Lignocellulosic residues are low-cost abundant feedstocks that can be used for industrial applications. However, their recalcitrance currently makes lignocellulose use limited. In natural environments, microbial communities can completely deconstruct lignocellulose by synergistic action of a set of enzymes and proteins. Microbial degradation of lignin by fungi, important lignin degraders in nature, has been intensively studied. More recently, bacteria have also been described as able to break down lignin, and to have a central role in recycling this plant polymer. Nevertheless, bacterial deconstruction of lignin has not been fully elucidated yet. Direct analysis of environmental samples using metagenomics, metatranscriptomics, and metaproteomics approaches is a powerful strategy to describe/discover enzymes, metabolic pathways, and microorganisms involved in lignin breakdown. Indeed, the use of these complementary techniques leads to a better understanding of the composition, function, and dynamics of microbial communities involved in lignin deconstruction. We focus on omics approaches and their contribution to the discovery of new enzymes and reactions that impact the development of lignin-based bioprocesses.

We report the draft genome sequence of Geobacillus sp. strain G4, isolated from a hot spring in the Calientes geothermal field, Tacna, Peru. The genome was assembled into 164 contigs, totaling 3,362,411 bp, with an N50 value of 236,119 bp and a guanine-cytosine (GC) content of 52.59%.

The genome of Geobacillus sp. G4, a thermophilic bacterium isolated from a geothermal field in Peru, was sequenced and analyzed to evaluate its taxonomic and biotechnological potential. This strain exhibits optimal growth at temperatures between 50 and 70 °C and at a pH range of 6.0–7.5. Phenotypic assays demonstrated extracellular enzymatic activities, including amylases, cellulases, pectinases, and xylanases, highlighting its potential for efficient polysaccharide degradation. The assembled genome comprises approximately 3.4 Mb with a G+C content of 52.59%, containing 3,490 genes, including coding sequences, rRNAs, and tRNAs. Functional annotation revealed genes associated with key metabolic pathways such as glycogen and trehalose biosynthesis, indicating adaptation to carbohydrate-rich environments. Phylogenetic analyses based on ANI and dDDH values identified Geobacillus thermoleovorans KCTC3570 as its closest relative, suggesting a strong evolutionary relationship. Additionally, the genome harbors gene clusters for secondary metabolites such as betalactone and fengycin, suggesting potential industrial and pharmaceutical applications, including bioremediation. The identification of antibiotic resistance genes, specifically those conferring glycopeptide resistance, underscores their relevance for antimicrobial resistance studies. The presence of enzymes like amylases and pullulanase further emphasizes its biotechnological potential, particularly in starch hydrolysis and biofuel production. Overall, this research highlights the significant potential of Geobacillus species as valuable sources of thermostable enzymes and biosynthetic pathways for industrial applications.

High-Andean drylands are environmentally heterogeneous ecosystems, yet soil bacterial communities in southern Peru remain poorly characterized. This exploratory study examined bacterial communities in 23 soil samples collected from five sites in Candarave, Tacna, representing herbaceous–shrubland, succulent shrubland, and agricultural environments that also differed in elevation, soil pH, moisture, and historical aridity descriptors. Bacterial communities were characterized by 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing. Actinobacteriota, Chloroflexota, and Proteobacteria predominated across the sampled sites. Alpha diversity differed among sites (Kruskal–Wallis, p ≤ 0.009) and was highest at the two agricultural sites (P4 and P5; Shannon index, 11.33 ± 0.34 and 11.35 ± 0.17) and lowest at the herbaceous–shrubland site P1 (9.52 ± 0.75). ANCOM-BC indicated higher abundances of Azospirillales at both agricultural sites and of Blastococcus and Solirubrobacter mainly at P4, whereas Candidatus Udaeobacter and Conexibacter were more strongly represented at P3, the succulent shrubland site. Unweighted UniFrac analysis showed marked differences in bacterial community composition among the five sampling sites (PERMANOVA, pseudo-F = 4.67, p = 0.001), while multivariate dispersion did not differ significantly (PERMDISP, F = 0.686, p = 0.153). These results provide a descriptive baseline for soil bacterial diversity in an understudied high-Andean region and document substantial community heterogeneity among sites differing simultaneously in environmental conditions, vegetation, and land use.