Complete Genome Sequence of Candidatus Tremblaya princeps Strain PCVAL, an Intriguing Translational Machine below the Living-Cell Status

The sequence of the genome of Candidatus Tremblaya princeps strain PCVAL, the primary endosymbiont of the citrus mealybug Planococcus citri, has been determined. Ca. Tremblaya princeps presents an unusual nested endosymbiosis and harbors a gammaproteobacterial symbiont within its cytoplasm in all analyzed mealybugs. The genome sequence reveals that Ca. Tremblaya princeps cannot be considered an independent organism but that the consortium with its gammaproteobacterial symbiotic associate represents a new composite living being.