Diversity, Composition, Taxa Biomarkers, and Functional Genes of Fish Gut Microbes in Peat Swamp Forests and its Converted Areas in North Selangor, Malaysia

A comparative analysis of fish gut microbes in undisturbed and disturbed peat swamp forests in North Selangor, Malaysia, revealed distinct bacterial community profiles and potential biomarker genes linked to human diseases. The study identified Proteobacteria, Firmicutes, Bacteroidetes, Fusobacteria, and Actinobacteria as predominant phyla, with metagenomic predictions indicating functional genes associated with metabolism, environmental processing, and disease pathways. Six potential biomarkers were detected, including genes related to chronic myeloid leukemia in undisturbed areas and infections like Vibrio cholerae and Staphylococcus aureus in disturbed areas. This suggests the fish gut microbiome could serve as an indicator of ecosystem health, highlighting the impact of habitat degradation on microbial diversity and functional genes.

Saadu, H., Sutra, J., Mohd Hashim, A., Ismail, A., Zulkifli, S. Z., & Amal, M. N. A. (2021). Diversity, Composition, Taxa Biomarkers, and Functional Genes of Fish Gut Microbes in Peat Swamp Forests and its Converted Areas in North Selangor, Malaysia. Pertanika Journal of Tropical Agricultural Science, 44(3). https://doi.org/10.47836/pjtas.44.3.07