DEVELOPMENT AND VALIDATION OF DNA AND METABOMIC CHIPS: PRECISE IDENTIFICATION OF (GUACO) MIKANIA SPECIES

• Grant number: 24/06711-0
• Support Opportunities: Research Grants - Innovative Research in Small Business - PIPE
• Start date: February 01, 2025
• End date: October 31, 2025
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Botany - Applied Botany
• Principal Investigator: Anary Priscila Monteiro Egydio Brandão
• Grantee: Anary Priscila Monteiro Egydio Brandão
• Company: Myrtus Plant Biotech Ltda
• CNAE: Pesquisa e desenvolvimento experimental em ciências físicas e naturais ; Atividades profissionais, científicas e técnicas não especificadas anteriormente
• City: São Paulo
• Pesquisadores principais: Fabiana Lima Silva
• Associated scholarship(s): 25/03690-5 - Development and Validation of DNA and Metabolomics Chips: Precise identification of Mikania (Guaco) species, BP.TT; 25/03754-3 - Metabolomic study of different populations of Mikania glomerata Spreng. and Mikania laevigata Sch.Bip. ex Baker., BP.TT; 25/01987-0 - DNA and metabolomics chip development and validation: accurate identification of Mikania species (Guaco), BP.PIPE

Abstract

In the Brazilian market, guaco-based products are extremely important as herbal medicines. However, the guaco production chain faces a major problem. Two native species, Mikania glomerata Spreng. and Mikania laevigata Sch.Bip. ex Baker, are known as guaco. The morpho-anatomical similarities between the two cause them to be often confused. However, this interchangeability has been extensively debated due to several studies that point out chemical differences that may be related to the variation in pharmacological activities observed between these species. Therefore, the identification and distinction between the two species of Mikania is extremely important to ensure the safe and rational use of this medicinal plant. Classical methods indicated in the Brazilian Pharmacopoeia for species identification have limitations regarding Mikania. Therefore, this task consists of a scientific-technological market challenge that is old and has not yet been satisfactorily resolved. Given this context, the present project proposes the following objectives: I) Develop and validate a genomic panel of SNPs exclusive to guaco for the projection of a high-throughput SNP genotyping chip that allows the identification and differentiation between the species Mikania glomerata and M. laevigata; II) Develop and validate a chip for individual qualitative and semi-quantitative measurement of chemical markers of the two Mikania species; and III) Validate an integrated genotyping and metabolomics approach, with the aim of generating a robust tool for certifying the authenticity of the Mikania species. To obtain a comprehensive list of SNPs, the whole genome sequencing (WGS) strategy will be developed on the Illumina platform. For the selection of discriminating chemical markers, non-targeted and targeted metabolomics approaches will be applied. In both analyses, samples of the two species under study will be obtained from wild populations widely distributed geographically in the country. It is expected that the results to be obtained will allow the selection and validation of a panel of high-quality SNPs and informative chemical characters, which could compose the first commercial DNA and metabolomics chips for guaco. This integrated solution could be innovative tool on a national and global scale and generate very significant contributions in this niche market. (AU)