H. B. Beryl Rappaport
@hbrappap.bsky.social
PhD Student @ Syracuse University
protists, extremophiles, & science art | she/her | 🔬🏳️🌈
protists, extremophiles, & science art | she/her | 🔬🏳️🌈
I believe within their tubes they can withstand higher temps but the worms themselves max out around 55°C, and temps for reproduction and early dev may be lower - their max tolerance is super interesting though! pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC...
Thermal Limit for Metazoan Life in Question: In Vivo Heat Tolerance of the Pompeii Worm
The thermal limit for metazoan life, expected to be around 50°C, has been debated since the discovery of the Pompeii worm Alvinella pompejana, which colonizes black smoker chimney walls at deep-sea vents. While indirect evidence predicts body ...
pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
November 26, 2025 at 3:25 AM
I believe within their tubes they can withstand higher temps but the worms themselves max out around 55°C, and temps for reproduction and early dev may be lower - their max tolerance is super interesting though! pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC...
We are looking into this 👀
November 26, 2025 at 3:19 AM
We are looking into this 👀
Yes, these movies can be downloaded from the supp materials here! doi.org/10.1101/2025...
A geothermal amoeba sets a new upper temperature limit for eukaryotes
The study of temperature limits has transformed our knowledge of the boundaries of life but has been largely focused on bacteria and archaea. We isolated a novel geothermal amoeba, Incendiamoeba casca...
doi.org
November 25, 2025 at 10:05 PM
Yes, these movies can be downloaded from the supp materials here! doi.org/10.1101/2025...
We will have all sequences up on NCBI with publication for you to take a look! Also really interested in their chaperone network!
November 25, 2025 at 10:05 PM
We will have all sequences up on NCBI with publication for you to take a look! Also really interested in their chaperone network!
And finally all at SyracuseU - @shaharsu.bsky.social @jessniblo.bsky.social for protein analyses, @rmshepherd.bsky.social for culturing, & @oliverio.bsky.social for leading this effort with me!
November 25, 2025 at 8:41 PM
And finally all at SyracuseU - @shaharsu.bsky.social @jessniblo.bsky.social for protein analyses, @rmshepherd.bsky.social for culturing, & @oliverio.bsky.social for leading this effort with me!
@xtremevirusprof.bsky.social @nachopus.bsky.social and team at PSU and Gordon Wolfe at Chico for sampling and extremophile expertise
@lauraakatz.bsky.social and Godwin Ani at Smith for phylogenomics
@lauraakatz.bsky.social and Godwin Ani at Smith for phylogenomics
November 25, 2025 at 8:41 PM
@xtremevirusprof.bsky.social @nachopus.bsky.social and team at PSU and Gordon Wolfe at Chico for sampling and extremophile expertise
@lauraakatz.bsky.social and Godwin Ani at Smith for phylogenomics
@lauraakatz.bsky.social and Godwin Ani at Smith for phylogenomics
@fmschu.bsky.social New Lineages of Life group at JGI with Tomas Tyml for culturing, seq prep, & biogeography, and Kurt LaButti also at LBNL for bioinformatics
@fmikus.bsky.social @dudinlab.bsky.social at Geneva and @gautamdey.bsky.social at EMBL for beautiful U-ExM
@fmikus.bsky.social @dudinlab.bsky.social at Geneva and @gautamdey.bsky.social at EMBL for beautiful U-ExM
November 25, 2025 at 8:41 PM
@fmschu.bsky.social New Lineages of Life group at JGI with Tomas Tyml for culturing, seq prep, & biogeography, and Kurt LaButti also at LBNL for bioinformatics
@fmikus.bsky.social @dudinlab.bsky.social at Geneva and @gautamdey.bsky.social at EMBL for beautiful U-ExM
@fmikus.bsky.social @dudinlab.bsky.social at Geneva and @gautamdey.bsky.social at EMBL for beautiful U-ExM
So grateful to all collaborators on this huge effort!
@mullinslab.bsky.social at UCSF with Natalie Petek, @samjlord.bsky.social, and @skruberk.bsky.social now at Gonzaga with Ethan MacVicar for microscopy & motility analyses
@mullinslab.bsky.social at UCSF with Natalie Petek, @samjlord.bsky.social, and @skruberk.bsky.social now at Gonzaga with Ethan MacVicar for microscopy & motility analyses
November 25, 2025 at 8:41 PM
So grateful to all collaborators on this huge effort!
@mullinslab.bsky.social at UCSF with Natalie Petek, @samjlord.bsky.social, and @skruberk.bsky.social now at Gonzaga with Ethan MacVicar for microscopy & motility analyses
@mullinslab.bsky.social at UCSF with Natalie Petek, @samjlord.bsky.social, and @skruberk.bsky.social now at Gonzaga with Ethan MacVicar for microscopy & motility analyses
𝘐. 𝘤𝘢𝘴𝘤𝘢𝘥𝘦𝘯𝘴𝘪𝘴 makes us think about which factors set the upper temp limit for euks and what the physical limit is - are there relatives that grow even hotter? How do euks adapt to extreme conditions?
🌋🦠
🌋🦠
November 25, 2025 at 8:41 PM
𝘐. 𝘤𝘢𝘴𝘤𝘢𝘥𝘦𝘯𝘴𝘪𝘴 makes us think about which factors set the upper temp limit for euks and what the physical limit is - are there relatives that grow even hotter? How do euks adapt to extreme conditions?
🌋🦠
🌋🦠
We assembled the genome of 𝘐. 𝘤𝘢𝘴𝘤𝘢𝘥𝘦𝘯𝘴𝘪𝘴 and found enriched genes that may be associated with thermophily - many involved in signaling and protein stability. 𝘐. 𝘤𝘢𝘴𝘤𝘢𝘥𝘦𝘯𝘴𝘪𝘴 proteins also have higher predicted melting temps and higher net surface charges than 𝘝. 𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘮𝘪𝘧𝘰𝘳𝘮𝘪𝘴.
November 25, 2025 at 8:41 PM
We assembled the genome of 𝘐. 𝘤𝘢𝘴𝘤𝘢𝘥𝘦𝘯𝘴𝘪𝘴 and found enriched genes that may be associated with thermophily - many involved in signaling and protein stability. 𝘐. 𝘤𝘢𝘴𝘤𝘢𝘥𝘦𝘯𝘴𝘪𝘴 proteins also have higher predicted melting temps and higher net surface charges than 𝘝. 𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘮𝘪𝘧𝘰𝘳𝘮𝘪𝘴.
We tracked the motility of 𝘐. 𝘤𝘢𝘴𝘤𝘢𝘥𝘦𝘯𝘴𝘪𝘴 across temp and found it is active up to 64°C (movie here), with most directed motion from 55-64°C🏃♀️! It seems to use the vermiform state to travel quickly and the amoebiform state to explore space.
November 25, 2025 at 8:41 PM
We tracked the motility of 𝘐. 𝘤𝘢𝘴𝘤𝘢𝘥𝘦𝘯𝘴𝘪𝘴 across temp and found it is active up to 64°C (movie here), with most directed motion from 55-64°C🏃♀️! It seems to use the vermiform state to travel quickly and the amoebiform state to explore space.
While 𝘝. 𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘮𝘪𝘧𝘰𝘳𝘮𝘪𝘴 max temp is around 45°C, we found 𝘐. 𝘤𝘢𝘴𝘤𝘢𝘥𝘦𝘯𝘴𝘪𝘴 grows up to 63°C with optimal growth at 55-57°C🥵. We showed cellular replication via Ultrastructure Expansion Microscopy at 63°C. The previous limit for euks is 60°C!
November 25, 2025 at 8:41 PM
While 𝘝. 𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘮𝘪𝘧𝘰𝘳𝘮𝘪𝘴 max temp is around 45°C, we found 𝘐. 𝘤𝘢𝘴𝘤𝘢𝘥𝘦𝘯𝘴𝘪𝘴 grows up to 63°C with optimal growth at 55-57°C🥵. We showed cellular replication via Ultrastructure Expansion Microscopy at 63°C. The previous limit for euks is 60°C!
Using phylogenomics, we placed the amoeba as a novel genus within #Amoebozoa, which we named 𝘐𝘯𝘤𝘦𝘯𝘥𝘪𝘢𝘮𝘰𝘦𝘣𝘢 𝘤𝘢𝘴𝘤𝘢𝘥𝘦𝘯𝘴𝘪𝘴 (left). Its sister is 𝘝𝘦𝘳𝘮𝘢𝘮𝘰𝘦𝘣𝘢 𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘮𝘪𝘧𝘰𝘳𝘮𝘪𝘴 (right) - both have a “vermiform” and “amoebiform” state.
November 25, 2025 at 8:41 PM
Using phylogenomics, we placed the amoeba as a novel genus within #Amoebozoa, which we named 𝘐𝘯𝘤𝘦𝘯𝘥𝘪𝘢𝘮𝘰𝘦𝘣𝘢 𝘤𝘢𝘴𝘤𝘢𝘥𝘦𝘯𝘴𝘪𝘴 (left). Its sister is 𝘝𝘦𝘳𝘮𝘢𝘮𝘰𝘦𝘣𝘢 𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘮𝘪𝘧𝘰𝘳𝘮𝘪𝘴 (right) - both have a “vermiform” and “amoebiform” state.
In 2023, we first sampled from a geothermal tributary at LVNP and using enrichment culturing, found an amoeba growing at high temp.
November 25, 2025 at 8:41 PM
In 2023, we first sampled from a geothermal tributary at LVNP and using enrichment culturing, found an amoeba growing at high temp.
𝘐. 𝘤𝘢𝘴𝘤𝘢𝘥𝘦𝘯𝘴𝘪𝘴 makes us think about which factors set the upper temp limit for euks and what the physical limit is - are there relatives that grow even hotter? How do euks adapt to extreme conditions?
🌋🦠
🌋🦠
November 25, 2025 at 8:22 PM
𝘐. 𝘤𝘢𝘴𝘤𝘢𝘥𝘦𝘯𝘴𝘪𝘴 makes us think about which factors set the upper temp limit for euks and what the physical limit is - are there relatives that grow even hotter? How do euks adapt to extreme conditions?
🌋🦠
🌋🦠
We assembled the genome of 𝘐. 𝘤𝘢𝘴𝘤𝘢𝘥𝘦𝘯𝘴𝘪𝘴 and found enriched genes associated with thermophily - many involved in signaling and protein stability. 𝘐. 𝘤𝘢𝘴𝘤𝘢𝘥𝘦𝘯𝘴𝘪𝘴 proteins also have higher predicted melting temps and higher net surface charges than 𝘝. 𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘮𝘪𝘧𝘰𝘳𝘮𝘪𝘴.
November 25, 2025 at 8:22 PM
We assembled the genome of 𝘐. 𝘤𝘢𝘴𝘤𝘢𝘥𝘦𝘯𝘴𝘪𝘴 and found enriched genes associated with thermophily - many involved in signaling and protein stability. 𝘐. 𝘤𝘢𝘴𝘤𝘢𝘥𝘦𝘯𝘴𝘪𝘴 proteins also have higher predicted melting temps and higher net surface charges than 𝘝. 𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘮𝘪𝘧𝘰𝘳𝘮𝘪𝘴.
We tracked the motility of 𝘐. 𝘤𝘢𝘴𝘤𝘢𝘥𝘦𝘯𝘴𝘪𝘴 across temp and found it is active up to 64°C (movie here), with most directed motion from 55-64°C🏃♀️! It seems to use the vermiform state to travel quickly and the amoebiform state to explore space.
November 25, 2025 at 8:22 PM
We tracked the motility of 𝘐. 𝘤𝘢𝘴𝘤𝘢𝘥𝘦𝘯𝘴𝘪𝘴 across temp and found it is active up to 64°C (movie here), with most directed motion from 55-64°C🏃♀️! It seems to use the vermiform state to travel quickly and the amoebiform state to explore space.
While 𝘝. 𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘮𝘪𝘧𝘰𝘳𝘮𝘪𝘴 max temp is around 45°C, we found 𝘐. 𝘤𝘢𝘴𝘤𝘢𝘥𝘦𝘯𝘴𝘪𝘴 grows up to 63°C with optimal growth at 55-57°C🥵. We showed cellular replication via Ultrastructure Expansion Microscopy at 63°C. The previous limit for euks is 60°C!
November 25, 2025 at 8:22 PM
While 𝘝. 𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘮𝘪𝘧𝘰𝘳𝘮𝘪𝘴 max temp is around 45°C, we found 𝘐. 𝘤𝘢𝘴𝘤𝘢𝘥𝘦𝘯𝘴𝘪𝘴 grows up to 63°C with optimal growth at 55-57°C🥵. We showed cellular replication via Ultrastructure Expansion Microscopy at 63°C. The previous limit for euks is 60°C!
Using phylogenomics, we placed the amoeba as a novel genus within #Amoebozoa, which we named 𝘐𝘯𝘤𝘦𝘯𝘥𝘪𝘢𝘮𝘰𝘦𝘣𝘢 𝘤𝘢𝘴𝘤𝘢𝘥𝘦𝘯𝘴𝘪𝘴 (left). Its sister is 𝘝𝘦𝘳𝘮𝘢𝘮𝘰𝘦𝘣𝘢 𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘮𝘪𝘧𝘰𝘳𝘮𝘪𝘴 (right) - both have a “vermiform” and “amoebiform” state.
November 25, 2025 at 8:22 PM
Using phylogenomics, we placed the amoeba as a novel genus within #Amoebozoa, which we named 𝘐𝘯𝘤𝘦𝘯𝘥𝘪𝘢𝘮𝘰𝘦𝘣𝘢 𝘤𝘢𝘴𝘤𝘢𝘥𝘦𝘯𝘴𝘪𝘴 (left). Its sister is 𝘝𝘦𝘳𝘮𝘢𝘮𝘰𝘦𝘣𝘢 𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘮𝘪𝘧𝘰𝘳𝘮𝘪𝘴 (right) - both have a “vermiform” and “amoebiform” state.
In 2023, we first sampled from a geothermal tributary at LVNP and using enrichment culturing, found an amoeba growing at high temp.
November 25, 2025 at 8:22 PM
In 2023, we first sampled from a geothermal tributary at LVNP and using enrichment culturing, found an amoeba growing at high temp.