A catalog of metagenomes and metagenome-assembled genomes from culture-enrichment microcosms containing polyethylene as carbon source.

We present a data set detailing enrichment microbial consortia degrading polyethylene (PE) plastic. Derived from 180-day microcosm incubations using landfill soil, seawater, and cow dung, the data set includes three metagenomes and 23 metagenome-assembled genomes that capture microbial community interactions, structures, and functions relevant to PE biodegradation.

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.

Unlocking water potential in drylands: Quicklime and fly ash enhance soil microbiome structure, ecological networks and function in acid mine drainage water-irrigated agriculture.

In water-stressed regions, treated acid mine drainage (AMD) water for irrigated agriculture is a potential solution to address freshwater scarcity. However, a significant knowledge gap exists on the short and long-term effects of treated AMD water on soil health. This study used high-throughput Illumina sequencing and predictive metagenomic profiling to investigate the impact of untreated AMD (AMD), quicklime- (A1Q and A2Q) and quicklime and fly ash-treated AMD water (AFQ) irrigation on soil bacterial diversity, co-occurrence networks and function.

High-throughput amplicon sequencing datasets of microbial community in soils irrigated by quicklime and fly ash-treated acid mine drainage water.

In water-stressed regions, the use of treated acid mine drainage (AMD) water for irrigated agriculture has been suggested as an alternative to address the shortage of fresh water sources. However, the short and long-term impact of using such (un)treated AMD water on soil health, particularly the microbiome structure and functional capacity, is not known. We present high-throughput amplicon sequence (HTS) datasets of purified microbial metacommunity DNA of soils under Irish potato production irrigated by quicklime and fly ash treated AMD water.

Sediment microbiome diversity and functional profiles of unprotected arid-tropical natural wetlands in South Africa revealed by shotgun metagenomics data.

The Limpopo province, located in the arid-tropical region in northeastern South Africa, is renowned for its diverse natural wetlands, some of which are currently unprotected. These wetlands play a crucial role in preserving biodiversity, purifying water, controlling floods, and supporting agricultural production for rural communities. Unfortunately, human activities such as agricultural effluents, run-offs, domestic wastewater, and plastics pollution, along with the impacts of climate change, are mounting pressures on these ecosystems.

Bioaccumulation, Bioindication and Health Risk Assessment of Heavy Metals in Cape Horse Mackerel (Trachurus trachurus) and Slinger Seabream (Chrysoblephus puniceus) in the Durban Basin and Cape Vidal, South Africa.

The bioaccumulation of heavy metals (HMs) in marine fish is a growing global concern due to potential human health risks. The study analyzed HM in the muscle tissue, gills, and gut of adult male and female cape horse mackerel and slinger seabream caught in the polluted Durban Basin and pristine Cape Vidal from April 2018 to February 2019. Results revealed interspecific, spatial, and organ-specific variability in HM levels.

Multivariate analysis of enriched landfill soil consortia provide insight on the community structural perturbation and functioning during low-density polyethylene degradation.

Plastic-enriched sites like landfills have immense potential for discovery of microbial consortia that can efficiently degrade plastics. In this study, we used a combination of culture enrichment, high-throughput PacBio sequencing of 16 S rRNA and the ITS gene, Fourier transform infrared (FTIR), and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) to examine the compositional and diversity perturbations of bacterial and fungal consortia from landfill soils and their impact on low-density polyethylene (LDPE) film biodegradation over a 90-day period. Results showed that enrichment cultures effectively utilized LDPE as a carbon source for cellular growth, resulting in significant weight reduction (22.

Contribution of pollution gradient to the sediment microbiome and potential pathogens in urban streams draining into Lake Victoria (Kenya).

In sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), urban rivers/streams have long been subjected to anthropogenic pollution caused by urbanization, resulting in significantly altered chemical and biological properties of surface water and sediments. However, little is known about the diversity and structure of river microbial community composition and pathogens, as well as how they respond to anthropogenic inputs. High-throughput 16S rRNA amplicon sequencing and PICRUSt predictive function profiling were used in this study to conduct a comprehensive analysis of the spatial bacterial distribution and metabolic functions in sediment of two urban streams (Kisat and Auji) flowing through Kisumu City, Kenya.

Pathogenic and Endosymbiotic Bacteria and Their Associated Antibiotic Resistance Biomarkers in and Ticks Infesting Nguni Cattle ( spp.).

Deciphering the interactions between ticks and their microbiome is key to revealing new insights on tick biology and pathogen transmission. However, knowledge on tick-borne microbiome diversity and their contribution to drug resistance is scarce in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), despite endemism of ticks. In this study, high-throughput 16S rRNA amplicon sequencing and PICRUSt predictive function profiling were used to characterize the bacterial community structure and associated antibiotic resistance markers in , and ticks infesting Nguni cattle ( spp.

Fungal and metabolome diversity of the rhizosphere and endosphere of in an AMD-polluted environment.

Symbiotic associations with rhizospheric microbial communities coupled with the production of metabolites are key adaptive mechanisms by metallophytes to overcome metal stress. However, little is known about pseudometallophyte interactions with fungal community despite commonly being applied in wetland phytoremediation of acid mine drainage (AMD). In this study, fungal community diversity and metabolomes production by rhizosphere and root endosphere of growing under three different AMD pollution gradient were analyzed.

Local Geomorphological Gradients and Land Use Patterns Play Key Role on the Soil Bacterial Community Diversity and Dynamics in the Highly Endemic Indigenous Afrotemperate Coastal Scarp Forest Biome.

Southern Afrotemperate forests are small multi-layered and highly fragmented biodiversity rich biomes that support unique flora and fauna endemism. However, little is known about the microbial community and their contribution to these ecosystems. In this study, high throughput sequencing analysis was used to investigate the soil bacterial community structure and function, and understand the effect of local topography/geomorphological formations and land use patterns on a coastal scarp forest.

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.

Azole antifungal resistance in fungal isolates from wastewater treatment plant effluents.

Wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) can be significant sources of antifungal resistant fungi, which can disseminate further in the environment by getting into rivers together with effluents discharged from WWTPs and pose a risk for human health. In this study, the presence of azole resistance was determined in fungal isolates from treated effluents of two WWTPs using the standard microdilution method from Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute (CLSI). A total of 41 fungal isolates representing 23 fungal species and 16 fungal genera were obtained.

Physicochemical characterization of the pelotherapeutic and balneotherapeutic clayey soils and natural spring water at Isinuka traditional healing spa in the Eastern Cape Province of South Africa.

Isinuka Springs at Port St Johns in the Eastern Cape Province of South Africa is a traditional spa sacred to the AmaMpondo tribe of the Xhosa speaking people. The bathing pond is considered to have healing powers both spiritually and therapeutically. Hundreds of people flock into the spiritual pond every weekend for both recreational and its spiritual healing power.

Anabaena sp. DyP-type peroxidase is a tetramer consisting of two asymmetric dimers.

DyP-type peroxidases are a newly discovered family of heme peroxidases distributed from prokaryotes to eukaryotes. Recently, using a structure-based sequence alignment, we proposed the new classes, P, I and V, as substitutes for classes A, B, C, and D [Arch Biochem Biophys 2015;574:49-55]. Although many class V enzymes from eukaryotes have been characterized, only two from prokaryotes have been reported.

Antioxidant/Prooxidant and antibacterial/probacterial effects of a grape seed extract in complex with lipoxygenase.

In an attempt to determine the antioxidant/prooxidant, antibacterial/probacterial action of flavan-3-ols and procyanidins from grape seeds, pure catechin (CS), and an aqueous grape seed extract (PE), were applied in the absence and presence of pure lipoxygenase (LS) or in extract (LE) to leucocyte culture, Escherichia coli B 41 and Brevibacterium linens, and observed whether there was any effect on lipid peroxidation, cytotoxicity, or growth rate. Short time periods of coincubation of cells with the polyphenols, followed by the exposure to LS and LE, revealed a high level of lipid peroxidation and a prooxidative effect. Longer coincubation and addition of LS and LE resulted in the reversal of the prooxidant action either to antioxidant activity for CS + LS and PE + LS or to the control level for CS + LE and PE + LE.

L-aspartate dehydrogenase: features and applications.

L-amino acid dehydrogenases are a group of enzymes that catalyze the reversible oxidative deamination of L-amino acids to their corresponding 2-oxoacids, using either nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD(+)) or nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NADP(+)) as cofactors. These enzymes have been studied widely because of their potential applications in the synthesis of amino acids for use in production of pharmaceutical peptides, herbicides and insecticides, in biosensors or diagnostic kits, and development of coenzyme regeneration systems for industrial processes. This article presents a review of the currently available data about the recently discovered amino acid dehydrogenase superfamily member L-aspartate dehydrogenase (L-AspDH), their relevant catalytic properties and speculated physiological roles, and potential for biotechnological applications.

A novel L-aspartate dehydrogenase from the mesophilic bacterium Pseudomonas aeruginosa PAO1: molecular characterization and application for L-aspartate production.

L-aspartate dehydrogenase (EC 1.4.1.

Enhancement of hydrogen peroxide stability of a novel Anabaena sp. DyP-type peroxidase by site-directed mutagenesis of methionine residues.

Previous reports have shown that a unique bacterial dye-decolorizing peroxidase from the cyanobacterium Anabaena sp. strain PCC7120 (AnaPX) efficiently oxidizes both recalcitrant anthraquinone dyes (AQ) and typical aromatic peroxidase substrates. In this study, site-directed mutagenesis to replace five Met residues in AnaPX with high redox residues Ile, Leu, or Phe was performed for the improvement of the enzyme stability toward H(2)O(2).

Molecular characterization of a novel peroxidase from the cyanobacterium Anabaena sp. strain PCC 7120.

The open reading frame alr1585 of Anabaena sp. strain PCC 7120 encodes a heme-dependent peroxidase (Anabaena peroxidase [AnaPX]) belonging to the novel DyP-type peroxidase family (EC 1.11.