Invited talk at NUS, Singapore

Charmaine delivered an insightful presentation titled ‘Unraveling Virus-Phytoplankton Interactions Using Integrated Cultivation and Multi-omics Approaches’ at the School of Biological Sciences, National University of Singapore. The invitation came from Prof. Steve Pointing, Charmaine’s former MPhil advisor from her time at the University of Hong Kong (HKU).

The visit provided a valuable opportunity to reconnect with Steve and meet his talented team members, Christaline and Thirumaran. Charmaine appreciated the chance to engage with these bright minds and explore their current research endeavors. Beyond the presentation, the visit facilitated discussions on potential collaborations with NUS scientists, opening doors for future joint research projects.

The day concluded with a delightful dinner hosted by Prof. Pointing. Charmaine expressed her gratitude for both the invitation and the delicious meal, which provided a fitting end to a productive and inspiring visit.

International Webinar Series for Young Scholars

Yangbing delivered a compelling presentation titled ‘Exploring the Genomic Landscape: Diversity and Niche Adaptation in a Cosmopolitan Eukaryotic Picophytoplankton’ at the prestigious webinar series ‘Cutting-edge Research on Marine Science and Engineering’. This talk was part of Series II, which focused on ‘Marine Biodiversity: Adaptation, Evolution and Conservation’. 

GRC Marine Microbes 2024, Les Diablerets

Charmaine attended the Gordon Research Conference (GRC) on Marine Microbes again in Les Diablerets, Switzerland. This year, she brought along four graduate students: Yangbing, Wenqian, Ruixian, and Shara. The conference emphasized the importance of cross-disciplinary approaches in understanding the relationships between genetic composition, microbial identity, and functionality. It also explored how to scale microbial processes to the global ocean level.

In addition to networking with numerous talented scientists, Charmaine had the opportunity to reunite with her PhD advisor, Dana Hunt from Duke University. As a memorable highlight of their trip, the Yung lab embarked on an excursion to Glacier 3000, a stunning alpine attraction in the nearby Bernese Alps.

Discovery of a novel Mamiellophycean green alga

We’re pleased to announce the publication of our study ‘Genomic characterisation and ecological distribution of Mantoniella tinhauana: a novel Mamiellophycean green alga from the Western Pacific’ in Frontiers in Microbiology (https://doi.org/10.3389/fmicb.2024.1358574). In this research, Rey Redondo et al. isolated and characterized a new species of Mamiellophyceae, Mantoniella tinhauana, from subtropical coastal waters in the South China Sea. We sequenced and assembled its genome for the first time, uncovering significant differences from previously studied Mamiellophyceae species. Our global metagenomic analysis revealed that M. tinhauana exhibits a cosmopolitan distribution with low-level prevalence worldwide. This study underscores the importance of understanding the intricate relationship between Mamiellophyceae and their environment, which is crucial for accurately predicting their response to future environmental changes.

Confect Symposium: 2023 Marine Microbial Virus Ecology and Evolution

Yangbing recently participated in the Confect Symposium held in Bergen, Norway. This prestigious event brought together leading experts in marine virology from around the world. During the symposium, Yangbing presented a poster titled “Unraveling virus-phytoplankton interactions using integrated cultivation and multi-omics.” His presentation showcased our lab’s innovative approach to understanding the complex relationships between viruses and phytoplankton in marine ecosystems. The event provided an excellent opportunity for Yangbing to engage with fellow researchers and discuss cutting-edge developments in the field. He had the chance to meet in person with our collaborator, Sheree Yau, further strengthening this valuable research partnership.

Viruses of Microbes conference in Tbilisi, Georgia

In July 2023, Elvira and Charmaine attended the Viruses of Microbes (VoM) conference in Tbilisi, Georgia. This international event brought together researchers specializing in microbial virology. Elvira presented her research through a poster presentation, while Charmaine delivered an oral presentation in the main conference hall. Her talk highlighted our team’s cutting-edge work on green algal viruses and contributed to the broader scientific discourse. Both presentations were well-received. During their stay, the team also had the opportunity to briefly explore Tbilisi, gaining some insight into Georgia’s geography and culture.

Collaborative Diving Expeditions for Coral and Fish eDNA Research

Our team has initiated an exciting collaboration with Dr. Alex Wyatt’s research group to conduct comprehensive environmental DNA (eDNA) sampling and visual surveys in Hong Kong’s coastal waters. This joint effort aims to map and analyze the distribution patterns of coral communities and fish populations in local marine ecosystems.

The project combines eDNA techniques with traditional visual survey methods, providing a multi-faceted approach to marine biodiversity assessment. These diving expeditions are meticulously planned to ensure thorough coverage of Hong Kong’s diverse marine habitats.

Wenqian, a key member of our team, has taken on the crucial role of fieldwork coordinator. Her responsibilities include organizing dive schedules, liaising with various divers and researchers, and ensuring smooth execution of the sampling protocols. This coordination is vital for maintaining consistency across multiple dive sites and maximizing the efficiency of our data collection efforts.

This collaborative research promises to yield valuable insights into Hong Kong’s marine biodiversity, potentially informing future conservation strategies and contributing to our understanding of local coral and fish ecosystems in the face of environmental changes

Jun-Aug 2012: Meeting the GENOPHY group

Charmaine recently visited the Observatoire Océanologique de Banyuls-sur-Mer, meeting her collaborator Gwenael in person for the first time since their partnership began in 2020. This collaboration, supported by the Hong Kong Branch of the Southern Marine Science and Engineering Guangdong Laboratory (Guangzhou), focuses on prasinovirus diversity.

During her visit, Charmaine engaged in productive discussions with Gwenael, Sheree, and Julie about their joint project. Unexpectedly, Charmaine’s brief visit turned into an extended summer stay in France, allowing for deeper research collaboration and cultural exploration.

Charmaine expressed gratitude for her colleagues’ hospitality, which made this unplanned extension both possible and enriching. This experience highlights the value of in-person interactions in fostering scientific partnerships and the unexpected opportunities that can arise from international collaborations.

GRC Marine Microbes 2022

Charmaine recently attended the GRC Marine Microbes conference at the Les Diablerets Conference Center in Switzerland. Hosted by Corina Brussaard, the event brought together experts to explore the vital roles of microorganisms in various marine ecosystems from a cross-disciplinary perspective. During the conference, Charmaine took on an active role. She hosted the Power Hour Session, providing a platform for scientists to discuss career development and current issues in the field. Additionally, Charmaine paired up with Jed Fuhrman from USC to lead a discussion session titled “A Changing Ocean: Challenges to Overcome for Microbial Functional Success.