Fiocruz commences first Antarctic camp in search of new pathogens

Fiocruz's Antarctic Program, Fioantar, embarked on a new – and unprecedented – phase last Wednesday (11/20). Four researchers traveled to the frozen continent, where they will be camped for 45 days. As has been the case throughout the program, which is in its second call for proposals, the scientists' aim is to search for new pathogens, fungi, bacteria and microorganisms that could pose a threat to global human health. This will be the first time that samples have been taken directly from animals, which will allow for more effective analysis and results.

Fiocruz researchers embarked alongside other members of the Navy mission to Antarctica (photo: publicity)

In the previous stages of the program, fieldwork was restricted to samples of soil, seawater, lakes, lichens, as well as animal faeces, bird droppings and carcasses from different parts of the continent. "In Fioantar's first four years, we only collected environmental samples. Now we will have the chance to analyze samples collected directly from birds, such as penguins and petrels," explains veterinary parasitologist Martha Brandão, from the Paleoparasitology Laboratory (Ensp/Fiocruz). This will be her seventh trip with the Fioantar.

She says that now they had a more specific picture. "With access to these samples, such as blood and swabs from the animal, we are more likely to find pathogens, both viruses and fungi, bacteria and protozoa. We will have access to better quality samples for cultivation and isolation of pathogens," she said.

Roberto do Val Vilela, a researcher at the Laboratory of Biology and Parasitology of Wild Mammals Reservoirs, says that, at Fioantar 1, they often shared some scientific finding with the program's researchers, but they could not pinpoint the animal of origin. "We couldn't say that the pathogen was in the specific animal, but in the area where it was located. In view of this scenario, we realized that we needed samples directly from the animals in order to be assertive about the host," he explains.

Now, all samples collected directly from the animals will be taken to the laboratory set up in the camp. They will also be shared with the 11 Fiocruz laboratories that are part of the project, which expands the expertise and the possibility of finding a greater number of pathogenic species of bacteria, fungi and viruses.

(From left to right) Fioantar researchers Bruno Rocha Pribul, Maria Ogrzewalska, Martha Brandão and Roberto do Val Vilela heading to camp (photo: publicity)

Fiocruz's expedition in Antarctica has the participation of researchers from the Oswaldo Cruz Institute (IOC/Fiocruz), the National Institute of Infectious Diseases (INI/Fiocruz) and the Sergio Arouca National School of Public Health (Ensp/Fiocruz). In addition to Martha and Roberto, researchers Bruno Rocha Pribul, from the Laboratory of Bacteriology Applied to One Health and Antimicrobial Resistance (Labsur/IOC), and Maria Ogrzewalska, from the Laboratory of Respiratory Viruses, Exanthematous, Enteroviruses and Viral Emergencies (IOC/Fiocruz), are part of the Foundation team that is at the camp.

Extreme conditions

Scientific research in Antarctica only takes place between November and February, as it is not possible to travel by ship in the region during the other months. In the Antarctic summer, temperatures are usually between -10ºC and 10ºC. Even so, the researchers on their way to the camp emphasize that the extreme environmental conditions, such as windstorms and rain, make fieldwork difficult and that they therefore have to stay there for 45 days.

As the researchers say, the weather in Antarctica dictates the pace of the work: "We work as long as the weather allows. If there is a 60 km/h wind event, for example, you cannot stay outside working, and this is very common. Sometimes we spend days like this," explains Roberto do Val Vilela. He is the only one in the group with experience of camping in Antarctica: he has been four times, but this will be his first with Fioantar: "The experience of Antarctica changes our tolerance a lot," he reflects.

The camp will also have two other researchers from the Fluminense Federal University, who will study the mental health of the campers. Each person will have their own individual tent, as well as a tent for the kitchen and common area, and the laboratory. A Navy mountaineer accompanies the group for technical support on the ground, and will be in daily contact with a military ship prepared for emergency actions. A helicopter is also available if rescue is needed.

Respiratory viruses

Fioantar is at the forefront of studies on respiratory viruses, such as Influenza; enteric viruses, such as rotavirus and norovirus; mycobacteria; and bacteria of the genus Bacillus, including Bacillus anthracis and Bacillus cereus. The group includes microorganisms that cause human disease and have biotechnological potential. Among respiratory viruses, the research is mainly targeting influenza viruses, which cause the flu. One of the program's findings is from 2022, when researchers detected influenza A in penguins in Antarctica

Fioantar

The camp is part of the proposal Pathogen Surveillance, Their Impacts on Global Health, and Research into the Biotechnological Potential of Antarctic Microbiota for Health, approved in a call for proposals by the National Council for Scientific and Technological Development (CNPq) of the Ministry of Science, Technology, Innovation and Communications (MCTIC) in December last year. It is expected to last four years.

Fioantar is part of the Brazilian Antarctic Program (Proantar), run by the Brazilian Navy's Interministerial Commission for Marine Resources (Cirm). The first expedition took place in 2019.