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In the present study, we surveyed the distribution and diversity of fungal assemblages associated with 10 species of marine animals from Antarctica. The collections yielded 83 taxa from 27 distinct genera, which were identified using molecular biology methods. The most abundant taxa were Cladosporium sp. 1, Debaryomyces hansenii, Glaciozyma martinii, Metschnikowia australis, Pseudogymnoascus destructans, Thelebolus cf. globosus, Pseudogymnoascus pannorum, Tolypocladium tundrense, Metschnikowia australis, and different Penicillium species. The diversity, richness, and dominance of fungal assemblages ranged among the host; however, in general, the fungal community, which was composed of endemic and cold-adapted cosmopolitan taxa distributed across the different sites of Antarctic Peninsula, displayed high diversity, richness, and dominance indices. Our results contribute to knowledge about fungal diversity in the marine environment across the Antarctic Peninsula and their phylogenetic relationships with species that occur in other cold, temperate, and tropical regions of the World. Additionally, despite their extreme habitats, marine Antarctic animals shelter cryptic and complex fungal assemblages represented by endemic and cosmopolitan cold-adapted taxa, which may represent interesting models to study different symbiotic associations between fungi and their animal hosts in the extreme conditions of Antarctica.

The use of algal biomass as bioproducts source has been studied; in fact, some species produce a high amount of carbohydrates, proteins, pigments and oils, and such species could be used for the production of several products, even nutraceuticals and biofuels. To evaluate this potential, the biochemical composition of macroalgae collected along the Brazilian coast, including 14 species of Rhodophyta, 4 of Chlorophyta, and 7 of Phaeophyceae, was investigated. Photosynthesis was estimated for species belonging to the most representative orders in order to evaluate its relationship to macromolecule biosynthesis. There was a wide variation in the content of lipids, carbohydrates and proteins, and the highest values were found in the species Dictyota menstrualis (Hoyt) Schnetter, Horning & Weber-Peukert, Gracilaria mammillaris (Montagne) M.A.Howe, and Aglaothamnion uruguayense (W.R. Taylor) Aponte, D.L. Ballantine & J.N.Norris, respectively. The content of phycobiliproteins was also higher in this last species. Results showed that D. menstrualis to be the best source for biodiesel production based on its high photosynthetic rate, high content of lipids and fatty acids, and high content of monounsaturated fatty acids. Spatoglossum schroederi (C.Agardh) Kutzing showed a high content of polyunsaturated fatty acids and ω-3, making it interesting for nutraceutical application. A distinct pattern among the different groups of macroalgae in relation to photosynthesis and biosynthesis of macromolecules was also observed, suggesting that different strategies should be undertaken to divert algae metabolism to the production of the metabolite of interest.

Species of the genus Gracilaria are widely distributed around the world, and many are wild harvested and cultivated for phycocolloid production (agar) and human food. This study investigated the growth performance of three color strains of Gracilaria domingensis in an integrated organic system. The three chromatic variants (red, green, and brown) were cultured in a shrimp farm at two depths (surface and 20 cm). The highest relative growth rates were obtained in the first week of cultivation for all three strains studied. Although the growth rates and biomass were slightly higher at a depth of 20 cm, significant differences were not observed at different depths (p

Radiation continuously varies in the environment, exposing phototrophic organisms to diverse compositions and ratios among photosynthetically active radiation (PAR), UV-A (Ultraviolet A radiation) and UV-B (Ultraviolet B radiation). In this sense, UV radiation can control, either positively or negatively, the physiology and metabolism of marine organisms in intertidal areas. Our study focused on the exposure of Gracilaria tenuistipitata to variable combinations of radiation, evaluating its physiology, photoprotective strategies and DNA damage under each condition. To accomplish this, algal apical fragments were acclimated to three radiation treatments (PAR, PAR + UV-A and PAR + UV-A + UV-B) for one week. Thereafter, PAR-acclimated samples were moved to PAR (control), PAR + UV-A + UV-B and PAR + UV-B. PAR + UV-A-acclimated samples were moved to PAR + UV-A (control), PAR + UV-A + UV-B and PAR + UV-B, and PAR + UVR-acclimated thalli were placed in PAR + UV-A + UV-B (control), PAR + UV-B and PAR. Samples remained in these conditions for a period of 48 h continuously. Photosynthetic parameters from chlorophyll a fluorescence were evaluated, as well as growth rates, mycosporine-like amino acids, chlorophyll a, and carotenoid contents. In addition, DNA damage was assessed by detecting cyclobutane pyrimidin dimer. Expression of photolyases, ascorbate peroxidase and gluthatione peroxidase was also analyzed at the end of experimental period. Mycosporine-like amino acids were stimulated by UV radiation. DNA damage occurred only when UV-B was provided separately. In some cases, photoacclimation procedures were activated, while in others, it was not enough. In other words, although some tolerance was observed, the species could suffer the consequences of excessive energy present in some specific treatments, e.g., PAR + UV-B. After exposure to variable radiation, it was concluded that our model organism presented acclimation depending of spectral availability, including regulation of photoprotective strategies.

Made available in DSpace on 2019-10-06T16:49:59Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 0 Previous issue date: 2019-01-01. Added 1 bitstream(s) on 2019-10-09T18:35:39Z : No. of bitstreams: 1 S2179-975X2019000100316.pdf: 1091572 bytes, checksum: af9f3c03e6ecea4a3c121e319fca9cfa (MD5) Aim: The response of mixed cultures and monocultures of Pseudopediastrum boryanum (Turpin) E. Hegewald and Scenedesmus obliquus (Turpin) Kützing was assessed in the laboratory at three different temperatures: 20, 30 and 40 °C. The change in biomass and biochemical composition of these cultures was evaluated. Methods: Microalgae were placed in a batch culture over 21-days in ASM1 medium. Cell density was directly counted every two days using a Fuchs-Rosenthal hemocytometer. Chlorophyll ‘a’ and total carotenoids were extracted twice. Protein, carbohydrate, total lipid and fatty acid contents were determined at the end of the experiment. Results: Cultures grown in 40 °C exhibited no growth. However, there was increased cell density (13.6 x 106 cell.mL-1) and biomass (55 g.L-1) in the S. obliquus monoculture at 30 °C. High protein concentrations (672.6 mg.g-1) were observed in monocultures P. boryanum and S. obliquus at 20 °C treatments. There were high carbohydrate concentrations (6.17 mg.g-1) in P. boryanum unialgal at 30 °C. There was no significant difference in total lipid content between S. obliquus (95.5 mg.g-1), P. boryanum (96.3 mg.g-1) and the mixed culture at 20 °C (105.3 mg.g-1). FAMEs varied significantly regarding the number of unsaturated components, which predominantly consisted of fatty acids with two or more unsaturated bonds. Conclusions: The biomass of the treatments analyzed was rich in proteins and essential fatty acids (such as linolenic acid), yet low in carbohydrate content, suggesting its potential use as a food supplement. Our results indicate that mixed culture of P. boryanum and S. obliquus was inefficient in cultivating biomass or biochemical compounds as compared to the unialgal cultivations. However, algae grown together showed better stability in their biochemical composition in response to changes in temperature, an important factor for microalgae production in open ponds and in food safety measures. These results suggest the consortia among different species of microalgae should be tested to determine better methodologies for the production of biomass and metabolites with greater stability towards environmental factors. Centro de Ciências Humanas e Naturais Universidade Federal do Espírito Santo UFES, Av. Fernando Ferrari, 514, Goiabeiras Instituto de Química Departamento de Bioquímica Universidade de São Paulo – USP, Av. Prof. Lineu Prestes, 748, Vila Universitária Departamento de Engenharia de Pesca Universidade Estadual de São Paulo – UNESP, Av. Nelson Brihi Badur, 430, Vila Tupy Departamento de Engenharia de Pesca Universidade Estadual de São Paulo – UNESP, Av. Nelson Brihi Badur, 430, Vila Tupy

Dictyota menstrualis (Hoyt) Schnetter, Horning & Weber-Peukert (Dictyotales, Phaeophyceae) was studied for the production of oil-based bioproducts and co-products. Experiments were performed to evaluate the effect of carbon dioxide (CO2) concentration, under nitrogen (NO3 (-)) limiting and saturation conditions, on growth rate (GR), photosynthesis, as well as nitrate reductase (NR), carbonic anhydrase (CA), and Rubisco activities. In addition, the biochemical composition of D. menstrualis under these conditions was estimated. GR, protein content, and N content in D. menstrualis were higher in treatments containing NO3 (-), irrespective of CO2 addition. However, when CO2 was added to medium saturated with NO3 (-), values of maximum photosynthesis, Rubisco, and NR activity, as well as total soluble carbohydrates and lipids, were increased. CA activity did not vary under the different treatments. The fatty acid profile of D. menstrualis was characterized by a high content of polyunsaturated fatty acids, especially the omega-3 fatty acids, making it a possible candidate for nutraceutical use. In addition, this species presented high GR, photosynthetic rate, and fatty acid content, highlighting its economic importance and the possibility of different biotechnological applications.