Bathymodiolus platifrons endosymbiont genome sequencing

The deep-mussel Bathymodiolus platifrons is distributed in cold seep in the Sagami bay, Japan, owing its biomass to the functional dependence on its symbiotic association with chemoautotrophic methan-oxidizing bacteria. Little is known about physiological characteristics and ecological significance of endosymbionts. We therefore performed the genome analysis on the endosymbiont of Bathymodiolus platifrons. The genome sequence and comparative genome analysis among methan-oxidizing endosymbionts will provide important insights into their evolution, physiological functions, and interactions with their host animals.

深海贻贝（Bathymodiolus platifrons）分布于日本相模湾的冷泉生境中，其生物量的维持依赖于与化能自养型甲烷氧化细菌的功能性共生关系。目前学界对其胞内共生菌的生理特性与生态意义尚缺乏系统认知。因此本研究针对该深海贻贝的胞内共生菌开展了全基因组分析。该共生菌的基因组序列以及甲烷氧化胞内共生菌的比较基因组分析，将为揭示其演化历程、生理功能以及与宿主动物的互作机制提供关键见解。