Issue No. 1; November 30, 2024
Typically isolated from dead-plant material, members of this genus are limax amoebae showing an eruptic form of movement. They exhibit a sorocarpic life cycle, by which multiple individuals aggregate together to form a tree-like fruiting body (sorocarp). At the top of the fruiting body, spores develop which will germinate to amoebae in favorable conditions. The video shown here is sorocarp development in a species whose type locality is located near Kona Coast of Hawaii County, Hawaii, USA. The species is named with a pun. “Kona” is the Hawaiian spelling of Don, and the species is named in honor of Dr. Don E. Hemmes. The type was also isolated from collections at a site near the Kona Coast.
Protist Trivia
by Tristan Henderson
- Name the organism in the video.
- Social amoebae are found across the Eukaryotic tree of life. For example, the Dictyostelids within Amoebozoa. To which group does our enigmatic organism belong?
A) Discosea, B) Heterolobosea, C) Holozoa, D) Cercozoa - What unusual phenomenon have been observed amongst cultures of the organism?
A) Embryo-like structure: Fusion of flagellated gametes form a clonal multicellular blob with 3 cell types.
B) Color Shifts: Amoebae change color when exposed to intense light or heat.
C) Plastic Burrowing: Amoebae burrow through thin layers of plastic to escape the lab.
D) Cannibalism: Amoebae consume one another within the culture.
E) Magnetotactic Movement: Amoebae align and migrate in response to magnetic fields. - What environmental signal seems necessary for the amoebae of another species in this genus, whose species epithet stands for rosea, to start developing fruiting bodies?
Answers at the end of the newsletter.
Welcome to the Protistology Newsletter
I am pleased to introduce the first issue of our newly revived Protistology Newsletter, a publication dedicated to the fascinating world of protists and the scientists who study them. I am excited to be part of this initiative that marks the return of our society’s newsletter after more than 20 years.
The goal of this newsletter is to provide a regular space where we can share updates, insights, and developments from across the protistological community. Every three months, we will bring you the latest news from our Society, protistological community, and we will not forget on the protists themselves.
We will also highlight the work of Society members, upcoming events, conference announcements, and opportunities for collaboration. Our hope is that the Protistology Newsletter will not only inform but also inspire, creating a stronger connection among scientists and fostering a sense of community within our field.
The newly formed ISOP Communication Committee includes officers of the Society and enthusiastic early-career researchers, bringing fresh perspectives and ideas. Our mission is to strengthen the connection between the ISOP, its members, and the broader protistological community. Our goal with this newsletter, and more broadly, is to bridge the gap between generations of researchers and increase the visibility of protistology to a wider audience.
We are excited to embark on this journey together and invite you to be part of this effort—not only as readers but also by actively contributing news, research highlights, and stories that celebrate the diversity and significance of protists in science and beyond. If you’re passionate about supporting our mission, we’d love to hear from you. Please feel free to reach out to me if you’d like to get involved.
Thank you for your continued support of the Society, and I look forward to our collective success as we move forward with this renewed tradition.
Sincerely,
Tomáš Pánek
Editor of the Newsletter
Chair, Communication Committee
Letters from the Executive Committee
ISOP President's Message
Sina Adl, ISOP president, provides an update of activities in 2024 and a look towards 2025. Read more.
A Letter from the Executive Secretary
Tomáš Pánek, executive secretary, provides an update on changes and actions of the ISOP Executive Committee. Read more.
A Note from The Journal of Eukaryotic Microbiology
Joel Dacks, editor-in-chief, details changes and announces the latest issue of the Journal of Eukaryotic Microbiology. Read more.
New Membership Dues Structure
The Executive Committee was asked to construct a new schedule of dues, to be approved by the membership at the next Business Meeting, to apply to 2026 membership renewals and new accounts. Learn more.
Standing Committee Announcements
Call for Nominations: 2025 ISOP Elections
The ISOP Nominating Committee is now soliciting nominations for several key positions for the 2025 elections. Read more.
ISOP Systematics and Nomenclature Committee
Alastair Simpson, chair of the Systematics and Nomenclature Committee, seeks members interested in contributing to the upcoming classification publication. Read more.
Honoring 2024 Awardees
At the annual meeting in Seattle, Washington, ISOP named the Jahn-Bovee Award, Hunter Achievement Award, and Trager Award winners. Read more.
Upcoming Protistology Meetings
Mark you calendars for these protistology meetings occurring in 2025. Read more.
Featured Stories
Anthony Bonacolta interviews Dr. Julius Lukeš who was recent inductee to the National Academy of Sciences and is President-elect of ISOP. They discuss his impact on protistology, how to best market our work to government agencies and other scientists, and future perspectives for the field. Dr. Lukeš shares the impact of various mentors and colleagues on his work.
The History of ISOP and Protistology as a Discipline are Closely Linked
Gaytha Langlois and Tomáš Pánek share a little of the history of the International Society of Protistologists. Read more.
Protists and Education
Are you looking for teaching tools or courses for advanced study? Read more.
Protists in the News
Check out some of the recent big stories in the field of protistology. Read more.
Trivia answers
- Acrasis kona
- B) Heterolobosea, the same group the brain-eating amoeba (Naegleria fowleri) is found in.
- D) Cannibalism: Amoebae sometimes consume one another within the culture.
- The transition between light and dark, or dark to light, is needed to stimulate fruiting. Cultures grown only in darkness or light do not seem to fruit until conditions change. In fact, you will see patches of fruiting bodies appear following the regular day/night schedule. While in Dictyostlids, you would see a continuous pattern of fruiting after eating, regardless of light conditions.
If you want to learn more about this organism, please refer to the original description in the European Journal of Protistology and the most recent publication in Nature Communications.
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Newsletter design by Donna Huber
