Draft genome sequence and annotation of the obligate bacterial endosymbiont Caedibacter taeniospiralis, causative agent of the killer phenotype in Paramecium tetraurelia

Abstract

Caedibacter taeniospiralis is an obligate endosymbiont living in the cytoplasm of Paramecium tetraurelia. C. taeniospiralis causes the so-called killer trait, eliminating intraspecific competitors of its host when released into the medium by the concerted action of the unusual protein structure R-body (refractile body) in addition to an as-yet-unknown toxin.