Research Highlights 研究亮點 53 Two Hong Kong branch research teams led by Prof.Peiyuan Qian and Prof. Jianwen Qiu decoded for the first time the chromosomal-level genome of a deep-sea gutless tubeworm and how the worm’s co-living bacterial partners manufacture organic nutrients for its host so it can survive the extreme habitat. The discovery lays foundation for potential applications such as biomaterial production and microbial growth control. The tubeworm and symbiont genome has been published in the international academic journal Molecular Biology and Evolution and The ISME Journal, respectively. “Our finding opens new directions for potential applications – such as using the unique enzymes of the biosynthesis process for biomaterial production; developing strategies to remediate nutritional deficiency, or designing methods on microbial growth control,” added Prof. Qian. Refer to HKUST news/参考科大新闻. https://science.hkust.edu.hk/zh-hans/node/7706 Reference: Molecular biology and evolution 2021, 38, 4116-4134. 香港分部钱培元教授团队与邱建文教 授团队合作，首次破解无肠深海管虫染 色体层面的基因组。这一发现解释了 管虫如何透过其共生细菌为其制造有机 营养物，令其得以于极端环境中生存的 机制。有关研究为制造生物材料及抑制 微生物繁殖等应用范畴提供基础。研究 结果已发表在国际学术期刊Mo l ecu l a r Biology and Evolution及The ISME Journal 。 钱教授强调：“我们的研究发现为不同 应用范畴带来新方向，如开发补充营养 策略或抑制微生物繁洐的新方法等。而 深海管虫所制造的酶，亦可能发展成一 种新的生物材料”。 Unlock Genomic Secrets of Gutless Deep-sea Tubeworm 解開无腸深海管虫的基因組秘密 Prof. Pei-Yuan Qian 钱培元教授 The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology 香港科技大学 Prof. Jianwen Qiu 邱建文教授 Hong Kong Baptist University 香港浸会大学 Tubeworms are present as large habitat-forming chitinized tube bushes in the deep-sea, where photosynthesis-derived organic matter are scarce 管虫在深海以大型几丁质管丛形成栖息地，在此环境当中，由光合作用所转化出的有机物质通常十分稀缺
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