Category: Uncategorized

New Study Reveals Microbial Dynamics in Coastal South China Sea

We’re proud to announce that Wenqian Xu, PhD candidate, from our group has published a paper in Science of the Total Environment. The study, “Revealing the intricate temporal dynamics and adaptive responses of prokaryotic and eukaryotic microbes in the coastal South China Sea,” offers new insights into marine microbial communities.

Wenqian’s two-year study combined metagenomics and metatranscriptomics to explore how microbial communities adapt to environmental changes. The research uncovered seasonal shifts in microbial composition and analyzed 37 phytoplankton metagenome-assembled genomes.

Congratulations to Wenqian and the team on this significant contribution to marine microbiology!

Prasinovirus diversity in the South China Sea

A collaborative study between researchers from Yung lab and the GENOPHY group at the Observatoire Océanologique de Banyuls has been accepted for publication in ISME Communications. The paper, titled “Unveiling Prasinovirus diversity and host specificity through targeted enrichment in the South China Sea,” sheds new light on the complex relationships between prasinoviruses and their algal hosts in marine ecosystems (https://doi.org/10.1093/ismeco/ycae109).

Using an innovative virus enrichment and sequencing method, our team successfully assembled 80 prasinovirus genomes from samples collected in the South China Sea. This research provides the first direct estimation of genome similarity correlating to host range with 94% accuracy.

Some key findings include:

  1. Unexpected host-switching across diverse algal lineages
  2. Detection of horizontal gene transfer between viruses and hosts
  3. Evidence of ongoing coevolutionary dynamics through diversifying selection on viral proteins

This work not only expands our understanding of prasinovirus genomic diversity but also highlights the intricate evolutionary mechanisms shaping virus-host interactions in marine environments.

Congratulations to all the authors on this significant contribution to the field of marine microbial ecology!

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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