Leptospira isolates from biofilms formed at urban environments. Leptospira sp.

Leptospirosis is a worldwide public health problem for humans and animals. This zoonosis has a very complex epidemiological cycle, with the participation of a diversity of animal hosts. Leptospires are excreted in the urine of reservoir animals, mainly Rattus norvegicus, contaminating the environment, where they can survive, despite being sensitive to hostile conditions.Leptospires form biofilms in rural environment and in the kidneys of natural reservoir rats. Additionally, biofilms are ubiquitous in urban communities with poor sanitation. Knowledge on the mechanisms used by Leptospira to survive in the environment is incipient. The hypothesis of this study is that biofilms constitute an environmental reservoir of Leptospira.The goals of this project are to isolate, identify and characterize Leptospira from biofilms formed at urban environments with poor sanitation conditions. We hope to augment the understanding on the diversity and genomics of leptospires isolated from urban environments. Finally, we expect to identify biofilms as natural environmental reservoirs of Leptospira, in an ecological and health perspectives.