Genome sequence of Pseudoalteromonas sp. NW 4327, pathogen of the Great Barrier Reef sponge, Rhopaloeides odorabile. Pseudoalteromonas agarivorans strain:NW 4327

Current knowledge of sponge disease dynamics (including the causative agents, modes of transmission and pathogen virulence mechanisms) is extremely limited. To date, only one study has confirmed Koch’s postulates by verifying that strain NW 4327 was the primary pathogen of the Great Barrier Reef sponge Rhopaloeides odorabile. A collagenolytic enzyme suspected to enhance pathogenicity of bacterial strain NW 4327 against this sponge was later purified. Despite the increasing incidence of sponge disease and realization of the importance of identifying sponge pathogens, few studies have specifically assessed the relevant microbial communities. To further the investigation into the only primary sponge pathogen described to date, we present the genome sequence of strain NW 4327.