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Tropical Mangrove Swamp Metagenome Reveals Unusual Abundance of Ecologically Important Microbes


Affiliations
1 Division of Genetics and Molecular Biology, Institute of Biological Sciences, University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
2 Natural Sciences and Science Education AG, National Institute of Education, Nanyang Technological University, 1 Nanyang Walk, 637616, Singapore
 

The tropical ecosystem is extremely rich in flora and fauna, but the tropical mangrove soil microbial diversity remains illusive. To address this knowledge gap, we characterized the metagenome of a Malaysian mangrove soil sample and its microbial ecological roles via next-generation sequencing (NGS). Shotgun NGS data analysis revealed high diversity of ecologically important microbes from bacteria and archaea domains. Also, an unusually high number of archaea was detected together with high abundance of Deltaproteobacteria. In a functional study by the SEED classification in MEGAN, virulence factor genes were abundantly present, implying that the mangrove soil is a potential reservoir of pathogens.

Keywords

Mangrove, Metagenomics, Pathogens, Soil.
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  • Tropical Mangrove Swamp Metagenome Reveals Unusual Abundance of Ecologically Important Microbes

Abstract Views: 423  |  PDF Views: 133

Authors

Zahidah Ismail
Division of Genetics and Molecular Biology, Institute of Biological Sciences, University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Choon-Kook Sam
Natural Sciences and Science Education AG, National Institute of Education, Nanyang Technological University, 1 Nanyang Walk, 637616, Singapore
Wai-Fong Yin
Division of Genetics and Molecular Biology, Institute of Biological Sciences, University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Kok-Gan Chan
Division of Genetics and Molecular Biology, Institute of Biological Sciences, University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

Abstract


The tropical ecosystem is extremely rich in flora and fauna, but the tropical mangrove soil microbial diversity remains illusive. To address this knowledge gap, we characterized the metagenome of a Malaysian mangrove soil sample and its microbial ecological roles via next-generation sequencing (NGS). Shotgun NGS data analysis revealed high diversity of ecologically important microbes from bacteria and archaea domains. Also, an unusually high number of archaea was detected together with high abundance of Deltaproteobacteria. In a functional study by the SEED classification in MEGAN, virulence factor genes were abundantly present, implying that the mangrove soil is a potential reservoir of pathogens.

Keywords


Mangrove, Metagenomics, Pathogens, Soil.

References





DOI: https://doi.org/10.18520/cs%2Fv112%2Fi08%2F1698-1703