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Endophyte biology is a branch of science that contributes to the understanding of the diversity and ecology of microorganisms that live inside plants, fungi, and lichen. Considering that the diversity of endolichenic fungi is little explored, and its phylogenetic relationship with other lifestyles (endophytism and saprotrophism) is still to be explored in detail, this paper presents data on axenic cultures and phylogenetic relationships of three endolichenic fungi, isolated in laboratory. Cladonia curta Ahti & Marcelli, a species of lichen described in Brazil, is distributed at three sites in the Southeast of the country, in mesophilous forests and the Cerrado. Initial hyphal growth of Xylaria spp. on C. curta podetia started four days after inoculation and continued for the next 13 days until the hyphae completely covered the podetia. Stromata formation and differentiation was observed, occurring approximately after one year of isolation and consecutive subculture of lineages. Phylogenetic analyses indicate lineages of endolichenic fungi in the genus Xylaria, even as the morphological characteristics of the colonies and anamorphous stromata confirm this classification. Our preliminary results provide evidence that these endolichenic fungi are closely related to endophytic fungi, suggesting that the associations are not purely incidental. Further studies, especially phylogenetic analyses using robust multi-locus datasets, are needed to accept or reject the hypothesis that endolichenic fungi isolated from Xylaria spp. and X. berteri are conspecific.

Cooking quality is an important attribute in Common/Asian rice (Oryzasativa L.) varieties, being highly dependent on grain starch composition. This composition is known to be highly dependent on a cultivar’s genetics, but the way in which their genes express different phenotypes is not well understood. Further analysis of variation of grain quality genes using new information obtained from the wild relatives of rice should provide important insights into the evolution and potential use of these genetic resources. All analyses were conducted using bioinformatics approaches. The analysis of the protein sequences of grain quality genes across the Oryza suggest that the deletion/mutation of amino acids in active sites result in variations that can negatively affect specific steps of starch biosynthesis in the endosperm. On the other hand, the complete deletion of some genes in the wild species may not affect the amylose content. Here we present new insights for Starch Synthesis-Related Genes (SSRGs) evolution from starch-specific rice phenotypes.

Over time plants undergone abiotic changes often leading to genotypic and phenotypic level adjustments to ensure survival. Temperature is one of these factors that cause changes. Several organisms have been sequenced in recent years, creating ways to different direction biological and evolutionary issues. It has been allowed the use of these non-model biological systems for re-sequencing of close relatives, or the same species, as well as allowing the mapping and identification of gene families and genes of interest. For this work were focused on obtaining data from mosses available in the Sequence Reads Archive (SRA): Physcomitrium acutifolium (SRP093878); Funaria hygrometrica (ERP002608); Ceratodon purpureus (SRP004754); Pohlia nutans (SRP012293); Bryum argenteum (SRX845477). The data obtained were compared in bioinformatical environment in order to evaluate the GO terms in each plant transcriptome.The number of transcripts was expressed in a very divergent way among the organisms, with F. hygrometrica counting in value (over 100,000), while P. acutifolium in the same family had the lowest number of transcripts (∼ 27,000). Comparing the occurrences transcripts related to abiotic stress from the species used, were found GO terms for phosphorolization proteins coding genes expressed, such protein kinase-like activity, and transcriptions factor activities, as Lectin domain of the RLK group, as the most frequent ontology in all moss transcriptomes. Our findings allow us to direct the researches in order to understand how these regions act effectively in the molecular response to cold stress in plants, contributing to the understanding of this process during the evolution of green plants. Consequently, the findings may contribute to strategies for the assisted improvement of plants of agronomic and industrial importance.

In the current study, we present the molecular characterization of an endophyte fungus associated with the leaves of Deschampsia antarctica Desv. (Poaceae), a monocot species native to Antarctica. The isolate was obtained from 90 leaf fragments from two distinct collection sites, both located on Half Moon Island, South Shetland Islands and Maritime Antarctica. The internal transcribed spacer region (ITS) was sequenced and the endophytic fungus was identified as belonging to the genus Juncaceicola Tennakoon, Camporesi, Phook and K.D. Hyde (99% nucleotide sequence identity). When compared to all fungi of the genus Juncaceicola deposited in data base, our isolate showed greater proximity with Juncaceicola typharum, however, because it presents a low bootstrap value to be considered a new species, we treat it as Juncaceicola cf. typharum. Moreover, the identification of our isolate as belonging to the genus Juncaceicola makes this the first occurrence of a species of this genus to be associated with the leaves of Antarctic plants. This work is considered as a starting point for other studies with fungi of this genus associated with leaves of Deschampsia antarctica, as it presents results from two collection points on a single Antarctic island, suggesting that new sites and new Antarctic islands should be explored.

In this study, the organelle genomes of Polytrichum juniperinum Hedw. and Polytrichum strictum Menzies ex Brid. (Polytrichaceae, Bryophyta) from Antarctica were sequenced and compared with the plastomes of the model moss species Physcomitrella patens Brid. The sizes of the cpDNA in P. juniperinum and P. strictum were estimated to be 55,168 and 20,183 bp, respectively, the sizes of the mtDNA were 88,021 and 58,896 bp, respectively. The genomes are very similar to each other, with the possible loss of petN in the cpDNA, which also showed some gene inversions when compared with the cpDNAs of P. patens Brid. In the mtDNA, it is possible that rps10 was lost. In contrast, Antarctic Polytrichaceae species have nad7 and orf187, without the occurrence of rearrangement events. Phylogenomic analyses of the plastid and mitochondria revealed that the majority-rule tree suggests some differences in the plastids ancestry, however, P. juniperinum and P. strictum were grouped in the same clade in chloroplast, but in mitochondria P. strictum was grouped with Atrichum angustatum (Brid.) Bruch &amp, Schimp. This study helped us understand the evolution of plastomes and chondriosomes in the family Polytrichaceae, and suggest a hybridization event with relation to the mitochondrial data.

ispartof: FRONTIERS IN MOLECULAR BIOSCIENCES vol:4 ispartof: location:Switzerland status: published

Humans distribute a wide range of microorganisms around building interiors, and some of these are potentially pathogenic. Recent research established that humans are the main drivers of the indoor microbiome and up to now significant literature has been produced about this topic. Here we analyzed differences in bacterial composition between men's and women's restrooms and other common areas within the same public building. Bacterial DNA samples were collected from restrooms and halls of a three-floor building from the Federal University of Pampa, RS, Brazil. The bacterial community was characterized by amplification of the V4 region of the 16S rRNA gene and sequencing. Throughout all samples, the most abundant phylum was Proteobacteria, followed by Actinobacteria, Bacteroidetes and Firmicutes. Beta diversity metrics showed that the structure of the bacterial communities were different among the areas and floors tested, however, only 6-9% of the variation in bacterial communities was explained by the area and floors sampled. A few microorganisms showed significantly differential abundance between men's and women's restrooms, but in general, the bacterial communities from both places were very similar. Finally, significant differences among the microbial community profile from different floors were reported, suggesting that the type of use and occupant demographic within the building may directly influence bacterial dispersion and establishment.

This work reports the occurrence of fungi species of the genera Chlorophyllum Massee and Macrolepiota Singer, the latter not yet registered for Sao Gabriel, Rio Grande do Sul state, Brazil. The study area is located in the Pampa biome, being the samplings conducted between April 2011 and May 2012. The micobiota studied in the area is represented until this moment by five species, as follows: Macrolepiota gracilenta (Krombh) Wasser, Macrolepiota fuligineosquarrosa Malencon, Macrolepiota procera (Scop.) Singer, Chlorophyllum rachodes (Vittad.) Vellinga and Chlorophyllum molybdites (G. Mey.) Massee. Identification keys for these species and two new occurrences of Macrolepiota for, respectively, Brazil and Rio Grande do Sul, are presented.Keywords: mycodiversity, taxonomy, Basidiomycota.

Antarctica is one of the most difficult habitats for sustaining life on earth; organisms that live there have developed different strategies for survival. Among these organisms is the green alga Prasiola crispa, belonging to the class Trebouxiophyceae. The literature on P. crispa taxonomy is scarce, and many gaps in the evolutionary relationship with its closest relatives remain. The goal of this study was to analyze the evolutionary relationships between P. crispa and other green algae using plastid and mitochondrial genomes. In addition, we analyzed the synteny conservation of these genomes of P. crispa with those of closely related species. Based on the plastid genome, P. crispa grouped with Prasiolopsis sp. SAG 84.81, another Trebouxiophyceaen species from the Prasiola clade. Based on the mitochondrial genome analysis, P. crispa grouped with other Trebouxiophyceaen species but had a basal position. The structure of the P. crispa chloroplast genome had low synteny with Prasiolopsis sp. SAG 84.81, despite some conserved gene blocks. The same was observed in the mitochondrial genome compared with Coccomyxa subellipsoidea C-169. We were able to establish the phylogenetic position of P. crispa with other species of Trebouxiophyceae using its genomes. In addition, we described the plasticity of these genomes using a structural analysis. The plastid and mitochondrial genomes of P. crispa will be useful for further genetic studies, phylogenetic analysis and resource protection of P. crispa as well as for further phylogenetic analysis of Trebouxiophyceaen green algae.

Here, we present a draft genome and annotation of Rhodococcus rhodochrous TRN7, isolated from Trindade Island, Brazil, which will provide genetic data to benefit the understanding of its metabolism.

The species Syagrus romanzoffiana is a monocot belonging to the family Arecaceae; it is a palm endemic to South America and is widely distributed throughout the southeast and south of Brazil, inclu...