Metagenomic insights from NGS into water and soil microbiomes surrounding the Temuan Orang Asli communities of Serendah, Malaysia

The Orang Asli has a profound knowledge of the forest and its resources which are shaped by the complex microbial communities present in the soil and water sources around their settlements. However, there is a significant gap in the understanding of the environmental microbiome associated with Orang Asli communities. Investigating the diversity and composition of these microbial communities could provide insights into the intricate relationships between the Orang Asli and their surrounding ecosystems. Environmental samples were collected from sites in triplicate across the village. Water quality was assessed using National Water Quality Standard (NWQS). Genomic DNA was extracted from the 3 water and 3 soil samples using a commercial DNA extraction kit and sent for NGS. Findings found that Proteobacteria, Bacteroidota, Firmicutes, and Actinobacteria were the dominant phyla across all water and soil samples specific phyla were significantly more abundant in soil. Soil microbiomes consistently exhibited higher alpha diversity compared to water microbiomes across various metrics. The soil quality across these sites varies considerably but were low overall. All the water samples fell under Class II, indicating "Good" water quality according to the DOE Water Quality Index. In conclusion, key phyla differed significantly between the two environments, likely due to varying conditions. More detailed studies are needed to fully understand how environmental factors shape these microbial communities and their functions in soil and water ecosystems.