Biology subjects

Featherston, J.

Publications and source records attributed to Featherston, J..

4 recordsLinked to original sources

bioRxiv2025

South African brown locusts, Locustana pardalina, hosts fluconazole resistant Candidozyma (Candida) auris (Clade III)

The environmental niche and mode of transmission from the environment to humans of the emerging pathogenic yeast, Candidozyma (Candida) auris is a subject of speculation, with hypotheses including avian species and marine environments. Interestingly, yeasts related to C. auris have been repeatedly observed associated with various insects. This lprompted us to investigate a thermophilic insect, Locustana pardalina as possible host for C. auris. Here we report the isolation and identification of three C auris strains from the gut of L. pardalina as well as the phenotypic characterisation of one of these isolates. Interestingly, the isolate was able to survive at 50oC and grew at 15% NaCl. In addition, it was susceptible to the tested disinfectants and antifungals, except fluconazole. Genome sequencing and SNP analyses placed the isolate in Clade III, which is common is South Africa. This highlights the role of insects in the evolution and dissemination of emerging pathogenic yeasts.

microbiology↗

bioRxiv2024

Preliminary report on the molecular epidemiology of mpox, South Africa 2024

Mpox is an emerging viral infection and has since May 2022 been reported in a multi-country outbreak involving predominantly previously non-endemic countries. In addition, the number of cases of mpox is also rising in some endemic countries in Western and Central Africa. The disease is a notifiable medical condition in South Africa, with no cases reported before 2022. However, in 2022, coinciding with the peak of a multi-country mpox outbreak, five mpox cases were diagnosed in the country. Genomic sequencing and analysis revealed the presence of a monkeypox virus variant, which was circulating during the multi-country outbreak, namely Clade IIb sub-lineage B.1.7 (hMPXV). After the fifth case was reported in 2022, there were no cases detected for the following 20 months. In May 2024, mpox cases were again detected in South Africa leading to concerns that the virus may have been silently transmitting in the country since 2022. Genomic sequencing and analysis for 22 mpox cases reported during May to September 2024, were compared with sequences obtained from mpox cases reported in South Africa in 2022, and cases that have been reported globally. It was found that the sequences of the 2024 cases analysed in this study, clustered with Clade IIb hMPXV and sub-lineage B.1.20 and B.1.6 sequences. The results indicate that the detection of mpox cases in South Africa was an extension of the ongoing multi-country outbreak. Detection of different sub-lineages of hMPXV indicates reintroductions of the virus in the country since 2022, with local transmission of Clade IIb B1.20 hMPXV.

microbiology↗

bioRxiv2021

Chromosome evolution and the genetic basis of agronomically important traits in greater yam

The nutrient-rich tubers of the greater yam Dioscorea alata L. provide food and income security for millions of people around the world. Despite its global importance, however, greater yam remains an "orphan crop." Here we address this resource gap by presenting a highly-contiguous chromosome-scale genome assembly of greater yam combined with a dense genetic map derived from African breeding populations. The genome sequence reveals an ancient lineage-specific genome duplication, followed by extensive genome-wide reorganization. Using our new genomic tools we find quantitative trait loci for susceptibility to anthracnose, a damaging fungal pathogen of yam, and several tuber quality traits. Genomic analysis of breeding lines reveals both extensive inbreeding as well as regions of extensive heterozygosity that may represent interspecific introgression during domestication. These tools and insights will enable yam breeders to unlock the potential of this staple crop and take full advantage of its adaptability to varied environments.

genomics↗

bioRxiv2019

Draft Genomes of two Artocarpus plants, Jackfruit (A. heterophyllus) and Breadfruit (A. altilis)

Two of the most economically important plants in the Artocarpus genus are jackfruit (A. heterophyllus Lam.) and breadfruit (A. altilis (Parkinson) Fosberg). Both species are long-lived trees that have been cultivated for thousands of years in their native regions. Today they are grown throughout tropical to subtropical areas as an important source of starch and other valuable nutrients. There are hundreds of breadfruit varieties that are native to Oceania, of which the most commonly distributed types are seedless triploids. Jackfruit is likely native to the western Ghats of India and produces one of the largest tree-borne fruit structures (reaching up to 100 pounds). To date, there is limited genomic information for these two economically important species. Here, we generated 273 Gb and 227 Gb of raw data from jackfruit and breadfruit, respectively. The high-quality reads from jackfruit were assembled into 162,440 scaffolds totaling 982 Mb with 35,858 genes. Similarly, the breadfruit reads were assembled into 180,971 scaffolds totaling 833 Mb with 34,010 genes. A total of 2,822 and 2,034 expanded gene families were found in jackfruit and breadfruit, respectively, enriched in pathways including starch- and sucrose metabolism, photosynthesis and others. The copy number of several starch synthesis related genes were found increased in jackfruit and breadfruit compared to closely related species, and the tissue specific expression might imply their sugar-rich and starch-rich characteristics. Overall, the publication of high-quality genomes for jackfruit and breadfruit provides information about their specific composition and the underlying genes involved in sugar and starch metabolism.

genomics↗