Comparative Metagenomic Analysis of Microbial Communities from Soda Lakes and Ruminant Guts

This study investigates the microbial and enzymatic landscape of two contrasting ecosystems: the Ethiopian soda lakes and the ruminant gut. Using shotgun metagenomics, we sequenced and analyzed 34 paired-end metagenomes to reconstruct metagenome-assembled genomes (MAGs), identify carbohydrate-active enzymes (CAZymes), and evaluate taxonomic and functional diversity. The findings highlight unique microbial lineages, metabolic capacities, and adaptations to extreme environments, offering insights into microbial ecology and potential biotechnological applications. This work contributes to the understanding of carbon cycling and microbial evolution in extreme and host-associated environments.