Shrimp Genome Sequencing and Assembly

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CIBA Achieves Landmark Breakthrough in Shrimp Genomics

In a groundbreaking achievement, the Central Institute of Brackishwater Aquaculture (CIBA) has successfully decoded the whole genome of the Indian white shrimp, Penaeus indicus. This monumental effort has resulted in a high-quality genome assembly, setting a new benchmark in crustacean genomics.

The assembled genome spans approximately 1.93 gigabases (Gb), with a contig N50 of 1.4 megabases (Mb) and a scaffold N50 of 34.4 Mb. Notably, this assembly includes 346 un-gapped contigs exceeding 1 Mb, a significant improvement over previous shrimp genome assemblies. With this milestone, P. indicus becomes the first large crustacean genome to meet reference standards of over 1 Mb contig N50 and over 10 Mb scaffold N50 lengths for genomes exceeding 1.5 Gb.

Unveiling the Genetic Blueprint

Genome analysis identified 28,720 protein-coding genes and revealed that 49.31% of the genome consists of repeat elements. Remarkably, P. indicus exhibits the highest proportion of simple sequence repeats (31.99%) among sequenced animal genomes, offering novel insights into its genetic composition.

A Game-Changer for Shrimp Aquaculture

This comprehensive genomic resource is poised to revolutionize shrimp aquaculture. The reference genome provides invaluable insights for:
✅ Genetic improvement programs to develop superior shrimp strains
✅ Stock management for sustainable breeding practices
✅ Evolutionary studies of commercially significant species

By enabling the development of shrimp strains with desirable traits, this research could reduce dependency on exotic species and enhance sustainable aquaculture practices.

A Collaborative Success

The successful completion of this project underscores Nucleome’s commitment to advancing genomics research and driving scientific innovation in India. Nucleome Informatics partnered with ICAR-CIBA to execute this project, under the leadership of Dr. M.S. Shekhar, Dr. Vinaya Kumar Katneni, and their team.

This milestone marks a new era for shrimp genomics, with far-reaching implications for India’s aquaculture industry and global seafood sustainability.

ORIGINAL RESEARCH article

Front. Mar. Sci. , 21 January 2022

Sec. Marine Molecular Biology and Ecology

Volume 8 – 2021 | https://doi.org/10.3389/fmars.2021.808354