Metagenome analysis of different soils from Malawi (Africa) and isolation of bacteria to study the control of foodborne pathogens during cropping.

In the current study, soil samples obtained from agricultural research fields of the Lilongwe University of Agriculture and Natural Resources, Malawi, Africa using different farming practices were investigated regarding their microbial and chemical composition. The soil samples were either green fallow or tilled with conservation or conventional agricultural strategies. By taxonomic analysis across all samples bacteria present in all samples and such that were abundant in the particular samples were detected. Chemical analyses showed that GF samples were nutrient rich in comparison to those of conservation agriculture.By screening the soil samples for bacteria with antimicrobial activity, isolate B8-12 from a green fallow soil sample was characterized with regard to its antimicrobial activity Microbiological analysis revealed an antimicrobial activity against a number of Gram-positive and Gram-negative pathogens and spoilage bacteria. Bioinformatic analysis of the genome data revealed genes for the production of non-ribosomal peptide synthetases synthesizing polymyxin, bacitracin, fusaricidin and paenilipoheptin.. Genome data were also used for taxonomical classification and B8-12 was classified as Paenibacillus polymyxa. It shows a potential for the use as a biocontrol agent in the agricultural sector. This should be further investigated in future studies.