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Nkuna R, Matambo TS. Insights into metal tolerance and resistance mechanisms in Trichoderma asperellum unveiled by de novo transcriptome analysis during bioleaching. J Environ Manage 2024; 356:120734. [PMID: 38520861 DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2024.120734] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/06/2023] [Revised: 02/09/2024] [Accepted: 03/19/2024] [Indexed: 03/25/2024]
Abstract
This study investigates the genetic responses of the fungus Trichoderma asperellum (T. asperellum) during bioleaching of ore and tailing samples, comparing one-step, two-step, and spent media bioleaching processes. HPLC analysis quantified oxalic acid, citric acid, and propionic acids, with oxalic acid identified as the primary organic acid involved in metal bioleaching. Metal analysis revealed differences in recovery between ore and tailing samples and among bioleaching processes. The two-step bioleaching process yielded the highest zinc (>54%) and nickel (>60%) recovery in tailings and ore, respectively. Nickel's efficient recovery in ore bioleaching was attributed to the presence of manganese, while its precipitation as nickel oxalate in tailings hindered recovery. Additional metals such as Co, Mn, Mg, Cu, and As were also successfully recovered. Transcriptomic analyses showed significant upregulation of genes associated with biological processes and cellular components, particularly those related to cell membrane structure and function, indicating T. asperellum's adaptation to environmental stresses during metal bioleaching. These findings enhance our understanding of the diverse mechanisms influencing metal recovery rates in bioleaching processes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rosina Nkuna
- Centre for Competence in Environmental Biotechnology, Department of Environmental Sciences, College of Animal and Environmental Science, University of South Africa, Florida Science Campus, South Africa
| | - Tonderayi S Matambo
- Centre for Competence in Environmental Biotechnology, Department of Environmental Sciences, College of Animal and Environmental Science, University of South Africa, Florida Science Campus, South Africa.
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Koloti LE, Nkuna R, Matambo TS. Impact of current anthropogenic activities on Blesbokspruit wetland microbiome and functions. Sci Total Environ 2024; 915:170010. [PMID: 38219994 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.170010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/16/2023] [Revised: 01/03/2024] [Accepted: 01/06/2024] [Indexed: 01/16/2024]
Abstract
Till present, natural wetlands have been continuously subjected to intensive pollution stress in recent years, mainly because of the rapidly growing industrialization and urbanization that are associated with a myriad of anthropogenic activities and land use practices. These man-made sources of pollution change the chemical properties of the natural wetlands, which in turn alter their microbial ecological biodiversity and functions. For the first time, the impact of the current anthropogenic activities and land use practices on the Blesbokspruit wetland chemical status and their consequential effect on the microbial structure and functions were investigated. Sites of high pollution intensity were identified using geographic information systems mapping (GISMapping) and the wetland microbiome and functional profile were studied through the use of high throughput shotgun metagenomics sequencing analysis. The predominant phyla that stemmed along the Blesbokspruit wetland were found to be Proteobacteria which was more dominant in water (93 %) than in the sediments (89 %), followed by firmicutes which was more abundant in sediments (9 %) than in water (6 %), and Bacteroidetes were relatively low in abundance within both the sediments (2 %) and the overlying water (1 %). The genera Klebsiella (70.4 %-28.2 %), Citrobacter (52.0 %-30.6 %), Escherichia (51.0 %-8.4 %), and Lynsinibacillus (9.3 %-1.5 %) were observed in most water and sediment samples. Within the six polluted sites, Site 2 was found to be the most highly polluted site in the Blesbokspruit wetland with very high COD (900 mg/L), TOC (11.60 mg/L), NO3- (39.74 mg/L), NO2- (12.64 mg/L), PO43 (4.14 mg/L), Fl- (143.88 mg/L), Cl- (145.95 mg/L) concentrations recorded in the water and high levels of TOC (0.37 mg/L), TC (6.92 %), TN (1.82 %), TS (0.53 %) in sediments. The microbial community structure and functions were found to be strongly influenced by the high organic content from the intense agricultural activities and sewage spillages and heavy metals from the mining activities nearby.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lebohang E Koloti
- Institute for the Development of Energy for African Sustainability (IDEAS), University of South Africa, Christiaan De Wet/Pioneer, P.O. Box X6, FL 1710, South Africa
| | - Rosina Nkuna
- Institute for the Development of Energy for African Sustainability (IDEAS), University of South Africa, Christiaan De Wet/Pioneer, P.O. Box X6, FL 1710, South Africa
| | - Tonderayi S Matambo
- Institute for the Development of Energy for African Sustainability (IDEAS), University of South Africa, Christiaan De Wet/Pioneer, P.O. Box X6, FL 1710, South Africa; Centre of Competence in Environmental Biotechnology, College of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences, University of South Africa, Christiaan De Wet/Pioneer, P.O. Box X6, FL 1710, South Africa.
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Fenibo EO, Nkuna R, Matambo T. Impact of artisanal refining activities on bacterial diversity in a Niger Delta fallow land. Sci Rep 2024; 14:3866. [PMID: 38365802 PMCID: PMC10873323 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-53147-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/01/2023] [Accepted: 01/29/2024] [Indexed: 02/18/2024] Open
Abstract
Hydrocarbon pollution is a major ecological problem facing oil-producing countries, especially in the Niger Delta region of Nigeria. In this study, a site that had been previously polluted by artisanal refining activity was investigated using 16S rRNA Illumina high-throughput sequencing technology and bioinformatics tools. These were used to investigate the bacterial diversity in soil with varying degrees of contamination, determined with a gas chromatography-flame ionization detector (GC-FID). Soil samples were collected from a heavily polluted (HP), mildly polluted (MP), and unpolluted (control sample, CS) portion of the study site. DNA was extracted using the Zymo Research (ZR) Fungi/Bacteria DNA MiniPrep kit, followed by PCR amplification and agarose gel electrophoresis. The microbiome was characterized based on the V3 and V4 hypervariable regions of the 16S rRNA gene. QIIME (Quantitative Insights Into Microbial Ecology) 2 software was used to analyse the sequence data. The final data set covered 20,640 demultiplexed high-quality reads and a total of 160 filtered bacterial OTUs. Proteobacteria dominated samples HP and CS, while Actinobacteria dominated sample MP. Denitratisoma, Pseudorhodoplanes, and Spirilospora were the leading genera in samples HP, CS, and MP respectively. Diversity analysis indicated that CS [with 25.98 ppm of total petroleum hydrocarbon (TPH)] is more diverse than HP (with 490,630 ppm of TPH) and MP (with 5398 ppm of TPH). A functional prediction study revealed that six functional modules dominated the dataset, with metabolism covering up to 70%, and 11 metabolic pathways. This study demonstrates that a higher hydrocarbon concentration in soil adversely impacts microbial diversity, creating a narrow bacterial diversity dominated by hydrocarbon-degrading species, in addition to the obvious land and ecosystem degradation caused by artisanal refining activities. Overall, the artisanal refining business is significantly driving ecosystem services losses in the Niger Delta, which calls for urgent intervention, with focus on bioremediation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emmanuel Oliver Fenibo
- World Bank Africa Centre of Excellence for Oilfield Chemical Research, University of Port Harcourt, Choba, Rivers State, Nigeria.
| | - Rosina Nkuna
- Department of Biotechnology, Faculty of Applied and Computer Sciences, Vaal University of Technology, Vanderbijlpark 1900, Gauteng, South Africa
- Centre for Competence in Environmental Biotechnology, College of Animal and Environmental Science, University of South Africa, Florida Science Campus, Roodepoort, South Africa
| | - Tonderayi Matambo
- Centre for Competence in Environmental Biotechnology, College of Animal and Environmental Science, University of South Africa, Florida Science Campus, Roodepoort, South Africa
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Heisi HD, Awosusi AA, Nkuna R, Matambo TS. Phytoextraction of anthropogenic heavy metal contamination of the Blesbokspruit wetland: Potential of wetland macrophytes. J Contam Hydrol 2023; 253:104101. [PMID: 36379730 DOI: 10.1016/j.jconhyd.2022.104101] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/28/2022] [Revised: 10/09/2022] [Accepted: 10/24/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
Blesbokspruit wetland is one of the least conserved ecosystems in the Southern Africa region with active and latent threats of anthropogenic contamination stretching over decades of mining wastewater discharge, agricultural run-off, and a consistent influx of untreated sewage. This study provides an insight into the present-day spatial distribution of heavy metal contamination and the role of localised macrophytes in their phytoremediation. With exception of the first sampling point, the concentration of heavy metals in water samples throughout the wetland was within limits however findings from sediment samples were the inverse. The concentrations of Chromium and Nickel significantly exceeded both effect range low (ERL) and effect range medium (ERM) limits (250-430 mg/Kg and 73-151 mg/Kg respectively) as set out by international sediment quality guidelines. Emergent- Phragmites australis, Typha capensis, and free-flowing-Eichhornia crassipes macrophytes, which are naturally localised to the wetland were found to have varying bioaccumulation potential for different heavy metals; Bioconcentration of heavy metals in emergent macrophytes was relatively low especially for Nickel and Chromium compared to free-flowing macrophytes. E. crassipes accumulated significant amounts of the heavy metals with root concentrations of up to 17.23, 116.6, 330.5, and 342.9 mg/Kg for Arsenic, Lead, Nickel, and Chromium respectively. The emergent macrophytes were however found to bioconcentrate Arsenic up to 1.15 L/Kg (T. capensis) and 9.9 L/Kg (P. Australis) at sites 4 and 5 respectively. Findings with regards to bioconcentration especially of the E. crassipes, validate recommendations for the utilization of hyperaccumulating macrophytes for the natural recovery of these heavy metals towards alleviating the anthropogenic stress on this valuable ecosystem.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hlalele D Heisi
- Centre for Competence in Environmental Biotechnology, College of Animal and Environmental Science, University of South Africa, Florida Science Campus, South Africa
| | - Ayo A Awosusi
- Centre for Competence in Environmental Biotechnology, College of Animal and Environmental Science, University of South Africa, Florida Science Campus, South Africa
| | - Rosina Nkuna
- Centre for Competence in Environmental Biotechnology, College of Animal and Environmental Science, University of South Africa, Florida Science Campus, South Africa
| | - Tonderayi S Matambo
- Centre for Competence in Environmental Biotechnology, College of Animal and Environmental Science, University of South Africa, Florida Science Campus, South Africa.
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Nkuna R, Ijoma GN, Matambo TS. Applying EDTA in Chelating Excess Metal Ions to Improve Downstream DNA Recovery from Mine Tailings for Long-Read Amplicon Sequencing of Acidophilic Fungi Communities. J Fungi (Basel) 2022; 8:jof8050419. [PMID: 35628675 PMCID: PMC9143545 DOI: 10.3390/jof8050419] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/01/2022] [Revised: 04/07/2022] [Accepted: 04/08/2022] [Indexed: 12/10/2022] Open
Abstract
The hostile environment of mine tailings contains unique microbial life capable of bioleaching. The metagenomic analysis of such an environment provides an in-depth understanding of the microbial life and its potential, especially in biomining operations. However, DNA recovery from samples collected in those environments is challenging due to the presence of metal ions that interfere with the DNA analysis. A varied concentration of EDTA (4–13 µg/µL) to chelate the metal ions of enriched tailing samples prior to DNA extraction was performed. The results show that 9 µg/µL of EDTA was effective in most samples. However, the increasing concentration of EDTA negatively affected the DNA recovery. The sequencing of the successfully extracted DNA revealed a diverse range of fungal genera, some of which have not been previously reported in tailing or bioleaching applications. The dominant genera include Fodinomyces, Penicillium, Recurvomuces, Trichoderma, and Xenoacremonium; their traits were determined using the FungalTraits database. This study demonstrates the need to include a preliminary metal-chelating step using EDTA before DNA extractions for samples collected from metal-rich environments. It further showed the need for optimization but provided a benchmark range, particularly for tailings. However, we caution that a further EDTA removal step from the extracted DNA should be included to avoid its interferences in downstream applications.
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Ijoma GN, Nkuna R, Mutungwazi A, Rashama C, Matambo TS. Applying PICRUSt and 16S rRNA functional characterisation to predicting co-digestion strategies of various animal manures for biogas production. Sci Rep 2021; 11:19913. [PMID: 34620937 PMCID: PMC8497515 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-99389-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/10/2021] [Accepted: 09/24/2021] [Indexed: 02/08/2023] Open
Abstract
An estimated 25 million tons of animal manure is produced globally every year, causing considerable impact to the environment. These impacts can be managed through the use of anaerobic digestion (AD) This process achieves waste degradation through enzymatic activity, the efficiency of the AD process is directly related to microorganisms that produce these enzymes. Biomethane potential (BMP) assays remain the standard theoretical framework to pre-determine biogas yield and have been used to determine the feasibility of substrates or their combination for biogas production. However, an integrated approach that combines substrate choice and co-digestion would provide an improvement to the current predictive models. PICRUSt (Phylogenetic Investigation of Communities by Reconstruction of Unobserved States) addresses the limitations of assays in this regard. In this paper, the biochemical functions of horse, cow, and pig manures are predicted. A total of 135 predicted KEGG Orthologies (KOs) showed amino acids, carbohydrate, energy, lipid, and xenobiotic metabolisms in all the samples. Linear discriminant analysis (LDA) combined with the effect size measurements (LEfSe), showed that fructose, mannose, amino acid and nucleotide sugar, phosphotransferase (PST) as well as starch and sucrose metabolisms were significantly higher in horse manure samples. 36 of the KOs were related to the acidogenesis and/or acetogenesis AD stages. Extended bar plots showed that 11 significant predictions were observed for horse-cow, while 5 were predicted for horse-pig and for cow-pig manures. Based on these predictions, the AD process can be enhanced through co-digestion strategies that takes into account the predicted metabolic contributions of the manure samples. The results supported the BMP calculations for the samples in this study. Biogas yields can be improved if this combined approach is employed in routine analysis before co-digesting different substrates.
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Affiliation(s)
- Grace N Ijoma
- Institute for the Development of Energy for African Sustainability, University of South Africa, Roodepoort, 1709, South Africa.
| | - Rosina Nkuna
- Institute for the Development of Energy for African Sustainability, University of South Africa, Roodepoort, 1709, South Africa
| | - Asheal Mutungwazi
- Institute for the Development of Energy for African Sustainability, University of South Africa, Roodepoort, 1709, South Africa
| | - Charles Rashama
- Institute for the Development of Energy for African Sustainability, University of South Africa, Roodepoort, 1709, South Africa
| | - Tonderayi S Matambo
- Institute for the Development of Energy for African Sustainability, University of South Africa, Roodepoort, 1709, South Africa
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Abstract
Anaerobic digestion (AD) for biogas production is affected by many factors that includes organic loading rate (OLR). This OLR appears to be closely linked to various other factors and understanding these linkages would therefore allow the sole use of OLR for process performance monitoring, control, as well as reactor design. This review's objective is to collate the various AD factor specific studies, then relate these factors' role in OLR fluctuations. By further analyzing the influence of OLR on the AD performance, it would then be possible, once all the other factors have been determined and fixed, to manage an AD plant by monitoring and controlling OLR only. Decisions on reactor design, process kinetics, biogas yield and process stability can then be made much more quickly and with minimal troubleshooting steps.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rosina Nkuna
- Institute for the Development of Energy for African Sustainability, University of South Africa, Florida, South Africa
| | - Ashira Roopnarain
- Microbiology and Environmental Biotechnology Research Group, Agricultural Research Council - Institute for Soil Climate and Water, Pretoria, South Africa
| | - Charles Rashama
- Institute for the Development of Energy for African Sustainability, University of South Africa, Florida, South Africa
| | - Rasheed Adeleke
- Unit for Environmental Sciences and Management, North-West University, Potchefstroom, South Africa
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Yusufmia SBAS, Collins NE, Nkuna R, Troskie M, Van den Bossche P, Penzhorn BL. Occurrence of Theileria parva and other haemoprotozoa in cattle at the edge of Hluhluwe-iMfolozi Park, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. J S Afr Vet Assoc 2010; 81:45-9. [PMID: 20649154 DOI: 10.4102/jsava.v81i1.95] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/01/2022] Open
Abstract
Theileria parva, the most important bovine theilerial species in sub-Saharan Africa, causes widespread mortality and morbidity in endemic areas. A survey was conducted using buffy-coat specimens from 60 apparently healthy adult communally herded Nguni-type cattle at the northeastern edge of the Hluhluwe-iMfolozi Park to determine, by means of PCR and Reverse Line Blot (RLB) hybridisation, the occurrence of Theileria and Babesia species. The presence of Trypanosoma species was determined using PCR-RFLP. Results showed that 6.7 % of the specimens were positive for Theileria parva. This significant finding suggests that cattle in South Africa, and not only African buffaloes (Syncerus caffer), may be subclinical carriers of T. parva. Other species identified were T. mutans (83.3%), T. velifera (70.0%), Theileria sp. (sable) (46.8%) and T taurotragi (1.7%). Two specimens (3.3%) were positive for Babesia bovis and single specimens (1.7%) positive for B. bigemina and B. rossi, respectively. Mixed infections, of up to 4 species, were common (65.0%). Only 1 specimen was found to be positive for Trypanosoma vivax, and 2 for T theileri, of which only the first species is pathogenic.
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Affiliation(s)
- S B A S Yusufmia
- Department of Veterinary Tropical Diseases, Faculty of Veterinary Science, University of Pretoria, Private Bag X04, Onderstepoort, 0110 South Africa
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Van Den Bossche P, Esterhuizen J, Nkuna R, Matjila T, Penzhorn B, Geerts S, Marcotty T. An update of the bovine trypanosomosis situation at the edge of Hluhiuwe-Imfolozi Park, Kwazulu-Natal Province, South Africa. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2006; 73:77-9. [PMID: 16715881 DOI: 10.4102/ojvr.v73i1.172] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/01/2022]
Abstract
To obtain updated data on and assess the contribution of trypanosomosis to the disease burden of cattle kept at the edge of the Hluhluwe-iMfolozi Park, a survey was conducted at Mvutshini Dip. Use was made of a purposeful sampling strategy by restricting sampling to animals that the livestock owner considered to be in poor condition. Of a total of 76 blood samples collected, 26 were parasitologically positive and 46 were positive on PCR/RFLP. Almost all infections were due to Trypanosoma congolense savannah subgroup. A total of 63 animals had a PCV < or = 24% and were considered to be anaemic. Results from the survey show that trypanosome infections contribute significantly to the overall burden of disease in the area. Further research is required to develop appropriate control methods.
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Affiliation(s)
- P Van Den Bossche
- Institute of Tropical Medicine, Animal Health Department, Nationalestraat 155, B-2000 Antwerp, Belgium.
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