News   •   October 2025

Photos by Elena and Ulisse

We’re thrilled to share highlights from our participation in the Trends in Marine Host–Microbe Symbioses (TMHM) Symposium 2025, organized by the University of Padova and hosted at the beautiful Botanic Garden of Padova. The event sought to spark dialogue around emerging conceptual frameworks and cutting-edge methods for exploring marine host–microbe symbioses, with a special focus on how climate change is shaping these essential ecosystems.

👉 Learn more about the event: www.marinesymbioses.eu

Sharing our research: seagrass, sponges, and clams

Our group contributed two presentations highlighting results from the ENGAGE_prin project:

Ulisse Cardini presented new insights on seagrass–sponge interactions, showing how Posidonia oceanica meadows and the sponge Chondrilla nucula interact to influence oxygen and nutrient cycling.

Elena Quintanilla, postdoctoral researcher, presented a poster on seagrass–clam symbioses, exploring how lucinid clams contribute to sediment chemistry and microbiome dynamics within seagrass ecosystems.

Together, these studies reveal how marine host–microbe associations drive key ecological processes — from nutrient cycling to ecosystem functioning — and how these relationships may respond to environmental change.

A meeting full of ideas and collaboration

The TMHM Symposium offered an exceptional platform to exchange ideas on marine microbiomes, holobiont ecology, and symbiosis under climate stress. Beyond the science, the meeting fostered genuine connection — discussions, collaborations, and the kind of creative energy that keeps the field moving forward. For us, it was a reminder that the strength of marine science lies in collaboration: the whole is truly more than the sum of its parts.

We sincerely thank Maria Elena Martino and Raquel Peixoto for organizing such an engaging and well-run symposium. Their dedication created a truly inspiring environment for exchange and innovation.

The Marine Symbiomes Group will continue to explore how symbiotic partnerships between hosts and microbes contribute to the health and resilience of marine ecosystems. Stay tuned for updates on our website!