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Confessions of a Sponge Enthusiast: Notes from World Sponge Conference 2025

By Sofia Paraskevopoulou

What an outstanding week at the 12th World Sponge Conference! We gathered in picturesque Vila do Conde, Portugal from 9 to 13 September to dive deep into everything sponge-related, from evolution, ecology, and systematics to biotechnological innovations.

I had the chance to share my latest work on freshwater sponges that have borrowed genes (lateral gene transfer!) and how these ancient lineages use those genes to adapt and survive in low oxygen environments. You can find the full presentation here or check out the book of abstracts. Feel free to reach out if you’re curious about one of the most ancient and fascinating groups of animals, the sponges!

Listening to talks on sponge microbiomes was a highlight, especially the plenary talk of my collaborator April Horton on freshwater sponge symbionts and their peculiar functions. Only few things make me happier than hearing about the incredible microbial worlds hiding inside these creatures.

Of course, conferences are also about the people! I caught up with old friends from Ionian University, Greece, and learned more about their inspiring sponge conservation efforts in the Aegean and Ionian Seas. I also reconnected with friends from Prof. Micha Ilan’s group at Tel Aviv University, who showed their impressive work on mesophotic-zone sponges and the fancy underwater gear they use to film them in their natural habitat!

I was especially inspired by Eleni’s Voultsiadou talk on sponges in Ancient Greece, beautifully linking history, culture, and marine biology.

All in all, it was a week full of science, sunshine, and sponge-powered inspiration. Until next time, #TeamPorifera

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Barcelona, Evolution, and Endless Inspiration: my ESEB 2025 Recap

By Sofia Paraskevopoulou

Welcome to the ESEB 2025 Congress, held at the International Convention Center in sunny Barcelona from August 17–22, 2025! It was an amazing week, a mix of catching up with old friends, collaborators, and supervisors, while also meeting new people and expanding my collaboration network. So many inspiring talks, brilliant ideas, and genuinely good science packed into one week!

As someone a bit noise-sensitive, I will admit the conference buzz was challenging at times. But, the overall good atmosphere made up for it. One of my favorite parts was the inclusivity initiatives, where researchers gathered participated in social mixers to discuss problems phased by underrepresented groups and how to make science more inclusive and approachable. The message was clear: no one should have to struggle to belong in academia!

I also had the chance to present not one, but two projects that are close to my heart:

1. Symbiosis-mediated gene transfer in early-diverging Metazoan

Yes, there are sponges that live in lakes and streams! My research explores lateral gene transfer in these freshwater sponges, focusing on a molecule called Rhodoquinone, an anaerobiosis-specific cofactor. Fascinatingly, the gene for it seems to have been borrowed from protists, a rare case of gene transfer across such distant lineages! Why marine sponges lack it remains a mystery… one I am eager to solve, with support from the Crafoord Foundation.

2. Transcriptomic signatures of infection and insights into transgenerational immune priming in an invertebrate host

This project dives into how invertebrates defend themselves against parasites. By examining gene expression patterns, we uncovered hints of how innate immunity and immune priming might operate across generations. Think of priming as an ancestral immune training at the molecular level.

Between the science, the sun, and the sangria, ESEB 2025 was a truly inspiring experience. Well done ESEB 2025. Looking forward the next one 🙂