No description available.

Two broad communities can be distinguished in marine systems, those attached to amorphous aggregate material dispersed throughout the water column and those that are freely suspended in the water column (planktonic). It has been suggested that two distinct microbial populations are associated with each habitat due to phenotypic adaptation to the different conditions in aggregates and the surrounding water. The aim of this study was to investigate the diversity of aggregate-associated and planktonic marine ammonia oxidisers (AOBs - the organisms responsible for the rate limiting step in nitrification) in both natural environments and laboratory-reared systems and to determine whether aggregate material selected for particular groups of AOBs. Detection of AOBs relied heavily on the use of molecular analysis of extracted DNA. Thus, a preliminary study was performed to assess whether preferential lysis occurred when representatives of both genera within the B-subgroup AOBs {Nitrosospira multiformis and Nitrosomonas europaea) were exposed to lysis procedures commonly applied to marine samples. Minimal bias existed, with Nitrosomonas europaea proving to be less susceptible to lysis only when the lytic agents (sodium dodecyl sulphate and lysozyme) were absent or at concentrations 100-fold less than those applied in routine environmental extraction. Environmental populations of aggregate-associated and planktonic AOBs in the NW Mediterranean Sea were assessed in summer and winter at stations both within and beyond regions of fresh water inflow (the plume). Molecular analysis involved amplification, by the polymerase chain reaction, of 16S rRNA genes from extracted DNA using AOB-specific primers. Analysis of 16S rDNA sequences coupled with DGGE and specific probing revealed temporal and spatial effects in community structure of AOBs. In the summer, genus level selection of AOBs was observed with Nitrosospira dominating in the aggregate population and Nitrosomonas dominating in the planktonic phase. This was found in the surface waters of geographically distant sites within and outside the plume. Between-site differences were evident in the deeper waters with Nitrosospira-like sequences more abundant in plume diluted waters and Nitrosomonas like sequences more abundant outside this zone, while genus level selection between aggregate-associated and planktonic communities was not detected. In winter, a uniform pattern of AOB distribution emerged with an even distribution of two Nitrosospira sequences at each site on all aggregate and planktonic samples. The AOB community structure of sediment samples was not wholly resolved by application of direct molecular techniques and the culturable diversity was later examined by an enrichment-based approach. A laboratory-reared aggregate system was developed to assess the distribution and selection of inoculated pure and enrichment cultures of AOBs and to assess the effect of sampling technique on the observed community structure. Enclosed vessels containing North Sea water were rotated until aggregation of autochthonous particulate material formed discrete aggregates. No genus level selection of AOBs was observed in aggregate-associated and planktonic communities in North Sea water yet differences in the distribution of closely related sequences within cluster 1 Nitrosospira were observed between the two communities. Observed aggregate and planktonic community structure was affected by the method used to separate the two fractions. Active bacterial production was not necessary for aggregate formation if a pooled suspension of aggregates was sterilised and added to a medium of cell-free filtered sea water. Thus, the successful inoculation and retrieval of an N. multiformis culture within the cell free system suggested that it was appropriate for investigation of the colonisation dynamics of inoculated AOBs.

Symbiotic associations between animals and microbes are widespread in nature, yet the factors controlling the abundance and distributions of particular symbionts are mostly unknown. Vertically transmitted (VT) symbionts can invade host populations by providing net benefits to hosts. While most beneficial symbiotic interactions that have been characterized are nutritional, other major pathways likely exist that facilitate symbiont transmission within host populations. Natural enemies, for example, are important selective forces in shaping the life history of many invertebrates and hosts may benefit from collaborations with microbes to aid in their defense.In this dissertation I have addressed the role of VT, facultative (= secondary) symbionts (SS) of Acyrthosiphon pisum in mediating interactions with an important natural enemy, the parasitic wasp, Aphidius ervi. I found that, in a common genetic background, two A. pisum SS (R- and T-type SS) confer resistance to A. ervi, by causing mortality to developing wasp larvae. Defensive mutualisms with microbes provide a mechanism for the spread and persistence of VT symbionts.A. pisum superinfected with both R- and T-type SS were found to be more resistant to parasitism that those singly infected with either SS. Despite this added benefit to resistance, R + T-type superinfections were rare in a survey of A. pisum symbionts, likely attributable to severe fecundity costs. R-type densities increased dramatically in superinfected hosts and over-proliferation of SS may result in poor aphid performance. Thus, interactions among the symbionts themselves also likely play a critical role in determining the distributions of symbionts in nature.I also found that four T-type isolates from A. pisum, and one from another aphid species, all conferred resistance to parasitism in the same A. pisum host background. The levels of resistance varied greatly among isolates, including one that conferred nearly complete resistance. A single T-type isolate was also found to confer similar levels of resistance in five A. pisum backgrounds. These results indicate that SS-mediated resistance is a general phenomenon in A. pisum and that the SS isolate is more important in determining the level of resistance than is the aphid genotype or interaction between isolate and aphid genotype.

Made available in DSpace on 2014-12-17T14:05:19Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 DelanneCSSF_TESE.pdf: 5733269 bytes, checksum: db8ba3b543c1bd1c178d56cb6e6335bb (MD5) Previous issue date: 2011-09-08 / The sequencing of the genome of Chromobacterium violaceum identified one single circular chromosome of 4.8 Mb, in which approximately 40% of the founded ORFs are classified as hypothetical conserved or hypothetical. Some genic regions of biotechnological and biological interest had been characterized, e. g., environmental detoxification and DNA repair genes, respectively. Given this fact, the aim of this work was to identify genes of C. violaceum related to stress response, as the ones involved with mechanisms of DNA repair and/or genomic integrity maintenance. For this, a genomic library of C. violaceum was built in Escherichia coli strain DH10B (RecA-), in which clones were tested to UVC resistance, resulting in five candidates clones. In the PLH6A clone were identified four ORFs (CV_3721 to 3724). Two ORFs, CV_3722 and CV_3724, were subcloned and a synergic complementation activity was observed. The occurrence of an operon was confirmed using cDNA from C. violaceum in a RT-PCR assay. Further, it was observed the induction of the operon after the treatment with UVC. Thus, this operon was related to the stress response in C. violaceum. The mutagenesis assay with rifampicin after the treatment with UVC light showed high frequency of mutagenicity for the ORF CV_3722 (Pol III ? subunit). In this way, we propose that the C. violaceum ? subunit can act in DH10B in the translesion synthesis using Pol IV in a RecA independent-manner pathway. In growth curve assays other four clones (PLE1G, PLE7B, PLE10B and PLE12H) were able to complement the function at the dose 5 J/m2 and in mutagenicity assays PLE7B, PLE10B and PLE12H showed frequencies of mutation with significant differences upon the control (DH10B), demonstrating that in some way they are involved with the stress response in C. violaceum. These clones appear to be interrelated, probably regulated by a messenger molecule (eg., nucleotide c-di-GMP) and/or global regulatory molecule (eg., ?S subunit of RNA polymerase).The results obtained contribute for a better genetic knowledge of this specie and its response mechanisms to environmental stress. / O seq?enciamento do genoma da esp?cie Chromobacterium violaceum identificou um cromossomo simples circular de 4.8 Mb, no qual aproximadamente 40% das ORFs encontradas s?o classificadas como hipot?ticas conservadas ou hipot?ticas. Algumas regi?es g?nicas de interesse biotecnol?gico e biol?gico v?m sendo caracterizadas, como por exemplo, genes de detoxifica??o ambiental e genes de reparo de DNA, respectivamente. Diante disso, o objetivo deste trabalho foi identificar genes de C. violaceum envolvidos com a resposta ao estresse, como por exemplo, mecanismos de reparo de DNA e/ou manuten??o da integridade gen?mica. Para tanto, foi constru?da uma biblioteca gen?mica de C. violaceum na cepa DH10B de Escherichia coli (RecA-), a qual foi testada para clones resistentes a UVC, resultando na sele??o de cinco clones candidatos. Foram identificadas quatro ORFs (CV_3721 a 3724) no clone PLH6A. Das quais, as ORFs CV_3722 e CV_3724, foram subclonadas e uma atividade sin?rgica de complementa??o foi observada. A ocorr?ncia de um operon foi confirmada usando cDNA de C. violaceum em ensaio de RT-PCR. Adicionalmente, foi observada a indu??o do operon ap?s tratamento com UVC, dessa forma, esse operon foi relacionado ? resposta ao estresse em C. violaceum. Ensaios de mutag?nese com rifampicina ap?s tratamento com luz UVC mostraram alta freq??ncia de mutagenicidade para a ORF CV_3722, subunidade ? da Polimerase III. Assim, propomos que esta subunidade de C. violaceum pode agir em DH10B na s?ntese transles?o utilizando Pol IV em uma via RecA independente. Em ensaios de viabilidade outros quatro clones (PLE1G, PLE7B, PLE10B e PLE12H) foram capazes de complementar a fun??o na dose de 5 J/m2. E em ensaios de mutagenicidade PLE7B, PLE10B e PLE12H apresentaram freq??ncias de muta??o com diferen?as significativas em rela??o ao controle (DH10B), demonstrando que de alguma forma eles est?o envolvidos na resposta ao estresse em C. violaceum. Estes clones parecem estar inter-relacionados, provavelmente, regulados por mol?cula mensageira (como o nucleot?deo c-di-GMP) e/ou mol?cula regulat?ria global (como a subunidade ?S da RNA Polimerase). Os resultados obtidos contribuem para um melhor conhecimento da gen?tica desta esp?cie e de seus mecanismos de resposta ao estresse ambiental. / 2020-01-01

Modern microbialites are carbonate-precipitating microbial mats and represent the closest living analogues to ancient stromatolites. These ancient carbonate formations are the oldest fossil evidence of life on Earth; however, our comprehension of their relationship to early earth ecosystems relies heavily on understanding the formation of modern microbialites. Research regarding these formation processes has suggested that chemical constraints of CaCO 3 precipitation vary on sub-millimeter spatial scales within the living microbial community. In an attempt to shed light on the importance of these chemical microenvironments, this study focused on understanding the spatial distribution of the organisms and processes involved in the formation of modern microbialites. This was accomplished by isolating five visually distinct layers from the upper 2 – 3 cm of an actively forming microbialite found in the freshwater system of Cuatro Ciénegas, Mexico. Each layer was analyzed using genomic, molecular organic, and stable isotopic techniques. Bacterial diversity was determined by 16S rRNA gene analyses, lipid biomarker content was detected by GC-MS, and carbon isotope composition of organic matter and CaCO 3 were used as indicators of specific microbial processes. Results of the 16S rRNA gene analysis showed that there is little overlap in the community composition of individual layers. Approximately 90% of the ribotypes identified in the microbialite were unique to a single layer. Furthermore, the relative accretion of CaCO 3 at each layer was used to connect the distribution of organisms and processes with two specific zones of CaCO 3 precipitation. The first zone of CaCO3 accretion, which accounted for approximately 55% of total CaCO 3 accumulation, is found in the surface two layers of the microbialites and dominated by photoautotrophic cyanobacteria and algae. The second zone of CaCO 3 precipitation, found at the interior (layers 4 and 5), is composed primarily of heterotrophic proteobacteria and dominated by sulfate-reducing !-proteobacteria. The lipid content of the microbialite reflected the community structure as determined by genomics. Numerous photosynthetic biomarkers were detected and decreased in abundance with depth, indicating the important function of heterotrophic degradation. Additionally, the detection of sulfurized phytol compounds in layer 5 highlighted an important mechanism for the preservation of biogenic signatures, and reflected both the abundance of phototrophic organisms and sulfatereducing bacteria. In combination, these interdisciplinary analyses provided an understanding of microbial community composition and metabolism while indicating the spatial relationship to CaCO 3 formation and the preservation of distinct biochemical signatures. !

Genes encoding proteins that carry out essential informational tasks in the cell, in particular where multiple interaction partners are involved, are less likely to be transferable to a foreign organism. Here, we investigated the constraints on transfer of a gene encoding a highly conserved informational protein, translation elongation factor Tu (EF-Tu), by systematically replacing the endogenous tufA gene in the Escherichia coli genome with its extant and ancestral homologs. The extant homologs represented tuf variants from both near and distant homologous organisms. The ancestral homologs represented phylogenetically resurrected tuf sequences dating from 0.7 to 3.6 billion years ago (bya). Our results demonstrate that all of the foreign tuf genes are transferable to the E. coli genome, provided that an additional copy of the EF-Tu gene, tufB, remains present in the E. coli genome. However, when the tufB gene was removed, only the variants obtained from the gammaproteobacterial family (extant and ancestral) supported growth which demonstrates the limited functional interchangeability of E. coli tuf with its homologs. Relative bacterial fitness correlated with the evolutionary distance of the extant tuf homologs inserted into the E. coli genome. This reduced fitness was associated with reduced levels of EF-Tu and reduced rates of protein synthesis. Increasing the expression of tuf partially ameliorated these fitness costs. In summary, our analysis suggests that the functional conservation of protein activity, the amount of protein expressed, and its network connectivity act to constrain the successful transfer of this essential gene into foreign bacteria. IMPORTANCE Horizontal gene transfer (HGT) is a fundamental driving force in bacterial evolution. However, whether essential genes can be acquired by HGT and whether they can be acquired from distant organisms are very poorly understood. By systematically replacing tuf with ancestral homologs and homologs from distantly related organisms, we investigated the constraints on HGT of a highly conserved gene with multiple interaction partners. The ancestral homologs represented phylogenetically resurrected tuf sequences dating from 0.7 to 3.6 bya. Only variants obtained from the gammaproteobacterial family (extant and ancestral) supported growth, demonstrating the limited functional interchangeability of E. coli tuf with its homologs. Our analysis suggests that the functional conservation of protein activity, the amount of protein expressed, and its network connectivity act to constrain the successful transfer of this essential gene into foreign bacteria.

We present research investigating how, with in depth knowledge of the community, microbial communities may be harnessed for bioremediation of hazardous water contaminants. We focused on the bacterial reduction of perchlorate, a common water contaminant. For this we studied the structure and capabilities of a novel sulfur-utilizing, perchlorate-reducing bacterial (SUPeRB) consortium. Initially, we characterized the minimal consortium that retained functional capabilities, using 16S rRNA and functional gene analysis. A diverse functional consortium dominated by Beta-Proteobacteria of the family Rhodocyclaceae and sulfur-oxidizing Epsilon-Proteobacteria was found. We also examined the optimal growth conditions under which perchlorate degradation occurred and uncovered the upper limits of this function. Bacterial isolates were screened for function and the presence of functional genes. We expanded to bioreactor studies at bench- and pilot-scale, and first used a perchlorate-reducing, bench-scale bioreactor to probe the stability of the microbial ecosystem. During stable reactor function, a core consortium of Beta- and Epsilon-Proteobacteria reduced perchlorate and the co-contaminant nitrate. A disturbance of the vi consortium led to a failure in function and to higher system diversity. This suggests that the SUPeRB consortium was not metabolically flexible and high population diversity was necessary for a return to stable function. In a pilot-scale bioreactor we determined that the SUPeRB consortium could stably degrade low levels of perchlorate to below the EPA maximum recommended limit. Field conditions, such as temperature extremes and intermittent perchlorate feed, did not negatively impact overall function. When all reactor consortia were compared we observed that the volume of the reactor and the initial inoculum were not as important to stable reactor function as the acclimatization of the consortium to the system and maintenance of favorable conditions within the reactor. In summary we found that the SUPeRB consortium successfully degraded perchlorate in multiple systems. The study of this novel consortium expands our knowledge of the metabolic capabilities of perchlorate-reducing bacteria and suggests potential evolutionary pathways for perchlorate-reduction by microorganisms. The SUPeRB consortium may be used to establish bioremediation systems for perchlorate and other environmental contaminants.

Neste estudo avaliou-se a remoção e degradação de surfactante aniônico linear alquilbenzeno sulfonado (LAS) e compostos orgânicos xenobióticos em água residuária de lavanderia comercial em reator anaeróbio de leito fluidificado (RALF) preenchido com areia como material suporte, em escala de bancada (1,2 L), bem como a comunidade microbiana do biofilme e biomassa do separador de fases ao final da operação. O reator foi inoculado com lodo proveniente de reator UASB utilizado no tratamento de dejetos de suinocultura e alimentado com substrato sintético acrescido de água residuária de lavanderia comercial. Caracterização da água residuária, análises de monitoramento da concentração de LAS e matéria orgânica, além de outros parâmetros físico-químicos foram realizadas durante as etapas de operação do sistema. Essa operação foi dividida em cinco etapas: I adaptação da biomassa (575±28mg.L-1 de DQO), II (9,5±3 mg.L-1 de LAS e 637±80mg.L-1 de DQO), III (23,3±8mg.L-1 de LAS e 686±92 mg.L-1 de DQO), IV (21,7±10mg.L-1 de LAS e 691±103 mg.L-1 de DQO), V (27,9±9,6mg.L-1 de LAS e 666±161mg.L-1 de DQO). Aplicação das técnicas de PCR/DGGE e pirosequenciamento da região do rRNA 16S foi realizada para constatar a diversidade microbiana nas etapas IV (com sacarose) e V (sem sacarose). Por meio da caracterização da água residuária de lavanderia comercial foi evidenciado grande variação na concentração de diversos parâmetros, principalmente matéria orgânica (704 mg.L-1 a 4.830 mg.L-1) e LAS (12,2 mg.L-1 a 11.949 mg.L-1). A eficiência média de remoção de matéria orgânica e LAS foi 88% e 60%, respectivamente, durante toda operação do reator. As populações dos Domínios Archaea e Bacteria foram 54% e 45%, similares, respectivamente, para a biomassa da Etapa IV e Etapa V. Por meio da análise de pirosequenciamento das amostras das Etapas IV e V da areia e separador de fases do reator foram identificados 92 gêneros dos quais 24 foram relacionados com a degradação de LAS (Bdellovibrio, Ferruginibacter, Gemmatimonas, etc.). / In this study the removal and degradation of anionic surfactant linear alkylbenzene sulfonate (LAS) and xenobiotic organic compounds in a commercial laundry wastewater was evaluated in anaerobic fluidized bed reactor (AFBR) filled with sand as support material, in a bench scale (1, 2 L), as well as the microbial community of the biofime and phase separator biomass at the end of the operation. The reactor was inoculated with sludge from a UASB reactor used in the swine manure treatment and fed with synthetic substrate plus commercial laundry wastewater. Wastewater characterisation, monitoring analyzes of LAS, organic matter and other physico-chemical parameters were performed during the stages of system operation. This operation was divided into five stages: Stage I - biomass adaptation (575 ± 28mg L-1 of COD), Stage II (9.5 ± 3 mg L-1 of LAS and 637 ± 80 mg L-1 of COD ), Stage III (23.3 ± 8 mg L-1 of LAS and 686 ± 92 mg L-1 of COD), Stage IV (21.7 ± 10 mg L-1 of LAS and 691 ± 103 mg L-1 of COD), Stage V (27.9 ± 9.6 mg L-1 of LAS and 666 ± 161 mg L-1 of COD). Application of PCR/DGGE and pyrosequencing of the 16S rRNA region was performed to verify the microbial diversity in the operational phase IV (with sucrose) and V (without sucrose). Through the commercial laundry wastewater characterization a wide variation in several parameters concentration was shown, mainly organic matter (704mg L-1 to 4.830mg L-1) and LAS (12.2mg L-1 to 11.949mg L-1). The average removal efficiency of organic matter and LAS was 88% and 60%, respectively, throughout the reactor operation. The populations of the Archaea and Bacteria Domains were 54% and 45% similar, respectively, for Stages IV and V biomass. By pyrosequencing analysis of sand and phase separator samples from the Stages IV and V, 92 genera of which 24 were related to the degradation of LAS (Bdellovibrio, Ferruginibacter, Gemmatimonas, Holophaga, Magnetospirillum, Zoogloea, etc.) were identified.

Neste estudo avaliou-se a remoção e degradação de surfactante aniônico linear alquilbenzeno sulfonado (LAS) e compostos orgânicos xenobióticos em água residuária de lavanderia comercial em reator anaeróbio de leito fluidificado (RALF) preenchido com areia como material suporte, em escala de bancada (1,2 L), bem como a comunidade microbiana do biofilme e biomassa do separador de fases ao final da operação. O reator foi inoculado com lodo proveniente de reator UASB utilizado no tratamento de dejetos de suinocultura e alimentado com substrato sintético acrescido de água residuária de lavanderia comercial. Caracterização da água residuária, análises de monitoramento da concentração de LAS e matéria orgânica, além de outros parâmetros físico-químicos foram realizadas durante as etapas de operação do sistema. Essa operação foi dividida em cinco etapas: I adaptação da biomassa (575±28mg.L-1 de DQO), II (9,5±3 mg.L-1 de LAS e 637±80mg.L-1 de DQO), III (23,3±8mg.L-1 de LAS e 686±92 mg.L-1 de DQO), IV (21,7±10mg.L-1 de LAS e 691±103 mg.L-1 de DQO), V (27,9±9,6mg.L-1 de LAS e 666±161mg.L-1 de DQO). Aplicação das técnicas de PCR/DGGE e pirosequenciamento da região do rRNA 16S foi realizada para constatar a diversidade microbiana nas etapas IV (com sacarose) e V (sem sacarose). Por meio da caracterização da água residuária de lavanderia comercial foi evidenciado grande variação na concentração de diversos parâmetros, principalmente matéria orgânica (704 mg.L-1 a 4.830 mg.L-1) e LAS (12,2 mg.L-1 a 11.949 mg.L-1). A eficiência média de remoção de matéria orgânica e LAS foi 88% e 60%, respectivamente, durante toda operação do reator. As populações dos Domínios Archaea e Bacteria foram 54% e 45%, similares, respectivamente, para a biomassa da Etapa IV e Etapa V. Por meio da análise de pirosequenciamento das amostras das Etapas IV e V da areia e separador de fases do reator foram identificados 92 gêneros dos quais 24 foram relacionados com a degradação de LAS (Bdellovibrio, Ferruginibacter, Gemmatimonas, etc.). / In this study the removal and degradation of anionic surfactant linear alkylbenzene sulfonate (LAS) and xenobiotic organic compounds in a commercial laundry wastewater was evaluated in anaerobic fluidized bed reactor (AFBR) filled with sand as support material, in a bench scale (1, 2 L), as well as the microbial community of the biofime and phase separator biomass at the end of the operation. The reactor was inoculated with sludge from a UASB reactor used in the swine manure treatment and fed with synthetic substrate plus commercial laundry wastewater. Wastewater characterisation, monitoring analyzes of LAS, organic matter and other physico-chemical parameters were performed during the stages of system operation. This operation was divided into five stages: Stage I - biomass adaptation (575 ± 28mg L-1 of COD), Stage II (9.5 ± 3 mg L-1 of LAS and 637 ± 80 mg L-1 of COD ), Stage III (23.3 ± 8 mg L-1 of LAS and 686 ± 92 mg L-1 of COD), Stage IV (21.7 ± 10 mg L-1 of LAS and 691 ± 103 mg L-1 of COD), Stage V (27.9 ± 9.6 mg L-1 of LAS and 666 ± 161 mg L-1 of COD). Application of PCR/DGGE and pyrosequencing of the 16S rRNA region was performed to verify the microbial diversity in the operational phase IV (with sucrose) and V (without sucrose). Through the commercial laundry wastewater characterization a wide variation in several parameters concentration was shown, mainly organic matter (704mg L-1 to 4.830mg L-1) and LAS (12.2mg L-1 to 11.949mg L-1). The average removal efficiency of organic matter and LAS was 88% and 60%, respectively, throughout the reactor operation. The populations of the Archaea and Bacteria Domains were 54% and 45% similar, respectively, for Stages IV and V biomass. By pyrosequencing analysis of sand and phase separator samples from the Stages IV and V, 92 genera of which 24 were related to the degradation of LAS (Bdellovibrio, Ferruginibacter, Gemmatimonas, Holophaga, Magnetospirillum, Zoogloea, etc.) were identified.

A obesidade é considerada uma doença multifatorial e pode envolver, em sua gênese, aspectos genéticos, metabólicos, ambientais, psicológicos e socioeconômicos. O crescimento expressivo da incidência mundial da obesidade desencadeia o surgimento contínuo de novas pesquisas em relação a esse tema e, nesse contexto, estudos recentes sugerem que a microbiota intestinal é um fator que pode contribuir com o desenvolvimento desta doença. Assim, existe a premissa que a alteração da composição da microbiota intestinal pode ser influenciada pelo estado nutricional (obesidade x eutrofia) e pela qualidade da alimentação. O presente estudo teve como objetivos: i. comparar a proporção dos filos predominantes da microbiota intestinal Firmicutes, Bacteroidetes, Actinobacteria, Proteobacteria, Verrucomicrobia e a razão Firmicutes/Bacteroidetes entre mulheres com obesidade grau III e mulheres eutróficas, e ii. investigar o impacto de uma dieta hipocalórica para perda de peso na composição da microbiota intestinal. Estudo prospectivo longitudinal, no qual foram selecionadas 20 mulheres com média de idade 33±3,1 anos, as quais foram divididas em dois grupos: Grupo Intervenção (GI): 10 mulheres com obesidade grau III (Índice de Massa Corporal (IMC) >40 kg/m2) que foram submetidas à intervenção nutricional (dieta hipocalórica) durante 8 semanas e Grupo Controle (GC):10 mulheres eutróficas (IMC entre 18,5 a 24,9 kg/m2). No GI, as coletas foram realizadas antes e após oito semanas da intervenção (GI) e, no GC em um único momento. Em cada momento, foram aferidos o peso e estatura; realizado o cálculo do IMC, análise composição corporal, taxa metabólica de repouso, consumo alimentar, glicemia e lipidograma, e coleta de amostra fecal. A análise da composição da microbiota intestinal em relação à abundância relativa dos Filos foi realizada por reação em cadeia da polimerase em tempo real (qPCR). Após oito semanas de dieta hipocalórica, houve redução do peso (119,5±10,3 para 114,9±10,2 kg), IMC (43,6±2,4 para 41,9±2,6 kg/m2), massa corporal gorda (MG) (62,4±7,5 para 58,9±7,7 kg), triglicérides (TG) (143,2±60,9 para 117,94±48,3 mg/dL). Evidenciou-se que mulheres com obesidade apresentam menor abundância dos filos pesquisados em relação às eutróficas. Ainda, a dieta hipocalórica promoveu diminuição da abundância relativa do filo Proteobacteria, o qual apresentou correlações positivas com a ingestão de lipídio total (%), ômega 6 (g). Conclui-se que a intervenção com dieta hipocalórica foi eficaz na redução de peso, IMC, MG e TG e na modulação da microbiota intestinal, com a diminuição do filo Proteobacteria / Obesity is considered a multifactorial disease and it may involve, in its genesis, genetic, metabolic, environmental, psychological and socioeconomic aspects. The expressive growth of a worldwide incidence of obesity triggers the continual emergence of new researches on this subject and, in this context, recent studies have suggested that the intestinal microbiota is a factor that may contribute to the development of this disease. Thus, there is the premise that the changes in the composition of the intestinal microbiota can be influenced by the nutritional status (obesity x eutrophy) and by the diet quality.The present study aimed at: i. comparing the proportion of the predominant phyla of the intestinal microbiota Firmicutes, Bacteroidetes, Actinobacteria, Proteobacteria, Verrucomicrobia and ratio Firmicutes/Bacteroidetes among degree III obese women and eutrophic women, and ii. investigating the impact of a low-calorie diet for weight loss on the intestinal microbiota composition. This was a longitudinal prospective study in which 20 women at the average age of 33 ± 3.1 years old were selected and divided into two groups: Intervention Group (IG): 10 women with grade III obesity (Body Mass Index (BMI) > 40 kg / m2) who were submitted to a nutritional intervention (a low-calorie diet) for 8 weeks, and the Control Group (CG): 10 eutrophic women (BMI from 18.5 to 24.9 kg / m2) who were not submitted to any intervention. In the IG, sampling was carried out before and after the eight-week intervention (IG) and in the CG it was carried out only in a single moment. At each sampling, weight and height were checked; BMI was calculated, body composition was analyzed, resting metabolic rate, food intake, fasting blood glucose, and lipidogram tests were performed, and fecal sample collected. The analysis of the intestinal microbiota composition in relation to a relative abundance of every phila was performed by real-time polymerase chain reaction (qPCR). After eight weeks of a low-calorie diet, some of the observed results were weight reduction (119.5 ± 10.3 to 114.9 ± 10.2 kg), BMI (43.6 ± 2.4 to 41.9 ± 2.6 kg / m2), fat body mass (FM) (62.4 ± 7.5 to 58.9 ± 7.7 kg), triglycerides (TG) (143.2 ± 60.9 to 117.94 ± 48.3 mg / dL). It was evidenced that obese women present a lower abundance of the studied phyla in relation to the eutrophic ones. Moreover, the lowcalorie diet promoted a decrease in the relative abundance of Proteobacteria phylum, which presented positive correlations with the intake of total lipid (%) and omega 6 (g). It was concluded that the intervention with a low-calorie diet was effective in reducing BMI, FM and TG and in modulating the intestinal microbiota, by reducing Proteobacteria phylum