Shotgun metagenomics reveals the interplay between microbiome diversity and environmental gradients in the first marine protected area in the northern Arabian Gulf.

Introduction: The northwest Arabian Gulf encounters significant anthropogenic pressures, including nutrient enrichment from coastal development and effluent discharge.

Methods: This study presents the first shotgun metagenomics-based characterization of microbial communities in Kuwaiti waters of the northwest Arabian Gulf, focusing on Kuwait's first Marine Protected Area (MPA) in Sulaibikhat Bay, a vital nursery ground for commercially important fish.

Results: Analysis revealed significantly higher microbial diversity within the MPA compared to adjacent waters, with Rhodobacteraceae (27.

Diversity and spatiotemporal variations in bacterial and archaeal communities within Kuwaiti territorial waters of the Northwest Arabian Gulf.

Kuwaiti territorial waters of the northwest Arabian Gulf represent a unique aquatic ecosystem prone to various environmental and anthropogenic stressors that pose significant constraints on the resident biota which must withstand extreme temperatures, salinity levels, and reducing conditions, among other factors to survive. Such conditions create the ideal environment for investigations into novel functional genetic adaptations of resident organisms. Firstly, however, it is essential to identify said organisms and understand the dynamic nature of their existence.