Metatranscriptome of the microbiological community in the production of biogas from Agave

• Grant number: 21/01060-3
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Master
• Start date: August 01, 2021
• End date: February 28, 2023
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Genetics - Molecular Genetics and Genetics of Microorganisms
• Principal Investigator: Gonçalo Amarante Guimarães Pereira
• Grantee: Maiki Soares de Paula
• Host Institution: Instituto de Biologia (IB). Universidade Estadual de Campinas (UNICAMP). Campinas , SP, Brazil

Abstract

The use of fossil fuels is one of the main factors that contribute to climate change. Alternatively, fuels from renewable sources, such as biogas, are increasingly being used. Biogas is the result of the anaerobic digestion process of organic matter, and is composed mainly of CH4 and CO2. Anaerobic digestion is carried out by communities of microorganisms that vary according to the inoculum, substrate and process parameters. Plants of the Agave genus are grown commercially for the production of fibers and alcoholic beverages, and have been identified as excellent substrates for the production of biogas. Brazil is the main producer of A. sisalana fibers in the world, whose cultivation occupies the semi-arid region of the country. For the extraction of the fiber, only 4% of the leaves is used, the rest being discarded as waste. The lignocellulosic composition of these plants and their ability to occupy areas of arid and semi-arid climate creates the opportunity for bioenergy production in marginal areas and unsuitable areas for other crops, increasing the productive capacity of renewable energy in the country without increasing competition for land use and water. However, for the process of obtaining biogas from agaves to be efficient, it is necessary to understand the dynamics of the microorganism community in the process of anaerobic digestion of this substrate. In this context, this project proposes to create a metatranscriptomic profile of the microbiome present in the anaerobic digestion of agave, aiming to identify key genes involved in the process.