Quantification of microorganisms involved in the natural attenuation process of kerosene-contaminated soils

• Grant number: 17/16611-0
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Master
• Start date: November 01, 2017
• End date: July 31, 2019
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Genetics - Molecular Genetics and Genetics of Microorganisms
• Principal Investigator: Valeria Maia Merzel
• Grantee: Kelly Johanna Hidalgo Martinez
• Host Institution: Centro Pluridisciplinar de Pesquisas Químicas, Biológicas e Agrícolas (CPQBA). Universidade Estadual de Campinas (UNICAMP). Paulínia , SP, Brazil

Abstract

Pollution is a widely discussed environmental problem, whether in marine or terrestrial environments. Bioremediation is a technique to treat contaminated environments that uses the metabolic potential of microorganisms with the aim of transforming toxic organic compounds into intermediate components with less toxicity, or even inert matter. Natural attenuation is a form of bioremediation that uses biological, chemical and physical processes that occur naturally resulting in the transformation or degradation of pollutants into the environment. Although the process is intrinsic to the ecosystem, its speed and efficiency depend on multiple factors, including the abundance and diversity of microorganisms capable of degrading these pollutants. This proposal aims to identify and quantify the microbial groups involved in the natural degradation of aviation kerosene in a contaminated underground area in the municipality of Paulínia. Determination of the composition and distribution of the microbiota and specific genes for anaerobic degradation will be performed using the quantitative PCR technique. Quantification of iron-reducing, nitrate-reducing and sulphate-reducing bacteria and methanogenic arrays and degradation genes in soil samples in the vicinity of contamination monitoring wells as well as in situ microcosms (BACTRAPS) will be important in characterizing the microbiota Autochthonous and specific processes of degradation in the plume of contamination. Comparative analyzes between the different sampling points and the correlation with the physico-chemical data will allow a more comprehensive view of the processes of natural degradation that are happening in the plume of contamination. We will also perform more detailed analyzes of the metagenomic data obtained by our research group in order to recover in silico the genomes of the most dominant organisms and characterize their functions in the degradation process. These results will elucidate the process of natural attenuation of the polluting compounds in the ecosystem, the degradation routes and the responsible microorganisms. (AU)

Scientific publications

(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)

HIDALGO, KELLY J.; SIERRA-GARCIA, ISABEL N.; DELLAGNEZZE, BRUNA M.; DE OLIVEIRA, VALERIA MAIA. Metagenomic Insights Into the Mechanisms for Biodegradation of Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons in the Oil Supply Chain. FRONTIERS IN MICROBIOLOGY, v. 11, p. 20-pg., 2020-09-18. (17/16611-0, 11/14501-6)

HIDALGO, K. J.; TERAMOTO, E. H.; SORIANO, A. U.; VALONI, E.; BAESSA, M. P.; RICHNOW, H. H.; VOGT, C.; CHANG, H. K.; VALERIA, M. OLIVEIRA. Taxonomic and functional diversity of the microbiome in a jet fuel contaminated site as revealed by combined application of in situ microcosms with metagenomic analysis. Science of The Total Environment, v. 708, MAR 15 2020. (17/16611-0)

HIDALGO, K. J.; CENTURION, V. B.; LEMOS, L. N.; SORIANO, A. U.; VALONI, E.; BAESSA, M. P.; RICHNOW, H. H.; VOGT, C.; OLIVEIRA, V. M.. Disentangling the microbial genomic traits associated with aromatic hydrocarbon degradation in a jet fuel-contaminated aquifer. BIODEGRADATION, v. 36, n. 1, p. 20-pg., 2025-02-01. (17/16611-0)

Academic Publications

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

MARTINEZ, Kelly Johanna Hidalgo. Taxonomic and functional characterization of the microbial community involved in the process of natural attenuation of jet fuel-contaminated soil. 2019. 140 f. Master's Dissertation - Universidade Estadual de Campinas (UNICAMP). Instituto de Biologia.