Organ-specific microbiomes of Biomphalaria snails

Area of Science:

• Microbiology
• Ecology
• Parasitology

Background:

• The host microbiome influences health and disease, potentially affecting pathogen transmission by vectors like snails.
• Previous work identified a distinct bacterial microbiome in the hemolymph of Biomphalaria spp. snails, vectors of schistosomiasis.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the heterogeneity of the microbiome within different organs of Biomphalaria spp. snails.
• To compare organ-specific microbiomes with hemolymph and whole-snail microbiomes.

Main Methods:

• Dissection of two snail species (B. alexandrina and B. glabrata) to collect hemolymph and organs (ovotestis, hepatopancreas, gut, stomach).
• Sequencing of the bacterial 16S rRNA gene from dissected organs, hemolymph, whole snails, and environmental water samples.
• Analysis of microbiome diversity and community structure using 16S rRNA gene sequencing.

Main Results:

• Organ-specific microbiomes were identified, exhibiting lower diversity than hemolymph or whole-snail microbiomes.
• Snail organ microbiomes showed clustering patterns related to physiological function.
• The whole-snail microbiome composition was found to be more similar to the hemolymph microbiome than to individual organ microbiomes.

Conclusions:

• The study highlights the necessity of analyzing individual organ microbiomes for a comprehensive understanding of snail-associated bacterial communities.
• These findings are critical for future research on snail microbiomes and their role in host biology and disease ecology.