SEQUENCING RESULTS

Various indigenous mushroom varieties grow wild in Kenya. The lack of information on their genetic diversity and medicinal properties is a major obstacle to expanding the pharmaceutical and food industries that depend on these mushrooms as raw materials. In this study, 15 indigenous mushroom species from the Arabuko Sokoke forest were collected, identified, and their medicinal properties profiled. The aim was to evaluate the genetic diversity and antimicrobial activity of these local species. The study involved characterizing indigenous mushroom accessions, testing their antimicrobial effectiveness via disc-diffusion, and identifying the bioactive compounds responsible for antimicrobial effects. Two accessions, <i>Ganoderma mbrekobenum</i> and <i>Leiotrametes lactinea,</i> showed antimicrobial activity against <i>E. coli</i> and <i>S. aureus</i>, confirmed through disc diffusion and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. Data from the assays were analyzed using ANOVA to produce graphs and assess the significance of activity compared to 10µg ampicillin. Bioactive compounds identified through GC-MS were docked against target enzymes using PyRx, Chimera, and Biovia to evaluate their binding affinity. Mushroom DNA was extracted from the 15 samples using a modified CTAB protocol, then amplified and purified for the ITS region. Sequences were obtained via Sanger sequencing, with CLUSTAL W and MEGA11 software used for alignment and phylogenetic analysis of relationships. These indigenous mushrooms demonstrate a wide range of pharmacological activities. The findings are expected to guide the development of key policies and prospects for the mushroom industry in Kenya.