This study describes a new Labyrinthula species, Labyrinthula merlionensis, associated with marine diatoms, detailing its morphology and interaction phases with the host.

Journal of Eukaryotic Microbiology · Aug 5, 2026Peer-reviewedEcology

Evaluating 18S Phylogenetic Placement Accuracy to Uncover Hidden Diversity in Early Branching Animals

Javier Arano-Ansola, Inés Galán-Luque, Marc Domènech, Laura Rico-Martin, Edmund R. R. Moody, Megha Suresh, Daniel Vaulot, Javier del Campo, Mattia Giacomelli, Jesús Lozano-Fernández

The paper evaluates 18S rRNA barcode performance for phylogenetic placement in non-bilaterian metazoans, finding full-length 18S most accurate for uncovering hidden diversity.

bioRxiv · Dec 16, 2025 · PreprintEvolutionary Biology

A Novel Taxonomic Database for eukaryotic Mitochondrial Cytochrome Oxidase subunit I Gene (eKOI): Enhancing taxonomic resolution at community-level in metabarcoding analyses

Rubén González‐Miguéns, Àlex Gàlvez-Morante, Margarita Skamnelou, Meritxell Antó, Elena Casacuberta, Daniel J. Richter, Enrique Lara, Daniel Vaulot, Javier del Campo, Iñaki Ruiz‐Trillo

The paper introduces eKOI, a curated mitochondrial COI gene database to improve taxonomic resolution in metabarcoding, revealing new biodiversity in protists.

Database · Jan 1, 2025Peer-reviewedEcology

Temporal dynamics and biogeography of sympagic and planktonic autotrophic microbial eukaryotes during the under-ice Arctic bloom

Clarence Wei Hung Sim, Catherine Gérikas Ribeiro, Florence Le Gall, Ian Probert, Priscillia Gourvil, Connie Lovejoy, Daniel Vaulot, Adriana Lopes dos Santos

This study examines the taxonomic composition and biogeography of sympagic and planktonic autotrophic microbial eukaryotes during the Arctic under-ice bloom using metabarcoding.

ISME Communications · Jan 1, 2025Peer-reviewedEcology