Elucidation of the mutation rate as driver of insect endosymbiont genome evolution

2023 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 21H02541
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (B)
• Allocation Type: Single-year Grants
• Section: 一般
• Review Section: Basic Section 45020:Evolutionary biology-related
• Research Institution: Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology Graduate University
• Principal Investigator: bourguignon thomas 沖縄科学技術大学院大学, 進化ゲノミクスユニット, 准教授 (40817558)
• Project Period (FY): 2021-04-01 – 2024-03-31
• Keywords: endosymbionts / insect / evolution / genomics

Outline of Final Research Achievements

We sequenced 448 Blattabacterium genomes, including over 300 assembled in a single contig. Other genomes were fragmented and assembled in multiple contigs. We analyzed these genomes to study the evolution of Blattabacterium, a bacterial endosymbiont of cockroaches. We reconstructed the history of gene loss in Blattabacterium and attempted to identify the mechanisms responsible for gene loss. We identified enhanced mutation rate as the primary mechanism responsible for gene loss. Our work yielded two papers published in Molecular Biology and Evolution (IF: 10.7) and Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution (IF: 4.3).

Free Research Field

Evolutionary Biology

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

My project improved our understanding of genome reduction in bacterial endosymbionts. It led to two publications in scientific journals, including one publication in MBE, a recognized journal in the field. My project was scientifically relevant and improved our understanding of endosymbionts.