Metagenomic analysis of polystyrene-associated soil and expanded polystyrene (EPS) samples Metagenome

This project investigates the bacterial communities associated with polystyrene plastic contaminated soil and expanded polystyrene (EPS) samples. Environmental DNA was extracted, and the V3-V4 hypervariable region of the bacterial 16S rRNA gene was amplified and sequenced using the Illumina platform. The resulting sequences were used to profile bacterial community composition and diversity associated with polystyrene-contaminated environments. Samples were collected from three locations in Thiruvananthapuram, including EPS dumping sites, surrounding soils, and marine-washed EPS samples. This study aims to compare bacterial genera associated with different sample types and identify microbial communities potentially involved in polymer breakdown.