Identification of bacterias from Antartica and investigation of the antiherpetic properties

• Grant number: 13/05113-8
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Master
• Start date: September 01, 2013
• End date: February 28, 2015
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Microbiology - Applied Microbiology
• Principal Investigator: Fabiana Fantinatti Garboggini
• Grantee: Mariana Bueno de Paula Nery
• Host Institution: Centro Pluridisciplinar de Pesquisas Químicas, Biológicas e Agrícolas (CPQBA). Universidade Estadual de Campinas (UNICAMP). Paulínia , SP, Brazil

Abstract

The marine environment presents a very vast biodiversity and, until now, little explored. The investigation of the potential of biodiversity in producing natural compounds against diseases that bring harm to public health and the environment is of paramount importance. Recently, some investigations of the biotechnological potential of the marine environment as a source of new drugs has been largely restricted to tropical and subtropical regions, however, the operation is being expanded to colder regions, including Antarctica. In recent decades, there has been an increase in scientific research to investigate the biotechnological potential of psychrophilic micro-organisms and many antiviral properties have been discovered. Many viral diseases affecting human health, environmental and animal, has done many damages. One of the viruses harmful to human health is the human herpes virus, type 1 (HSV-1) with clinical herpes labialis. It must be emphasized that virus are organisms with high mutation taxa, becoming quickly resistant to antiviral. These abilities affect the control containment of theses microorganisms and requires a constant need to update and availability of compound approved by FDA (Food and Drug Administration), with antiviral properties. One of the most known antiviral used to control herpes virus simples type 1 is ARA-A, replaced for aciclovir. In this context, this project aims identify species of microorganisms isolated from Admiralty Bay (King George Island) Antarctica, understand their associations with marine sponge and to evaluate the antiviral properties to the herpes simplex virus type 1.