Characterization of microbial diversity in the Attini-microbe system in different Brazilian biomes

• Grant number: 24/06156-7
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Doctorate
• Start date: August 01, 2024
• End date: February 29, 2028
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Genetics - Molecular Genetics and Genetics of Microorganisms
• Principal Investigator: Mauricio Bacci Junior
• Grantee: Lara Cavalari Santello
• Host Institution: Instituto de Biociências (IB). Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP). Campus de Rio Claro. Rio Claro , SP, Brazil
• Associated research grant: 21/10639-5 - Center for Research on Biodiversity Dynamics and Climate Change, AP.CEPID

Abstract

Brazil is considered a megadiverse country, with one of the largest biological diversities in the world, encompassing approximately 13% of all global species. Despite this, there is still much to be known about organisms, especially microorganisms and microbial communities. A valuable model for these studies is the ants of the Attini tribe and their symbiotic and vectoring relationship with microorganisms. The microbial diversity associated with these ants reveals functional interactions that can affect the development and health of the ants and the soil microbial community surrounding their nests. The genomic research proposed here, through the sequencing of 16S rRNA libraries and metatranscriptomics, will provide comprehensive information about the structure, function, and interrelations among different microbial communities: microorganisms associated with ant fungal gardens, ant bodies, or the soil surrounding underground nests. Samples associated with the leaf-cutter ant Atta sexdens will be used, collected from the Atlantic Forest, Cerrado, Pampas, Amazon, Pantanal, and Caatinga biomes. This approach will contribute to understanding the dynamics and evolution of microbial communities in specific ecological contexts.