Telomeric assemblies of Paracoccidioides genomes

Area of Science:

• Mycology
• Genomics
• Evolutionary Biology

Background:

• Paracoccidioides is a genus of dimorphic fungal pathogens endemic to Latin America.
• Understanding the genomic basis of Paracoccidioides evolution and virulence is crucial for disease control.

Purpose of the Study:

• To generate high-quality, long-read de novo genome assemblies for multiple Paracoccidioides species.
• To perform comparative genomic analyses to identify evolutionary events and potential virulence factors.

Main Methods:

• Long-read sequencing technology for de novo genome assembly.
• Comparative genomics to analyze chromosomal rearrangements and gene duplications.
• Phylogenetic analysis of nuclear and mitochondrial genomes.

Main Results:

• First complete telomere-to-telomere assemblies for Paracoccidioides brasiliensis and Paracoccidioides americana.
• Identification of chromosomal fusion/fission events and a virulence factor gene duplication in P. americana.
• Evidence of mitochondrial introgression between P. lutzii and P. venezuelensis.
• Correlation between RNA transposable elements, genome size, and telomeric enrichment.

Conclusions:

• These comprehensive genome assemblies are valuable resources for Paracoccidioides research.
• The findings shed light on genome evolution, speciation, and potential mechanisms of virulence in this fungal genus.
• Mitochondrial introgression highlights complex evolutionary dynamics within Paracoccidioides.