Research Article Bioprospecting and enzymatic potential of filamentous fungi from the Bela Vista Biological Refuge in Itaipu, Brazil

Abstract

Disordered anthropic action causes relevant impacts on different ecosystems. This may endanger key species and the compounds they produce, which have potential for commercial development. We collected environmental samples from the Bela Vista Biological Refuge, belonging to ITAIPU/Brazil, over a period of three years. A total of 181 fungal species were isolated and evaluated for cellulases and xylanases, 74% of which were classified as good enzymatic producers, with a production of up to 50 U/mL of xylanase and 7 U/mL for cellulase. A total of 34 isolates were selected and identified by amplification of internal transcribed spacer regions and then analyzed in BLASTn with 89-99% similarity/identity with others deposited in GenBank; the genera found were Aspergillus, Penicillium, Chaetomium, Clonostachys, Fusarium, Hypocrea, Paecilomyces, Thermoascus, Thermomyces, and Trichoderma. The enzymatic data reveals details of the roles of this biological community. The ability of these fungal species to utilize plant cell wall compounds discovered based on bioprospecting analysis of this biome is a pioneering study for this purpose in this region and points out important microorganisms that have potential for enzymatic production in biological biomass depolymerization, resulting in biotechnologically useful products.

Screening of Filamentous Fungi From the Atlantic Forest Biome Producing Enzymes of the Pectinolytic Complex

“…Oumer and Abate (2018) screened pectinase-producing microorganisms from coffee pulp and observed that 13.68% of the isolates are fungi, indicating that these microorganisms are major enzyme producers. Furthermore, Corrêa et al (2019) isolated and evaluated a total of 181 fungal species for cellulases and xylanases production and described 74% were classified as good enzymatic producers. According to Sarsaiya et al (2018), the fungi Trichoderma viride, A. niger, A. fumigatus and Fusarium oxysporum have a high production capacity for the cellulase enzyme, but the fungi T. viride and A. niger are the ones that have the greatest potential for enzymatic activity of cellulose.…”

A Thermostable Xylanase From a New Strain of Aspergillus Fumigatus Presents High Ability to Hydrolyze Hemicellulose From Corn Straw / Uma Xilanase Termoestável De Uma Nova Estirpe De Aspergillus Fumigatus Apresenta Elevada Capacidade De Hidrolisar Hemicelulose a Partir De Palha De Milho

“…The collection and isolation of the microorganism was authorized by Itaipu Binational, and the microorganism was identified by morphological analysis at the Federal University of Pernambuco. Extraction of genomic DNA, amplification of rDNA ITS1 and 4 regions to molecular identification of fungal isolate OI-1R-T was carried out as described by Corrêa et al (2019). Preservation and sporulation of the strain were performed on solid potato dextrose agar nutrient (PDA) containing 1.5% glucose (w/v), 2% agar (w/v) and 20% potato broth.…”