Rumen microeukaryotic ciliates (Ciliophora, Entodiniomorphida, Ophryoscolecidae): phylogenomics and potential application in bioethanol industry

• Grant number: 20/11027-0
• Support Opportunities: Regular Research Grants
• Start date: October 01, 2021
• End date: September 30, 2024
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Genetics - Molecular Genetics and Genetics of Microorganisms
• Principal Investigator: Vera Nisaka Solferini
• Grantee: Vera Nisaka Solferini
• Host Institution: Instituto de Biologia (IB). Universidade Estadual de Campinas (UNICAMP). Campinas , SP, Brazil
• City of the host institution: Campinas
• Associated researchers: Franciane Cedrola Vale

Abstract

The gastrointestinal traits of herbivorous mammals constitute complex ecosystems that harbor a fermentative microbiota composed of ciliated protists, among other microorganisms. These protists secrete fibrolytic enzymes that act in the digestion of vegetal fibers. A large portion of these ciliates belong to the subclass Trichostomatia, which display several systematic inconsistencies. This project aims to study the family Ophryoscolecidae (Ciliophora, Trichostomatia) using phylogenomic reconstructions and to conduct a comparative genomic study focusing on "CAZymes" detected in genomes sequenced. Phylogenomic approaches will be used for the first time in trichostomatids and shall contribute to the understanding of the evolution of family Ophryoscolecidae, clarifying systematic problems and relevant taxonomic issues. Also, the study of these genomes may open a field to applied studies related to the prospection of enzymes with fibrolytic activity for bioethanol production industries. (AU)

Scientific publications

(5)

(References retrieved automatically from Web of Science and SciELO through information on FAPESP grants and their corresponding numbers as mentioned in the publications by the authors)

LIMA, VALDIRLEY DE SOUZA; CEDROLA, FRANCIANE; MORALES, MILLKE JASMINE ARMININI; SOLFERINI, VERA NISAKA. Disentangling the metabolic profile of rumen ciliates: A historical perspective and future directions. EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF PROTISTOLOGY, v. 96, p. 5-pg., 2024-11-05. (20/11027-0)

CEDROLA, FRANCIANE; GURELLI, GOZDE; SENRA, MARCUS VINICIUS XAVIER; MORALES, MILLKE JASMINE ARMININI; DIAS, ROBERTO JUNIO PEDROSO; SOLFERINI, VERA NISAKA. Phylogenomics corroborates morphology: New discussions on the systematics of Trichostomatia (Ciliophora, Litostomatea). EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF PROTISTOLOGY, v. 95, p. 6-pg., 2024-06-18. (20/11027-0, 20/10682-5, 22/00538-0, 19/17077-2)

DE SOUZA, PEDRO MENDES; CEDROLA, FRANCIANE; DIAS, ROBERTO JUNIO PEDROSO; SOLFERINI, VERA NISAKA. Comparative genomics reveals details into the metabolism of peritrich ciliates (Ciliophora, Oligohymenophorea and Peritrichia). MICROBIAL GENOMICS, v. 11, n. 9, p. 9-pg., 2025-09-01. (20/10682-5, 20/11027-0)

CEDROLA, FRANCIANE; SENRA, MARCUS VINICIUS XAVIER; MORALES, MILLKE JASMINE ARMININI; FREGULIA, PRISCILA; CANESIN, LUCAS; DIAS, ROBERTO JUNIO PEDROSO; SOLFERINI, VERA NISAKA. Giants' cooperation: a draft genome of the giant ciliate Muniziella cunhai suggests its ecological role in the capybara's digestive metabolism. MICROBIAL GENOMICS, v. 10, n. 7, p. 12-pg., 2024-07-01. (20/11027-0, 20/10682-5, 22/00538-0, 19/17077-2)

CEDROLA, FRANCIANE; SENRA, MARCUS VINICIUS XAVIER; GURELLI, GOEZDE; MORALES, MILLKE JASMINE ARMININI; DIAS, ROBERTO JUNIO PEDROSO; SOARES, WEBER VILAS BOAS; ROMA JR, LUIZ CARLOS; SOLFERINI, VERA NISAKA. Functional genomics analyses of symbiotic ciliates of herbivorous mammals suggests microbial niche partitioning and more efficiency in rumen environment. Biological Journal of the Linnean Society, v. 145, n. 4, p. 9-pg., 2025-08-01. (20/11027-0, 19/17077-2, 20/10682-5)