Comparative genomics, symbiotic capacities and high metabolic flexibility of the marine genus Pseudovibrio

Pseudovibrio is a marine bacterial genus, members of which are predominantly isolated from sessile marine animals, and particularly sponges. It has been hypothesized that they form a mutualistic relationship with their hosts. Here, we studied their phylogeny highlighting genetic adaptations that may play a role in host colonization, by comparative genomics of 31 Pseudovibrio strains of which 25 were isolated from sponges.