11.11.2026
The MOBILES project is investigating how microbial communities respond to soil contamination and what these responses can reveal about environmental pollution. In this lecture, Giuseppe Puglia from CNR-ISAFoM presented ongoing research using DNA and RNA sequencing to study microorganisms in polluted soils across Europe, highlighting the potential of these approaches for identifying biological indicators of contamination.
The presentation introduced the complementary use of metataxonomic and metatranscriptomic analyses, which allow researchers to investigate both the composition of soil microbial communities and the genes they actively express. By examining samples collected from sites affected by different pollutants, the team is exploring how contamination influences microbial diversity and activity. Preliminary findings reveal differences between sampling locations and patterns of gene expression that may help researchers better understand how microorganisms adapt to polluted environments.
This research contributes to the broader MOBILES objective of improving environmental pollution monitoring through innovative biological and electronic approaches. The findings will support the development of a metagenomic database linking microbial species and genes to soil contamination, potentially providing new tools for environmental assessment and future soil restoration strategies.
You can watch the full lecture to learn more about the methods, preliminary findings and next steps of the MOBILES soil research.
YoutTube video
