No abstract

The human genome reference assembly is crucial for aligning and analyzing sequence data, and for genome annotation, among other roles. However, the models and analysis assumptions that underlie the current assembly need revising to fully represent human sequence diversity. Improved analysis tools and updated data reporting formats are also required.

Adaptation to specialized diets often requires modifications at both genomic and microbiome levels. We applied a hologenomic approach to the common vampire bat (Desmodus rotundus), one of the only three obligate blood-feeding (sanguivorous) mammals, to study the evolution of its complex dietary adaptation. Specifically, we assembled its high-quality reference genome (scaffold N50=26.9 Mb, contig N50=36.6 Kb) and gut metagenome, and compared them against those of insectivorous, frugivorous, and carnivorous bats. Our analyses showed i) a particular common vampire bat genomic landscape regarding integrated viral elements, ii) a dietary and phylogenetic influence on gut microbiome taxonomic and functional profiles, and iii) that both genetic elements harbor key traits related to the nutritional (e.g. vitamins and lipids shortage) and non-nutritional challenges (e.g. nitrogen waste and osmotic homeostasis) of sanguivory. These findings highlight the value of a holistic study of both host and microbiota when attempting to decipher adaptations underlying radical dietary lifestyles.