# Uncovering the Prokaryotic Diversity of Hypersaline Soils of Odiel Saltmarshes Natural Area Through Metagenome-Assembled Genomes

## TL;DR

This study explores the diverse microbial life in hypersaline soils of Spain, revealing new prokaryotic species adapted to extreme conditions.

## Contribution

The study introduces six novel Candidatus prokaryotic taxa and their genomic adaptations to extreme salinity and heavy metals.

## Key findings

- Six high-quality metagenome-assembled genomes (MAGs) were reconstructed from hypersaline soils.
- The genomes revealed metabolic traits enabling survival in high salinity and heavy metal conditions.
- The findings expand the catalog of known prokaryotic diversity in extreme environments.

## Abstract

The hypersaline soils of the Odiel Saltmarshes Natural Area in Southwest Spain harbor highly diverse microbial communities adapted to extreme conditions. However, their genomic diversity remains largely unexplored. In addition to high salinity, these soils are contaminated with heavy metals, creating a hostile environment of great interest for studying extremophilic microorganisms and their metabolic adaptations. This study aims to characterize the uncovered prokaryotic taxa as Candidatus species inhabiting the hypersaline soils of the Odiel Saltmarshes, based on their metagenomic assembled genomic sequences. The reconstructed genomes were assessed for quality based on completeness and contamination thresholds and subsequently taxonomically classified. Comparative genomic analysis of six high-quality MAGs revealed key metabolic traits related to survival under extreme salinity and heavy metal conditions. The findings provide new insights about microbial diversity of hypersaline environments and expand the catalog of known prokaryotic genomes. Detailed characterization of six novel Candidatus taxa highlights the unique adaptations of these microorganisms, enhancing our understanding of life in extreme habitats.