Earthworm gut microorganism

This study aims to investigate the impact of heavy metal pollution on the gut microbiota of earthworms ( Eisenia fetida) using 16S rRNA amplicon sequencing. Earthworms were exposed to soils artificially contaminated with varying concentrations of heavy metals (cadmium, lead) and combined antibiotics (CIP, NOR) for a period of 14 days. Gut contents were collected from both control and treatment groups, and microbial DNA was extracted. The V3-V4 region of the 16S rRNA gene was amplified and sequenced on an Illumina platform to characterize the composition, diversity, and potential functional shifts of the gut microbial communities. The results will elucidate how metal stress alters the intestinal microbiome of earthworms, identify potential microbial indicators for soil contamination, and provide a deeper understanding of host-microbe interactions under anthropogenic environmental stress.