Biobank of fungi from marine and terrestrial Antarctic environments.

Harsh and extreme environments, such as Antarctica, offer unique opportunities to explore new microbial taxa and biomolecules. Given the limited knowledge on microbial diversity, this study aimed to compile, analyze and compare a subset of the biobank of Antarctic fungi maintained at the UNESP's Central of Microbial Resources (CRM-UNESP). A total of 711 isolates (240 yeasts and 471 filamentous fungi) from marine and terrestrial samples collected at King George Island (South Shetland Islands, Antarctica) were used with the primary objective of investigating their presence in both marine and terrestrial environments. Among the yeasts, 13 genera were found, predominantly belonging to the phylum Basidiomycota. Among the filamentous fungi, 34 genera were represented, predominantly from the phylum Ascomycota. The most abundant genera in the marine samples were Metschnikowia, Mrakia, and Pseudogymnoascus, while in the terrestrial samples, they were Pseudogymnoascus, Leucosporidium, and Mortierella. Most of the genera and species of the CRM-UNESP biobank of Antarctic fungi are being reported as an important target for biotechnological applications. This study showed the relevance of the CRM-UNESP biobank, highlighting the importance of applying standard methods for the preservation of the biological material and associated data (BMaD), as recommended in national and international standards.

Antarctic fungi applied to textile dye bioremediation.

Antarctica has one of the most hostile conditions on the planet. The environmental characteristics found in this region favor the development of extremophile microorganisms, which are poorly explored biotechnologically. In this context, this study aimed at selectively isolating fungi with potential for the bioremediation of a textile dye. A total of 11 filamentous fungi were isolated from Antarctic samples after incubation in Minimal Mineral medium with the addition of Sulphur Indigo Blue dye. The Antarctic-derived fungi were submitted to textile dye decolorization analysis and biomass production. Isolates LAMAI 2400 and LAMAI 2402 showed more than 90% of decolorization at 15 °C, whereas at 28 °C these isolates showed 81.86 and 98.89%, respectively. In general, the toxicity of the bioassays, evaluated using Cucumis sativus, was higher than in the control. Both isolates, LAMAI 2400 and LAMAI 2402, were identified as Penicillium cf. oxalicum and classified as mesophilic-psychrotolerant. This fungal species has rarely been reported in the Antarctic environments. The results presented herein indicate the potential of the fungi recovered from Antarctic marine sediments for bioremediation of textile dyes at low and moderate temperatures, broadening the perspectives in the field of Antarctic mycology.