A5018171151- Marine Invertebrate Physiology and Ecology
- Parasite Biology and Host Interactions
- Planetary Science and Exploration
- Marine Ecology and Invasive Species
- Genomics and Phylogenetic Studies
- Geomagnetism and Paleomagnetism Studies
- Marine Sponges and Natural Products
- Astro and Planetary Science
- Planarian Biology and Electrostimulation
- Geology and Paleoclimatology Research
- Protist diversity and phylogeny
- Cephalopods and Marine Biology
- Marine Biology and Ecology Research
- Genetic diversity and population structure
- Microbial Community Ecology and Physiology
- Geological and Geochemical Analysis
- Coral and Marine Ecosystems Studies
- Marine and environmental studies
- Neurobiology and Insect Physiology Research
- High-pressure geophysics and materials
- Invertebrate Immune Response Mechanisms
- Marine Toxins and Detection Methods
- bioluminescence and chemiluminescence research
- Identification and Quantification in Food
- Plant and Biological Electrophysiology Studies
Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München
2013-2024
Bayerische Staatssammlung für Paläontologie und Geologie
2024
LMU Klinikum
2023
Institute of Space and Astronautical Science
2019
University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Foundation
2009-2018
Karlsruhe Institute of Technology
2018
Istituto di Scienze Marine del Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche
2012-2013
University of Hong Kong
2012-2013
Ministry of Scientific Research and Innovation
2012
For more than a century, the origin of metazoan animals has been debated. One aspect this debate centered on what hypothetical “urmetazoon” bauplan might have been. The morphologically most simply organized animal, placozoan Trichoplax adhaerens, resembles an intriguing model for one several hypotheses: placula hypothesis. Clear support basal position Placozoa would aid in resolving key issues metazoan-specific inventions (including, example, head–foot axis, symmetry, and coelom) determine...
Placozoans are a phylum of nonbilaterian marine animals currently represented by single described species, Trichoplax adhaerens, Schulze 1883. arguably show the simplest animal morphology, which is identical among isolates collected worldwide, despite an apparently sizeable genetic diversity within phylum. Here, we use comparative genomics approach for deeper appreciation structure and causes deeply diverging lineages in Placozoa. We generated high-quality draft genome lineage H13 isolated...
Abstract Bacterial symbionts are integral to the health and homeostasis of invertebrate hosts. Notably, members Rickettsiales genus Wolbachia influence several aspects fitness evolution their terrestrial hosts, but few analogous partnerships have been found in marine systems. We report here genome, phylogenetics, biogeography a ubiquitous novel species that primarily associates with organisms. previously showed this bacterium was scleractinian corals, responds nutrient exposure, is...
Abstract Explosivity in erupting volcanoes is controlled by the degassing dynamics and viscosity of ascending magma conduit. Magma crystallisation enhances both heterogeneous bubble nucleation increases bulk viscosity. Nanolite has been suggested to enhance such processes too, but a noticeably higher extent. Yet precise causes resultant strong increase remain unclear. Here we report experimental results for rapid nanolite natural silicic extent subsequent increase. Nanolite-free...
The enigmatic animal phylum Placozoa holds a key position in the metazoan Tree of Life. A simple bauplan makes it appear to be most basal known and genetic evidence also points close last common ancestor. Trichoplax adhaerens is only formally described species date, making monotypic kingdom. However, recent molecular as well morphological studies have identified high level diversity, hence potential taxonomic within this phylum. Different taxa, possibly at different levels, are awaiting...
The use of RNA sequencing (RNA-Seq) data and the generation de novo transcriptome assemblies have been pivotal for studies in ecology evolution. This is especially true nonmodel organisms, where no genome information available. In such differential gene expression, DNA enrichment bait design phylogenetics can all be accomplished with assemblies. Multiple tools are available assembly, but single tool provide best assembly sets. Therefore, a multi-assembler approach, followed by reduction...
Unraveling animal life cycles and embryonic development is basic to understanding biology often sheds light on phylogenetic relationships. A key group for the evolution of Metazoa early branching phylum Placozoa, which has attracted rapidly increasing attention. Despite over a hundred years placozoan research cycle this enigmatic remains unknown. Placozoa are unique model system nuclear genome was published before (i.e. development) been unraveled. Four organismal studies have reported...
It is generally believed that the last eukaryotic common ancestor (LECA) was a unicellular organism with motile cilia. In vertebrates, winged-helix transcription factor FoxJ1 functions as master regulator of cilia biogenesis. Despite antiquity cilia, their highly conserved structure, and mechanism motility, evolution transcriptional program controlling ciliogenesis has remained incompletely understood. particular, it presently not known how generation programmed outside whether to what...
Abstract Porifera are a diverse animal phylum with species performing important ecological roles in aquatic ecosystems, and have become models for multicellularity early-animal evolution. Demosponges form the largest class sponges, but previous studies relied on only draft demosponge genome of Amphimedon queenslandica . Here we present 125-megabase contractile laboratory Tethya wilhelma , sequenced to almost 150x coverage. We explore genetic repertoire transporters, receptors,...
Abstract Resolving the relationships of animals (Metazoa) is crucial to our understanding origin key traits such as muscles, guts, and nerves. However, a broadly accepted metazoan consensus phylogeny has yet emerge. In part, this because genomes deeply diverging fast-evolving lineages may undergo significant gene turnover, reducing number orthologs shared with related phyla. This can limit usefulness traditional phylogenetic methods that rely on alignments orthologous sequences. Phylogenetic...
Abstract Foraminifera are single-celled eukaryotes (protists) of large ecological importance, as well environmental and paleoenvironmental indicators biostratigraphic tools. In addition, they capable surviving in anoxic marine environments where represent a major component the benthic community. However, cellular adaptations to environment remain poorly constrained. We sampled an oxic-anoxic transition zone sediments from Namibian shelf, genera Bolivina Stainforthia dominated community, use...
Chaetognaths, a phylum of enigmatic marine predators, present significant challenge to phylogenetic reconstruction due their uncertain evolutionary placement. While transcriptome analyses have suggested affinities with the Gnathifera clade, genomic data for this group remain scarce, hindering comprehensive understanding evolution. Here, we first chromosome-level genome assembly Flaccisagitta enflata, species within Aphragmophora order. The includes 9 chromosome candidates total size 794 Mb...
Placozoa has been a key phylum for understanding early metazoan evolution. Yet this is officially monotypic and with respect to its general biology ecology remained widely unknown. Worldwide sampling sequencing of the mitochondrial large ribosomal subunit (16S) reveals cosmopolitan distribution in tropical subtropical waters genetically different clades. We sampled total 39 locations worldwide found 23 positive sites placozoans. The number characterized was thereby increased from 15 37. new...
Dicer proteins are highly conserved, present in organisms ranging from plants to metazoans, and essential components of the RNA interference pathway. Although complement has been investigated many "higher" there no corresponding characterization any early-branching metazoan. We cloned partial cDNAs genes belonging family anthozoan cnidarian Nematostella vectensis two distantly related haplotypes (species lineages) Placozoa (Trichoplax adhaerens 16S haplotype 1 [H1] sp. [H2]). also identified...
Abstract The morphology and ultrastructure of 10 clonal placozoan lineages were studied. We scored several morphological characters at a cellular intracellular level identified number differences among clones. Some appear clone specific allow recognizing five distinct based on criteria only. These data will be crucial for yet to established systematics. Furthermore, we here describe three new diagnostic Placozoa: structure in the upper epithelium, called “concave disc,” two subpopulations...
Well-annotated and contiguous genomes are an indispensable resource for understanding the evolution, development, metabolic capacities of organisms. Sponges, ecologically important non-bilaterian group primarily filter-feeding sessile aquatic organisms, underrepresented with respect to available genomic resources. Here we provide a high-quality well-annotated genome
For many familiar with metazoan relationships and body plans, the hypothesis of a sister group relationship between Diploblasta Bilateria1 comes as surprise. One consequences this hypothesis-the independent evolution nervous system in Coelenterata Bilateria-seems highly unlikely to many. However, small number scientists working on Metazoa, parallel is not surprising at all rather confirmation old morphological new genetic knowledge.2-4 The controversial that Bilateria are taxa is, therefore,...