Comparative genomics of sponge-associated Alphaproteobacteria. Sponge-associated Alphaproteobacteria

Alphaproteobacteria species have shown close relationship with different marine sponge hosts, as some lineages within this class have been detected in sponge larvae, suggesting a pattern of vertical symbiont transmission through host generations and therefore an intimate association host-symbiont. In this study, we focus on Alphaprtoteobacteria lineages cultivated from the marine sponge Spongia sp., and perform a comparative analysis of 10 genomes of this clade.