Multi-omics applied to the understanding and exploitation of Antarctic microbiomes

• Grant number: 16/05640-6
• Support Opportunities: Regular Research Grants
• Duration: November 01, 2016 - October 31, 2019
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Genetics - Molecular Genetics and Genetics of Microorganisms
• Principal Investigator: Valeria Maia Merzel
• Grantee: Valeria Maia Merzel
• Host Institution: Centro Pluridisciplinar de Pesquisas Químicas, Biológicas e Agrícolas (CPQBA). Universidade Estadual de Campinas (UNICAMP). Paulínia , SP, Brazil
• Associated researchers: Alysson Wagner Fernandes Duarte ; Fabiana Fantinatti Garboggini ; Itamar Soares de Melo ; Lucélia Cabral ; Luiz Henrique Rosa ; Marcos Nogueira Eberlin ; Michel Rodrigo Zambrano Passarini

Abstract

Indigenous Antarctic microbes possess unique biochemical and metabolic properties encoded within their genetic resources, which make them able to adapt and survive to extreme environmental conditions, such as high salinity levels, pressures that exceed 100 MPa, low or high and extremely fluctuating temperatures (from 89 °C up to 90 °C), low nutrient availability and high solar radiation. However, it is well known that although cultivation techniques have been improved and allowed the in vitro recovery of a growing number of yet uncultivated microorganisms, our knowledge about their ecology is still insufficient to culture the majority of them. In this sense, this project proposes to employ a combination of traditional microbiological methods (isolation and culturing) and multi-omics approaches (metagenomics, metatranscriptomics and metabolomics) for broad exploitation of Antarctic microbial resources focusing on enzymes and metabolites of biotechnological application. The fosmid clones and microbial isolates will be submmitted to high throughput screening assays for the evaluation of diverse activities, including heavy metal biotransformation, and metabolite (antimicrobials and pigments), enzyme (chitinases, peroxidases, anti-freezing proteins - AFP) and hydrocarbon production. Furthermore, a scanning of the phylogenetic and functional diversity of the metagenômic libraries and selected Antarctic samples collected in the Deception Island will be performed using large-scale DNA sequencing platforms. The obtained sequence dataset will allow us to carry out a rational sequence-driven screening of the metagenômic libraries, through the design of specific primer sets for the detection of fosmid clones bearing the target genes for subsequent genetic characterizations, overcoming eventual limitatios inherent to heterologous expression. The expected results include the detection of new genes, enzymes and bioactive compounds with differential properties and potential use in future biotechnological processes. In addition, we believe that inedit results regarding the phylogenetic and functional diversity present in the samples will contribute to the understanding of the microbial interactions and molecular mechanisms underlying life under the extreme conditions in Antarctic environments. (AU)

Scientific publications

(11)

(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)

SILVA, TIAGO R.; CANELA-GARAYOA, RAMON; ERAS, JORDI; RODRIGUES, MARILI V. N.; DOS SANTOS, FABIO N.; EBERLIN, MARCOS N.; NERI-NUMA, IRAMAIA A.; PASTORE, GLAUCIA M.; TAVARES, RENATA S. N.; DEBONSI, HOSANA M.; et al. Pigments in an iridescent bacterium, Cellulophaga fucicola, isolated from Antarctica. ANTONIE VAN LEEUWENHOEK INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF GENERAL AND MOLECULAR MICROBIOLOGY, v. 112, n. 3, p. 479-490, MAR 2019. (16/05640-6, 17/21790-0, 14/17936-1)

SANTA-CRUZ VASQUEZ, YESENIA MELISSA; GOMES, MILENE BARBOSA; RODRIGUES E SILVA, TIAGO; FERNANDES DUARTE, ALYSSON WAGNER; ROSA, LUIZ HENRIQUE; DE OLIVEIRA, VALERIA MAIA. Cold-adapted chitinases from Antarctic bacteria: Taxonomic assessment and enzyme production optimization. BIOCATALYSIS AND AGRICULTURAL BIOTECHNOLOGY, v. 34, JUL 2021. (14/17936-1, 17/21790-0, 16/05640-6)

RODRIGUES E SILVA, TIAGO; FRANCELINO SILVA JUNIOR, LUIZ CARLOS; DE QUEIROZ, ALINE CAVALCANTI; ALEXANDRE MOREIRA, MAGNA SUZANA; DE CARVALHO FRAGA, CARLOS ALBERTO; ALVES DE MENEZES, GRACIELE CUNHA; ROSA, LUIZ HENRIQUE; BICAS, JULIANO; DE OLIVEIRA, VALERIA MAIA; FERNANDES DUARTE, ALYSSON WAGNER. Pigments from Antarctic bacteria and their biotechnological applications. CRITICAL REVIEWS IN BIOTECHNOLOGY, v. 41, n. 6, p. 809-826, AUG 18 2021. (16/05640-6)

SILVA, TIAGO R.; TAVARES, RENATA S. N.; CANELA-GARAYOA, RAMON; ERAS, JORDI; RODRIGUES, MARILI V. N.; NERI-NUMA, IRAMAIA A.; PASTORE, GLAUCIA M.; ROSA, LUIZ H.; SCHULTZ, JOSE A. A.; DEBONSI, HOSANA M.; et al. Chemical Characterization and Biotechnological Applicability of Pigments Isolated from Antarctic Bacteria. MARINE BIOTECHNOLOGY, v. 21, n. 3, p. 416-429, JUN 2019. (16/05640-6, 17/21790-0, 14/17936-1)

SILVA, TIAGO R.; DUARTE, ALYSSON W. F.; PASSARINI, MICHEL R. Z.; RUIZ, ANA LUCIA T. G.; FRANCO, CAIO HADDAD; MORAES, CAROLINA BORSOI; DE MELO, ITAMAR SOARES; RODRIGUES, RODNEY A.; FANTINATTI-GARBOGGINI, FABIANA; OLIVEIRA, VALERIA MAIA. Bacteria from Antarctic environments: diversity and detection of antimicrobial, antiproliferative, and antiparasitic activities. POLAR BIOLOGY, v. 41, n. 7, p. 1505-1519, JUL 2018. (16/05640-6, 14/17936-1)

SOSA BENEGAS, GABRIELA ROCIO; FERNANDES BERNAL, SUZAN PRADO; DE OLIVEIRA, VALERIA MAIA; ZAMBRANO PASSARINI, MICHEL RODRIGO. Antimicrobial activity against Microcystis aeruginosa and degradation of microcystin-LR by bacteria isolated from Antarctica. Environmental Science and Pollution Research, MAY 2021. (16/05640-6)

CENTURION, V. B.; DELFORNO, T. P.; LACERDA-JUNIOR, G. V.; DUARTE, A. W. F.; SILVA, U.; BELLINI, G. B.; ROSA, L. H.; OLIVEIRA, V. M.. Unveiling resistome profiles in the sediments of an Antarctic volcanic island. Environmental Pollution, v. 255, n. 2, DEC 2019. (16/05640-6, 17/03172-8)

CENTURION, V. B.; LACERDA-JUNIOR, V, G.; DUARTE, A. W. F.; SILVA, T. R.; SILVA, L. J.; ROSA, L. H.; OLIVEIRA, V. M.. Dynamics of microbial stress responses driven by abiotic changes along a temporal gradient in Deception Island, Maritime Antarctica. Science of The Total Environment, v. 758, MAR 1 2021. (16/05640-6, 17/03172-8)

OTTONI, JULIA RONZELLA; E SILVA, TIAGO RODRIGUES; DE OLIVEIRA, VALERIA MAIA; ZAMBRANO PASSARINI, MICHEL RODRIGO. Characterization of amylase produced by cold-adapted bacteria from Antarctic samples. BIOCATALYSIS AND AGRICULTURAL BIOTECHNOLOGY, v. 23, JAN 2020. (16/05640-6)

RODRIGUES E SILVA, TIAGO; FRANCELINO SILVA JUNIOR, LUIZ CARLOS; DE QUEIROZ, ALINE CAVALCANTI; ALEXANDRE MOREIRA, MAGNA SUZANA; DE CARVALHO FRAGA, CARLOS ALBERTO; ALVES DE MENEZES, GRACIELE CUNHA; ROSA, LUIZ HENRIQUE; BICAS, JULIANO; DE OLIVEIRA, VALERIA MAIA; FERNANDES DUARTE, ALYSSON WAGNER. Pigments from Antarctic bacteria and their biotechnological applications. CRITICAL REVIEWS IN BIOTECHNOLOGY, FEB 2021. (16/05640-6)

SOSA BENEGAS, GABRIELA ROCIO; FERNANDES BERNAL, SUZAN PRADO; DE OLIVEIRA, VALERIA MAIA; ZAMBRANO PASSARINI, MICHEL RODRIGO. Antimicrobial activity against Microcystis aeruginosa and degradation of microcystin-LR by bacteria isolated from Antarctica. Environmental Science and Pollution Research, v. 28, n. 37, p. 52381-52391, OCT 2021. (16/05640-6)