Pseudoalteromonas sp. Scap03 Genome sequencing and assembly. Pseudoalteromonas sp. Scap03

Sponges (Porifera) harbour a dense population of microorganisms forming a holobiome. Studying these holobiomes has lead to the discovery of many novel species, metabolic process and natural products. Despite the richness of these natural resources the microbiome of many sponges remain enigmatic. Bacteria from the model calcareous sponge, Sycon capricorn, were isolated, cultured and genomic DNA extracted. Whole genome sequencing, using both long and short read platforms, assembled complete genomes. The completeness of these assemblies and the elucidation of natural plasmids exemplifies the utility of hybrid assemblies. Mining these genome assemblies for metabolic pathways begins to define the role of these microorganisms in the sponge holobiome.

海绵（Porifera，多孔动物门）宿主着高密度的微生物群落，共同构成全共生体（holobiome）。对这类全共生体的研究已促成诸多新物种、代谢途径与天然产物的发现。尽管这类天然资源十分丰富，但多数海绵的微生物组（microbiome）仍谜团未解。研究人员从模式钙质海绵（calcareous sponge）毛壶（Sycon capricorn）中分离并培养了细菌，并提取其基因组DNA。采用长读长与短读长测序平台相结合的方式开展全基因组测序，最终成功组装得到完整的基因组。这类组装的完整性以及天然质粒的解析，充分证明了混合组装（hybrid assemblies）技术的应用价值。对这些基因组组装结果进行代谢通路挖掘，可逐步阐明这类微生物在海绵全共生体中发挥的功能。