ISME - International Society for Microbial Ecology

Join global leaders in microbial ecology, share your work, and connect with colleagues from around the world.
This is the final call for abstracts; the deadline will not be extended.
Submit your abstract before 22 February!
#MicrobialEcology

It is with deep sadness that we share the passing of Professor Yehuda Cohen, a founding figure of the International Society for Microbial Ecology and one of the architects of modern microbial ecology.
isme-microbes.org/in-memoriam-...

The ISME20 abstract submission deadline has been extended to 22 February. Microbial ecologists worldwide are invited to submit abstracts for oral, short talk, or poster presentations and contribute to the ISME20 programme.
isme-microbes.org/isme20-abstr...
#ISME20 #MicrobialEcology

Now published in @isme-microbes.bsky.social Communications:
academic.oup.com/ismecommun/a...

An upward angled photo of the historic Leuven town hall

Have arrived in Leuven today to spend a few weeks learning from some fantastic collaborations at @kuleuvenuniversity.bsky.social - huge thanks to @isme-microbes.bsky.social for making this trip possible!

Ecological constraints and evolutionary trade-offs shape nitrogen fixation across habitats Abstract. From its earliest beginnings, life’s expansion into new habitats has been profoundly shaped by its reciprocal interactions with Earth’s changing

New paper! Why are some Nitrogen fixing microbes more complex?

@msobol.bsky.social et al. find that microbes with more N2-fixation genes have larger, more versatile genomes, showing how changing environments shaped this key metabolism!

> academic.oup.com/ismecommun/a... @isme-microbes.bsky.social

Hi Ellin, the deadline has been extended to 22 February! :)

Co-occurrence is associated with horizontal gene transfer across marine bacteria independent of phylogeny Abstract. Understanding the drivers and consequences of horizontal gene transfer (HGT) is a key goal of microbial evolution research. Although co-occurring

Now out & nicely formatted in @isme-microbes.bsky.social

A big analysis of ocean genomes & metagenomes co-led by former postdocs, now PIs, @gmdouglas.bsky.social & @cyanophage.bsky.social along with co-PIs @lbobay.bsky.social & Samuel Chaffron.

A few highlights... 🧵 (1/n)

doi.org/10.1093/isme...

Call for Roundtable Proposals | ISME20
Microbial ecologists are invited to propose dynamic Roundtable Sessions for ISME20. Topics should address hot or emerging ideas in microbial ecology.
🗓 Deadline: 7 Feb 2026
📍 Sessions: 17 Aug 2026
👉 Guidelines on ISME20 website
#ISME20 #MicrobialEcology

📢 ISME20 – Call for Abstracts
Submit your research to ISME20, the premier conference in microbial ecology, taking place in Auckland from 16 to 21 August 2026.

Abstract deadline for oral and poster presentations is 15 February
isme-microbes.org/call-for-abs...
#ISME20 #MicrobialEcology

EMBL is deeply saddened by the passing of our Interim Director General Peer Bork, a pioneering scientist who left an indelible imprint on life science research in Europe and beyond.

We extend our deepest condolences to his family, friends, and colleagues.

www.embl.org/news/people-...

His study highlights how Bin Chicken improves metagenomic genome recovery by targeted coassembly, enabling discovery of rare, novel microorganisms.

To know more from his academic career:
scholar.google.com/citations?us...

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The ISME Early Career Scientist Committee is glad to begin the year by spotlighting @aroneys.bsky.social, a Postdoctoral Researcher at QUT, and his paper, “Bin Chicken: targeted metagenomic coassembly for the efficient recovery of novel genomes.”

doi.org/10.1038/s415...

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Present your research at the 20th International Symposium on Microbial Ecology in Auckland, from 16 - 21 August 2026! When submitting your abstract, make sure to check whether you are eligible for one of the travel grants.
isme-microbes.org/call-for-abs...
#microbialecology #isme20

Contribute to the ISME20 programme by organising your own Roundtable Session! The deadline for submitting your proposal is 7 February 2026.
For more information and submission guidelines, please visit: isme-microbes.org/isme20-call-...
#isme20

ISME20 Abstract guidelines are now available — start preparing your abstract to be able to share your latest research with the global community of microbial ecologists at ISME20, held in New Zealand, August 2026.
Learn more: isme-microbes.org/isme20-abstr...
#ISME20 #MicrobialEcology

Her study examines the eco-evolutionary responses of wild bacterial communities to experimental perturbation by liming beech tree holes.

To know more from her academic career:
scholar.google.com/citations?us...

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As we close the year, the ISME Early Career Scientist Committee is glad to spotlight @duhitasant.bsky.social , Postdoctoral Researcher at Rutgers University, and her paper “Eco-evolutionary robustness of wild bacterial communities to experimental perturbation”.

doi.org/10.1093/isme...

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We invite microbial ecologists to propose dynamic roundtable sessions for ISME20! Contribute to the ISME20 programme by organizing your own Roundtable Session. The deadline for submitting your proposal is 7 February 2026.
isme-microbes.org/isme20-call-...
#isme20

The ECS Committee is excited to continue exploring diverse Career Choices for Microbial Ecologists!
This month, we’re featuring Alena Pribyl, don’t miss her key recommendations for ECS pursuing similar career paths.

Read her full interview here:
isme-microbes.org/career-choic...

Not all species are created equal – the structure of their interactions determines their impact on the ecosystem. New research reveals microbial communities stay stable even when species are removed.
isme-microbes.org/structured-i...
#MicrobialEcology, #microbes #keystonespecies

Microbial movement into soils occurs at a surprisingly local scale. By measuring dispersal rates and spatial patterns, this study challenges the assumption that microbes freely mix across environments.
isme-microbes.org/close-to-hom...
#microbes #fungi #bacteria #dispersal #ecology

Wastewater treatment and resource recovery are key for human and environmental health and green transition. Riisgaard-Jensen et al. uncover how the underexplored sewer microbiome shape the activated sludge communities of the systems.
isme-microbes.org/hidden-drive...
#Microbiome #WastewaterTreatment

Cable bacteria in freshwater sediments connect through brief end-to-end contact to relay electrons, unveiling a novel cooperative strategy among microbes.
isme-microbes.org/cable-bacter...
#MicrobialEcology #CableBacteria #Electrons

Peptidoglycan hydrolase drives a two-step localization in interbacterial predation, representing a previously unrecognized predation mechanism.
isme-microbes.org/two-step-loc...
#MicrobialEcology #interbacterial

Microbes can store “memories” by collectively altering their environment. These externalized “memories” impact how microbial communities assemble.
isme-microbes.org/bacterial-me...
#MicrobeMemory #MicrobialEcology

Acetogens colonizing the rumen could potentially reduce methane emissions by incorporating electrons to generate acetate, offering a sustainable strategy to improve livestock energy efficiency and help combat climate change.
isme-microbes.org/acetogens-ar...
#Ruminant #MethaneEmissions #Acetogens

The IUCN Microbial Conservation Specialist Group, the first IUCN body focused on protecting microbial life, outlines its goals, framework, and initial action plan in an ISME journal editorial.
Read the editorial: isme-microbes.org/iucn-expands...
#MicrobialEcology #microbes #climatechange

His study revealed absolute expression metrics like transcripts per liter (TPL) provide clearer, more interpretable insights into spatiotemporal microbial dynamics than relative measures.

To know more from his career:
scholar.google.be/citations?hl...

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The ISME Early Career Scientist Committee is glad to spotlight @michielperneel.bsky.social, PhD student at VIB-Ugent Center for PSB & Flanders Marine Inst., and his paper "A case for absolute gene expression estimates in microbiome studies using metatranscriptomics".

doi.org/10.1093/isme...

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