1 research outputs found
Bacterial diversity analysis of glyphosate-exposed and pristine soil samples
No full textGlyphosate is the active ingredient in widely used broad-spectrum herbicides, and its extensive
application raises increasing concerns about environmental accumulation and ecological impact. It is
known to be toxic to aquatic organisms, while numerous studies have also reported adverse effects on
plant growth, insect gut microbiota, and human health. Therefore, research on soil bacterial communities
can significantly contribute to the discovery of novel and effective strategies for the bioremediation of
glyphosate-contaminated sites.
In this study, metagenomic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene amplicons was performed on soil samples
from an agricultural site with prolonged glyphosate exposure and a reference forest soil with no history
of herbicide application. The bacterial composition of each sample was evaluated, revealing high overall
microbial diversity. Actinobacteria and proteobacteria were the dominant phyla across all samples, while
the relative abundance of other phyla varied depending on the sampling site. Marked differences were
observed at the genus level, distinguishing the forest microbiome from those exposed to glyphosate. The
presence of species and genera previously reported to degrade glyphosate was also examined. Functional
profiling based on 16S rRNA amplicons predicted ABC transporters, glutathione S-transferases, and ECF
RNA polymerase sigma-70 factors—proteins typically associated with stress response—as differentially
abundant between samples.
These findings provide insight into how chronic glyphosate exposure shapes soil microbial communities
and their potential functional adaptations, highlighting microbial diversity as a valuable resource for
developing sustainable bioremediation strategies for glyphosate-polluted environments.Book of abstract: 75th Panhellenic Conference of the Hellenic Society of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology (EEBMB Athens, December 5-7, 202
