INFLUENCE OF GENETIC DIVERSITY ON THE IN VITRO CULTURE OF FIBROBLASTS IN MACAW SPECIES

• Grant number: 24/20352-3
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Master
• Start date: August 01, 2025
• End date: November 30, 2026
• Field of knowledge: Agronomical Sciences - Veterinary Medicine - Animal Reproduction
• Principal Investigator: Ricardo Jose Garcia Pereira
• Grantee: Julia Roismann
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária e Zootecnia (FMVZ). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). São Paulo , SP, Brazil

Abstract

Of all the bird species identified in the world, currently about 12.1% are threatened with extinction according to IUCN data. In Brazil, they represent the second most diverse group of vertebrates, with nearly 2,000 identified species, of which 264 are endemic and 154 are considered threatened. Factors such as habitat loss, food scarcity, illegal trafficking, among others, have raised concerns about the marked loss of genetic variability in these populations. Programs involving ex situ reproduction and the creation of cryobanks are crucial initiatives to minimize these losses. This work will explore the cultivation of fibroblasts in three species of macaws: the Hyacinth Macaw (Anodorhynchus hyacinthinus), Lear's Macaw (Anodorhynchus leari), and Spix's Macaw (Cyanopsitta spixii), with the aim of investigating possible influences of reduced genetic diversity on characteristics such as proliferation, stress, and cell viability, as these species present different population bottlenecks both in situ and ex situ. Fibroblasts will be obtained from growing feathers, a minimally invasive approach that facilitates the creation of cryobanks and, consequently, the maintenance of genetic material from these endangered species. Once the primary cultures are established, parameters such as viability, proliferation, and stress response will be monitored and compared among species. We believe that high levels of inbreeding, resulting from population bottlenecks over time, negatively affect the cellular characteristics of fibroblasts, offering insights into how the loss of genetic diversity can influence cell biology and conservation strategies for these endangered species (AU)