Symbiosis with photoautotrophic organisms has evolved in various species and even whole
animal lineages, which allowed them to directly benefit from photosynthesis. This so-called …

The animal immune system mediates host-microbe interactions from the host perspective.
Pattern recognition receptors (PRRs) and the downstream signaling cascades they induce …

Background Sequencing and annotating genomes of non-model organisms helps to
understand genome architecture, the genetic processes underlying species traits, and how …

Background Intracellular sequestration requires specialized cellular and molecular
mechanisms allowing a predator to retain and use specific organelles that once belonged to …

Photosymbiosis is found in different animal lineages and is best understood in cnidarians. A
successful initiation and maintenance of the symbiosis between the animal hosts and the …

One of the main mysteries regarding photosynthetic sea slugs is how the slug plastids
handle photoinhibition, the constant light-induced damage to Photosystem II of …

The kleptoplastic sea slug Elysia chlorotica consumes Vaucheria litorea, stealing its plastids,
which then photosynthesize inside the animal cells for months. We investigated the …

Sacoglossa are known for stealing photosynthetically active chloroplasts from their
macroalgal food and incorporating them into their cytosol. The nutritional support these alien …

Certain sacoglossan sea slugs sequester photosynthetic-active chloroplasts from their algal
prey. After ingestion, these chloroplasts are recognized through pattern-recognition …

Photosymbiosis is fundament driving force for ecological success of benthic coral reef
ecosystems, and contributing to their biodiversity and resilience. As a benchmark organism …