Publications by authors named "Rafaella Silveira"

The occurrence of toxic blooms of cyanobacteria has been a matter of public health interest due to the cyanotoxins produced by these microorganisms. Cylindrospermopsin (CYN) is a cyanotoxin of particular concern due to its toxic effects on humans. This study investigated the removal and effects of CYN in ripened slow sand filters (SSFs) treating water from Paranoá Lake, Brasilia, Brazil.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Since 2020, developed countries have rapidly shared both publicly and academically relevant wastewater surveillance information. Data on SARS-CoV-2 circulation is pivotal for guiding public health policies and improving the COVID-19 pandemic response. Conversely, low- and middle-income countries, such as Latin America and the Caribbean, showed timid activities in the Wastewater-Based Epidemiology (WBE) context.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Lignin is nature's largest source of phenolic compounds. Its recalcitrance to enzymatic conversion is still a limiting step to increase the value of lignin. Although bacteria are able to degrade lignin in nature, most studies have focused on lignin degradation by fungi.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF
Article Synopsis
  • - Biological nitrogen fixation (BNF) is crucial for providing nitrogen in tropical savannas, especially in Brazil's Cerrado, which has a conservative nitrogen cycle.
  • - A long-term study explored how seasonal rainfall and nutrient additions (control, liming, nitrogen, nitrogen + phosphorus, phosphorus) affected the abundance of N-fixing bacteria related to Bradyrhizobium.
  • - Results showed that as the seasons changed from rainy to dry, the amount of nitrogen-fixing genes decreased, particularly in the liming treatment, indicating that various factors influence nitrogen-fixation in these nutrient-poor and seasonally dry areas.
View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Eusocial animals, such as the termites, often build a nest-like structure called a mound that provides shelter with stable internal conditions and protection against predators. Termites are important components of the Brazilian Cerrado biota. This study aimed to investigate the bacterial community composition and diversity of the termite-mound soil using culture-independent approaches.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Natural ponds in the Brazilian Cerrado harbor high biodiversity but are still poorly studied, especially their microbial assemblage. The characterization of the microbial community in aquatic environments is fundamental for understanding its functioning, particularly under the increasing pressure posed by land conversion and climate change. Here, we aim to characterize the structure (abundance, richness, and diversity) and composition of the Bacteria and Archaea in the sediment of two natural ponds belonging to different basins that primarily differ in size and depth in the Cerrado.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF