Authors

B Williams¹;  ¹ Exeter University, UK

Discussion

eukaryotic genomes in arguably their most streamlined state. Starting with the sequencing of the genome of Encephalitozoon cuniculi in 2002, an increasing number of species have had their genomes sequenced year on year and draft genome sequences are now starting to accompany new species descriptions. This growing genomic resource is allowing us to better understand the processes that have shaped miniaturised microsporidian genomes as well giving the data to infer relationships between major groups within this phylum. One animal type that are particularly intensively affected by microsporidia are the invertebrates, in which most species have been described. However, their full diversity with invertebrates is not yet known, in spite of the fact that microsporidia are major pathogens intensively reared crustacea and insects. With a view to better understanding how microsporidia have diversified within these animals, we use available genomic data from Chelicerata, Crustacea and Hexapoda to determine which microsporidian lineages infect which invertebrate groups, infer co-evolutionary relationships and relate parasite groups to host taxonomic and ecological traits.