Bacterial pathogens and microbiome structure associated with mass mortality events in Arca noae from the Ebro Delta
This study aimed to identify putative bacterial pathogens associated with mass mortality of A. noae in the Ebro Delta (western Mediterranean). To achieve this, we combined culture-based bacterial isolation, in vivo pathogenicity assays, histopathology, and 16S rRNA gene sequencing of the associated microbiota. Comparative analyses between individuals collected during mortality and non-mortality episodes were conducted to evaluate differences in bacterial community composition and to explore potential links between dominant taxa and pathogenic isolates.