Biology subjects

Mahuku, G.

Publications and source records attributed to Mahuku, G..

4 recordsLinked to original sources

bioRxiv2025

Electrochemical Lateral Flow Assay with Linked Analytics for the Surveillance of Cassava Brown Streak Disease in East Africa

Cassava brown streak disease (CBSD) severely threatens food security in East Africa and the livelihoods of hundreds of millions globally. Effective control requires large-scale surveillance in resource-limited settings, which is currently lacking. We present ELLA (Electrochemical Lateral Flow Assay with Linked Analytics), a portable, battery-free, low-cost digital diagnostic platform integrating lateral flow assays with near-field communication and electrochemical readouts for cloud-based data storage and analytics. Validated through extensive field trials in East Africa and smaller studies in Brazil, ELLA achieved 89% agreement with RT-qPCR and 95% with ELISA, often surpassing ELISA sensitivity at a material cost below US$1 per test. Leveraging ELLAs molecular results, we trained a deep-learning model (DeepELLA) for rapid, image-based diagnosis of CBSD, enabling scalable surveillance of this and potentially emerging plant pathogens. By combining electrochemical sensing, digital connectivity, and AI-driven analytics, ELLA offers a powerful tool to strengthen plant disease monitoring and food security. Its modular design also allows adaptation to other chemical and biological targets, creating opportunities for novel datasets and new insights into plant and environmental health.

bioengineering↗

bioRxiv2025

The dominant lineage of Phakopsora pachyrhizi in the United States of America does not have a Brazilian origin

O_LIAsian soybean rust (ASR), caused by the obligate biotrophic fungus, Phakopsora pachyrhizi, was first reported in the continental United States of America (USA) in 2004 and over the years has been of concern to soybean production in the USA. The prevailing hypothesis is that P. pachyrhizi spores were introduced into the USA via hurricanes originating from South America, particularly Hurricane Ivan. C_LIO_LITo investigate the genetic diversity and global population structure of P. pachyrhizi, we employed exome-capture based sequencing on 84 field isolates collected from different geographic regions worldwide. We compared the gene-encoding regions from all these field isolates and found that four major haplotypes are prevalent worldwide. Here, we provide genetic evidence supporting multiple incursions that have led to the currently established P. pachyrhizi population of the USA. Phylogenetic analysis of mitochondrial genes further supports this hypothesis. C_LIO_LINotably, we observed limited genetic diversity in P. pachyrhizi populations in Brazil, suggesting a clonal population structure in that country that contrasts to populations from the USA and Africa. C_LIO_LIThis study provides the first comprehensive characterization of P. pachyrhizi population structures defined by genetic evidence from populations across major soybean growing regions. C_LI

evolutionary biology↗

bioRxiv2019

Transfer of Xanthomonas campestris pv. arecae, and Xanthomonas campestris pv. musacearum to Xanthomonas vasicola (Vauterin) as Xanthomonas vasicola pv. arecae comb. nov., and Xanthomonas vasicola pv. musacearum comb. nov. and description of Xanthomonas vasicola pv. vasculorum pv. nov.

LETTER TO THE EDITOR LETTER TO THE EDITOR EMENDED DESCRIPTION OF... REFERENCES Members of the genus Xanthomonas, within the gamma-Proteobacteria, collectively cause disease on more than 400 plant species (Hayward 1993), though some members are apparently non-pathogenic (Vauterin et al. 1996) and some have been isolated from clinical samples such as skin microbiota (Seite, Zelenkova, and Martin 2017). Historically, taxonomy of Xanthomonas was tied to the host of isolation (Starr 1981; Wernham 1948), with the genus being split into large numbers of species, each defined by this single phenotypic feature (Dye 1962). Subsequently, most of the species were transferred (lumped) into a single species, X. campestris, and designated as nomenspec ...

microbiology↗

bioRxiv2017

Characterising maize viruses associated with maize lethal necrosis symptoms in sub Saharan Africa

Maize lethal necrosis disease (MLN) is an emerging disease in East Africa caused by the introduction of Maize chlorotic mottle virus (MCMV). Recent activity seeking to limit spread of the disease is reliant on effective diagnostics. Traditional diagnostics applied on samples with typical field symptoms of MLN have often given negative results using ELISA or PCR for MCMV and Sugarcane mosaic virus (SCMV). Samples collected in the field with typical MLN symptoms were examined using next generation sequencing (NGS). SCMV was found to be more prevalent than suggested by targeted diagnostics. Additionally, the panel of samples were found to be infected with a range of other viruses, seven of which are described here for the first time. Although not previously identified in the region, Maize yellow mosaic virus (MYMV) was the most prevalent virus after MCMV. The development of targeted diagnostics for emerging viruses is complicated when the extent of field variation is unknown, something that can be negated by using NGS methods. As a result we explored MinION technology which may be more readily deployable in resource poor settings. The results show that this sequencer can diagnose known viruses and future iterations have the potential to identify novel viruses.

microbiology↗