Article

A research team from The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology has conducted a hologenomic analysis of the deep-sea black coral Bathypathes pseudoalternata, revealing its reliance on symbiotic microbes for survival in extreme habitats. Published in Cell Host & Microbe, the study highlights the coral's genetic dependence on these microbes for essential nutrients and the stability of its microbiome, which aids in detoxification, nutrient synthesis, and antiviral defense. The researchers developed a framework for analyzing host genomics and microbial profiles, successfully assembling a high-quality genome with 16 chromosomes.