SALTO Symposium about specialized bacteria

On September 16 and 17, 2025, the ERC Research Group for Ecological Genomics and the Department of Molecular Ecology jointly organized the 2025 SALTO Symposium at the Max Planck Institute for Marine Microbiology in Bremen, Germany. It was themed “Exploring the evolutionary links between specialized bacteria and algal hosts”. The event was funded by the Max Planck Society (MPG) through the SALTO Exchange Program, a collaboration between the MPG and the Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS) that promotes mobility and cooperation between German and French research institutions.

The symposium brought together researchers from Germany, France, Spain, Portugal, and Australia to discuss the ecology and evolution of marine Planctomycetota and Verrucomicrobiota, focusing on their roles in degrading complex algal polysaccharides. The program featured keynote presentations, research talks, and lively discussions that highlighted new insights into microbial–algal interactions and evolutionary adaptations. In addition, previous participants of the Salto Exchange Program shared their experiences, reflecting on the benefits and challenges of their research visits.

“The symposium was a great success”, says main organizer and group leader Luis Humberto Orellana Retamal (Coto). “We thank our engaged participants for their engaging discussions and are happy about the many new research connections that developed.” Participants provided very positive feedback, emphasizing the stimulating scientific atmosphere and the spirit of collaboration.