Accepted_test

Microbial Community Diversity and Metabolic Potential in the Shulgan-Tash Cave: Insights from Metabarcoding and Metagenomics
by Polyakova Elena | Balkin Alexander | Shagimardanova Elena | Kuzmina Lyudmila | Chervyatsova Olga | Gogolev Yuri | Gogoleva Natalia | Institute of Fundamental Medicine and Biology, Kazan Federal University, Kazan, 420111, Russia | Institute of Fundamental Medicine and Biology, Kazan Federal University, Kazan, 420111, Russia; Institute for Cellular and Intracellular Symbiosis, Ural Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Orenburg, 460000, Russia | Institute of Fundamental Medicine and Biology, Kazan Federal University, Kazan, 420111, Russia | Ufa Institute of Biology, Ufa Federal Research Center, Russian Academy of Sciences, Ufa, 450054, Russia | State Nature Reserve “Shulgan-Tash”, Irgyzly, 453585, Russia | Institute of Fundamental Medicine and Biology, Kazan Federal University, Kazan, 420111, Russia; Kazan Institute of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Federal Research Center “Kazan Scientific Center of the Russian Academy of Sciences”, Kazan, 420111, Russia | Institute of Fundamental Medicine and Biology, Kazan Federal University, Kazan, 420111, Russia; Institute for Cellular and Intracellular Symbiosis, Ural Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Orenburg, 460000, Russia; Research Department for Limnology, Mondsee, Universität Innsbruck, Mondsee, 5310, Austria
Abstract ID: 658
Event: BGRS-abstracts
Sections: [Sym 8] Section “Microbial communities of natural and anthropogenic habitats”

In modern microbial ecology, two main approaches for studying microbiomes have emerged: metagenomics, based on whole-genome sequencing, and metabarcoding. Metabarcoding, while often considered less comprehensive than metagenomic analysis for assessing a community's metabolic potential, is becoming more viable due to new tools that greatly enhance its capabilities and affordability. In this context, we decided to compare the results of studies using these two approaches by examining the microbial communities of Shulgan-Tash Cave, located in the foothills of the Southern Urals. Caves are oligotrophic ecosystems characterized by moderately low temperatures, high humidity, and the absence of light; these conditions result in a limited number of community members, making caves a convenient model system.

For our comparative studies, we selected two biofilms: an azurite wall biofilm and a submerged aquatic biofilm from a cave lake, which differed significantly in composition and metabolic characteristics.

The metabarcoding method for rapid and inexpensive screening of samples was relevant for biofilms in oligotrophic habitats. Comparison of metabarcoding and metagenomics data showed similar results at the level of dominant taxa but differed in the abundance of minor representatives of biofilms. The correspondence between metabarcoding and metagenome data depended on the database used. A significant portion of the microbial community was not identified to the genus level by either method. Metagenomic analysis has been preferred for characterizing microbial community metabolism.