Metagenomic and metatranscriptomic studies of the microbial community from the São Paulo Zoo composting operation

• Grant number: 13/08148-7
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Doctorate (Direct)
• Start date: July 01, 2013
• End date: December 31, 2013
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Biochemistry - Molecular Biology
• Principal Investigator: Aline Maria da Silva
• Grantee: Luciana Principal Antunes
• Host Institution: Instituto de Química (IQ). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). São Paulo , SP, Brazil
• Associated research grant: 11/50870-6 - Studies of microbial diversity in the Zoological Park of the State of São Paulo, AP.BTA.TEM

Abstract

Composting is a decomposition process carried out by complex microbial communities whose structure changes depending on temperature, pH, aeration, moisture, type and amount of organic solids. In 2010 a project proposed by researchers of UNIFESP, FPZSP and USP was started to explore the microbial diversity of the composting at São Paulo Zoo Park aiming future biotechnological applications. Within the scope of this investigation, the Master degree project (FAPESP 2011/04442-2) of Luciana Principal Antunes was started with a main goal of developing metagenomic studies to characterize the microbial communities' succession during the composting process by pyrosequencing of total DNA extracted at different times along the process. The results so far obtained indicate that the beginning of the composting process is significantly enriched in orders as Clostridiales, Bacteroidales and Pseudomonadales that suffer a marked decrease in abundance in samples collected after 30 days which is followed by simultaneous increase of Bacillaes and Actnomycetales. This change in the microbiota structure occurs together with a change in the prevalence of some COG functional categories. In this new proposal we aim to further investigate the microbial succession of São Paulo Zoo Park composting process, as well as its phylogenetic and functional diversity, by adding a metatranscriptomic approach to our ongoing metagenomic studies. We intend to use a hybrid approach for high throughput sequencing using both 454/Roche and MiSeq/Illumina sequencing platforms. The analysis of metagenomic and metatranscriptomic data will guide the screening for genes encoding enzymes with biotechnological potential. Such sequences will be considered for future recombinant expression and biochemical characterization. (AU)

Academic Publications

(References retrieved automatically from State of São Paulo Research Institutions)

ANTUNES, Luciana Principal. Metagenomics and metatranscriptomics of the São Paulo Zoo Park composting microbiota. 2016. Doctoral Thesis - Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Conjunto das Químicas (IQ e FCF) (CQ/DBDCQ) São Paulo.