Comparative Genomics Reveals Multipartite Genomes Undergoing Loss in the Fungal Endosymbiotic Genus Mycetohabitans.

ABSTRACT: Endosymbiotic bacteria extensively impact phenotypes of their eukaryotic hosts, while experiencing dramatic changes to their own genome as they become more host-restricted in lifestyle. Understanding the trajectory of such a genome has largely been done through the study of animal-associated bacteria, especially insect endosymbionts. Yet, endofungal bacteria provide another natural experimental model for investigating how microbial genomes change when living inside of a host cell. Mycetohabitans spp. are culturable bacterial endosymbionts of the Mucoromycota fungus Rhizopus microsporus. To investigate the genome dynamics resulting from the endohyphal nature of this emerging model genus, we long-read sequenced and assembled new complete genomes to combine with previous assemblies, creating

SUBMITTER: Abbot B 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12696581 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature