Assembling a chromosome-level genome for the Microtus fortis using PacBio HiFi and Hi-C technologies

The reed vole (Microtus fortis) is an important rodent model for studying unique biological traits, such as its natural resistance to Schistosoma japonicum. To facilitate the genetic study of these phenotypes, we have produced the first high-quality, chromosome-level genome assembly for this species. The genome was assembled using PacBio HiFi long-read sequencing and scaffolded to the chromosome level with Hi-C data. The final 2.29 Gb assembly exhibits excellent continuity (contig N50 = 68.89 Mb; scaffold N50 = 91.23 Mb), with 97.7% of the sequence anchored into 26 pseudomolecules, consistent with the species' karyotype. Genome completeness was estimated at 96.3% via BUSCO analysis (glires_odb10). The annotation includes 23,678 protein-coding genes, with 97.5% assigned a putative function. This publicly available, high-quality genomic resource will be invaluable for future research, providing the necessary foundation to explore the genetic mechanisms behind the unique adaptations of M. fortis, including its innate immunity, digestive physiology, and disease models. The assembly will also serve as a key reference for comparative genomics, enriching our understanding of rodent evolution.