Advancing academic partnership in the discovery of anti malarial microbial metabolites of botanicals

• Grant number: 17/50400-6
• Support Opportunities: Regular Research Grants
• Start date: December 01, 2018
• End date: November 30, 2019
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Parasitology - Protozoology of Parasites
• Agreement: Texas A&M University
• Mobility Program: SPRINT - Projetos de pesquisa - Mobilidade
• Principal Investigator: Fabio Trindade Maranhão Costa
• Grantee: Fabio Trindade Maranhão Costa
• Principal researcher abroad: Susanne Mertens-Talcott
• Institution abroad: Texas A&M University, United States
• Host Institution: Instituto de Biologia (IB). Universidade Estadual de Campinas (UNICAMP). Campinas , SP, Brazil
• Associated research grant: 12/16525-2 - Plasmodium vivax: pathogenesis and infectivity, AP.TEM

Abstract

Malaria remains one of the leading causes of death by infectious diseases worldwide. In 2015, the WHO estimated 429,000 deaths from malaria. Around 99% of the deaths are caused by Plasmodium falciparum (Pf), which has become resistant to most conventional drugs. Therefore, there is an increased need to develop alternative treatment strategies. The partnership between Dr. Susanne Talcott and Dr. Fabio Costa started in 2015 through joining Dr. Talcott’s expertise in functional properties and pharmacometrics of botanicals and Dr. Costa's expertise in malaria research with a focus on alternative malaria treatment strategies to overcome drug resistance. Within this collaboration, previous funding through TAMU-CAPES has been successfully used to train students and perform research. Both investigators and their laboratories are in regular contact via skype, email and phone but the requested funding would enable face-to-face interactions in the preparation of grant applications, publications and mutual training opportunities. Current research includes the investigation of microbial metabolites of botanicals with cutting-edge technologies, including yeast-based high-throughput screening, genomic sequencing for molecular targets and resistance mechanisms. (AU)

Scientific publications

(References retrieved automatically from Web of Science and SciELO through information on FAPESP grants and their corresponding numbers as mentioned in the publications by the authors)

FERREIRA, LETICIA T.; VENANCIO, VINICIUS P.; KAWANO, TAILA; ABRAO, LAILAH C. C.; TAVELLA, TATYANA A.; ALMEIDA, LUDIMILA D.; PIRES, GABRIEL S.; BILSLAND, ELIZABETH; SUNNERHAGEN, PER; AZEVEDO, LUCIANA; et al. Chemical Genomic Profiling Unveils the in Vitro and in Vivo Antiplasmodial Mechanism of Acai (Euterpe oleracea Mart.) Polyphenols. ACS OMEGA, v. 4, n. 13, p. 15628-15635, SEP 24 2019. (15/03553-6, 17/01986-8, 17/18611-7, 17/50400-6, 18/07007-4)