A Terra Preta Antropogênica (TPA) tem essa denominação porque é encontrada em sítios arqueológicos, onde viveram grupos pré-históricos e é considerada um dos solos mais férteis do mundo. Nela é encontrada grande quantidade de material deixado por grupos indígenas como fragmentos cerâmicos, artefatos líticos, e especialmente carvão pirogênico. Estudos realizados com o carvão pirogênico verificaram que ele aumenta a capacidade de trocas catiônicas nesses solos. Por meio de microscopia de fluorencência, foi observada a presença de microrganismos habitando esse carvão, no entanto, não se sabe quais seriam. Devido à falta de informações sobre a diversidade bacteriana nessas estruturas, este trabalho estudou a diversidade bacteriana em amostras de carvão pirogênico de solos TPA coletadas nos sítios Lagoa Balbina (Amazônia Central- Amazonas) e Mina I (Amazônia Oriental - Pará), através de técnicas moleculares independentes de cultivo. O estudo visou também comparar essa diversidade com a encontrada no solo de onde carvão foi isolado. As estruturas de carvão foram separadas fisicamente dos solos e seu DNA genômico total extraído e usado como molde em reação de PCR utilizando oligonucleotídeos do gene 16S rRNA para o Domínio Bacteria. O produto da PCR foi clonado em vetor e os clones foram sequenciados e comparados com o banco de dados de 16S rRNA do RDPX. Com a construção das bibliotecas de clones do gene 16S rRNA a partir das amostras de carvão pirogênico observou-se que existe maior número de bactérias desconhecidas no carvão pirogênico do que no solo onde ele foi isolado. Acidobacteria foi o filo predominante nas bibliotecas de carvão pirogênico das duas localidades de estudo, assim como na biblioteca do solo do sítio Mina I. Já na biblioteca do solo do sítio Lagoa Balbina houve predominância do filo Firmicutes. Por meio do método de rarefação foi possível constatar uma menor riqueza de UTOs nas comunidades bacterianas presentes nas estruturas de carvão pirogênico quando comparado à riqueza de UTOs das comunidades bacterianas cujo habitat é o solo. Mas quando se compara a riqueza de UTOs entre as estruturas de carvão isoladas das duas localidades, observa-se que a riqueza é maior no sítio Mina I. Os valores obtidos com os índices de diversidade revelaram menor diversidade de UTOs nas bibliotecas obtidas para o carvão pirogênico das duas regiões estudadas se comparado dos valores para as bibliotecas obtidas do solo da mesma região. Os valores obtidos com os métodos não paramétricos revelaram maior riqueza de UTOs para as bibliotecas do carvão do sítio Mina I e solo TPA do sítio Balbina. A análise da PCA revelou que as bibliotecas do sítio Balbina mostraram-se altamente similares. Em adição, a análise com S-Libshuff, verificou que todas as bibliotecas comparadas são significativamente diferentes quanto à composição das comunidades bacterianas. O carvão pirogênico não é uma estrutura inerte, pois é capaz de ser habitado por diferentes bactérias e a sua estrutura da comunidade bacteriana é diferente daquela de onde ele foi segregado / Anthropogenic Dark Earth (ADE) has this denomination because it is found at archeological sites, where prehistoric groups lived, and it is considered one of the most fertile soils of the world. In this soil a great amount of material left by indigenous groups was found as ceramic fragments, lithic workmanships, and especially pyrogenic black carbon. Studies accomplished with the pyrogenic black carbon verified that it increases the capacity of cationic changes in soils. Through fluorescence microscopy, the presence of microorganisms was observed inhabiting that black carbon, however, this community is still unknown,due to the lack of information about the bacterial diversity in those structures.This work studied the bacterial diversity in samples of pyrogenic black carbon of ADE soils, collected at the sites Lagoa Balbina (Central Amazon) and Mina I (Oriental Amazon), through molecular techniques independent of cultivation. The study also sought to compare that diversity with the one of the soil where black carbon was isolated. The structures of black carbon were separate physically from the soils and total genomic DNA was extracted and used as template in a PCR reaction, using primers of the 16S rRNA gene for the Bacteria Domain. The PCR product was used for construction of clone libraries and the clones were sequenced and compared with the 16S rRNA of RDPX database. The 16S rRNA gene clone libraries from the samples of pyrogenic black carbon, it shown that is a larger number of unknown bacteria in the black carbon than in the soil where it was isolated. Acidobacteria was the predominant phylum in the pyrogenic black carbon libraries from the both studied places, as well as in the soil library from Mina I site. However in the library Lagoa Balbina site there was predominance of the phylum Firmicutes. Through the rarefaction method it was possible to verify a smaller richness of OTUs in the bacterial communities presents in the pyrogenic black carbon structures when compared to the OTUs richness of the bacterial soil communities.But, when the OTUs richness is compared among the isolated structures of pyrogenic black carbon of the two places, it is observed that the richness is higher in the Mina I site. The values from diversity indexes revealed smaller diversity of OTUs in the pyrogenic black carbon libraries when compared with the soil libraries for the two studied areas. The obtained values with the nonparametric methods revealed larger OTUs richness in the black carbon library of Mina I site and in the ADE soil library of the Balbina site. The PCA analysis showed that the libraries of the site Balbina site were highly similar. In addition, the analysis with S-Libshuff verified that all of the compared libraries were significantly different in bacterial communities composition. The pyrogenic black carbon is not an inert structure, once it is capable of being inhabited by different bacteria, and its bacterial community structure is different from that one where is was segregated

Um método baseado na extração de rRNA, seguido de RT-PCR rRNA 16S, clonagem e ARDRA foi otimizado e validado para a identificação das bactérias ativas em biofilmes. O método foi analisado primeiro com consórcios artificiais de três organismos. As etapas de clonagem e RT não causaram variações importantes na composição destes consórcios, do contrário da etapa de PCR, onde foi necessária a redução de 30 para 10 ciclos para limitar a distorção da proporção de templates. A análise de biofilmes reais indicou que clones dominantes podem ser identificados com o critério de ocorrência de >2% na biblioteca, mas que a reprodutibilidade de análises ainda é insatisfatória, possivelmente devido a fatores como a micro heterogeneidade espacial do biofilme, viés na reação de PCR e formação de mais de um clone de ARDRA por organismo. O armazenamento do biofilme a -20 °C por 2 meses não levou à alterações expressivas em sua composição. O perfil de clones detectado com o kit (Mo Bio) de extração de RNA foi muito diferente do perfil detectado com o método otimizado neste trabalho. / A method based on extraction of rRNA, followed by RT-PCR of 16S rRNA, cloning and ARDRA was optimized and validated for identification of bacteria active in biofilms. The method was first tested with artificial three-membered consortia. Cloning and RT did not lead to significant changes in the composition of the artificial consortia, but a reduction in cycle number in the PCR reaction from 30 to 10 was necessary for limiting the distortion in the proportion of amplicons relative to that of the templates. Analysis of real biofilms revealed that clones from active organisms occurred in frequencies >2% in the clone library, but reproducibility of analysis was unsatisfactory, probably due to factors such as the spatial heterogeneity of colonization of biofilms by microbes, PCR bias and more than one ARDRA clone per organism. Storage of biofilm samples at -20 °C for 2 months did not lead to important changes in composition. Very different clone profiles were obtained in the analysis of the same biofilm sample with the optimized method and with a kit (Mo Bio) for extraction of RNA.

O objetivo deste trabalho foi enriquecer consórcio microbiano a partir de mistura de lodo granular de digestor anaeróbio de fluxo ascendente sob condições fototróficas anoxigênicas. Por meio de técnica de biologia molecular foi possível identificar 17 unidades taxonômicas operacionais (UTO) no consórcio microbiano, dentre as quais seqüências similares a Rhodobacter, gênero amplamente citado nos estudos de produção de gás hidrogênio por bactérias fototróficas. Exames microscópicos do consórcio fototrófico indicaram predomínio de bacilos Gram-negativos. Ensaios sob condições fototróficas foram realizados com dois meios de cultivo (RCVB e FANG) e os seguintes substratos orgânicos: ácido acético, butírico, cítrico, lático e málico, empregados como fonte de carbono, tanto para o crescimento celular, como para a produção do gás hidrogênio. A relação C/N inicial foi 30/4 e posteriormente 15/2, com o objetivo de favorecer o crescimento celular e a produção do \'H IND.2\'. A concentração dos substratos foi determinada de forma com que essa relação se mantivesse a mesma. O crescimento celular e consumo dos ácidos orgânicos foram similares para os dois meios de cultivo empregados. Entretanto, a produção do gás hidrogênio foi maior nos ensaios com o meio FANG. Dentre os substratos utilizados o consumo dos ácidos cítrico e málico foram os maiores (~100%), para concentrações iniciais de 3,3 g/L e 2,6 g/L, respectivamente. O menor consumo 25% foi observado em meio RCVB e ácido acético (2,5 g/L). O crescimento da biomassa variou de 0,06 g/L a 1,1 g/L, enquanto que a velocidade máxima específica de crescimento variou de 0,4 a 0,2 g SSV/L.d entre os substratos utilizados. A menor e maior concentração de hidrogênio foram de 8,5 e 22 mmol \'H IND.2\'/L, para os reatores alimentados com ácido lático e málico em meio FANG, respectivamente. Pôde-se concluir que o consórcio fototrófico enriquecido foi capaz de utilizar os ácidos orgânicos para produção do gás hidrogênio. / The aim of this work was enrich a mixture of granular sludge of an up flow anaerobic sludge blanket (UASB) under anoxygenic phototrophic conditions. The techniques of molecular biology identified 17 operational taxonomic units (UTO) in the microbial consortium among the sequences analised, which were similar to Rhodobacter, genus widely cited in studies of hydrogen gas production by phototrophic bacteria. Microscopic examinations of the phototrophic consortium showed predominance of Gram-negative bacilli. Tests were conducted under phototrophic conditions with two culture media (RCVB and FANG) and the following organic substrates: acetic, butyric, citric, lactic and malic acids that were used as carbon source for both cell growth and for the hydrogen gas production. The carbon nitrogen ratio (C/N) in the preliminaries tests was 30/4 and then it was changed to15/2 in order to improve the cell growth and hydrogen production. The concentration of substrates was determined for remain the same carbon/nitrogen ratio among the substrates. The cell growth and consumption of organic acids were similar for the two culture media used. However, the production of hydrogen gas was higher in trials with the medium FANG. Among the substrates used, the consumption of malic and citric acids were the highest (~100%) for initial concentrations of 3.3 g/L and 2.6 g/L, respectively. The shortest consumption (25%) was observed for the cells that grew on acetic acid, 2.5 g/L in RCVB culture medium. The growth of the biomass varied from 0.06 g/L to 1.1 g/L, whereas the maximum specific growth rate ranged from 0.4 to 0.2 g VSS/L.d between the substrates used. The lowest and highest concentrations of hydrogen were 8.5 and 22 mmol \'H IND.2\'/L for the reactor fed with lactic acid and malic acid in FANG\'s medium, respectively. It was concluded that the phototrophic consortium was able to use those organic acids for the production of hydrogen gas.

Submitted by Liliane Ferreira (ljuvencia30@gmail.com) on 2018-04-02T14:29:46Z No. of bitstreams: 2 Dissertação - Marcus Vinícius Forzani Araújo - 2017.pdf: 1549598 bytes, checksum: 0807ed298bd63e9574018c8c399c3ca5 (MD5) license_rdf: 0 bytes, checksum: d41d8cd98f00b204e9800998ecf8427e (MD5) / Approved for entry into archive by Luciana Ferreira (lucgeral@gmail.com) on 2018-04-02T14:41:18Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 2 Dissertação - Marcus Vinícius Forzani Araújo - 2017.pdf: 1549598 bytes, checksum: 0807ed298bd63e9574018c8c399c3ca5 (MD5) license_rdf: 0 bytes, checksum: d41d8cd98f00b204e9800998ecf8427e (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2018-04-02T14:41:18Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 2 Dissertação - Marcus Vinícius Forzani Araújo - 2017.pdf: 1549598 bytes, checksum: 0807ed298bd63e9574018c8c399c3ca5 (MD5) license_rdf: 0 bytes, checksum: d41d8cd98f00b204e9800998ecf8427e (MD5) Previous issue date: 2017-10-13 / Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior - CAPES / Characterized as extremely important, the soil is a complex environment and it shelters a great diversity of microorganisms. However, little is known about the diversity and ecology of the soil microbiota. Thus, the first part of this dissertation reviews the methodological evolution used to characterize the diversity and abundance of microorganisms found in soil. The second part consists of the application of two methodologies reviewed in the previous chapter, serial dilution and solid medium plating, to estimate free-living nitrogen fixing microorganisms, and fumigation-extraction to estimate soil microbial biomass (BMS). The last part employs the most modern microbial soil characterization technique, the metagenomics of 16S rRNA. Hence, our initial hypothesis was that sugarcane fields’ soils would have better soil microbiological indicators than grasslands’ soils. The results confirmed that the hypothesis was partially correct, and it was possible to find about 140% more free-living diazotrophic colony-forming units (CFUs) and a 17% richer alpha diversity in sugarcane fields’ soils than in grasslands’ soils. The beta diversity between sugarcane plantations and pastures presented clear differences. However, sugarcane fields’ soils obtained about 25% less BMS than grasslands’ soils. In relation to the bacterial phyla, the grasslands have more Actinobacteria, Chloroflexi and Planctomycetes and sugarcane fields have a greater number of TM7 and bacteria that were not identified, being Proteobacteria and Acidobacteria the dominating phyla in both types of soil. Although the results of nitrogen fixers and microbial biomass appear to be conflicting, it is an indication that the diazotrophic community undergoes with a diverse biotic and abiotic influences than the total community of soil microorganisms, and thus respond differently. / Caracterizado como de extrema importância, o solo é um ambiente complexo e que abriga uma grande diversidade de micro-organismos. Entretanto ainda pouco se sabe sobre a diversidade e ecologia da microbiota do solo. Deste modo, a primeira parte desta dissertação revisa a evolução metodológica empregada para caracterizar a diversidade e abundância dos micro-organismos encontrados no solo. A segunda parte consiste na aplicação de duas metodologias revisadas no capítulo anterior, a de diluição seriada e plaqueamento em meio sólido, para estimar micro-organismos fixadores de nitrogênio de vida-livre, e a fumigação-extração, para estimar a biomassa microbiana do solo (BMS). E a última parte emprega a técnica mais moderna de caracterização das comunidades microbianas de solo, a técnica de metagenômica de 16S rRNA. À vista disso, a nossa hipótese inicial era que solos de canavial teriam indicadores microbiológicos de solo melhores do que solos de pastagem. Os resultados comprovaram que a hipótese estava parcialmente correta, sendo possível encontrar cerca de 140% a mais de Unidades Formadoras de Colônias (UFCs) de diazotróficos de vida-livre e uma diversidade alfa 17% mais rica em solos de canaviais do que em solos de pastagens. A diversidade beta entre canaviais e pastagens apresentou diferenças nítidas. Entretanto, os solos de canaviais obtiveram cerca de 25% a menos de biomassa microbiana do solo do que solos de pastagens. Em relação aos filos bacterianos, os pastos possuem mais Actinobacteria, Chloroflexi e Planctomycetes e canaviais possuem maior número de TM7 e bactérias que não foram identificados, sendo Proteobacteria e Acidobacteria os filos dominantes nos dois tipos de solo. Apesar de parecerem conflitantes os resultados de fixadores de nitrogênio e biomassa microbiana, é um indicativo de que a comunidade de diazotróficos sofrem influências bióticas e abióticas diversas do que a comunidade total de micro-organismos do solo, e desta forma, respondem de forma diferente.

Os microrganismos representam a forma de vida mais abundante e diversificada do planeta. A atividade agrícola leva a uma redução da biodiversidade do solo e a menor diversidade microbiana pode resultar na diminuição da ciclagem de nutrientes e no crescimento das plantas. Como forma de avaliar alterações na atividade microbiana e na estrutura das comunidades de bactérias do solo, decorrentes do cultivo da cana-de-açúcar, foram conduzidos dois experimentos. O primeiro, no município de Novo Horizonte (SP), com o objetivo de determinar ação da queima da cana-de-açúcar sobre a comunidade de bactérias do solo e o segundo experimento, nos municípios de Pirassununga (SP) e Jaboticabal (SP), com o objetivo de verificar o efeito da adubação nitrogenada sobre a comunidade bacteriana do solo. Amostras de terra foram coletadas nas profundidades 0-10 e 10-20 cm, na linha e entrelinha de plantio. No primeiro experimento foram utilizadas três cultivares de cana-de-açúcar (SP81-3250, SP80-1842 e RB72-454) sob os sistemas de manejo de colheita sem queima (mecanizada) e com queima (manual) prévia a colheita. Nesse experimento foram avaliadas a diversidade metabólica (Biolog) e a estrutura das comunidades bacterianas por meio da PCR-DGGE do gene rRNA 16S. A mudança no manejo de colheita da cana-de-açúcar provocou modificações no metabolismo heterotrófico do solo, alterando a diversidade metabólica. No entanto, não houve mudanças na estrutura das comunidades bacterianas do solo com e sem queima sob a variedade SP801842. Dessa forma, a primeira queima da cana-de-açúcar previamente à colheita alterou a capacidade e a diversidade metabólica microbiana, mas não mudou a estrutura das comunidades de bactérias em relação à área sem queima. No segundo experimento foram avaliadas amostras de terra, de duas áreas experimentais, sob cultivo de cana-de-açúcar (SP813250), com diferentes doses de N (0, 40, 80 e 120 kg de N ha-1) na forma de uréia, aplicadas no sulco de plantio. Para verificar possíveis alterações na comunidade bacteriana desses solos, foram avaliadas a estrutura das comunidades bacterianas por PCR-DGGE e a diversidade de bactérias oxidadoras de amônio (AOB), pelo seqüenciamento de bibliotecas do gene rRNA 16S, utilizando oligonucleotídeos iniciadores específicos. As doses de N alteraram a estrutura das comunidades bacterianas do solo nas duas áreas experimentais, determinadas por PCR-DGGE, entretanto, a adubação nitrogenada não alterou a diversidade de AOB no solo, das duas áreas. A estrutura da comunidade de AOB no solo da USA, sem adubação nitrogenada e com 80 kg de N ha-1 diferiu estatisticamente. Nas duas áreas, as unidades taxonômicas operacionais mais abundantes se relacionam filogeneticamente a Nitrosospira multiformes. / The microorganisms are the most abundant and diverse living creatures on earth. The agricultural practices reduce the soil biodiversity and a lower microbial diversity can result in a nutrient cycling and plant growth reduction. Two sugarcane crops experiments were investigated to evaluate modifications in the microbial activity and soil bacterial communities structure. The first of them was done at municipality of Novo Horizonte, Sao Paulo State (SP), and it has the aim to determine the sugarcane burn effects on soil bacterial community. The second experiment was introduced at municipalities of Pirassununga (SP) and Jaboticabal (SP) with the objective to verify the nitrogen fertilizing effect on soil bacterial community. The soil samples were taken in 0-10 cm and 10-20 cm depth, between and in the planting furrows. We used three sugarcane varieties (SP81-3250, SP80-1842 e RB72-454) in the first experiment under unburned and burned sugarcane pre-harvest. We evaluated metabolic diversity (Biolog) and the bacterial community structure performing PCR-DGGE of 16S rRNA gene in the first experiment. The sugarcane harvest management had modified the soil heterotrophic metabolism by altering its diversity. In spite of that, there is no difference between the burned and unburned soil bacterial communities under the variety SP80-1842. For that reason, the first year pre harvest burn altered the microbial metabolic diversity and capacity but did not change the bacterial community structure when related with unburned area. In the second experiment, soil samples under the SP81-3250 variety were analyzed from two sites. Each site received different levels of urea as nitrogen fertilization (0, 40, 80 e 120 kg de N ha-1) applied at planting furrows. The PCR-DGGE was applied to verify changes in the bacterial communities structure in these soils. The ammonia-oxidizing bacteria (AOB) diversity was evaluated by sequencing of 16S rRNA gene libraries after the amplification with specific primers. The levels of nitrogen fertilization altered the soil bacterial communities structure in both study sites, by PCRDGGE evaluation. However, the nitrogen application did not alter the soil AOB diversity in those two sites. The soil AOB community structure under no nitrogen and 80 kg N ha-1 application was different from the community structure under the other levels of fertilization in one of the two sites. The operational taxonomic unit are phylogenetically related to Nitrosospira multiformes in the two sites.

As cianobactérias caracterizam-se como o grupo de micro-organismos fotoautotrófico mais abundante encontrado nas regiões polares. Representantes deste grupo realizam a fotossíntese oxigênica e também podem fixar o nitrogênio atmosférico. A maioria dos levantamentos da comunidade de cianobactérias na Antártica tem sido realizada apenas por meio de observações microscópicas de amostras ambientais. O isolamento de linhagens e consequentes estudos fisiológicos, bem como, análises independentes de cultivo ainda são escassos. Neste estudo a comunidade de cianobactérias de duas ilhas oceânicas da Antártica foi investigada utilizando abordagens moleculares dependentes e independentes de cultivo. O papel ecológico das cianobactérias como fornecedoras de formas assimiláveis de nitrogênio e o potencial genético para biossíntese de produtos naturais também foi avaliado. Sessenta e oito linhagens de cianobactérias foram isoladas a partir de diferentes substratos coletados. Elas pertencem às ordens Chroococcales, Pseudanabaenales, Oscillatoriales e Nostocales, famílias Xenococcaceae, Dermocarpellaceae, Pseudanabaenaceae, Oscillatoriaceae, Nostocaceae, Microchaetaceae e Rivulariaceae. Análises filogenéticas baseadas nas sequências de RNAr 16S dessas cianobactérias revelou a existência de agrupamentos: formado exclusivamente por sequência de linhagem isolada nesse trabalho; composto por sequências antárticas oriundas desse e de outros trabalhos desenvolvidos em outras regiões antárticas; e por sequências originárias de diversas regiões do mundo. Quarenta e uma linhagens apresentaram fragmento do gene nifH, responsável pela codificação do complexo enzimático da nitrogenase, o qual está envolvido na fixação biológica do nitrogênio (FBN). Formas unicelulares (Chroococcales), homocitadas (Pseudanabaenales e Oscillatoriales) e heterocitadas (Nostocales) apresentaram potencial genético para realização da FBN, e 18 delas foram submetidas aos testes de redução de acetileno (ARA) com alta sensibilidade de detecção. Todas as linhagens testadas exibiram alguma atividade em resposta a diferentes concentrações de oxigênio e/ou a luminosidade em diferentes condições de temperatura. Filogeneticamente, as sequências do gene nifH apresentaram três padrões distintos de agrupamento, o que pode estar relacionado aos eventos evolutivos envolvidos na distribuição e ou manutenção deste gene. A presença de genes e ou regiões intergênicas evidenciaram o elevado potencial genético dessas linhagens para sintetizar produtos naturais com interesse biotecnológico. A abundância no número de cópias do gene nifH relacionado às cianobactérias nas amostras de biofilme reforça a importância desse grupo de microorganismos como fornecedor de formas reduzidas de N para o ambiente antártico. A análise da comunidade de cianobactérias por meio do sequenciamento do RNAr 16S de DNA metagenômico evidenciou predominância de UTOs relacionadas às ordens Nostocales, Oscillatoriales e Pseudanabaenales, famílias Pseudanabaenaceae, Phormidiaceae, Nostocaceae e Rivulariaceae. A árvore filogenética contendo as sequências de cianobactérias cultivadas e não-cultivadas mostrou que somente parte da comunidade presente em biofilmes foi acessada por isolamento, indicando a complementariedade entre as duas abordagens utilizadas na análise da comunidade de cianobactérias / Cyanobacteria are characterized as the most abundant group of photoautotrophic microorganisms found in the polar regions. Members of this group perform oxygenic photosynthesis and many of them can also fix atmospheric nitrogen. Investigations on the cyanobacterial community have been made mainly applying microscopic observations of environmental samples. Cyanobacterial isolation, physiological studies and cultureindependent analyses are scarce. In this study the cyanobacterial community from two oceanic islands in Antarctica was investigated using culture-dependent and independent approaches. Also, the ecological role of this group of microorganisms as nitrogen-fixing organisms and the genetic potential for biosynthesis of natural products were evaluated. Sixty-eight cyanobacterial strains were isolated from different environmental samples. They belong to the orders Chroococcales, Pseudanabaenales, Oscillatoriales and Nostocales, families Xenococcaceae, Dermocarpellaceae, Pseudanabaenaceae, Oscillatoriaceae, Nostocaceae, Microchaetaceae and Rivulariaceae. Phylogenetic analyses based on 16S rRNA sequences of these cyanobacteria revealed the existence of groups: exclusively formed by sequence of strain isolated in this work; intermixed sequences from this and other studies developed in other Antarctic regions; and sequences originated from different regions of the world. Fortyone cultured strains possess the nifH gene fragment encoding the nitrogenase enzyme complex, which is related to the biological nitrogen fixation (BNF). Unicellular (Chroococcales), homocytous (Pseudanabaenales and Oscillatoriales) and heterocytous forms (Nostocales) showed genetic potential for BNF, and 18 of them were subjected to acetylene reduction assay (ARA) coupled with a sensitive laser photoacoustic ethylene detector. All strains tested exhibited some nitrogenase activity in response to different concentrations of oxygen and or irradiance under different temperature conditions. Phylogenetically, the nifH gene sequences showed three distinct grouping patterns that may be related to the evolutionary events involved in the distribution and or maintenance of this gene. The presence of genes and or intergenic regions in these cyanobacterial strains underscores the genetic potential of them to synthesize natural products with biotechnological interest.The abundance of nifH gene copies related to cyanobacteria in biofilm samples highlights the importance of this group of microorganisms as suppliers of N reduced forms for Antarctic environment. The analysis of the cyanobacteria community revealed by 16S rRNA sequencing of metagenomic DNA showed a predominance of OTUs related to orders Nostocales, Oscillatoriales and Pseudanabaenales, families Pseudanabaenaceae, Phormidiaceae, Nostocaceae and Rivulariaceae. The phylogenetic tree containing Antarctic sequences from cultivated and uncultivated cyanobacteria showed that only part of this community in biofilms has been accessed by isolation, indicating the complementarity between the two approaches used in the analysis of cyanobacterial community

Algae are a group of highly diverse photosynthetic organisms found in variety of habitats. As the primary energy base in ecosystems, knowledge of the diversity and presence of certain algal lineages is paramount to our understanding of the trophic state of aquatic habitats. In recent years, the state of Florida has seen an increase of both marine and freshwater algal blooms. Similarly, filamentous algae have begun outcompeting vascular macrophytes throughout many of Florida’s springs as nutrient enrichment from anthropogenic sources increases. Traditionally, the Florida algal spring communities have been assessed using classic morphological methods, which may underrepresent the true biodiversity present. Therefore, the goal of this study was to conduct a more complete diversity assessment implementing next-generation sequencing techniques (NGS) with morphological analyses and culturing methods. While morphological methods identified a wide variety of algal taxa, belonging to 4 phyla (Bacillariophyta, Charophyta, Chlorophyta, and Cyanobacteria), next-generation sequencing techniques provided greater detail of the diatom community. This is particularly important as many diatom taxa are used as indicators of water quality. We noted discrepancies between these two methods, highlighting how NGS techniques may complement the use of morphological analyses when analyzing algal diversity in this system. Culturing methods also revealed the presence of two taxa new to science (Nodosilinea fontisand Brasilonema variegatus), indicating these springs may represent a potential source of novel cyanobacteria. Taken together, this study showcases Florida springs are rich in algal diversity and a combination of methods is required for more complete biodiversity assessments. Future studies implementing such methods will aid in the preservation and conservation of these ecosystems.

Nearly all deep-sea cephalopod life history studies have been completed by examination of specimens collected in the wild. Much of this work is like piecing together a puzzle; knowledge of the life history of many species remains fragmented and hence, taxonomically and phylogenetically confused. Molecular approaches and sequencing technologies are powerful tools for deciphering wild-type cephalopod life history and population dynamics. Use of molecular markers offers additional certainty for identifying specimens damaged during deep-sea collections and can elucidate often cryptic, intra- and interspecific diversity. The research presented in this study assessed broad genetic patterns of biodiversity in deep-sea cephalopods from the Gulf of Mexico and northwestern Atlantic Ocean. This study has two key objectives: [1] to examine intraspecies variation among regionally disjunct subpopulations, comparing collections separated by the Florida Peninsula, and [2] to examine intraspecies variation within deep-sea cephalopods in the Gulf of Mexico. Through Sanger sequencing marker genes COI, 16S rRNA, and 28S rRNA, this study has generated a genetic baseline characterization of deep-sea cephalopods in the Gulf of Mexico, assessed intraspecies genetic variation, and linked morphological identification with DNA barcodes, testing morphological hypotheses of species identification and naming. Results of investigating intraspecies variation within regionally disjunct subpopulations reveal there is no regional distinction between the Gulf of Mexico subpopulations of Vampyroteuthis infernalis, Pyroteuthis margaritifera, and Cranchia scabra, and the Bear Seamount subpopulations in the northwestern Atlantic Ocean. Results of investigating intraspecies variation within the Gulf of Mexico displayed potential for cryptic species, novel sequence records, and large expansions to sequence records for species known to inhabit the Gulf of Mexico. Analysis of intraspecies variation within the Gulf of Mexico facilitated identification of damaged specimens used for this study, but also revealed GenBank database issues of misidentified records, and outdated nomenclature in accession records. Because cephalopods play a central role in most oceanic ecosystems, characteristics like a short average life span and a rapid growth rate mean that cephalopod populations have the potential to serve as an invaluable reflection of ecosystem change.

The meals from many oilseed crops contain biocidal chemicals that are known to inhibit the growth and activity of several soil pathogens, though little is known concerning impacts on whole soil microbial communities. We investigated the effect of oilseed meals (SMs) from both brassicaceous plants, including mustard and camelina, as well as non-brassicaceous plants, including jatropha and flax, on P. omnivora (the casual agent of cotton root rot) in Branyon clay soil (at 1 and 5% application rates). We also investigated the effect of SMs from camelina, jatropha, flax, and wheat straw on microbial communities in Weswood loam soil. We also used four types of isothiocyanates (ITCs) including allyl, butyl, phenyl, and benzyl ITC to test their effects on P. omnivora growth on potato dextrose agar (PDA), as well as on soil microbial communities in a microcosm study. Community qPCR assays were used to evaluate relative abundances of soil microbial populations. Soil microbial community composition was determined through tag-pyrosequencing using 454 GS FLX titanium technology, targeting ITS and 16S rRNA gene regions for fungal and bacterial communities, respectively. The results showed that all tested brassicaceous and jatropha SMs were able to inhibit P. omnivora sclerotial germination and hyphal growth, with mustard SM being the most effective. Flax didn't show any inhibitory effects on sclerotial germination. All tested ITCs inhibited P. omnivora OKAlf8 hyphal growth, and the level of inhibition varied with concentration and ITC type. Total soil fungal populations were reduced by ITC addition, and microbial community compositions were changed following SM and ITC application. These changes varied according to the type of SM or ITC added. Our results indicated that SMs of several brassicaceous species as well as jatropha may have potential for reducing cotton root rot as well as some other pathogens. Different SMs releasing varied ITCs may result in differential impacts on soil microorganisms including some pathogens.

Human biotherapy (HBT) or fecal transplants have been shown to be an effective treatment for patients with recurrent Clostridium difficile infection (CDI). This study examines the microbial populations present in CDI patients pre- and post-HBT by extracting bacterial DNA from stool samples and performing pyrosequencing of the 16S rRNA gene. We then compared these microbial populations to those of the donors. We examined 19 pairs of patient samples, of which 14 were clinically cured of CDI, and 5 patients were failures. The successful treatment of CDI was associated with an increase in diversity and richness of the patient's fecal microbiome. The majority of those cured showed an increase in the proportion of Firmicutes and decrease in the proportion of Proteobacteria, although varying antibiotic exposure and innate variability between patients was observed. / MSc thesis / NSERC, CIHR, St. Joseph's Healthcare Hamilton