Diversity, ecology and biotechnological potential of mangrove sediment microbiomes in Malaysia

Mangrove ecosystems are globally recognised for their ecological and climate-regulating functions, yet their sediment microbiomes remain underexplored, particularly in Southeast Asia. Recent metagenomic investigations in Northwest Peninsular Malaysia have revealed diverse and rich microbial taxa across various mangrove zones, including Firmicutes, Chloroflexota, Proteobacteria, Thermoproteota, and Asgardarchaeota; many members of which have been implicated to contributing to carbon sequestration, nutrient cycling, and pollutant degradation in other environments. Although the ecological roles of specific enriched taxa in the sediment samples were not ascertained, novel genes and metabolic pathways may be uncovered with advanced high-throughput sequencing and metagenomic profiling. Further studies in characterisation of dominant microbial groups in various metabolic activities will shed some insights into their various biotechnological applications, including targeted pollutant degradation, pilot-scale bioremediation in mangrove-mimic systems, and bioenergy generation through microbial fuel cells and methanogenesis. This paper intends to highlight the untapped potential of mangrove microbiomes in environmental biotechnology and underscore the importance of functional characterisation and translational research to support sustainable coastal management and climate resilience.