Exploring the potential of fungal proteases in aquatic environments of the Tapajós Basin, Brazil

Aline Lima de Aguiar; Ana Luiza Figueira da Silva; Rayane Bonfim Ferreira Xavier; Marcos Diones Ferreira Santana; Dávia Marciana Talgatti; Fernando Abreu Oliveira; Carlos Ivan Aguillar-Vildoso; Érica Simplício de Souza; Márcio Barreto Rodrigues; João Paulo Alves Silva; Lívia Melo Carneiro; Clarice Maia Carvalho; João Vicente Braga de Souza; Eveleise Samira Martins Canto; Aline Lima de Aguiar; Ana Luiza Figueira da Silva; Rayane Bonfim Ferreira Xavier; Marcos Diones Ferreira Santana; Dávia Marciana Talgatti; Fernando Abreu Oliveira; Carlos Ivan Aguillar-Vildoso; Érica Simplício de Souza; Márcio Barreto Rodrigues; João Paulo Alves Silva; Lívia Melo Carneiro; Clarice Maia Carvalho; João Vicente Braga de Souza; Eveleise Samira Martins Canto

doi:10.3934/bioeng.2025007

AIMS Bioengineering

2025, Volume 12, Issue 1: 162-176. doi: 10.3934/bioeng.2025007

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Research article

Exploring the potential of fungal proteases in aquatic environments of the Tapajós Basin, Brazil

1.
Mycology and Bioassays Laboratory (LAMIB), Federal University of Western Pará (UFOPA), Santarém, Pará, Brazil
2.
Laboratory of Algae and Plants of the Amazon (LAPAM), Federal University of Western Pará (UFOPA), Oriximiná, Pará, Brazil
3.
Biotechnology and Genetic Laboratory, Federal University of Santa Catarina, Curitibanos, Santa Catarina, Brazil
4.
Pos graduation in Biotechnology and Natural Resources, Amazonas State University
5.
Coordination of Society, Health, and Environment (COSAS), National Institute of Amazonian Research (INPA), Manaus, Amazonas, Brazil
6.
Department of Chemistry, Postgraduate Program in Chemical and Biochemical Process Technology (PPGTP), Federal Technological University of Paraná (UTFPR), Pato Branco, Paraná, Brazil
7.
Department of Chemical Engineering (EEL), School of Engineering of Lorena (EEL), University of São Paulo (USP), Lorena, São Paulo, Brazil
8.
Center for Biological and Natural Sciences, Federal University of Acre (UFAC), Rio Branco, Acre, Brazil

Received: 28 October 2024 Revised: 18 February 2025 Accepted: 25 February 2025 Published: 12 March 2025

In this study, we focused on aquatic environments and explored the fungal biodiversity and protease production in the Tapajós River Basin in Pará, Brazil. Our objectives were to identify and characterize fungal genera with potential protease activity and evaluate their biotechnological applications. Variations in the enzymatic activity index, colony diameters, and halo sizes were documented. For molecular identification, genomic DNA was isolated and analyzed using both the ITS region and the 28S rRNA region, which provided additional resolution for the most promising isolate. Penicillium citrinum UFOPA-MI0019 exhibited significant protease activity, suggesting potential applications in biotechnological processes. We also included the kinetics of protease production of P. citrinum UFOPA-MI0019 under solid-state fermentation using wheat bran, indicating a peak (340 ± 30 UI/mL) in enzyme activity at 72 hours of fermentation at an optimal temperature of 30 °C. These findings highlight the ecological role and industrial potential of Amazonian fungi, contributing to sustainable waste transformation.
- fungal biodiversity,
- protease production,
- Tapajós River Basin,
- enzyme kinetics,
- solid-state fermentation,
- aquatic fungi,
- Penicillium citrinum,
- biotechnological applications
Citation: Aline Lima de Aguiar, Ana Luiza Figueira da Silva, Rayane Bonfim Ferreira Xavier, Marcos Diones Ferreira Santana, Dávia Marciana Talgatti, Fernando Abreu Oliveira, Carlos Ivan Aguillar-Vildoso, Érica Simplício de Souza, Márcio Barreto Rodrigues, João Paulo Alves Silva, Lívia Melo Carneiro, Clarice Maia Carvalho, João Vicente Braga de Souza, Eveleise Samira Martins Canto. Exploring the potential of fungal proteases in aquatic environments of the Tapajós Basin, Brazil[J]. AIMS Bioengineering, 2025, 12(1): 162-176. doi: 10.3934/bioeng.2025007

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Abstract

In this study, we focused on aquatic environments and explored the fungal biodiversity and protease production in the Tapajós River Basin in Pará, Brazil. Our objectives were to identify and characterize fungal genera with potential protease activity and evaluate their biotechnological applications. Variations in the enzymatic activity index, colony diameters, and halo sizes were documented. For molecular identification, genomic DNA was isolated and analyzed using both the ITS region and the 28S rRNA region, which provided additional resolution for the most promising isolate. Penicillium citrinum UFOPA-MI0019 exhibited significant protease activity, suggesting potential applications in biotechnological processes. We also included the kinetics of protease production of P. citrinum UFOPA-MI0019 under solid-state fermentation using wheat bran, indicating a peak (340 ± 30 UI/mL) in enzyme activity at 72 hours of fermentation at an optimal temperature of 30 °C. These findings highlight the ecological role and industrial potential of Amazonian fungi, contributing to sustainable waste transformation.

Acknowledgments

We express our deep gratitude to The Nature Conservancy for supporting the collection of samples through the Tapajós Waters Project on behalf of Dr. Dávia Talgatti and Fernando Abreu. Our thanks also go to the Federal University of Western Pará – Ufopa, for providing the necessary infrastructure and resources and for the financial support from Fapespa (Amazon Foundation for the Support of Studies and Research) and to the Interaction Genetics Laboratory - LGI for support in molecular biology procedures. The collaborative efforts and expert insights of our colleagues at INPA were invaluable to our research.

Conflicts of interest

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Author contributions:

Aline Lima de Aguiar, João Vicente Braga de Souza and Eveleise Samira Martins Canto conceived and designed the study. Aline Lima de Aguiar, Ana Luiza Figueira da Silva, Rayane Bonfim Ferreira Xavier, Marcos Diones Ferreira Santana, Dávia Marciana Talgatti, Fernando Abreu Oliveira, Carlos Ivan Aguillar-Vildoso, Érica Simplício de Souza, Marcos Rodrigues Barreto, João Paulo Alves Silva, Clarice Maia Carvalho, Lívia Melo Carneiro, Joao Vicente Braga de Souza, and Eveleise Samira Martins Canto conducted experiments and organized the database. Aline Lima de Aguiar, João Vicente Braga de Souza and Eveleise Samira Martins Canto wrote the first draft of the manuscript. All authors wrote sections of the manuscript and contributed to manuscript revision, read, and approved the submitted version.

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