Telomere-to-telomere genome sequence of the model mould pathogen Aspergillus fumigatus

Area of Science:

• Mycology
• Genomics
• Infectious Diseases

Background:

• Aspergillus fumigatus is a pathogenic fungus causing significant global health issues.
• Existing reference genomes have limitations in centromere, ribosomal repeat, and chromosomal rearrangement coverage.
• Accurate genomic data is crucial for understanding fungal pathogens.

Purpose of the Study:

• To generate high-quality, de novo genome assemblies for Aspergillus fumigatus reference strains.
• To improve the accuracy of centromere and ribosomal repeat sequences.
• To provide comprehensive annotation of chromosomal rearrangements.

Main Methods:

• Utilized PacBio SMRT, Oxford Nanopore, and Illumina HiSeq sequencing technologies.
• Performed de novo genome assembly and polishing for strains CEA10 and A1160.
• Achieved telomere-to-telomere chromosome coverage and characterized centromeric regions.

Main Results:

• Generated full-length chromosome assemblies for CEA10 with complete telomere-to-telomere coverage.
• Obtained near-complete assembly for A1160, including ribosomal repeats and centromere sequences.
• Discovered centromeres are composed of long transposon elements.

Conclusions:

• The new high-quality reference genomes provide a fundamental resource for Aspergillus fumigatus research.
• These assemblies will advance studies on fungal biology, pathogenicity, and virulence.
• Improved genomic data will facilitate the discovery of more effective antifungal treatments.