The Microbial Landscape of Axolotl Limb Regeneration: A Comparative Study of Neotenic and Metamorphic Stages

The axolotl (Ambystoma mexicanum), noted for its outstanding regenerative powers, maintains this trait through its transformation from a juvenile neotenic state to an adult metamorphic form. This research investigates the complex role of the microbiome in the regeneration of axolotl limbs, examining the microbial communities in both neotenic and metamorphic axolotls at two crucial points of limb regeneration: directly after amputation (0 days post-amputation, dpa) and during the early stages of blastema formation (7 dpa). By employing 16S rRNA amplicon sequencing, we have identified variations in the microbiome profiles corresponding to different stages of development and regeneration.