Draft genome of sp. strain F4_1A, a novel white-rot fungus isolated in Gauteng Province, South Africa.

We present a draft genome of sp. F4_1A, a basidiomycete isolated from decaying wood in Gauteng Province, South Africa, sequenced using the MGISEQ-2000RS platform. This draft genome will serve as a valuable genomic resource, enhancing our understanding of white rot fungi and facilitating future comparative genomic analyses.

Exploring the dichotomy: Shotgun metagenomics reveals diversity of beneficial and pathogenic protist community in arid wetlands of northeastern South Africa.

Arid regions harbor seasonal and permanent wetlands, as biodiversity hotspots crucial for ecosystem services despite harsh conditions. These wetlands, typically dependent on episodic intense rainfall, are understudied compared to their humid counterparts. While the diversity of plants and animals in these wetlands is well-known, the microbial communities remain largely unexplored.

Metagenomics datasets of water and sediments from eutrophication-impacted artificial lakes in South Africa.

We present metagenomes of 16 samples of water and sediment from two lakes, collected from eutrophic and non-eutrophic areas, including pooled samples enriched with phosphate and nitrate. Additionally, we assembled 167 bacterial metagenome-assembled genomes (MAGs). These MAGs were de-replicated into 83 unique genomes representing different species found in the lakes.

Shifts in Bacterial Diversity During the Spontaneous Fermentation of Maize Meal as Revealed by Targeted Amplicon Sequencing.

Maize meal was allowed to undergo uncontrolled fermentation in the laboratory, in simulation of the traditional method of fermentation as practised in most African households. During the fermentation process, samples were collected daily for 11 days. Physico-chemical analysis of the fermenting slurry and metagenomics analysis of the microbial community using 16S rRNA demonstrated an interrelationship between the changes in the properties of the fermentation environment and the successional interplay of the microbial community.