Microbial Ecology and Environmental Genomics (MEEG) lab
After joining the Department of Biology at United Arab Emirates University (UAE) as an Assistant Professor, I started Microbial Ecology and Environmental Genomics (MEEG) lab. The lab focuses on understanding the role of the microbiota in environmental-human-animal health and their contribution to ecosystem functioning. The lab uses advanced genomics-based multi-omics methods such as metabarcoding, metabarcoding, metatranscriptomics, metaproteomics, and whole-genome sequencing with a focus on the following themes:
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Camel gut and milk microbiome - functional aspects
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Ecosystem ecology and functional biodiversity in the different ecosystem (arid, forested and polar biomes)
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Soil-Plant-Microbial (bacteria, fungi, micro-eukaryotes) - Role in C dynamics
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Date palm - mycorrhiza and endophytes interactions
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Seasonal and host specificity of Arid plant-associated microbiome
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Helianthemum lippi - truffles (Trefezia) interactions
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Response and adaption of the microorganisms to global changes with focus on salinity and drought impact on belowground microbial and C dynamics
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Sewage microbiome and role of different wastewater sources on the emergence of Anti-Microbial Resistance (AMR)
The lab is looking for positive and highly motivated microbial-enthusiasts. Feel free to contact me, if any of the lab activities interest you.
MEEG lab - Collaborations
MEEG lab collaborates extensively with different researchers both at national and international levels.
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Dr. Ashraf Aly Hassan (Department of Civil Engineering, COE, United Arab Emirates University, UAE)
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Dr. Anne Straumfors (Department of Chemical and Biological Work Environment, National Institute of Occupational Health, Norway)
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Prof. Professor Brajesh Singh (Hawkesbury Institute for the Environment, University of Western Sydney, Australia)
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Dr. Dawood Al Ajmi (Department of Arid land Agriculture, CFA, United Arab Emirates University)
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Dr. Farah Ibrahim Al-Marzooq (Department of medical microbiology and immunology, CMHS, United Arab Emirates University, UAE)
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Prof. Håvard Kauserud (EvoGene, Department of Biosciences, University of Oslo, Norway)
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Dr. Hemant Purohit (EBGD Division, National Environmental Engineering Research Institute, Nagpur, MH, India)
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Dr. Ihab Habib (Department of Veterinary Medicine, CFA, United Arab Emirates University)
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Prof. O. Janne Kjønaas (Division of Forest and Forest Resources, Norwegian Institute of Bioeconomy, Ås, Norway)
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Prof. Khaled Masmoudi (Department of Arid land Agriculture, CFA, United Arab Emirates University, UAE)
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Dr. Nayla Munawar (Department of Chemistry, College of Science, United Arab Emirates University, UAE)
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Prof. Leho Tedersoo (Institute of Ecology and Earth Sciences, University of Tartu, Tartu, Estonia)
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Dr. Mohammad Bahram (Department of Ecology, Swedish Agricultural University, Uppsala, Sweden)
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Dr. Pernille Bronken Eidesen (Department of Biology, University Center in Svalbard, Longyearbyen, Norway)
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Prof. Peter Kennedy (College of Biological Sciences, University of Minnesota, Saint Paul, MN, USA)
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Prof. Petr Baldrian (Laboratory of Environmental Microbiology, The Czech Academy of Sciences, Prague, Czech Republic)
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Dr. Raman Bhaskaracharya (Department of Food, Nutrition, and Health, CFA, United Arab Emirates University, UAE)
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Prof. Raeid M M Abed (Department of Biology, Sultan Qaboos University, Oman)
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Prof. Sanjay Swarup (Department of Biological Sciences, National University of Singapore, Singapore)
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Dr. Shabarinath Srikumar (Department of Food, Nutrition, and Health, CFA, United Arab Emirates University, UAE)
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Latest Publication
Irrigation water salinity structures the bacterial communities of date palm (Phoenix dactylifera)-associated bulk soil
Loganathacheti D.S., AlHashmi F., Chandran S., and Mundra S.
Frontiers in Plant Sciences 2022
Abstract: The irrigation of date palms (Phoenix dactylifera) with saline groundwater is routinely practiced in the agroecosystems of arid environments because of freshwater scarcity. This leads to salts deposition in topsoil layers and increases soil salinization. However, how different irrigation sources affect soil microbiota is poorly understood. Bulk soil samples were collected from date farms receiving non-saline water and saline groundwater to examine bacterial communities using metabarcoding. Overall, bacterial diversity measures (Shannon diversity index, richness, and evenness) did not vary between irrigation sources. Bacterial communities were structured based on irrigation water sources and were significantly associated with their electrical conductivity. Of 5,155 operational taxonomic units (OTUs), 21.3% were unique to soil irrigated with saline groundwater, 31.5% received non-saline water irrigation, and 47.2% were shared. The Proteobacteria abundance was higher in soil under saline groundwater irrigation while Actinobacteriota abundance was lower. A compositional shift at the genera level was also evident; the abundance of Subgroup_10 and Mycobacterium was higher under saline groundwater irrigation. Mycobacterium was a key indicator OTU under saline groundwater irrigation while Solirubrobacter was an indicator of non–saline water irrigation. Functional gene analyses showed enrichment of fatty acid, cell wall, and starch biosynthesis pathways in soil under saline groundwater irrigation. These findings provide insights into how ‘salinity filtering’ influences bacterial communities, key taxa, and the potential metabolic function in soil under increasing irrigation water salinities, and have broad implications for arid agroecosystems.
Contact us
Sunil Mundra
Department of Biology, College of Science,
United Arab Emirates University (UAEU),
Al Ain, Abu Dhabi, UAE
+971-(3)-713-6341
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