Transcriptome and genome sequencing of cicada endosymbionts

Many cicada species host two ancient, bacterial nutritional endosymbionts: Candidatus Sulcia muelleri and Candidatus Hodgkinia. In many of these cicada species, Hodgkinia has evolved into multiple genetically distinct and functionally interdependent cell lineages. While the total gene set maintained by these complexes is highly conserved, gene dosage becomes (sometimes extremely) imbalanced by this fragmentation. To determine how this imbalance at the DNA level affects Hodgkinia transcript abundance, and to compare patterns of transcription between Hodgkinia and its more stable partner Sulcia, we sequenced metagenomes and metatranscriptomes of the endosymbiont-housing organs from six different cicada species hosting varying degrees of Hodgkinia complexity.