Metagenome of South American Potato Psyllid
The Sodalis genus exhibits a wide range of symbiotic associations with insects, from facultative to obligate relationships, reflecting transitions from free-living to host-dependent lifestyles. We report the draft genome of Sodalis sp. recovered from the metagenome of Russelliana solanicola, the South American potato psyllid. The 1.42 Mb genome (G+C content: 45.6%) encodes 1,010 proteins, 38 tRNAs, and 4 rRNAs. Functional annotation assigned putative roles to 721 genes, including pathways for core metabolism, essential amino acid and vitamin biosynthesis, indicating a potential nutritional role for the host. The genome also encodes secretion systems, quorum sensing, and host interaction pathways, including MAPK and apoptosis signaling. Phylogenomic, orthologous clustering, and average nucleotide identity analyses reveal this metagenome-assembled genome (mRsS25) forms a distinct clade, separate from known Sodalis species, including those from tsetse flies and psyllids, supporting its classification as a novel lineage. These findings suggest an independent evolutionary trajectory within the Sodalis lineage and provide insights into insect-microbe symbioses and Sodalis evolution.