Polydora hoplura associated microbiome
Our findings revealed a diverse and fluctuating microbiome linked to these worms, deviating from the usual species-specific pattern often observed in other invertebrates. The majority of these microbes seem to be acquired horizontally, from an interconnection between the environment and the flat oyster cavity. Indeed, the detection of certain opportunistic and pathogenic taxa, such as Mycobacterium, Vibrio, Aliiroseovarius and Halarcobacter spp., indicates potential implications for both human consumption and the health of the flat oyster host organisms. Other core and non -core bacteria seem to play symbiotic roles in nutrient provision, removal of waste products, and antioxidant and detoxifying processes to allow endolithic lifestyle within the borrowed valve chambers. Our study is the first characterizing bacterial communities associated with shell-boring polychaetes, and sets the bases to propose these parasitic worms as disrupting vectors of microbial exchange between oyster hosts and the environment.