Ruminal microeukaryotes ciliates (Ciliophora, Entodiniomorphida, Ophryoscolecidae): phylogenomics and potential application in the bioethanol industry

• Grant number: 20/10682-5
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Post-Doctoral
• Start date: April 01, 2022
• End date: October 31, 2024
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Genetics - Molecular Genetics and Genetics of Microorganisms
• Principal Investigator: Vera Nisaka Solferini
• Grantee: Franciane Cedrola Vale
• Host Institution: Instituto de Biologia (IB). Universidade Estadual de Campinas (UNICAMP). Campinas , SP, Brazil

Abstract

The gastrointestinal tracts of herbivorous mammals constitute complex ecosystems that have a fermenting microbiota composed, among other microorganisms, of ciliated protists. These microeukaryotes secrete fibrolytic enzymes that act in the digestion of plant fibers. A significant portion of these ciliates belong to the subclass Trichostomatia, which presents several problems and systematic inconsistencies. This project aims to study the family Ophryoscolecidae (Ciliophora, Trichostomatia) through phylogenomic reconstructions and to develop a comparative genomic study based on genomic and phylogenetic data of carbohydrate active enzymes ("CAZymes") detected in the sequenced genomes. Phylogenomic approaches will be used for the first time in trichostomatids and should contribute to understanding the evolution of the Ophryoscolecidae, elucidating systematic problems and relevant taxonomic issues. In addition, studies of these genomes can open the field for applied studies related to the bioethanol generation industry.