Project description:We designed a new specific mRNA microarray targeting a subset of genes (748) of the diazotrophs Richelia intracellularis and Calothrix rhizosoleniae (genomes RintRC01, RintHH01, RintHM01 and CalSC01) which associate with diatom hosts. The aim was to be able to describe the gene expressions of genes related to several metabolic pathways and how they possibly differed between the closely related strains based on environment and host association. To better understand how the different environments might affect gene expressions, the samples were taken in depth profiles, at night and day, during a cruise in the South China Sea.