Desikacharya aegyptiaca sp. Nov (Nostocales,Cyanobacteria) PQ309038, a novel species isolated from Egyptian soils.

Egypt's algal diversity holds global significance due to its varied environments and unique location at the intersection of Europe, Africa, and Asia, supporting a wide range of uncommon and intriguing cyanobacterial and algal genera. In this study, we isolated an innovative cyanobacterial strain from the soil near the Unox factory for tile and iron oxide pigment in the 10th of Ramadan City, Egypt. The physicochemical properties of the soil were examined, and initial laboratory cultivation revealed that the strain exhibited normal Nostoc or Nostoc-like morphology.16S rRNA gene-based molecular and phylogenetic analysis placed the strain clearly within the genus Desikacharya. Sequencing of 16S-23S ITS region and folding of secondary structures gave interesting and unique secondary structures and revealed novel secondary structures. As a result, the strain has been registered as a novel species within the genus Desikacharya and named Desikacharya aegyptiaca sp. nov. This discovery not only enriches the taxonomic diversity of cyanobacteria but also underscores the potential for uncovering unique microbial species in diverse and understudied environments.