Mapping the genetic and biotechnological potential of fungi isolated from the Atlantic Forest

• Grant number: 24/20201-5
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Master
• Start date: August 01, 2025
• End date: April 30, 2027
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Biochemistry - Biochemistry of Microorganisms
• Principal Investigator: Mário Tyago Murakami
• Grantee: Sophia Pivatto Serra
• Host Institution: Centro Nacional de Pesquisa em Energia e Materiais (CNPEM). Campinas , SP, Brazil
• Associated research grant: 21/04891-3 - Enzymatic mechanisms from the microbiome of aquatic herbivores for depolymerization and metabolism of complex carbohydrates, AP.TEM

Abstract

Fungi interact with almost all forms of life in the world and are present in different ecosystems, but they are poorly explored from a biotechnological point of view. On planet Earth, it is estimated that 95% of fungal species have not yet been identified, while in Brazil, as of 2015, less than 4% of the almost 250,000 estimated species had been recorded. These data reinforce the need for new studies on the mapping of fungi in Brazil, especially in diverse and fragmented biomes, such as the Atlantic Forest. Considering the high potential of fungi for the decomposition of lignocellulosic biomass, this project aims to map the rich diversity of fungi isolated in the largest preserved region of the Atlantic Forest, "Legado das Águas. This work is part of the CNPEM Biodiversity program and will be carried out in partnership with Reserva Votorantim, which manages the reserve. The isolated microorganisms will be identified by gene sequencing of the ITS (Internal Transcribed Spacer) region and characterized according to their growth profile and enzymatic arsenal in different biomasses of industrial interest. Based on the characterization results, five strains will be selected for complete genome sequencing by long-read sequencing: for transcriptomic and proteomic analyses to identify the enzymatic arsenal of these strains. Finally, a catalog of native fungal species of the Atlantic Forest and a list of new enzymes with biotechnological potential will be prepared.