Transcriptional profiling of the endophytic fungus Pestalotiopsis sp. 9143 and its endohyphal bacterium Luteibacter mycovicinis 9143

The fungal endophyte Pestalotiopsis sp. 9143 was found naturally infected with the endohyphal bacterium Luteibacter mycovicinis 9143. The fungus can be cured of the bacterium by culturing on antibiotics and the bacterium can be isolated from the fungus by culturing at high temperatures or mechanical disruption. This study investigates the transcriptomes of both partners cultured indepedently (axenically) and in coculture. The goal was to understand the changes in gene expression that accompany partner presence in order to identify genes and pathways that may facilitate the interaction. Three bioreplicates each of Pestalotiopsis sp. 9143 in pure culture, of L. mycovicinis 9143 in pure cultures, and of cocultured fungus and bacterium. Fungal and bacterial RNA was sequenced and analyzed separately.