Dynamics of algal biodiversity under the climate change effects

• Grant number: 25/07548-9
• Support Opportunities: FAPESP Program for the South Atlantic and Antarctica (PROASA) - Thematic Grants
• Start date: January 01, 2026
• End date: December 31, 2030
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Biochemistry - Metabolism and Bioenergetics
• Principal Investigator: Pio Colepicolo Neto
• Grantee: Pio Colepicolo Neto
• Host Institution: Instituto de Química (IQ). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). São Paulo , SP, Brazil
• City of the host institution: São Paulo
• Principal investigators: Marcia Aparecida Silva Graminha ; Mutue Toyota Fujii
• Associated researchers: Adilma de Lourdes Montenegro Cocentino ; Alexandre Dias Kassuga ; Aline Paternostro Martins ; Andres Omar Mansilla Munoz ; Angela Maria Arenas Velásquez ; Carlos Frederico Deluqui Gurgel ; Claudio Martin Pereira de Pereira ; Daiane Dias ; Edson Régis Tavares Pessoa Pinho de Vasconcelos ; Eliana Nakano ; Eliane Marinho Soriano ; Eric Lam ; Ernani Pinto Junior ; Fabiane Dorr ; Francisco Bahamonde Mihovilovich ; Giuseppe Palmisano ; Guilherme Henrique Pereira Filho ; Gustavo Souza dos Santos ; HENRIQUE DOUGLAS DOS SANTOS BORBUREMA ; Hosana Maria Debonsi ; Jonas Collen ; Jose Eduardo Arruda Gonçalves ; JUAN PABLO RODRIGUEZ PROVOSTE ; Juliana Martin Do Prado ; Leonardo Mendes de Souza Mesquita ; Leonardo Zambotti Villela ; Levi Pompermayer Machado ; Lorena Rigo Gaspar Cordeiro ; LOUISI SOUZA DE OLIVEIRA ; Luanda Pereira Soares ; Márcia Foster Mesko ; Mariana Roesch Ely ; Mathilde Julienne Gisele Champeau ; Maximo Frangopulos Rivera ; Norberto Peporine Lopes ; Paulo Antunes Horta Junior ; RICARDO COUTINHO ; Sidnei Moura e Silva ; Susana Cristine de Matos Fernandes ; Vinicius Peruzzi de Oliveira
• Associated scholarship(s): 26/07819-5 - Transcriptomic characterization of skin exposome responses in a reconstructed human epidermis model and modulation by an Antarctic marine extract, BP.PD; 26/07821-0 - Evaluation of the protective potential of natural products against the induction of oxidative stress in endothelialized three-dimensional human skin models, BP.DR

Abstract

Algae play a relevant ecological role and are models for the development of new drugs and understanding molecular mechanisms of protection against DNA damage caused by intense UV radiation. From an ecological point of view, in addition to being a refuge and the basis of the food chain for different aquatic organisms, they are producers of O2 and contribute to the absorption of greenhouse gases such as CO2 and methane, whose accumulation in the atmosphere contributes to global warming, as we have seen in recent years with the constant reports of rising ocean temperatures and melting polar ice caps. Furthermore, because they are sessile and capable of absorbing toxic metals from the aquatic environment, they are excellent markers of environmental pollution. Over the past 12 years, I have coordinated projects with Antarctic macroalgae with funding from ProAntar-MCTI (processes 557030/2009-9 and 407588/2013-2), which have allowed us to assess the biodiversity of the Antarctic Peninsula, climate change in the area, and marine water pollution, and to make significant progress in bioprospecting for these algae. During the execution of these projects, we trained and sent approximately 250 researchers to Antarctica, who were on missions at the Comandante Ferraz Brazilian Station and on the two Brazilian Navy Polar Ships (NPoMax and NPoAR). Approximately 70 papers have been published on algae collected in Antarctica in widely circulated international journals. We also keep 6 m3 of algae frozen for general bioprospecting experiments. The proposed project is multidisciplinary and involves consolidated national and international partnerships with 35 research groups from USP, IEAPM, UFSC, UNESP, UFRN, UFAl, UFPel, UFRJ, Universidad de Magalanes, Rutgers University, Station Biologique de Roscoff (Sorbone University, CNRS) and Universite du Quebec à Monreal among others and is in line with the 2030 agenda of the United Nations, directly contemplating the following Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). (AU)