Diversity of Thermophilic Archaea and Possible Applications at Al-Lith Hot Spring, Saudi Arabia

Hot spring is rich in microbial diversity and a valuable resource for many industrial and medical applications which helped revolutionize many aspects of microbial studies for science and scientists. Thermophilic archaea are extreme prokaryotes that can live and thrive in Hot Springs with high temperatures and are known for unique metabolic pathways and resilience. Their unique adaptation has helped in significant biotechnological applications such as thermostable enzymes DNA polymerase and can play an important role in extracting metals. Exploring the microbial diversity of Al-Lith Hot Spring not only enhances our understanding of extremophiles but also opens avenues for innovative applications in biotechnology, pharmaceuticals, and environmental management. This study aims to uncover the potential of thermophilic archaea from this unique geothermal site for various industrial and scientific advancements. Samples were collected from the hot spring water, sediment, and wet shore. Total genomic DNA was extracted from the collected samples. Then, DNA samples were prepared for shotgun metagenomic sequencing to explore and point out the diversity of archaea and their Potential applications.