BioForMoz Newsletter 7

Dear colleagues and friends, here is the seventh newsletter of the BioForMoz project (Support for Environmental Research- AID12089), funded by the Italian Agency for Development Cooperation (AICS), entrustedtotheDepartment of Biomedical Sciences of the University of Sassari to collaborate with the BiotechnologyCenter of the E. Mondlane University of Maputo in Mozambique, together with Dept. BiologyandBiotechnology C. Darwin, Sapienza University of Rome and the Department of Earth, Environmentand Life Sciences, University of Genoa. Since the last newsletter of April 2022, we have been able to develop several actions. As part of the field activities relating to ongoing research, we point out the following actions: From 11 to 24 April 2023, an insect sampling mission was carried out in the Province of Manicainthe Serra Chimanimani by Drs. Sheila Nhassengo, Domingos Sandramo and Bernardo Muatinte as part of the research projects “Review and Taxonomic and Molecular Identification of Hymenopterabiodiversity from the insect collection of the Natural History Museum of Maputo” and “Use of DNAbarcode for estimating specific and phylogenetic biodiversity in Diptera (Syrphidae) pollinators intheNational Reserve of Chimanimani”. Dr. Joelma Buchir of the CB-UEM in the context of the project “Evaluation of emerging contaminantsin the Umbeluzi river: their presence and effects on fish”, carried out water sampling in the studyarea. As part of this research, an agreement was signed on April 13 with the Water Research Institute, National Research Council, Montelibretti, Italy. Currently Dr Buchir is at the Montelibetti Institutefora training internship (June 5 – July 7), scientific collaboration and participation in the course”Waterpollution: Holistic approach and natural base solutions”. On 12 April 2023, the Seminar for the presentation of the intermediate results of 10 researchprojects and 6 dissertation works of the 6th Cycle of Masters in Biotechnology was held inMaputo, financed through our research and training grants 20 April 2023 the sampling activity was launched for the project “Necrose Letal do Milho- umapotencial doença emergente do milho em Moçambique.” Conducted by Dr. Marilia Mazivele Titoceincollaboration with Dr. Massimo Turina, CNR, Institute for Sustainable Plant Protection, Padua, withthe Departamentos de Agricultura and Sanidade Vegetal de Maputo, Niassa and Cabo Delgado. 26 April and 10 May, field missions for sampling were carried out in Matutuine by DRs. LucindadeAraújo and Vanessa Comé, as part of the research “Epidemiology and Molecular Characterizationof the RVFV and Establishment of Molecular Techniques for detection of RVFV in Mozambique” . 25 and 28 April and 17 and 20 May 2023, sampling missions of Dr. Hermógenes Neves Mucachewerecarried out in Matutuine as part of the research “Estudo longitudinal para avaliar estratégias decontrole integrado da trypanossomose animal na interface animais selvagens-domésticos noParqueNacional de Maputo and control of the glossine fly”

From 30 April to 6 May Prof. Daniele Dessí, University of Sassari, held the module General conceptsand mechanisms of microbial pathogenesis while from 7 to 13 May Prof. Pierluigi Fiori, Universityof Sassari held the Basic Immunology module of the 7th cycle of the Master in Biotechnology On May 2, together with the management of the CB-UEM, we inaugurated the newoffices andawarehouse, built as part of BioForMoz. The Rector and the 2 Vice-Rectors, fromthe Italianside, theAmbassador of Italy and the Director of the Maputo office of AICS were present for the EMU. From 7 to 20 May, Dr. Fernando Nhassengo in Beira e Dondo carried out a water sampling as part of the research “Evolução genómica de Vibrio cholerae no ambiente aquático emáreas afectadas pelocyclone Idai em Moçambique”. From 16 to 19 May 2023, Dr. Erica Tovela and Prof. Mauro Colombo carried out a study and samplingin the Maputo National Park as part of the research “From river to river and fromgenetictogenomics: the study of homing in freshwater fishes”. On May 17, Dr. Lucinda de Araújo and Vanessa Comé carried out a sampling of blood and faecesindomestic animals, in the Matutuine district as part of the research “Caracterização do perfil deresistência antimicrobiana de estirpes de Escherichia coli isoladas em animais domésticos quehabitam proximo de áreas de conservation”. From 24 May to 25 June Dr. Carlos Bento (BioBank manager of MHN-UEM) participates intheOceanographic Expedition Survey, “Fishery resources southern and central Mozambique” ontheresearch vessel Dr Fridtjof Nansen. Duration: 24 May to 24 June 2023. Objective research is “Marinebiodiversity with an ecosystem approach of the coasts of Mozambique” with collectionof fishsamples. Funded and coordinated by FAO. Finally on June 14th Prof. Mauro M. Colombo together with Dr. Fernndo Chanisso carriedout asurvey of the installations of the Gala Field Station of the Biotechnology Center in Gala, Matutuine, financed by the international COMBAT Project, in order to evaluate a commitment by BioForMoz forthe rehabilitation of the lodge structures from use as a training center for biodiversity and zoonoses.

We thank you for your attention and we greet you cordially.