Selective isolation of fungi with biotechnological potential from marine and terrestrial Antarctic samples

• Grant number: 19/01632-7
• Support type: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Effective date (Start): June 01, 2019
• Effective date (End): May 31, 2020
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Microbiology - Biology and Physiology of Microorganisms
• Principal Investigator: Lara Durães Sette
• Grantee: Daniela Mayumi Kita
• Home Institution: Instituto de Biociências (IB). Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP). Campus de Rio Claro. Rio Claro , SP, Brazil

Abstract

Microorganisms have potential for scientific progress and contribution to the improvement of production processes, due to their special features and properties. In this context, the organisms capable of surviving in extreme environments, such as Antarctica, have been studied by Lara Sette's (UNESP/Rio Claro) research group to increase the knowledge about its diversity, genetic resources and possible biotechnological applications in several sectors of socioeconomic importance. The microorganisms (filamentous fungi and yeasts) of Antarctica are kept in the research collection of the Laboratory of Environmental and Industrial Mycology (LAMAI), which is associated with the UNESP Microbial Resource Center (CRM-UNESP). In this context, the present proposal aims the to isolate (selectively) through the enrichment technique, filamentous fungi and yeasts from marine and terrestrial Antarctic samples collected recently in the OPERANTAR XXVII (December 2018), which may present potential for degradation of textile dyes. In addition, the fungi will be preserved, photo documented and cataloged. The isolation and preservation of the Antarctic fungi will result in the expansion of the collection of the CRM-UNESP and could allow advances on the studies of extremophile fungi, contributing to the scientific knowledge.