In this study, we investigated the microbiome of several organs in Biomphalaria glabrata snails, vector of the blood fluke. These organs (hepatopancreas (e.g., liver), stomach, gut, ovotestis) harbor specific microbiomes, different from the microbiome of the hemolymph (blood) which bathes these organs. Interestingly, the whole snail microbiome, often used to investigate snail microbiome, is not a true composite of the different microbiomes but closer to the hemolymph microbiome. This highlights the importance of investigating microbiomes separately to avoid masking important changes and to accurately represent microbiome dynamics, especially during parasite infection.
This manuscript is the conclusion of the work done by Lauren during her internship at Texas Biomed. Congrats to Lauren and all co-authors!