Genomic characterization of a novel, widely distributed Mycoplasma species "Candidatus Mycoplasma mahonii" associated with the brittlestar Gorgonocephalus chilensis.

ABSTRACT: Symbiotic relationships are ubiquitous throughout the world's oceans, yet for many marine organisms, including those in the high latitudes, little is understood about symbiotic associations and functional relationships. From a recently determined genome sequence of a filter-feeding basket star from Argentina, Gorgonocephalus chilensis, we discovered a novel Mycoplasma species with a 796Kb genome (CheckM completeness of 97.9%, G+C content = 30.1%). Similar to other Mycoplasma spp. within Mycoplasmatota, genomic analysis of the novel organism revealed reduced metabolic pathways including incomplete biosynthetic pathways, suggesting an obligate association with their basket star host. Results of 16S rRNA and multi-locus phylogenetic analyses revealed that this organism belonged to a recently

SUBMITTER: Aroh O 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10449156 | biostudies-literature | 2023

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature