# Complete genome of the mutualistic symbiont “Candidatus Nardonella sp.” Pin-AIST from the black hard weevil Pachyrhynchus infernalis

## TL;DR

Scientists sequenced the complete genome of a bacteria that helps a black weevil have a hard exoskeleton.

## Contribution

The study reports the complete genome of a mutualistic symbiont specialized for tyrosine synthesis in a black hard weevil.

## Key findings

- The genome of 'Candidatus Nardonella sp.' Pin-AIST is 226,287 base pairs in size.
- The genome is specialized for tyrosine synthesis, which contributes to the beetle's exoskeleton hardness.

## Abstract

The complete genome, 226,287 bps in size, of “Candidatus Nardonella sp.” Pin-AIST, an obligatory bacterial endosymbiont of the black hard weevil Pachyrhynchus infernalis, was sequenced. The extremely reduced endosymbiont genome is specialized for tyrosine synthesis, which contributes to the hardness of the beetle’s exoskeleton.