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Gust Bilcke

@gustbilcke.bsky.social
669 followers 599 following 23 posts

Experimental biologist dabbling in bio-informatics. Focus on algae and their fascinating life cycles 🦠 Post-doc @ VIB/UGent Belgium (FWO fellowship)

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Gust Bilcke @gustbilcke.bsky.social · 02/09/2026
When I started my postdoc, only 10 genomes were available for an estimated 100,000 species of diatoms. To fill this gap, we present the 100 Diatom Genomes Project, out now in PLOS Biology. Analyzing the first assemblies suggests that we will double the diatom gene space by the end of the project! 📈
a drawing of the diatom phylogeny, indicating the species for which new genome assemblies were created so far in the 100 Diatom Genomes Project.
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Gust Bilcke @gustbilcke.bsky.social · 27/03/2026
In our new pre-print, we established massive single-cell RNA-sequencing for diatoms to investigate key cell fate transitions. Notably, we discovered that the diploid-to-haploid transition is regulated by Myb TFs, a process that is actively ongoing across the Global Ocean! 🌊
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Gautam Dey @gautamdey.bsky.social · 19/12/2025
Thanks @jcellsci.bsky.social for this opportunity to contribute to your centenary collection with our take on the state of the field - 10 years after its modern reincarnation 🧪🌍 W/ @alebenoit.bsky.social @eelcotromer.bsky.social @fritzlaylin.bsky.social journals.biologists.com/jcs/article/...
journals.biologists.com
Evolutionary cell biology comes of age
Summary: This Perspective discusses how the discipline of evolutionary cell biology, by integrating evolutionary theory, comparative physiology and modern molecular approaches, works to understand how...
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Gust Bilcke @gustbilcke.bsky.social · 18/11/2025
In our latest, we tackle a long-standing conundrum: when and where do diatoms reproduce sexually? Using a lab-to-field strategy, we designed conserved sex markers applied to microcosms & Tara Oceans metatranscriptomes, revealing widespread sex in the global ocean. Read all about it now in NatComm:
nature.com
Conserved genetic markers reveal widespread diatom sexual reproduction in the global ocean - Nature Communications
Diatoms dominate the oceans, yet sexual reproduction - key to bloom dynamics and species evolvability - is rarely observed. Using a lab-to-field approach, this study presents conserved markers applica...
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Gust Bilcke @gustbilcke.bsky.social · 01/07/2025
Looking back on last week's Molecular Life of Diatoms conference 🌊. Honored to be hosting this tight-knit, creative and collaborative community in Ghent! Topics ranged from single-cell approaches, imaging breakthroughs, new insights into photosynthesis and symbioses etc. #protistsOnSky #MLD8
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Gust Bilcke @gustbilcke.bsky.social · 26/06/2025
In the last talk of the #MLD8 conference, Peter Kroth gave an excellent overview of recent advances on diatom transcription factors, and how they regulate surface adhesion and light sensing 🧬👋
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Will Ratcliff @wcratcliff.bsky.social · 24/06/2025
1/27 We have a new paper out! Turns out that snowflake yeast have been hiding a secret from us - they've evolved a (very!) crude circulatory system. Not with blood vessels or a heart, but through spontaneous fluid flows powered by their metabolism. 🧪🔬 www.science.org/doi/full/10....
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Sarah Smith @smith8272.bsky.social · 24/06/2025
Using sexual reproduction markers identified from scRNA data, Arthur Cleyman developed new tools to transform Cylindrotheca closterium and make “pheromone sensing” lines. Cool 😎 #MLD8 @gustbilcke.bsky.social
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Sarah Smith @smith8272.bsky.social · 24/06/2025
Single-cell RNA sequencing of two diatom species shows clear patterns of expression during sexual reproduction, shedding light on the mechanisms involved. Great student talk by Nadine Rijsdjik @ #MLD8 @gustbilcke.bsky.social
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Sarah Smith @smith8272.bsky.social · 24/06/2025
The design and synthesis of whole synthetic chromosomes (and yes, for diatoms) is now possible. The future is here. (Bogumil Karas @ #MLD8)
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Sarah Smith @smith8272.bsky.social · 23/06/2025
Predators come along and crunch off the apex/long axial spines of pennate diatoms (!). Sometimes it’s catastrophic for the diatom, but they’re often totally resilient and can divide again after two days. Eventually the shape is restored. Darja Belisová at #MLD8
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Sarah Smith @smith8272.bsky.social · 23/06/2025
Day 1 of #MLD8 - with an amazing talk by @nic-poulsen.bsky.social on diatom adhesion and motility, describing proteins found in diatom glue @mldiatoms.bsky.social
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Gust Bilcke @gustbilcke.bsky.social · 05/05/2025
Only few days to register with an early bird discount for the famous Molecular Life of Diatoms conference, coming to beautiful historic Ghent, Belgium in June! 🏰 🦠
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Vardilab @vardilab.bsky.social · 24/04/2025
📣 We are excited to share our latest paper about Cathepsin X, a new algal cell death gene, led by @aviamizrachi.bsky.social and @maisadeh.bsky.social, published in Current Biology @currentbiology.bsky.social www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti... 1/3 >>
sciencedirect.com
Cathepsin X is a conserved cell death protein involved in algal response to environmental stress
Phytoplankton are responsible for half of the global photosynthesis and form vast blooms in aquatic ecosystems. Bloom demise fuels marine microbial li…
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Vandepoele lab @vandepoelelab.bsky.social · 22/04/2025
The abstract submission deadline for the 8th edition of the Molecular Life of Diatoms conference has been extended: the new deadline is 27th of April 2025. Don’t miss a chance to present your breakthrough research! www.vibconferences.be/events/molec...
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Vandepoele lab @vandepoelelab.bsky.social · 17/03/2025
#diatoms #genomics #resources DiatOmicBase: a versatile gene-centered platform for mining functional omics data in diatom research @theplantjournal.bsky.social onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/... joint work with @afalciat.bsky.social
onlinelibrary.wiley.com
DiatOmicBase: a versatile gene‐centered platform for mining functional omics data in diatom research
In recent years, diatoms have become the subject of increasing interest because of their ecological importance and their biotechnological potential for natural products such as pigments and polyunsat...
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Flora Vincent @floravincent.bsky.social · 20/02/2025
THE conference of diatom molecular and cell bio is happening in Ghent this year ! Make sure to submit an abstract ! Flora
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MLDiatoms.bsky.social @mldiatoms.bsky.social · 17/02/2025
Want to share your latest breakthroughs on the molecular biology of diatoms? Join us at the Molecular Life of Diatoms conference from 22-26 June 2025 in beautiful historical Ghent, Belgium! Secure your spot here: vibconferences.be/events/molecular-life-of-diatoms-8 #MLD8
vibconferences.be
Molecular Life of Diatoms 8
22-26 June 2025, Ghent, Belgium
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Gust Bilcke @gustbilcke.bsky.social · 10/12/2024
Proud to share our latest work, out in @newphyt.bsky.social, where we use single-cell #microsurgery to investigate the molecular fingerprints of size-dependent sexual maturation in diatoms 🔥 (1/n) nph.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/...
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Gust Bilcke @gustbilcke.bsky.social · 07/03/2024
Happy to see that our study on the gene expression behind salinity-induced morphological changes in Pleurosira laevis is now published in Journal of Phycology. Very pleasant collab lead by the Shinya Sato lab. onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10....
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