Marine Invertebrate Physiology and Ecology

Intersection of genotype and environment on the dynamics of the virome and microbiome of an estuarine cnidarian

The paper examines how genotype and environment influence virome and microbiome dynamics in Nematostella vectensis across latitudinal gradients.

Wnt signaling modulates tissue mechanics, actin order, and regeneration in Hydra vulgaris

This study investigates how Wnt signaling affects tissue mechanics, actin organization, and regeneration in Hydra vulgaris using pharmacological modulation.

A gene-agnostic FACS technique to isolate stem cells in Hydractinia symbiolongicarpus validated with cytology

The paper describes a gene-agnostic FACS method to isolate stem cells from Hydractinia symbiolongicarpus using cellular stains and validates the population with cytology.

Ultrastructure of stemness and differentiated state in Hydra epithelial cells

The paper uses electron microscopy to compare stem-like and differentiated states in Hydra epithelial cells, revealing distinct ultrastructural features that challenge the traditional separation of stem and differentiated cells.

Structural assembly of the glycan-rich, chitin-reinforced adhesive of Hydra is coordinated by a lectin-like protein, HvAb1

This study identifies HvAb1 as a lectin-like protein organizing a glycan-rich, chitin-reinforced adhesive in Hydra, enabling reversible underwater adhesion.

Loss of Twist impairs tentacle development and induces epithelial neoplasia in the sea anemone Nematostella vectensis

This study shows that loss of Twist in Nematostella vectensis impairs tentacle development and causes epithelial neoplasia, highlighting its role in tissue patterning and homeostasis.

Hunger modulates behavioral responses to olfactory and chemotactile cues in the specialist predator of dangerous prey, Berghia stephanieae

This study shows that hunger modulates how Berghia stephanieae responds to olfactory and contact cues from its prey, with different effects on avoidance thresholds.

Feeding frequency sets the rhythm of asexual reproduction in the sea anemone Cylista elegans

This study shows that feeding frequency sets the timing of asexual reproduction in Cylista elegans, with laceration occurring between meals and suppressed during digestion.

Extreme conservation of cnidarian stinging cell identity despite 600 million years of evolution

The paper shows that cnidarian stinging cells, specifically spirocytes, are highly conserved over 600 million years, while nematocytes show more diversification, controlled by the FoxL2 gene.

Stable yet Shifting: Early Toxin Dynamics in Typical and Atypical Clownfish-Anemone Symbioses

This study examines toxin gene expression dynamics in clownfish-anemone symbiosis establishment across five anemone species, finding stable toxin assemblages but subtle transcript-level shifts with potential implications for symbiosis success.

A Chromosome-Scale Genome of Nanomia septata Reveals Extensive Rearrangement But No Clear Driver of the Unique Colony-Level Organization of Siphonophores

The paper sequenced the chromosome-scale genome of Nanomia septata, revealing genome rearrangements and expansion but no clear genomic drivers for siphonophore colony-level organization.

A chromosome-level reference genome for the colonial marine hydrozoan Podocoryna americana

This paper presents a chromosome-level genome assembly for Podocoryna americana, revealing gene family expansions and contractions compared to other cnidarians.

Epithelial cell extrusion underlies starvation-induced cell loss in a sea anemone

The paper shows that starvation-induced cell loss in sea anemones occurs via epithelial cell extrusion, with ERK1/2 signaling regulating extrusion density.

The evolution of embodied postural dynamics underlies behavioral diversity in benthic sessile chordate

This study reveals that benthic sessile chordates like Ciona intestinalis exhibit complex postural dynamics and behavioral diversity, challenging the assumption of limited behavior in sessile organisms.

Molecular underpinning of Hydra viridissima-algal facultative symbiosis and vertical algal transmission

This study investigates facultative endosymbiosis and vertical algal transmission in Hydra viridissima, identifying distinct host cell features and mechanisms of algal uptake and lipid acquisition in oocytes.

Ancient nervous system architecture in a living ctenophore

This study identifies a conserved ladder-like nerve net in modern and extinct ctenophores, suggesting ancient nervous system architecture retained through evolution.

The Dual Nature of Body-Axis Formation in Hydra Regeneration: Polarity-Morphology Concurrency

This study shows that in Hydra regeneration, polarity and morphological axis formation occur together, with the foot playing a key role typically attributed to the head organizer.

Structure and function of the nervous system in the stem of the siphonophore Nanomia septata: its role in swimming coordination.

The paper describes the structure and function of the nervous system in Nanomia septata, showing how it coordinates swimming bells for foraging and escape behaviors through a combination of giant axons, nerve networks, and FMRFamide-immunoreactive tracts.

A coordinated morphogenetic program drives rapid body plan transformation in a sponge

This study characterizes the cellular and morphogenetic events of sponge metamorphosis, revealing a coordinated program involving epithelial infoldings and cell transitions.

Genome quality variation across Scyphozoa and the comparative distribution of retinoid- and AhR-related gene families.

This study compares retinoid- and AhR-related gene families across Scyphozoa genomes to explore their distribution and potential role in metamorphosis.

Mesoglea biogenesis reveals a cryptic aboral valve for pressure regulation in cnidarian morphogenesis

The paper identifies a pressure-sensitive aboral valve in cnidarians that regulates hydraulic pressure during morphogenesis through mesogleal basement membrane dynamics.

Ctenophore mesoglea is composed of mucins and novel polysaccharides

This study identifies mucin-related proteins and novel sulfated polysaccharides as the main components of ctenophore mesoglea, revealing differences in ECM physiology compared to other metazoans.

Novel cell and tissue dynamics drive the unusual biology of the catch tentacle, an inducible organ of aggression found in the sea anemone Metridium senile

The paper compares feeding and catch tentacles in two sea anemone species to show how catch tentacles achieve their unique aggressive function through distinct cell and tissue dynamics.

A light-off response characterised by body contraction and ciliary arrest in Acropora coral larvae

The paper describes how Acropora coral larvae respond to light dimming by contracting and stopping ciliary movement, which may help them position themselves in reef environments.

Morphological and functional characterization of the ptychocyte, a stingless stinging cell

The paper characterizes the morphology and function of ptychocytes in Ceriantheopsis americana, finding they have sensory structures and slower discharge kinetics compared to nematocytes in Nematostella vectensis.

Lateral gene transfer introduced the microbial anaerobiosis-related gene rquA into early animals

This study shows that freshwater sponges acquired the microbial gene rquA via lateral gene transfer, enabling rhodoquinone biosynthesis and adaptation to hypoxia.

Epigenomic and transcriptomic analyses reveal cnidocyte specialization in a sea anemone

The paper combines epigenomic and transcriptomic analyses in a sea anemone to reveal regulatory programs and cellular diversity in cnidocytes.

Axial Patterning Beyond the Individual: Colony-level Organization in a Siphonophore Colony

The paper investigates colony-level axial patterning in siphonophores using gene expression analysis, showing that developmental regulators like Hox and Wnt genes are expressed in specific regions of the colony stem.

Sustained ERK signaling couples the injury response to organizer formation during Hydra head regeneration

This study shows sustained ERK signaling is critical for Wnt pathway activation during Hydra head regeneration and highlights evolutionary divergence in ERK-Wnt regulatory mechanisms between species.

Hypoxia-induced gene expression changes in N. vectensis embryos

This study investigates hypoxia-induced gene expression changes in N. vectensis embryos, revealing conserved hypoxia responses with bilaterians.