Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40883484›Full record

ReviewApplied microbiology and biotechnology2025

South African Myxococcota: an untapped resource for microbial ecolo gy and biotechnology.

Benjamin Havenga, Karin Jacobs

Abstract readReview
In one paragraph

Review in Applied microbiology and biotechnology, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 2 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
2citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

2 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Review
  2. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

2 authors.

Benjamin HavengaDepartment of Microbiology, Faculty of Science, Stellenbosch University, Stellenbosch, 7602, South Africa. bhavenga@sun.ac.za.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-7634-0605
Karin JacobsDepartment of Microbiology, Faculty of Science, Stellenbosch University, Stellenbosch, 7602, South Africa.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0003-3972-5343

Funding

National Research Foundation PSTD23032387009
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

An extraordinary multicellular life cycle, ecological versatility, and prolific production of bioactive secondary metabolites characterise the phylum Myxococcota. While research has predominantly focused on Myxococcota in Asia, Europe, and North America, their potential occurrence in Sub-Saharan Africa remains largely unexplored. To date, only one study has isolated Myxococcota in South Africa, with additional findings limited to incidental detection through metagenomic studies. Considering South Africa's ecological diversity, its biomes may represent promising but under-examined environments for systematic bioprospecting aimed at discovering novel Myxococcota with ecological or biotechnological potential. The recent reclassification of Myxococcota from the former Deltaproteobacteria has provided a more coherent taxonomic framework to guide future ecological and systematic studies. This review presents an overview of the taxonomic revision and explores the potential occurrence of Myxococcota in South African biomes. It covers the challenges associated with conventional culture-based isolation methods and highlights potential genome- and metagenome-based approaches, including the use of metagenome-assembled genomes (MAGs) to identify cryptic biosynthetic gene clusters (BGCs), while acknowledging current limitations. Considering the increasing resistance to chemical fungicides in South African agriculture, this review further explores the potential of Myxococcota-derived secondary metabolites as candidate bioprotective alternatives. By identifying current research gaps, it aims to support future efforts towards systematic bioprospecting to investigate the ecological and biotechnological potential of Myxococcota in South Africa. KEY POINTS: • South African biomes may harbour novel Myxococcota with biosynthetic potential. • Genome mining could reveal cryptic biosynthetic gene clusters (BGCs). • Myxococcota metabolites may help control resistant fungal phytopathogens.

Indexed as

BiotechnologyMyxococcalesGenome, BacterialMetagenomeMetagenomicsSecondary MetabolismSouth AfricaAntifungal secondary metabolitesBiocontrol agentsBiosynthetic gene clustersGenome miningMyxococcotaSouth African biomes

Identifiers

PMID40883484
PMCPMC12397197

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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.