Multi-omics study reveals microbial decomposer network during brine shrimp carcass decomposition in a Chinese hypersaline lake (microbiomejournal.biomedcentral.com)

• Integrated multi-omics approach reveals microbial succession during Artemia carcass decomposition in hypersaline Barkol Lake, China.
• 149 MAGs and 77 isolates recovered, with 72% representing novel species; candidate phyla CG03 and T1Sed10-126 implicated in biomacromolecule degradation.
• Viral AMGs from 1,385 vMAGs enhance host metabolism in carbon cycling, sulfate reduction, and stress response.

"Researchers from China integrated metagenomics, metatranscriptomics, metabolomics, culturomics, and microcosm experiments to study microbial decomposition of brine shrimp (Artemia sp.) carcasses in Barkol Lake, a hypersaline lake in Xinjiang, China. They recovered 149 metagenome-assembled genomes and 77 pure culture genomes, including novel lineages from candidate phyla CG03 and T1Sed10-126 and rare archaea. The study revealed a temporally structured microbial decomposer network driving mineralization cascades from fermentation to sulfate reduction and methanogenesis. Viral auxiliary metabolic genes enhanced host functions in carbon cycling and stress response. The findings expand known diversity of extremophilic decomposers in saline ecosystems."