| The meta-mobilome encompasses all mobile genetic elements (MGEs), including plasmids, viruses, transposons, and integrons. Prokaryotic MGEs carry genes influencing metabolism, antibiotic- and heavy-metal resistance (often co-localised), nutrient transport, immunity, and virulence. These MGEs significantly impact microbial fitness and drive microbial evolution and adaptation. This project will examine mobilomes found within mine-polluted microbial communities of the Conwy River. We will test the hypotheses that heavy metal and antibiotic resistance loci are colocalised in genomic islands, specific prokaryotic taxa, and/or MGEs and that certain prokaryotes are more likely to carry MGEs linked to these resistances than others. Prokaryotic organisms associated with sediment show the highest tolerance to metals and antibiotics. Therefore, we argue sedimental, metal-polluted microbiomes are the ideal system to study MGE populations. This project will combine wet-lab molecular, bioinformatic, and comparative genomic approaches to study MGEs. Polluted sites affected by tailings from abandoned mines, together with unexposed “control” sites, will be sampled along the Conwy River. High quality metagenomic DNA will be subjected to sequencing and metagenome-assembled genome (MAG) contigs will be assembled. From MAG contigs, we will predict genomic islands, circular (plasmid), putative viral, non-viral, cryptic and MGE-related elements. |