Guy Leonard

De novo genome sequence assembly of the model algal endosymbiont Micractinium conductrix derived from its host Paramecium bursaria 186b

The paper reports a near telomere-to-telomere genome assembly of Micractinium conductrix, enabling genomic studies of endosymbiosis and biotechnological applications.

Adaptation to free-living drives loss of beneficial endosymbiosis through metabolic trade-offs

The paper shows that adaptation to free-living conditions in algal endosymbionts leads to loss of host benefits, driven by metabolic trade-offs, with nitrogen availability as a key factor.

Intracellular niche specialisation drives evolutionary entrapment of endosymbiotic algae

This study shows that endosymbiotic algae evolve traits specialized for intracellular niches, reducing their fitness in extracellular environments, thereby stabilizing endosymbiosis through evolutionary entrapment.

Immune-like glycan-sensing and horizontally-acquired glycan-processing orchestrate host control in a microbial endosymbiosis

This study identifies an immune-like glycan-sensing/processing network in Paramecium bursaria that regulates its algal endosymbionts through horizontal gene transfers.

De novo genome sequence assembly of the RNAi-tractable endosymbiosis model system Paramecium bursaria 186b reveals factors shaping intron repertoire

The paper presents a de novo genome and transcriptome assembly of Paramecium bursaria 186b, revealing intron characteristics and evolutionary dynamics in ciliates.

Characterisation of the RNA-interference pathway as a Tool for Genetics in the Nascent Phototrophic Endosymbiosis, Paramecium bursaria

The paper identifies and validates the RNAi pathway in Paramecium bursaria, showing its role in feeding-induced gene knock-down and endosymbiosis genetics.