Host-bacteriome transplants of the schistosome snail host Biomphalaria glabrata reflect species-specific associations.

ABSTRACT: Microbial symbionts can affect host phenotypes and, thereby, ecosystem functioning. The microbiome is increasingly being recognized as an important player in the tripartite interaction between parasitic flatworms, snail intermediate hosts, and the snail microbiome. In order to better understand these interactions, transplant experiments are needed, which rely on the development of a reliable and reproducible protocol to obtain microbiome-disturbed snails. Here, we report on the first successful snail bacteriome transplants, which indicate that Biomphalaria glabrata can accrue novel bacterial assemblies depending on the available environmental bacteria obtained from donor snails. Moreover, the phylogenetic relatedness of the donor host significantly affected recipients' survival probability

SUBMITTER: Schols R 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10481996 | biostudies-literature | 2023 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature