Zoonotic risks in regions of environmental degradation of the Amazon biome: Understanding the Amazon microbiome and virome

• Grant number: 23/11521-3
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Post-Doctoral
• Effective date (Start): October 01, 2023
• Effective date (End): April 30, 2024
• Field of knowledge: Health Sciences - Collective Health - Public Health
• Acordo de Cooperação: CONFAP - National Council of State Research Support Foundations
• Principal Investigator: Camila Malta Romano
• Grantee: Ingra Morales Claro
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Medicina (FM). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). São Paulo , SP, Brazil
• Associated research grant: 22/10408-6 - Zoonotic risks in regions of environmental degradation of the Amazon biome: understanding the Amazon microbiome and virome, AP.R

Abstract

The Amazon Biome presents great diversity, still under-explored, but which is seriously under threat. In 2021 there was an increase in deforestation compared to 2020. In addition to climate and conservation issues arising from the degradation of wild fauna and flora, there is an intricate relationship between deforestation and the occurrence of diseases, particularly infectious ones. The disruption of the animal/human interaction barrier by an infectious agent (spillover) is directly influenced by human processes and activities, which reshape communities and strengthen the contact between humans and domestic animals with the wildlife. The present project aims, through an unprecedented approach, to bring together researchers from different Brazilian states, belonging to the research and sequencing network "Collaborative Study of Genetic Surveillance of SARS-CoV-2 in Brazilian cities", as well as foreign collaborators to work together in the monitoring of pathogens that pose a risk to human health. Biological (human, animal, and invertebrate vectors) and environmental (water and sewage) samples will be collected, in addition to samples from patients with undetermined febrile and neurological symptoms, for a detailed metagenomic investigation. In addition, this project aims to increase or capacitate the performance of participating centers from sample processing to the analysis of the final sequencing data. The development and training of human and technological resources will not only be useful for strengthening the CT & I infrastructure at a regional level, but it should also increase the capacity of these Centers to collaborate in a network with other Brazilian states, also promoting their internationalization. (AU)