Bacterial Diversity in Al-Asfar Lake, Al Ahsa Oasis, Saudi Arabia

Al-Asfar Lake, part of the UNESCO-listed Al-Ahsa Oasis, harbors a rich and diverse bacterial community with potential biotechnological applications. The study identified 12 bacterial species through 16S rRNA sequencing and revealed four dominant phyla—Firmicutes, Cyanobacteria, Bacteroidota, and Proteobacteria—using metagenomic analysis. Functional gene screening uncovered 33 categories, including xenobiotic biodegradation, highlighting the lake's role in biogeochemical processes. The research employed a polyphasic approach, combining culture-dependent methods (e.g., TSA and BA media) with VITEK phenotypic characterization and direct DNA extraction for metagenomics, providing comprehensive insights into microbial diversity and function.

Al Mousa, A., Aldayel, M., Genena, M. A. M., El-Moaty, Z. A., & Khalifa, A. (2024). Bacterial Diversity in Al-Asfar Lake, Al Ahsa Oasis, Saudi Arabia. Journal of Pure and Applied Microbiology, 18(2), 1358–1371. https://doi.org/10.22207/jpam.18.2.59