Penicillium sp. CF01 Genome sequencing and assembly

It is well-known that a large number of Penicillium species (Ascomycota) are used or are of great potential in biotechnology. The Penicillium species in section Brevicompacta (including P. brevicompactum, and P. neocrassum) produce a wide range of degrading enzymes and secondary metabolites of biotechnological interest, e.g. the extrolite asperphenamate, which is used as an anticancer and antimicrobial compound, and the mycophenolic acid, which is a mycotoxin but is also used as an immunosuppressant agent.Penicillium sp. CF01 has terverticillate conidiophores with globose and roughened conidia (ca. 2 µm diam). This member of the genus Penicillium is most closely related to P. brevicompactum, as showed by our phylogenetic analysis largely based on ß-tubulin and calmodulin gene sequences.There is no genome sequence of Penicillium sp. CF01 to date, despite it can give insights not only for its biotechnological application, but also for understanding its safety use. In this study, genomic DNA of Penicillium sp. CF01 was extracted, and a genomic DNA library was prepared. The DNA library was checked with a Bioanalyzer 2100 (Agilent), and then was sequenced using an Illumina MiSeq (2 × 300 bp paired-end reads strategy). Reads were assembled in scaffolds, which represent the first version of the draft genome of Penicillium sp. CF01.A comparative genomic analysis of Penicillium sp. CF01 and the genome sequences of species belonging to the genus Penicillium will be carried out with a specific focus on the identification of genes for safety assessment, and biotechnological application.The study was funded with the Research Project: Microbial genomes: biotechnology and safety; INAIL-PAR 2016-2018.