Spatial Organization of Cutaneous Microbiomes Reveals Putative Microbial Contributions to Host Chemical Defenses in the American Toad
We aim to better understand the cutaneous skin microbiome of toxin producing toads and how it may contribute to toxin synthesis or biotransformation. American toads across central Pennsylvania were captured and swabbed to assess whether the microbiome is spacially structured where toxins are and are not secreted and if specific taxa associated with toxin-related biochemical pathways are present.