryotic cell #evolution. 🌍🔬👏
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
November 19, 2025 at 4:03 PM
✨ A study in nature.com from our Faculty at @unikarlova.cuni.cz reveals Solarion arienae, a rare #protist forming a newly identified eukaryotic supersroup Disparia. A unique window into early #eukaryotic cell #evolution. 🌍🔬👏
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
Reposted by Ben Larson
Our work on Naegleria Myosin 2 is out!
Naegleria encodes 3 Myo2s which contract its actin network—the first evidence of contractile Myo2 outside of Amorphea.
Myo2 is actually widespread in Naegleria's relatives and correlates with fast cell crawling.
Read more: www.cell.com/current-biol...
Naegleria encodes 3 Myo2s which contract its actin network—the first evidence of contractile Myo2 outside of Amorphea.
Myo2 is actually widespread in Naegleria's relatives and correlates with fast cell crawling.
Read more: www.cell.com/current-biol...
Myosin 2 drives actin contractility in fast-crawling species outside of the amorphean lineage
Myosin 2-dependent actin contractility—the force that powers cell division and migration
in animals, fungi, and other Amorphea—had been previously unknown outside this single
eukaryotic group. Guest e...
www.cell.com
November 17, 2025 at 5:19 PM
Our work on Naegleria Myosin 2 is out!
Naegleria encodes 3 Myo2s which contract its actin network—the first evidence of contractile Myo2 outside of Amorphea.
Myo2 is actually widespread in Naegleria's relatives and correlates with fast cell crawling.
Read more: www.cell.com/current-biol...
Naegleria encodes 3 Myo2s which contract its actin network—the first evidence of contractile Myo2 outside of Amorphea.
Myo2 is actually widespread in Naegleria's relatives and correlates with fast cell crawling.
Read more: www.cell.com/current-biol...
Phenomenal, inspiring work from Scott Coyle's lab identifying the logic of morphological control, which optimizes prey capture in one of the most fascinating ciliates around, suctorians.
Immediately added to our journal club list
Immediately added to our journal club list
How do cells adapt morphology to function? In a 🔥 preprint by @zjmaggiexu.bsky.social , with @dudinlab.bsky.social and @amyweeks.bsky.social , we identify a self-organizing single-cell morphology circuit that optimizes the feeding trap structure of the suctorian P. collini. 🧵 tinyurl.com/4k8nv926
November 18, 2025 at 5:03 PM
Phenomenal, inspiring work from Scott Coyle's lab identifying the logic of morphological control, which optimizes prey capture in one of the most fascinating ciliates around, suctorians.
Immediately added to our journal club list
Immediately added to our journal club list
Reposted by Ben Larson
Finally – there are many mysteries to still resolve for these cells. From dramatic metamorphic capabilities🤯 to prey preference and detection mechanisms 🕵️. For anyone interested in collaborating or getting their hands on these cells, these fantastic beasts culture well and we’re happy to share!
November 18, 2025 at 4:15 PM
Finally – there are many mysteries to still resolve for these cells. From dramatic metamorphic capabilities🤯 to prey preference and detection mechanisms 🕵️. For anyone interested in collaborating or getting their hands on these cells, these fantastic beasts culture well and we’re happy to share!
Reposted by Ben Larson
How do cells adapt morphology to function? In a 🔥 preprint by @zjmaggiexu.bsky.social , with @dudinlab.bsky.social and @amyweeks.bsky.social , we identify a self-organizing single-cell morphology circuit that optimizes the feeding trap structure of the suctorian P. collini. 🧵 tinyurl.com/4k8nv926
November 18, 2025 at 4:15 PM
How do cells adapt morphology to function? In a 🔥 preprint by @zjmaggiexu.bsky.social , with @dudinlab.bsky.social and @amyweeks.bsky.social , we identify a self-organizing single-cell morphology circuit that optimizes the feeding trap structure of the suctorian P. collini. 🧵 tinyurl.com/4k8nv926
Reposted by Ben Larson
Next talk at the #NaturalPhilosophy Symposium was by Chris Kempes on The Easy Part of Biology. Commentary by Margaret Johnson.
[Physics. Physics is the easy part of biology.]
www.youtube.com/watch?v=riKf...
[Physics. Physics is the easy part of biology.]
www.youtube.com/watch?v=riKf...
November 17, 2025 at 6:51 PM
Next talk at the #NaturalPhilosophy Symposium was by Chris Kempes on The Easy Part of Biology. Commentary by Margaret Johnson.
[Physics. Physics is the easy part of biology.]
www.youtube.com/watch?v=riKf...
[Physics. Physics is the easy part of biology.]
www.youtube.com/watch?v=riKf...
Reposted by Ben Larson
And a great perspective by Peter and Anthony!
www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
bsky.app/profile/jlst...
www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
bsky.app/profile/jlst...
November 13, 2025 at 8:35 PM
And a great perspective by Peter and Anthony!
www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
bsky.app/profile/jlst...
www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
bsky.app/profile/jlst...
Reposted by Ben Larson
NEW pub in @science.org 🥳
Is it sponges (panels A & B) or comb jellies (C & D) that root the animal tree of life?
For over 15 years, #phylogenomic studies have been divided.
We provide new evidence suggesting that...
🔗: www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
Is it sponges (panels A & B) or comb jellies (C & D) that root the animal tree of life?
For over 15 years, #phylogenomic studies have been divided.
We provide new evidence suggesting that...
🔗: www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
November 13, 2025 at 8:34 PM
NEW pub in @science.org 🥳
Is it sponges (panels A & B) or comb jellies (C & D) that root the animal tree of life?
For over 15 years, #phylogenomic studies have been divided.
We provide new evidence suggesting that...
🔗: www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
Is it sponges (panels A & B) or comb jellies (C & D) that root the animal tree of life?
For over 15 years, #phylogenomic studies have been divided.
We provide new evidence suggesting that...
🔗: www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
Reposted by Ben Larson
And the tide turns back in favour of sponges! One of the longest arguments in evolutionary biology - which came first, sponges or comb jellies - has another twist! This one will run and run!
Integrative phylogenomics positions sponges at the root of the animal tree
Determining whether sponges or ctenophores root the animal tree has important implications for understanding early animal evolution. Here, we examined support for these competing hypotheses by constru...
www.science.org
November 13, 2025 at 8:09 PM
And the tide turns back in favour of sponges! One of the longest arguments in evolutionary biology - which came first, sponges or comb jellies - has another twist! This one will run and run!
Reposted by Ben Larson
Let me use this as an opportunity to talk about Jordi et al's very cool paper, now out in PNAS 🧪:
pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC...
You can read our news and views here: www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/...
pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC...
You can read our news and views here: www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/...
November 13, 2025 at 4:13 PM
Let me use this as an opportunity to talk about Jordi et al's very cool paper, now out in PNAS 🧪:
pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC...
You can read our news and views here: www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/...
pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC...
You can read our news and views here: www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/...
Reposted by Ben Larson
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 Ben Larson
🚨Fully funded PhD opportunity: Physics, biology & ecology of toxic dinoflagellate blooms 🦠.
Join us to investigate how motility and mixotrophy influence bloom formation, using experiment🔬and modelling ♾️. #microswimmers #plankton #biophysics #ecology #PhD pls RT
iapetus.ac.uk/studentships...
Join us to investigate how motility and mixotrophy influence bloom formation, using experiment🔬and modelling ♾️. #microswimmers #plankton #biophysics #ecology #PhD pls RT
iapetus.ac.uk/studentships...
November 4, 2025 at 5:43 PM
🚨Fully funded PhD opportunity: Physics, biology & ecology of toxic dinoflagellate blooms 🦠.
Join us to investigate how motility and mixotrophy influence bloom formation, using experiment🔬and modelling ♾️. #microswimmers #plankton #biophysics #ecology #PhD pls RT
iapetus.ac.uk/studentships...
Join us to investigate how motility and mixotrophy influence bloom formation, using experiment🔬and modelling ♾️. #microswimmers #plankton #biophysics #ecology #PhD pls RT
iapetus.ac.uk/studentships...
Reposted by Ben Larson
Wound healing is a hallmark feature of all life, including single cells. In a new preprint, Ambika Nadkarni @biochembika.bsky.social investigates a new dimension in cellular wound healing: how cells recover AFTER the wound has been closed
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
November 10, 2025 at 5:47 PM
Wound healing is a hallmark feature of all life, including single cells. In a new preprint, Ambika Nadkarni @biochembika.bsky.social investigates a new dimension in cellular wound healing: how cells recover AFTER the wound has been closed
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
Reposted by Ben Larson
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 7, 2025 at 10:44 AM
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...
Difflugia are absolutely amazing. What a wild shell!
The amoeba Difflugia bacillifera builds its shell from things that contain silica, and it is not particular about the source. These ones have incorporated whole shells from another testate amoeba (Euglypha), along with diatoms, algal cysts and chunks of rock. #Amoebae #ProtistsOnSky #peatlands
November 6, 2025 at 4:19 PM
Difflugia are absolutely amazing. What a wild shell!
Reposted by Ben Larson
The amoeba Difflugia bacillifera builds its shell from things that contain silica, and it is not particular about the source. These ones have incorporated whole shells from another testate amoeba (Euglypha), along with diatoms, algal cysts and chunks of rock. #Amoebae #ProtistsOnSky #peatlands
November 6, 2025 at 4:16 PM
The amoeba Difflugia bacillifera builds its shell from things that contain silica, and it is not particular about the source. These ones have incorporated whole shells from another testate amoeba (Euglypha), along with diatoms, algal cysts and chunks of rock. #Amoebae #ProtistsOnSky #peatlands
Reposted by Ben Larson
interested in mechanobiology and physics of living systems? this is the conference for you! Join us 9-12 June in Heidelberg! with @nicolettapetridou.bsky.social @xaviertrepat.bsky.social Enrique Rojas & Alba Diz-Munoz
Registration OPEN
www.embl.org/about/info/c...
Registration OPEN
www.embl.org/about/info/c...
November 6, 2025 at 11:50 AM
interested in mechanobiology and physics of living systems? this is the conference for you! Join us 9-12 June in Heidelberg! with @nicolettapetridou.bsky.social @xaviertrepat.bsky.social Enrique Rojas & Alba Diz-Munoz
Registration OPEN
www.embl.org/about/info/c...
Registration OPEN
www.embl.org/about/info/c...
Reposted by Ben Larson
Microbial eukaryote folks, you've got two more weeks to apply for this TT job: apply.interfolio.com/174456. We're a supportive department with a great breadth of interests, with really sharp students, in a very livable city with the nation's best park system. Come join us!
Apply - Interfolio
{{$ctrl.$state.data.pageTitle}} - Apply - Interfolio
apply.interfolio.com
November 3, 2025 at 6:32 PM
Microbial eukaryote folks, you've got two more weeks to apply for this TT job: apply.interfolio.com/174456. We're a supportive department with a great breadth of interests, with really sharp students, in a very livable city with the nation's best park system. Come join us!
Reposted by Ben Larson
Trypanosomes Modulation of Motility from Swimming to Threading Propulsion in Confined Environments https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1101/2025.11.03.686241v1
November 4, 2025 at 2:18 PM
Trypanosomes Modulation of Motility from Swimming to Threading Propulsion in Confined Environments https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1101/2025.11.03.686241v1
Reposted by Ben Larson
Our new paper on what heterotrophic nanoflagellates do in nature doi.org/10.1111/1462... or www.biorxiv.org/cgi/content/.... Data available at doi.org/10.5281/zeno.... Funded by @ncn.gov.pl #ProtistsOnSky
High‐Temporal Resolution of Microbial Food Web Dynamics and Structure During Phytoplankton Blooms in the Baltic Sea
Heterotrophic nanoflagellates are typically considered to be bacterial grazers, but some are actually omnivores and predators, both eating also other eukaryotes. Thanks to a high-frequency sampling c...
doi.org
October 31, 2025 at 7:55 PM
Our new paper on what heterotrophic nanoflagellates do in nature doi.org/10.1111/1462... or www.biorxiv.org/cgi/content/.... Data available at doi.org/10.5281/zeno.... Funded by @ncn.gov.pl #ProtistsOnSky
Reposted by Ben Larson
NYC and adjacent friends: I'm thrilled and terrified to be giving a public lecture in Manhattan at 6pm on Wednesday, 19 November. If you feel like coming into the city* for the evening, I'd love to see you there!
*Yes, NYC = "the city" for Jersey girls.
www.simonsfoundation.org/event/trade-...
*Yes, NYC = "the city" for Jersey girls.
www.simonsfoundation.org/event/trade-...
Trade, Borrow, or Steal: How Acquired Metabolism Drives Evolution
Trade, Borrow, or Steal: How Acquired Metabolism Drives Evolution on Simons Foundation
www.simonsfoundation.org
November 3, 2025 at 1:34 AM
NYC and adjacent friends: I'm thrilled and terrified to be giving a public lecture in Manhattan at 6pm on Wednesday, 19 November. If you feel like coming into the city* for the evening, I'd love to see you there!
*Yes, NYC = "the city" for Jersey girls.
www.simonsfoundation.org/event/trade-...
*Yes, NYC = "the city" for Jersey girls.
www.simonsfoundation.org/event/trade-...