Baobab Index

Drug-resistant tuberculosis (TB) is underascertained when deaths occur outside health facilities. We evaluated whether forensic postmortem molecular testing identifies rifampicin-resistant TB among community deaths not represented in routine clinical reporting. We conducted a prospective observational study of community deaths receiving medico-legal postmortem examination in Lusaka, Zambia (September 2022-April 2024). Cases with macroscopic features suggestive of TB underwent histologic evaluation, and histology-compatible cases were tested using GeneXpert MTB/RIF Ultra. Among 2988 postmortem examinations, 73 decedents had histologic features consistent with TB. Forensic postmortem molecular testing identified rifampicin-resistant TB among community deaths not represented in routine clinical drug-resistance reporting. Although not informative of prevalence, these findings indicate that postmortem examination can provide sentinel evidence of drug-resistant TB beyond conventional diagnostic pathways.

This study aimed to delineate multi-species corridors across the KAZA landscape to be included in land use planning and identify which wildlife dispersal areas (WDA) are most critical for seven key mammal species across KAZA. For each species, we modelled habitat suitability across KAZA using ~ 48,000 occurrence points, from both camera trap and spoor surveys. Data from different sources were individually analysed, combined in an ensemble model and final outputs overlayed to form a multi-species layer, with which we assessed connectivity identifying core areas (KDE), corridors (LCP) and functional habitat in KAZA. The central KAZA region, from the Okavango Delta and Chobe National Park to Hwange National Park, supports the most extensive, well-connected core habitat for multiple species. Connectivity weakens toward the Sebungwe region, Angola, Namibia, and Kafue due to major rivers, veterinary fences, and growing human settlement/development. However, substantial highly suitable habitat occurs outside protected areas, with some WDAs playing disproportionately important roles in sustaining species' connectivity. No single species serves as an umbrella for others when identifying critical corridors, making multi-species analyses essential for comprehensive conservation planning. Protecting corridors and core areas across KAZA depends largely on land uses outside protected areas, underscoring the need to integrate multi-species corridors into land-use planning and to promote coexistence between people and wildlife.

Hereditary cancer syndromes have often been associated with genetic mutations in both coding and non-coding regions of DNA. Much attention has been placed on coding mutations, but less so on non-coding variants, which are changes in gene regulation, transcription factor binding, and RNA splicing that are frequently missed in standard genetic tests. The goal of this review is to bring forth the importance of these non-coding mutations in contributing to cancer risk by disrupting gene expression, splicing processes, and epigenetic modifications. We reviewed recent developments in whole-genome sequencing and RNA sequencing, which have enabled better identification of these non-coding variants. The major findings underline the important role that non-coding mutations play in hereditary cancers by changing RNA function and gene regulation. The inclusion of non-coding regions in genetic tests improves our ability to diagnose cancer and predict risk more precisely. Moreover, RNA-targeted therapies, for instance, miRNA inhibitors, can potentially be used for improved treatment of cancers. Despite advances in hereditary cancer testing, a substantial proportion of high-risk individuals remain genetically unresolved after conventional coding-region analysis. Increasing evidence suggests that pathogenic non-coding variants - including enhancer mutations, promoter hypermethylation, deep intronic splice-altering variants, and dysregulated non-coding RNAs - may contribute significantly to hereditary cancer susceptibility and explain a subset of unresolved familial cancer syndromes. This review critically examines the molecular mechanisms, clinical implications, current evidence hierarchy, and translational relevance of non-coding variants in hereditary cancer syndromes. Particular emphasis is placed on functional validation strategies, whole-genome and transcriptomic approaches, and emerging RNA-/epigenetic-targeted therapeutic applications. In the future, efforts should focus on integrating multi-omics data and using state-of-the-art tools, such as CRISPR-based functional genomics, to improve diagnostic precision and personalized therapeutic strategies. This review proposes a mechanistic synthesis and translational framework for understanding non-coding variants in hereditary cancer, highlighting underexplored regulatory elements that escape conventional testing pipelines.

In recent years, the negative environmental and health impacts of mining activities have significantly expanded in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) due to large volumes of metal waste. This systematic review identified metal-resistant bacteria, mechanisms and drivers of tolerance, and efficiency of bacterial bioremediation in metal-contaminated soils across SSA. Gaps in the literature and future research directions were also highlighted. We conducted a systematic review and synthesize information from articles published from 2005 to February 2026. Our results documented 26 types of metal waste generated from mining across SSA, with heavy metals predominating (87.4%). Notably, members of the Bacillus and Pseudomonas genera were prevalent across multiple metals, highlighting their functional redundancy and multiple bioremediation mechanisms in response to metal stress. The bacteria associated with Pb and Cd showed a high Pairwise Jaccard similarity index (0.78). The most frequently reported driving factors of bacterial bioremediation included environmental factors, metal chemistry, bacterial genetic and molecular resistance, with certain bacteria demonstrating high metal removal efficiencies under laboratory conditions. Despite these useful findings, this systematic review identified a restricted geographical scope among the studies and limited field-based application, which may limit our understanding of the field application of bacterial bioremediation of metal waste across SSA. However, diverse and indigenous bacterial microbiomes adapted to complex regional conditions present the opportunities to advance bacterial bioremediation through the integration of emerging techniques such as microbial-assisted phytoremediation, nanotechnology and genetic modification.

The increasing prevalence of antimicrobial resistance is a major public health challenge, particularly in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). Polymyxins are last-resort antibiotics used for treating highly drug-resistant infections, however, the rise of polymyxin-resistant bacterial strains is further reducing treatment options in LMICs, where the burden is exacerbated by limited diagnostic capacity, poor antimicrobial stewardship, and limited surveillance infrastructure. There is a lack of comprehensive population-based surveillance of the emerging polymyxin resistance and a need to comprehend what genetic determinants are associated with this resistance. In this study, we collected 634 clinical isolates of polymyxin-resistant bacteria from 28 LMICs, then used whole genome sequencing, phylogenetic and bioinformatic analyses to identify species, sequence types and antibiotic resistance gene profiles. We found 12 bacterial species and focussed downstream analyses on 4 high priority pathogens:

Congenital heart disease (CHD) is a leading cause of pediatric morbidity and mortality worldwide. The genetics of CHD in African populations is not well understood, although it has been shown in other settings that a genetic diagnosis can have implications for patient management and risk stratification. In this study, we aimed to identify pathogenic and likely pathogenic (P/LP) variants in a cohort of patients with CHD from Southern Africa. Exome sequencing was used to screen 356 patients with diverse cardiac phenotypes from South Africa and Namibia. A P/LP variant was identified in 28 patients (7.9%). Analysis of 11 parent-child trios revealed a further LP variant in Together, these data confirm a role for rare deleterious variation in nonsyndromic CHD and demonstrate that a P/LP variant can be identified in 8% of patients from Southern Africa.

Wastewater-based epidemiology (WBE) provides a cost-effective approach to monitoring AMR dynamics in communities. This study used whole-genome sequencing (WGS) to investigate the genomic characteristics of multidrug-resistant Escherichia coli and Klebsiella pneumoniae isolated from four wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) in Windhoek, Namibia. Influent and effluent samples (n = 32) were collected and analyzed for physicochemical and microbiological parameters. Bacterial isolates were identified using Vitek and MALDI-TOF, followed by antimicrobial susceptibility testing and WGS. Antibiotic resistance genes, plasmid replicons, virulence factors, and sequence types (STs) associated with each isolate were determined. High-risk clones, including E. coli ST410 and ST44 and K. pneumoniae ST219 and ST20, were detected within the treatment systems. Additional clinically relevant STs (e.g., ST10, ST10955, ST62) exhibited multidrug resistance profiles. Plasmid-borne ARGs, such as bla

Large-scale monitoring networks employing remote sensors have harnessed big data to evaluate conservation efforts on a global scale. While dryland ecosystems are anticipated to expand, and management activities like rewilding and habitat restoration are increasing, the use of data streams and modern analytical methods to plan conservation interventions and quantify their effectiveness remains limited. We recommend establishing a global network for dryland practitioners to bridge critical data gaps, providing two real-world examples. A pilot study in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia shows how coordinated use of multiple remote sensors and a standardised data pipeline could improve interoperability and facilitate the use of more accurate ecological models. Likewise, the Wildlife Observatory of Australia demonstrates that robust metadata and shared analytical frameworks enable the effective integration of diverse datasets using hierarchical occupancy models. Key steps to build this network include forming a steering committee, engaging stakeholders from various backgrounds, piloting projects in different regions, agreeing on protocols and exploring seed funding opportunities.

The elimination of Plasmodium falciparum malaria in Eswatini remains elusive because of ongoing importation and sustained local transmission. The current status of antimalarial and diagnostic resistance in the country remains unknown. Genomic surveillance can complement routine surveillance by characterizing the prevalence and distribution of resistance markers and revealing granular patterns of transmission. Between March and December 2023, dried blood spots, demographic data, and travel history were collected from individuals who tested positive for malaria on a rapid diagnostic test (RDT) and from symptomatic RDT-negative individuals across Eswatini. Multiplexed amplicon deep sequencing was used to genotype 12 genes associated with antimalarial resistance, detect histidine-rich protein (hrp) 2/3 deletions, estimate genetic relatedness, and detect non-falciparum species. Data from 437 samples revealed significant clustering of parasites carrying resistance markers. A validated marker of artemisinin partial resistance, kelch13 P553L, was identified in a cluster of four infections (0.9% of all samples), likely linked to importation. The dihydropteroate synthase/dihydrofolate reductase sextuple mutant haplotype, associated with high-level sulfadoxine-pyrimethamine resistance, was found in 7.8% of the samples, also within clusters. The multidrug resistance 1 N86 genotype associated with reduced susceptibility to lumefantrine was nearly fixed. More than 60% of the infections were polyclonal, with higher complexity observed in imported cases. No hrp2/3 deletions were detected; most false-negative RDTs were attributed to subpatent parasitemia. Non-falciparum coinfections were rare (<1%). These findings shed light on the dynamics of resistance emergence in low-transmission settings. Integrating routine genomic surveillance into national malaria programs is essential for detecting, tracking, and responding to resistance threats in countries nearing elimination.

Microbes, as the planet's most abundant and diverse organisms, drive soil functions globally and are vulnerable to environmental stressors triggered by global change. Yet, knowledge regarding the impacts of multiple environmental stressors on their functional profiles as well as the consequences for soil functionality largely remains unknown. Here, we analyze two global-scale datasets including information on soil metagenomics and multiple environmental stressors. We find that across terrestrial ecosystems worldwide, up to 60% of all functional genes significantly shift when soil microbes experience the high-level of concurrent stressors. In this regard, the relative abundances of genes involved in microbial growth are negatively linked to the increasing number of stressors. Conversely, those genes linked to stress resistance and energy production exhibit positive responses. Taken together, our findings highlight a significant restructuring of global soil functional microbiomes in response to multiple environmental stressors. Consequently, such restructuring drives community-level shifts in matter and energy reallocations, thereby impacting the maintenance of soil functionality under the projected global change.