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bioRxiv · 10.64898/2026.03.06.710095

Chromosome-level genome assembly and annotation of the parthenogenetic nematode Acrobeloides nanus

Guiglielmoni, N.·Villegas, L. I.·Paulini, M.·Stevens, L.·Schuster, A.·Becker, C.·Becker, K.·Blaxter, M.·Schiffer, P. H.
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Abstract

Acrobeloides nanus is a species of widely distributed bacteria-feeding nematodes belonging to the family Cephalobidae. It reproduces parthenogenetically, making it a valuable system for studying the consequences of obligate asexuality, and exhibits early developmental processes that differ significantly from the model organism Caenorhabditis elegans. Additionally, the species has demonstrated remarkable resistance in extreme conditions, surviving near-complete desiccation through anhydrobiosis. This new chromosome-level genome assembly provides a high-quality reference to study these traits. Combining Nanopore, amplified PacBio HiFi, and Hi-C sequencing, we generated a chromosome-level assembly spanning 188.9 Mb over six chromosomes. The genome features a 48.1% repeat content, dominated by Mutator-like elements, and contains 24,912 predicted genes. Structural analysis reveals the conservation of ancestral nematode linkage groups. This resource significantly improves upon previous fragmented assemblies, offering a new framework for identifying genomic adaptations in the family Cephalobidae.

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Guiglielmoni, N., Villegas, L. I., Paulini, M., Stevens, L., Schuster, A., Becker, C., Becker, K., Blaxter, M., Schiffer, P. H.. 2026-03-09. Chromosome-level genome assembly and annotation of the parthenogenetic nematode Acrobeloides nanus. https://doi.org/10.64898/2026.03.06.710095

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