Microbiome and virome on indoor surfaces of an Antarctic research ship

BACKGROUND Few studies have focused on microbial diversity in indoor environments of ships, as well as the role of the microbiome and its ecological interconnections. In this study, we investigated the microbiome and virome present on the internal surfaces of a polar ship in different stages (beginning, during, and at the end) of the Brazilian Antarctic expedition in order to evaluate abundance of microorganisms in different periods. OBJECTIVES AND METHODS We used shotgun metagenomic analysis on pooled samples from sampling surfaces in the ship's interior to track the microbial diversity. FINDINGS Considering the total fraction of the microbiome, the relative abundance of bacteria, eukaryotes, viruses, and archaea was 83.7%, 16.2%, 0.04%, and 0.002%, respectively. Proteobacteria was the most abundant bacterial phyla, followed by Firmicutes, Actinobacteria, and Bacteroidetes. Concerning the virome, the greatest richness of viral species was identified during the middle of the trip, including ten viral families after de novo assembly: Autographiviridae, Chrysoviridae, Genomoviridae, Herelleviridae, Myoviridae, Partitiviridae, Podoviridae, Potyviridae, Siphoviridae, and Virgaviridae. MAIN CONCLUSIONS This study contributed to the knowledge of microbial diversity in naval transportation facilities, and variations in the abundance of microorganisms probably occurred due to factors such as the number of passengers and activities on the ship.

Molecular and morphological characterization of Contracaecum pelagicum (Nematoda) parasitizing Spheniscus magellanicus (Chordata) from Brazilian waters / Caracterização molecular e morfológica de Contracaecum pelagicum (Nematoda) parasito de Spheniscus magellanicus (Chordata) em águas brasileiras

Three new sequences of Mitochondrial cytochrome c-oxidase subunit 2 (mtDNA cox-2) from C. pelagicum parasite of Spheniscus magellanicus, the Magelanicus penguin, were determined from Brazilian waters. The sequences presented 99 and 98% of similarity with C. pelagicum sequences from Argentina, deposited on GenBank for the same genetic region and with a strong statistical support inferred from the phylogenetic tree. The morphological and ultrastructural studies that were carried out confirmed the genetic analysis.

Foram determinadas três novas sequências da região do Citocromo c-oxidase da subunidade II do DNA mitocondrial (cox-2 mtDNA) de Contracaecum pelagicum, parasito de Spheniscus magellanicus, pinguim Magalhães, de águas brasileiras. As sequências apresentaram 99 e 98% de similaridade com sequências de C. pelagicum da Argentina depositadas no GenBank da mesma região genética com forte suporte estatístico inferido pela arvore filogenética. Estudos morfológicos e ultraestruturais realizados confirmaram a identidade genética.

Degradation and detoxification of three textile Azo dyes by mixed fungal cultures from semi-arid region of Brazilian Northeast

The aim of this work was to study the degradation and detoxification of three textile azo dyes (Reactive Red 198, Reactive Red 141 and Reactive Blue 214) by mixed fungal cultures from semi-arid region of Brazilian Northeast. Sediment samples of twenty water reservoirs in the surroundings of Serra da Capivara National Park, area of environmental preservation in the caatinga in the State of Piauí, with semi-arid climate, were evaluated in order to select the consortia of fungi capable to degrade and detoxify these dyes. The mixed fungal culture from Caldeirão Escuridão (CE) reservoir was the most efficient in the degradation and detoxification of the dyes tested.

Diversidade de helmintos intestinais em mamíferos silvestres e domésticos na Caatinga do Parque Nacional Serra da Capivara, Sudeste do Piauí, Brasil / Diversity of wild and domestic mammal’s intestinal helminths from the Caatinga of the Parque Nacional Serra da Capivara, Southeast of Piauí, Brazil

Estudos sobre biodiversidade permitem avaliações ecossistêmicas e monitoramentos de impactos e mudanças ambientais. A diversidade parasitária pode refletir o processo coevolutivo entre parasitos e hospedeiros, e mudanças ambientais que permitem a perda, ganho ou a manutenção das espécies nesse processo. O presente trabalho utilizou espécies/morfotipos de ovos de helmintos encontrados em fezes de sete mamíferos silvestres (os grupos Dasypodidae e grandes felinos, e as espécies: Tamandua tetradactyla, Cebus apella, Alouatta caraya, Cerdocyon thous, Pecari tajacu) e dois domésticos (Canis familiaris e Sus scrofa), que cohabitam o Parque Nacional Serra da Capivara (PNSC) e seu entorno, para analisar a diversidade dos helmintos intestinais desses mamíferos. Neste trabalho, utilizou-se achados da fauna helmintológica de mamíferos silvestres e domésticos, para avaliar um possível luxo de helmintos entre estes dois grupos hospedeiros usando Unweighted Pair Group Method with Arithmetic Mean (UPGMA) dos hospedeiros com base na composição de suas faunas helmintológicas. Os resultados indicam que a região do PNSC, ainda mantém condições ambientais que ainda propiciam a manutenção da composição da fauna de helmintos de mamíferos silvestres, diferente da encontrada nos animais domésticos.

Biodiversity studies allow ecosystem assessment and monitoring of environmental changes and impacts. Parasite diversity could relect the host/ parasite coevolutionary process and the environment changes that permit the loss, gain or maintenance of species. his survey used species/morphotypes of helminths eggs found in feces from seven wild mammal species (the groups Dasypodidae and Large Cats, and Tamandua tetradactyla, Cebus apella, Alouatta caraya, Cerdocyon thous, Pecari tajacu) and from two domestic species (Canis familiaris and Sus scrofa), which occur within the Serra da Capivara National Park (PNSC) and surrounding areas in order to analise the diversity of mammal intestinal helminths. his work used the helminthological fauna indings of wild and domestic mammals, to consider a possible helminth lux between these two host groups using Unweighted Pair Group Method with Arithmetic Mean (UPGMA) of the hosts based on helminthological fauna composition. he results indicate that the region of the PNSC still maintains environmental conditions that still keep wild mammal helminthological fauna composition diferent from the one found for domestic mammals.