Balunas Research Group

Multi-omics analysis reveals important role for microbial-derived metabolites from Botryllus schlosseri in metal interactions | mSystems Given the importance of marine invertebrates and their microbial communities in marine ecosystems, we sought to characterize the largely unknown microbial associates, metal sequestration, and metabolite production of the marine colonial tunicate, Botryllus schlosseri, a model organism for cellular and developmental studies. Using an integrated multidisciplinary approach, we identified significant correlations between metals, metabolites, and bacterial taxa. B. schlosseri tissue was highly enriched in metals compared to seawater, and B. schlosseri microbiome beta-diversity was significantly different from seawater. We also introduced the concept of the pan-metabolome to classify metabolites based on their presence or absence across complex samples and found microbial metabolites in both the core and flexible metabolome. These findings offer insights into B. schlosseri’s biological and chemical interactions with microorganisms and their environment, bridging the knowledge gap of host-microbiome-environment interactions and establishing a foundation for continuing research on the ecological effects of trace metals in these biological systems.

Congrats to Dulce Guillén Matus for her newest manuscript out today! A collaborative manuscript on the microbes, metals, and metabolites of Botryllus schlosseri, a marine tunicate! doi.org/10.1128/msys...

Bacterial metabolites induce cell wall remodeling, antifungal resistance, and immune recognition of commensal fungi The fungus Candida albicans commensally colonizes mucosal surfaces in healthy individuals but can cause both superficial mucosal and life-threatening disseminated infections. The balance between comme...

Today is a good day to read our preprint about Candida albicans interactions with its neighbors! www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1... led by the amazing Faith Davis and a fantastic team of collaborators @kylaost.bsky.social @shannonrighi.bsky.social @balunaslab.bsky.social @tuowang.bsky.social

We loved having you here @sarahmackattack.bsky.social !! Your contributions to our science were much appreciated but it was your fantastic seminar and engaging workshop that really stole the day! 🥰🤩

General Chemistry Assistant Teaching Professor (Initial Review Date: May 14, 2025) University of California, Santa Cruz is hiring. Apply now!

The Department of Chemistry & Biochemistry @UCSC
invites applications for an Assistant Teaching Professor. Looking for a dedicated faculty member to bring enthusiasm/excitement to the delivery of undergrad instruction, deadline 5/14/25!
recruit.ucsc.edu/JPF01884

Worth reading the whole thing - THIS is the American I know and love

So proud to be UMich faculty!

I lost my job at the National Science Foundation yesterday, along with 167 of my colleagues, including some dear friends. This was the best job I've ever had, and I thought it would be my last. The PI community has been sympathetic and supportive, without exception. I will miss working for you.

If the block on the Federal Register isn’t removed in the next few months, I fear a majority of labs will close within a year. This small procedural wrench has the power to kill US science indefinitely, losing an entire generation of discovery and innovation.

Jen Nguyen gave a great 3rd year seminar today!

An amazing way to celebrate 2024 with @balunaslab.bsky.social holiday party! So fortunate to work with these great people!

YouTube video by MicrobeTV Matters Microbial #67: Chemical Communication in Microbe Symbioses

A fun conversation with @markowenmartin.bsky.social about our host-microbe chemical communication! youtu.be/yTFEi6dWuJk?...

I’m debating about riding my bike to work tomorrow because although the temperature will be around 22F when I leave for work, with the windchill it is supposed to feel about 6F… that sounds a bit chilly 🥶

It’s a different kind of cold…

*Cruz

Wait a second… you’re in Santa Cuz… Teddy would not do well here if he needs a coat there!

If you are new to 🦋 and are interested in microbial natural products - here’s some starter packs to help connect us go.bsky.app/72NeGsT and go.bsky.app/4xnRN52 - there’s also one set up by @danudwary.secondarymetabolism.com here
go.bsky.app/Q9svkYf

Hello all. Finally made my way to 🦋. Looking for my peeps in host defense, immunology and lung biology! Please help me find you!

I had a strict rule that my lab T was for professional only posts - I could make a personal Bsky account but in fact I think it might be time to let in posts that feel personal but because of the times we live in, affect both personal and professional… here is the first of those posts

Hmmm looking forward to reading this one…

Another intriguing paper - our main squid pathogen is part of the Fusarium solani species complex 🧐

I have to say one of the things I’ve been missing is back - I used to see the most exciting papers on science T and now it’s starting to happen here!

My wonderful department here at UNC Wilmington is searching for an assistant professor in Marine Biology. Research areas of interest include, but are not limited to marine botany, phycology, mycology, and programs that integrate genomics and quantitative approaches. jobs.uncw.edu/postings/33731

The UMich Dept of Medicinal Chemistry has an exciting opening for a new faculty member! Amazing department, fantastic colleagues, exceptional trainees! Apply here: research.umich.edu/m-pact/how-t...

If you are attending the Marine Natural Products GRC next month, please do come along to the policy workshop led by Prof Marcel Jaspars on the impacts of the UN Convention on Biological Diversity agreement on Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdiction (BBNJ) 🌊 - all welcome

It was great leading this large collaborative effort – it’s safe to say that 3DED/MicroED will undoubtedly play a role in secondary metabolite discovery and characterization!

pubs.acs.org/doi/10.1021/...

Our amazing summer student Andrea Laboy Figueroa presented her research @SACNAS and won an award! Well done Andrea!

It’s essentially the same I believe… POs don’t answer emails, not clear what happens to submissions. But the student should keep working - would be a shame to make as the deadline if things don’t shut down or if the portal is still open even if it’s shut down.

Thank you to @GJPvWesten, Anna Hirsch, Roger Linington @NatProdAtlas, @serina_robinson & @marnixmedema for creating the concept and community and refining the google doc of many ideas 💡 into the finalized paper!

Artificial intelligence for natural product drug discovery - Nature Reviews Drug Discovery Advances in computational omics technologies are enabling access to the hidden diversity of natural products, and artificial intelligence approaches are facilitating key steps in harnessing the therap...

Artificial intelligence for natural product drug discovery | Nature Reviews Drug Discovery - a hugely enjoyable interdisciplinary & international collaborative effort from fantastic discussions during a @lorentzcenter workshop in 2021 www.nature.com/articles/s41...

@BalunasLab at the @UMMicroImmuno welcome picnic including two rotation students, Victoria and Christina! Just missing Gillian :)