Epulopiscium Genome sequencing and assembly

This study aims at illuminating the genetic basis for the symbiosis between Surgeonfishes and the uncultivated giant bacterium, Epulopiscium, which are prevalent in their gut. We have thus used single-cell genomics to reconstruct the metabolism of various cell morphotypes in the guts of Acanthurus nigrofuscus and A. sohal. These Surgeonfishes are common in the Red Sea and feed on microalagae.