biostudies-literatureMunoz-Hisado VEuropean Unionthe Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation/State Agency of Research MCIN6232https://www.ebi.ac.uk/biostudies/studies/S-EPMC12905384biostudies-literatureUnknown16(1)Ice caves constitute one of the last cryospheric environments studied in the meridional regions. They are undergoing a pronounced ice reduction, and are an important example of ecosystems that have not yet been thoroughly explored from a microbiological point of view. The Devaux cave, in the Central Pyrenees, still hosts perennial ice. To test whether this ice contained microbial communities, prokaryotic and eukaryotic microorganisms were searched by sequencing their 16S and 18S rRNA genes. From the taxonomic information, the potential functional pathways of these communities were predicted using bioinformatic techniques. In addition, the genome of the microorganisms housed in the perennial ice samples was investigated, and through metagenomic studies their metabolic capacity was elucidateScientific reportsMicrobial communities and biomineralization potential within mountain permafrost of the Devaux ice cave in the Central Pyrenees.PMC12905384HORIZON-MSCA-2022-PF-01 (01107943)PTA2022-021737-ICid COsacar MCGarcia-Lopez EBartolome MCazenave GMoreno AMunoz-Hisado VGimenez RfalseMicrobial communities and biomineralization potential within mountain permafrost of the Devaux ice cave in the Central Pyrenees.Ice caves constitute one of the last cryospheric environments studied in the meridional regions. They are undergoing a pronounced ice reduction, and are an important example of ecosystems that have not yet been thoroughly explored from a microbiological point of view. The Devaux cave, in the Central Pyrenees, still hosts perennial ice. To test whether this ice contained microbial communities, prokaryotic and eukaryotic microorganisms were searched by sequencing their 16S and 18S rRNA genes. From the taxonomic information, the potential functional pathways of these communities were predicted using bioinformatic techniques. In addition, the genome of the microorganisms housed in the perennial ice samples was investigated, and through metagenomic studies their metabolic capacity was elucidate2026-01-01T00:00:00Z2026 Jan2026-07-15T16:31:21.544Z2026-07-07T03:08:29.768ZS-EPMC129053844158806910.1038/s41598-026-37305-4