Federal University of Mato Grosso
LABORATORY OF ECOLOGY AND MICROBIAL BIOTECHNOLOGY
Our laboratory started its activities in 2009, the year in which Prof Marcos A. Soares joined the Department of Botany and Ecology at the Institute of Biosciences at UFMT. In 2013, Prof Euziclei G. de Almeida joined our team.
Initially, our GOALS were to understand the ecological processes and functions of endophytic-plant interactions, and the functional traits of this microbiota for the development of biotechnological products and processes. Currently, we have started a line of research that investigates the diversity and interactions of the microbiota associated with animals, specifically arthropods.
Endophytes are endosymbionic microorganisms that are most often represented by bacteria and fungi. They inhabit the interior of all the plants studied so far, leading to believe that their presence inside the plants is ubiquitous. These microorganisms have different mechanisms that promote plant growth and development, contribute to the host's resistance to different types of biotic stress (attack by herbivores and phytopathogenes) and abiotics (saline soils, drought).
The LABEM team researches Industrial and Rudimentary Fermentative Processes, working with indigenous fermented foods and beverages produced by the Arara Indians, carrying out microbiological characterization using traditional and molecular methods, physical-chemical and nutritional analysis.
The LABEM team consists of doctoral students, master's and undergraduate students from the following programs and courses:
PhD in Biotechnology and Biodiversity Network of the Midwest - UFMT
PhD in Biodiversity and Northern Biotechnology Network - UFMT
PhD in Ecology and Biodiversity Conservation - UFMT
Master in Chemistry - UFMT
Master in Plant Biology - UFMT
Master in Environmental Sciences - UFMT
Research lines
We are a family owned and operated business.
1 - Diversity of associated microbiomes and plants and animals
2 - Development of microbiological products and processes applied to agribusiness, environmental and medical: biological control of phytopathogens (fungi and nematodes), development of larvicides, bioremediation of heavy metals
3 - Ecotoxicological tests
4 - Biological Control by endophytic microorganisms
We are a family owned and operated business.
Collection of Microorganisms of Environmental and Industrial Interest (CMIAI)
The Laboratory of Biotechnology and Microbial Ecology (LABEM) currently has strains of filamentous and yeast-like fungi, as well as bacteria, isolated from different plant species: Vochysia divergens, Combretum lanceolatum, Hyptis suaveolens, Cyperus esculentus, Echinodorus scaber, Talisia subalbii and . The genetic material of the CMIAI strains is deposited in the DNA bank.
The CMIAI collection aims to preserve, identify and preserve ex situ fungi and endophytic bacteria isolated by researchers from the Laboratory of Biotechnology and Microbial Ecology (LABEM). Preserved species is one of the ways of preserving the microbial biodiversity of the State of Mato Grosso, in addition to providing a source of prospecting for biotechnological products and processes.
