Metagenomic profiling uncovers microbial signatures and resistome patterns across hydrocarbon and heavy metal contaminated soil environments in the urban and suburban areas of South India.

he soil microbiome composition, antibiotic-resistant gene (ARG), Heavy metal-resistant (HMR) gene and virulence gene (VG) diversities of polluted soil samples from urban and suburban areas of Tamil Nadu were studied using whole-genome metagenome sequencing. The main aim of the study was to identify the soil microbiome diversity and composition of polluted soil environments. The accumulation of various pollutants, including heavy metals and other toxic compounds, may alter the soil microbial composition. Soil samples were collected from eight different polluted regions. This study is a pioneer comparative analysis of soil microbiomes from different types of polluted soil environments across Tamil Nadu.