The study by the National Center for Research in Energy and Materials (CNPEM), in Campinas (SP), which revealed unprecedented enzymes found in the intestine of manatees, detailed how around 6 thousand microbial genomes can contribute to the development of technologies aimed at producing biofuels, agricultural bio-inputs and medicines.
The research was published in the scientific journal Nature Microbiology this Monday (2) and chosen as the cover of the December edition.
According to the study, the microbial genomes associated with Amazonian and marine manatees, including a vast number of organisms previously unknown to science, and thousands of enzymes have potential for biotechnological applications.
The microbiome is the set of microorganisms (such as bacteria, fungi, viruses and archaea) and all their genetic material that inhabit a specific environment.
For researchers, the discovery significantly expands knowledge about how nature transforms plant biomass into energy and chemical compounds.
Thus, it stands out how it can offer new opportunities for the development of technologies aimed at the production of biofuels, agricultural bio-inputs, functional ingredients and molecules of interest to human and animal health.
The researchers analyzed the intestinal microbiome of 47 Amazonian and marine manatees.
The microbiome is formed by the set of bacteria, archaea, viruses and other microorganisms that live in association with a host organism.
The investigation resulted in an unprecedented catalog with more than 6 thousand bacterial genomes. More than half represent species not yet described by science.
The researchers also reconstructed the viruses associated with these microbial communities and found that around 80% of them were also unknown.
Manatees feed almost exclusively on aquatic plants rich in complex plant fibers.
To take advantage of this raw material, they depend on a highly specialized microbial community capable of degrading resistant components of biomass.
The study showed that microorganisms act cooperatively to dismantle plant cell walls and transform complex molecules into energy sources.
This combination of mechanisms is among the most sophisticated ever described for aquatic herbivorous mammals, says the research.
Scientists observed that the microbiome is also capable of metabolizing aromatic compounds derived from lignin, considered one of the main obstacles to the industrial use of plant biomass.
Lignin is a natural and complex organic biopolymer found in the cell walls of land plants. Together with cellulose and hemicellulose, it forms the structure that supports vegetables.
The discovery could inspire new strategies to accelerate the production of sustainable fuels, renewable chemicals and sustainable aviation fuel.
Another discovery points out that the enzyme allows certain microorganisms to use epilactose, a carbohydrate previously inaccessible to most known bacteria, according to the study.
Based on the discoveries, the researchers intend to advance the characterization of the identified enzymes and evaluate their potential in industrial applications related to the production of renewable energy, sustainable agriculture, human and animal health and the development of new bioproducts.
