Stingless Bee Microbiomes as a Source of Novel Antimicrobials and in Agrochemical Detoxification: A One Health Approach Guided by Chemical Ecology

• Grant number: 25/10223-4
• Support Opportunities: Regular Research Grants
• Start date: September 01, 2025
• End date: August 31, 2028
• Field of knowledge: Health Sciences - Pharmacy - Pharmacognosy
• Principal Investigator: Mônica Tallarico Pupo
• Grantee: Mônica Tallarico Pupo
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Ciências Farmacêuticas de Ribeirão Preto (FCFRP). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Ribeirão Preto , SP, Brazil
• Associated researchers: Adriano Defini Andricopulo ; Cristiano Menezes ; Fábio Santos do Nascimento ; Ilana Lopes Baratella da Cunha Camargo ; Leticia Veras Costa Lotufo ; Rafael Victorio Carvalho Guido

Abstract

The project proposes the study of stingless bee microbiomes, with a special focus on bacteria, within a One Health framework and three main objectives: A.1) Characterize natural products (NPs) involved in mediating interspecies interactions (Chemical Ecology); A.2) Based on this knowledge of the ecological role of NPs, more rationally guide the potential application of these compounds as starting candidates in the therapeutic development process of antimicrobial agents (Medicinal Chemistry); B) Evaluate the potential of gut bacteria in the degradation of agrochemicals (pesticides) used in coffee crops (Sustainable Agriculture/Bioremediation). The figure presented in the project abstract (file), created by the applicant, summarizes the project. For the success of the proposal, ectosymbiotic bacteria (objectives A.1 and A.2) and endosymbiotic bacteria (objective B) that establish interspecies relationships with native stingless bees will be prioritized. From this ecological context, the chances of discovering new bioactive natural products are increased, as is the potential for xenobiotic degradation. Modern strategies in natural product chemistry will be prioritized, including dereplication methods (through HPLC-UV-DAD, HRESIMS-MS/MS, molecular networking construction, use of the GNPS platform, etc.), co-culture methods (to mimic natural conditions), and genome mining methods through the analysis of biosynthetic gene clusters. It is expected that understanding the ecological role of symbiotic bacteria and their natural products (specialized metabolites) for both the producing microorganisms and their hosts can guide the discovery of compounds with therapeutic potential in the areas of antibiotics, antifungals, antiparasitics, and anticancer agents, as well as the identification of bioremediation processes. The project is directly aligned with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs): A.1: SDG 15 and SDG 17; A.2: SDG 3; B: SDG 2 and SDG 12. The overall knowledge generated will also contribute to SDG 4, and in the future, to SDGs 8 and 9. (AU)