METAXYLO

Metagenomic Analysis of Microbial Communities Involved in Wood Degradation in a Xylophagic Catfish

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 Obiettivo del progetto (Objective)

'Microbes play an essential role in the global cycling of carbon and nitrogen, but, many of the microorganisms involved in these biogeochemical cycles are, as yet, unculturable using traditional microbiological methods. Thus, essential microbial interactions and biochemical processes contributing to these cycles await discovery. Application of molecular tools can overcome limitations of non-culturability, enabling the description of microbial communities. Fishes of the genus Panaque are capable of long-term survival on a wood-only diet (xylophagy). The microbial communities in the gastrointestinal tract probably contain mechanisms for cellulose decomposition and nitrogen fixation, enabling this xylophagous lifestyle. In this study, a polyphasic approach will be employed, to overcome limitations of each technique and better describe and understand the microbes present. In this proposal traditional microbiological culture tools, microbial community profiling using 454-pyrosequencing techniques, fluorescent in situ hybridisations and functional genes analysis will be employed to provide a comprehensive view of the microbial communities present, in the different regions of the gastrointestinal tract. The major goal of this proposal is examine microbial communities associated with xylophagy and to identify novel microbial metabolic genes, enhancing our understanding of the carbon and nitrogen cycles in the environment. The study of novel microbes, enzymes and model systems can provide valuable insight into critical metabolic pathways and enable more efficient biotechnological exploitation.'

Introduzione (Teaser)

Researchers are investigating the microbial communities associated with a wood-eating catfish to better understand carbon and nitrogen cycles in the environment.

Descrizione progetto (Article)

Panaque nigrolineatus, a Brazilian armoured catfish, is able to eat and digest wood, and also can survive for a long period of time on a wood-only diet. It probably maintains this xylophagous (wood-eating) lifestyle thanks to microbes in its gastrointestinal (GI) tract that help to decompose cellulose and fix nitrogen.

An EU-funded project called 'Metagenomic analysis of microbial communities involved in wood degradation in a xylophagic catfish' (METAXYLO) is studying these microbes and the genes involved in these mechanisms. The project makes use of traditional culturing tools, advanced DNA sequencing techniques and functional gene analyses.

Work so far has revealed that there are distinct microbial communities present in each part of the GI tract. Species richness is highest in the foregut and researchers have identified close relatives of microorganisms known to be capable of cellulose degradation and nitrogen fixation.

Another part of the study assesses the structural changes of wood during its passage through the GI tract. This investigation will provide further insights into cellulose and lignin degradation pathways.

Cellulose is becoming important in the generation of biofuel, so an understanding of its role in carbon and nitrogen metabolism may have significant socioeconomic implications. In addition, the insights into nitrogen metabolism pathways gained here may aid in the management of environmentally damaging nitrogen cycle imbalances such as eutrophication in waterways and desertification.