Protist diversity and phylogeny

The Braarudosphaera bigelowii genome reveals cellular remodeling around a nitrogen-fixing organelle

This paper presents the genome of Braarudosphaera bigelowii, revealing genomic and metabolic adaptations associated with its symbiotic nitrogen-fixing organelle.

Fluorescence Lifetime Imaging Microscopy (FLIM) reveals the diversity and complexities of an open ocean photosymbiosis

This study uses FLIM to reveal the complexity of photosymbiosis in Retaria by distinguishing chlorophyll autofluorescence from FISH signals in environmental samples.

Ecological Role of the Heterotrophic Protist Aurantiochytrium (Labyrinthulomycetes) as a Key Consumer of Viral-Induced Dissolved Organic Matter Following the Lysis of the Red Tide-forming Microalga Heterosigma akashiwo

This study shows that Aurantiochytrium, a heterotrophic protist, thrives on viral-induced dissolved organic matter from virus-infected Heterosigma akashiwo, highlighting its role in carbon cycling after algal blooms collapse.

Eukaryotes' closest relatives are internally simple syntrophic archaea

This study isolates two Hodarchaeales strains, closely related to the eukaryotic common ancestor, revealing their syntrophic, anaerobic, and oxygen-tolerant physiology and genomic features.

A novel lineage of Chilomastix mesnili in wild Moroccan Barbary macaques (Macaca sylvanus)

The paper identifies a novel Chilomastix lineage in wild Moroccan Barbary macaques using metagenomic sequencing, showing it is distinct from human-derived C. mesnili.

Phylogenetic position and expanded host range of the photosymbiont Brandtodinium nutricula (Peridiniales, Dinophyceae)

This study identifies the phylogenetic position of Brandtodinium nutricula and shows its free-living abundance in the ocean, challenging previous assumptions about its symbiotic exclusivity.

Chaos and repetition in algal evolution: A Chrysophyceae eco-genomic framework

This study explores the eco-genomic diversity of Chrysophyceae algae, revealing their evolutionary adaptations and gene markers linked to trophic strategies and environmental responses.

Phagocytosis without mitochondria is a lineage trait of planctomycetal bacteria of prey

The paper shows that some mitochondria-lacking planctomycetal bacteria can engulf prey, challenging mitochondria-first eukaryogenesis models.

Heliozoan cellular architecture predicts prey capture performance and growth rate

The paper develops a model to predict prey capture performance and growth rate in heliozoans based on axopod characteristics.

Elucidating changes in gene expression driving nuclear dynamics across a foraminiferal life cycle with Pheno2Seq

The paper develops Pheno2Seq to study gene expression changes in foraminifera life cycle transitions, identifying genes involved in nuclear dynamics and genome stability.

A novel clonal and axenic isolation pipeline for the human gut protist Blastocystis reveals within-subtype strain coexistence

This study develops a new cultivation method for Blastocystis, revealing that multiple strains can coexist within a single host.

Molecular evidence of the eukaryotic parasites Perkinsea and Stylocephalidae in lizard muscle tissue

The paper identifies novel Alveolate parasites in lizard tissues using 18S rRNA metabarcoding and phylogenetic analysis, revealing sequences related to Stylocephalidae and Perkinsea not previously found in reptiles.

Adaptive motility and feeding strategies of deep-branching predatory protists

This study quantifies the behavioural ecology of excavate flagellates, revealing how prey availability influences motility and feeding strategies across species.

Physiological diversity and adaptation of Rhizaria revealed by phylogenomics and comparative transcriptomics

This study uses phylogenomics and transcriptomics to reveal physiological diversity and adaptation in Rhizaria, showing distinct metabolic capabilities among closely related species.

Uncharacterized unicellular relatives reveal key gaps in sampling diversity for reconstructing animal origins

The paper identifies uncharacterized lineages within Holozoa and Opisthokonta, highlighting gaps in sampling diversity for understanding animal origins.

Characterization of starch metabolism pathways in dinoflagellates, chromerids and apicomplexans highlights the presence of a starch accumulating symbiont in their common ancestor

The paper characterizes starch metabolism pathways in dinoflagellates, chromerids, and apicomplexans, revealing evolutionary adaptations linked to plastid endosymbiosis.

Less diverse but uniquely composed: Canopy cover and elevation shape Neotropical Arcellinida assemblages in the Peruvian Andes

The paper examines Arcellinida diversity in the Peruvian Andes, finding lower abundance and diversity compared to extratropical biomes, with unique taxonomic composition shaped by elevation and canopy cover.

Precipitation seasonality and soil carbon shape Arcellinida diversity across Bulgaria's ecosystems

This study examines Arcellinida diversity across Bulgaria's ecosystems, finding that stable humidity and intermediate soil carbon stocks enhance richness, while acidic peatlands host unique taxa.

Eukaryotic MAGs recovered from deep metagenomic sequencing of the seagrass, Zostera marina, include a novel chytrid in the order Lobulomycetales

This study uses deep metagenomic sequencing to recover MAGs from Zostera marina, identifying a novel chytrid in the Lobulomycetales order and other eukaryotic lineages with genomic novelty.

A hydrogen-producing mitochondrion in an anaerobic eukaryotrophic rhizarian

This study uses single-cell transcriptomics to analyze the mitochondrial metabolism of a novel anaerobic rhizarian, revealing an atypical hydrogen-producing mitochondrion with a modified tricarboxylic acid pathway.

A geothermal amoeba sets a new upper temperature limit for eukaryotes

This study identifies a geothermal amoeba that divides at 63°C, setting a new upper temperature limit for eukaryotes and challenging existing paradigms about eukaryotic thermal tolerance.

Seasonality of protists in the oligotrophic Gulf of Aqaba revealed by imaging flow cytometry

The paper uses imaging flow cytometry to study seasonal changes in protist communities in the Gulf of Aqaba, revealing shifts in cell density, size, and species composition across seasons.

Culture-free single-cell transcriptomics shows short term functional and associative stability in non-model microeukaryotes under shading stress

This study uses culture-free single-cell transcriptomics to analyze microeukaryotes under shading stress, revealing stable prokaryotic associations and functional changes in gene expression.

Discovering 25 novel phyla that fill gaps in the eukaryotic tree of life

The paper identifies 25 novel phyla in the eukaryotic tree of life through global environmental DNA surveys and proposes formal names for 150 species.

Understanding the evolution and clade diversity of Mayorella (Amoebozoa): Description of Novel Species from freshwater near Cape coast, Ghana

The paper describes two new Mayorella species from Ghana, revealing cryptic diversity and expanding the known distribution of Mayorella in African freshwater ecosystems.

Integrative morphology and phylogenetics of Arcellidae (Amoebozoa:Arcellinida), with redescription of Arcella leidyana and Arcella artocrea and description of Galeripora purdoni sp. nov.

The paper integrates morphology and phylogenetics to redescribe and classify Arcellidae species, revealing hidden diversity and a new species.

A qPCR method facilitates study of absolute abundance, ecology, and inoculation fate of ciliate predators on the leaf surface

The paper develops a qPCR method to quantify ciliate predators on leaf surfaces and shows P. steinii is abundant and dynamically present in tomato phyllosphere.

First molecular evidence that perialgal vacuole membrane maturation is temporally regulated during establishment of Chlorella variabilis photoendosymbiosis in Paramecium tritobursaria

The paper identifies a monoclonal antibody that detects PV membrane maturation in Paramecium tritobursaria, showing it occurs 48-72 hours after algal uptake.

Green algal symbionts are stably retained and provisioned in the dark despite a clear physiological cost

This study shows green algal symbionts in Paramecium bursaria remain stable and provisioned in the dark despite a physiological cost, with the host not reducing symbiont load or decreasing their proteome mass fraction.

Evolution of multicellularity and reproductive strategies in yellow-green algae (Xanthophyceae, Heterokontophyta)

This study reconstructs the evolution of multicellularity and reproductive strategies in Xanthophyceae using phylogenomic data, showing multiple transitions to multicellularity linked to changes in propagule types.