Zoonotic risks in regions of environmental degradation of the Amazon biome: understanding the Amazon microbiome and virome

• Grant number: 22/10408-6
• Support Opportunities: Regular Research Grants
• Duration: February 01, 2023 - January 31, 2026
• Field of knowledge: Health Sciences - Collective Health - Public Health
• Convênio/Acordo: CONFAP - National Council of State Research Support Foundations
• Principal Investigator: Camila Malta Romano
• Grantee: Camila Malta Romano
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Medicina (FM). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). São Paulo , SP, Brazil
• Associated researchers: Ana Claudia Franco ; Ariany Rosa Gonçalves ; Cíntia Pelegrineti Targueta de Azevedo Brito ; Eduardo Sérgio Soares Sousa ; Eloiza Helena Campana ; Emerson Augusto Castilho Martins ; Ester Cerdeira Sabino ; Fábio Marcel da Silva Santos ; Fabricio Souza Campos ; Flavio Augusto de Padua Milagres ; Gislaine Fongaro ; Glauber Wagner ; Ingra Morales Claro ; Jaqueline Goes de Jesus ; José Carlos Ribeiro Júnior ; Juan Miguel Villalobos Salcedo ; Marcia da Costa Castilho ; Maria Paula Gomes Mourão ; Mariana Pires de Campos Telles ; Mariane Brom Sobreiro ; Marília Gabriela dos Santos Cavalcanti ; Naiara Naiana Dejani ; Nuno Miguel Rodrigues Pascoal Faria ; Paulo Michel Roehe ; Ramilla dos Santos Braga Ferreira ; Rhewter Nunes
• Associated scholarship(s): 24/05267-0 - Zoonotic risks in regions of environmental degradation in the Amazon biome: Understanding the Amazon microbiome and virome, BP.PD; 24/01886-7 - Zoonotic risks in regions of environmental degradation of the Amazon biome: Understanding the Amazon microbiome and virome., BP.TT; 23/11521-3 - Zoonotic risks in regions of environmental degradation of the Amazon biome: Understanding the Amazon microbiome and virome, BP.PD

Abstract

The Amazon Biome presents great diversity, still under-explored, but which is seriously under threat. In 2021 there was an increase in deforestation compared to 2020. In addition to climate and conservation issues arising from the degradation of wild fauna and flora, there is an intricate relationship between deforestation and the occurrence of diseases, particularly infectious ones. The disruption of the animal/human interaction barrier by an infectious agent (spillover) is directly influenced by human processes and activities, which reshape communities and strengthen the contact between humans and domestic animals with the wildlife. The present project aims, through an unprecedented approach, to bring together researchers from different Brazilian states, belonging to the research and sequencing network "Collaborative Study of Genetic Surveillance of SARS-CoV-2 in Brazilian cities", as well as foreign collaborators to work together in the monitoring of pathogens that pose a risk to human health. Biological (human, animal, and invertebrate vectors) and environmental (water and sewage) samples will be collected, in addition to samples from patients with undetermined febrile and neurological symptoms, for a detailed metagenomic investigation. In addition, this project aims to increase or capacitate the performance of participating centers from sample processing to the analysis of the final sequencing data. The development and training of human and technological resources will not only be useful for strengthening the CT & I infrastructure at a regional level, but it should also increase the capacity of these Centers to collaborate in a network with other Brazilian states, also promoting their internationalization. (AU)