Baobab Index

Hypersaline environments constitute ideal systems for studying evolutionary processes and microbial diversification due to their relatively low (and thus tractable) diversity and geographically isolated nature. Based on metagenomic sequencing of samples from 25 hypersaline sites in 11 countries taken within a single year, we explored the relationships between environmental factors, geographic distance, and microbial community structure and diversification. Our results revealed that microbial communities of coastal sites were more similar to each other than those of the inland sites, reflecting higher connectivity due to ocean currents and nearly unrestricted dispersal. Conversely, inland hypersaline environments showed less connectivity and higher genetic and taxonomic dissimilarities that did not correlate with the distance between the sampled sites. The latter results reflect reduced species migration characterizing inland sites as well as site-specific environmental factors selecting for divergent taxa. The 484 MAGs recovered, representing 284 distinct species, revealed a striking global ubiquity, with 62.5% of the species showing cosmopolitanism, defined as being present at both coastal and inland sites. Most cosmopolitan species showed allopatric differentiation, reflected by an increased frequency of non-synonymous substitutions between MAGs of the same species recovered from more distant sites. However, a few cases of truly cosmopolitan genomovars (average nucleotide identity, or ANI > 99.8%), were also observed. Our results suggest that extreme halophiles have nearly unrestricted global dispersal among ocean-connected sites, and to a lesser extent, among geographically isolated inland sites, although cases of allopatric diversification were also observed.

Human visceral leishmaniasis (HVL) in Algeria is primarily caused by Leishmania infantum. This study aimed to genetically identify the Leishmania species responsible for HVL in Algerian patients. This descriptive molecular case series included 13 patients diagnosed between 2010 and 2022. DNA from blood, bone marrow, and skin lesion smears was analyzed using ITS1-PCR, RFLP analysis and Sanger sequencing. The resulting sequences were compared with GenBank references, and phylogenetic analyses were performed. L. infantum was identified in 11 of 13 cases (84.6%). Most visceral leishmaniasis cases occurred in patients younger than 16 years, whereas adult cases were primarily immunocompromised patients, particularly those living with HIV/AIDS. Phylogenetic analyses revealed a high degree of similarity between Algerian L. infantum isolates and Mediterranean strains. In addition to L. infantum, L. tropica DNA and, surprisingly, L. major DNA was also identified. L. major DNA was detected in one immunocompetent child, while L. tropica DNA was detected in a skin lesion of an immunocompromised adult who presented with a concomitant relapse of HVL. These atypical molecular findings require cautious interpretation and further investigation. L. infantum remains the principal causative agent of HVL in Algeria. The atypical molecular findings should be interpreted cautiously and highlight the need for continued molecular surveillance, larger studies incorporating additional genetic markers, and investigations of vector dynamics and animal reservoirs.

The platyhelminth Microcotyle pomatomi Goto, 1899 was originally described from the gills of the bluefish, Pomatomus saltatrix (Linnaeus) collected in Newport, Rhode Island (USA). The original description was brief and lacked detailed morphological, anatomical, and molecular information. As a result, the species has long been the subject of several taxonomic studies, with historical records often attributed to different nominal taxa due to insufficient diagnostic features. In the present study, specimens of M. pomatomi were collected from the gills of Pomatomus saltatrix (Linnaeus) off the Algerian coast in the western Mediterranean, representing the first molecular characterization of this species in this region. Parasites were carefully examined, measured, and illustrated to provide a comprehensive morphological redescription. In parallel, molecular characterization was conducted using a partial fragment of the mitochondrial cox1 gene, and host identity was confirmed through analysis of gill tissue. The integration of morphological and molecular data allowed for a more precise identification and improved understanding of the species. The obtained cox1 sequence clearly supports the validity of M. pomatomi and distinguishes it from closely related congeners. Furthermore, our findings confirm the synonymy of several previously described species. Overall, this study clarifies the taxonomic status and phylogenetic position of M. pomatomi within the Microcotylidae.

A novel halophilic actinobacterium, designated H202

Salvia balansae, an endemic Algerian species, remains poorly investigated despite the recognized medicinal importance of the Salvia genus. This study comprehensively evaluated its phytochemical composition, biological activities, and safety profile. Quantitative analyses revealed high levels of total phenolics, flavonoids, flavonols, condensed tannins, and triterpenoids, while LC-MS identified a distinctive Aurès-region chemotype enriched in luteolin, rosmarinic acid, and flavonoid glycosides. The extract demonstrated strong antioxidant activity in free radical-scavenging, metal-chelating, and reducing-power assays. Anti-inflammatory activity was confirmed by inhibition of protein denaturation in vitro and significant suppression of croton oil-induced ear edema and histopathological damage in vivo. Molecular docking predicted favorable binding of salvianolic acid, rutin, and apigenin-7-O-glucoside to NLRP3 inflammasome components, suggesting a potential mechanism underlying the observed anti-inflammatory effects. The extract also exhibited moderate inhibitory activity against cholinesterases and α-amylase, indicating possible neuroprotective and antidiabetic potential. Acute oral toxicity testing at 2000 mg/kg showed no mortality, major clinical signs of toxicity, or apparent organ damage, although repeated-dose studies are warranted. Collectively, these findings identify S. balansae as a polyphenol- and triterpenoid-rich species with considerable promise for pharmaceutical and nutraceutical applications.

Enterococcus faecium is a major global health threat, particularly in high-risk patient groups, and the emergence of vancomycin-resistant strains (VREfm) has severely limited treatment options. Here, we conducted a comprehensive genomic analysis of two clinical vanA-type VREfm isolates. Two VREfm strains were isolated 20 days apart from surgical site infections (SSIs) from two different hospitalised patients in obstetrics and gynaecology departments because of post-operative wound infections. Antibiotic susceptibility profile, whole-genome sequencing (WGS), and bioinformatic analyses were conducted to investigate plasmids, resistome and genomic relatedness with reported E. faecium genomes. Both isolates were identified as ST80 within the clonal complex CC17 and revealed close relatedness, since only 8 gSNPs distinguish them. They exhibited multidrug-resistance phenotype mediated by the presence of resistance genes to vancomycin, to aminoglycosides, and to macrolides. The vanA operon was found in a Tn1546 transposon-like element on the rep17 plasmid that also carries locus 3: [ant(6)-sat(4)-aph(3')] raising the possibility of its transfer into a staphylococcal genome, as recently reported. Our study reports genomic attributes of two clinical VREfm ST80 isolates, harbouring a vanA-carrying rep17 plasmid in Algeria highlighting the presence of the epidemic VREfm ST80 clone evolving in healthcare settings.

Soil salinization is among the most critical threats to agriculture and food security, particularly in arid and semi-arid regions. Despite their ecological and agricultural significance, the microbial processes in saline soils of arid regions remain poorly characterized. This first 16S rRNA amplicon-based study of Algerian saline soils examines bacterial communities and physico-chemical properties in the Naama salt flat, focusing on both bulk and rhizosphere soils associated with

Soybean is a widely consumed oilseed crop with economic importance. It is enriched with numerous bioactive compounds that have health-promoting properties. The results indicate that among these 50 protein-protein interactions, heat shock protein 70 (HSP70) exhibited potential inhibitory action against the RNA-dependent RNA polymerase (RDRP) with -12.12 kcal/mol binding affinity (z-score: 0.0). RDRP is an essential enzyme required for the transcription and replication of the viral genome. HSPs function in both abiotic and biotic stresses. Although further studies are required, these preliminary findings will be useful for developing new therapeutic agents against the virus, thus paving the way for researchers to find better alternatives. This is the first study to combine prediction, structural validation, and interface analysis of the interaction between soybean and GBNV proteins.