Document Type : Mini-reviews
Authors
1
department of microbiology and immunology faculty of pharmacy Port-said university
2
Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Suez-Canal University, Ismailia, Egypt
3
Department of microbiology and immunology, faculty of pharmacy, suez canal university
4
Department of microbiology and immunology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Al-Azhar university, Assiut, Egypt
5
Department of microbiology and immunology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Port-Said university
Abstract
Soil ecosystems harbor one of the most diverse and complex microbial communities on Earth, playing essential roles in nutrient cycling, plant productivity, and pollutant degradation. Traditional microbiological methods fail to capture the full extent of this diversity due to the high proportion of uncultured microorganisms. In this mini-review, we explore the application of metagenomic tools, particularly 16S rRNA gene sequencing and shotgun whole-genome sequencing, in studying the influence of physicochemical parameters such as pH, total organic carbon, nitrogen, phosphorus, and salinity on the structure and function of soil microbial communities. The review also addresses the impact of environmental contaminants, including heavy metals and industrial wastewater, on soil microbial ecology. Additionally, we examine metagenomic indicators of soil health, bioremediation potential, and the emergence of antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs). The use of bioinformatics pipelines enables high-resolution taxonomic classification and functional profiling, paving the way for integrative studies that assess both microbial community composition and ecological function. Understanding these complex microbial interactions is critical not only for advancing soil ecology research but also for practical applications in sustainable agriculture, pollution monitoring, and novel drug discovery.
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