Suberin-derivatives as antifungal agents

• Grant number: 17/12817-2
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships abroad - Research
• Start date: July 01, 2018
• End date: June 30, 2019
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Microbiology - Biology and Physiology of Microorganisms
• Agreement: European Research Council
• Principal Investigator: Gustavo Henrique Goldman
• Grantee: Gustavo Henrique Goldman
• Host Investigator: Cristina Maria da Costa Silva Pereira
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Ciências Farmacêuticas de Ribeirão Preto (FCFRP). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Ribeirão Preto , SP, Brazil
• Institution abroad: Universidade Nova de Lisboa, Portugal

Abstract

The development of new materials derived from suberin as antifungal agents is a very novel strategy. The Laboratory of Applied and Environmental Mycology, Instituto de Tecnologia Química e Biológica António Xavier ITQB, Universidade Nova de Lisboa, Portugal has developed a completely new approach to isolate suberin and suberin-derivatives. Our knowledge in the genetics, biochemistry, and molecular biology of fungi, more specifically the molecular characterization of antifungal effects and apoptosis/necrosis in the fungal cell will favour enormously the identification of potential suberin-derivatives with antifungal potential. Thus, the specific objectives of this project are: 1) By using Aspergillus nidulans, to establish Minimal Inhibitory Concentrations (MIC), if the suberin-derivatives are fungicide or fungistatic, and if they are able to cause apoptosis and/or necrosis; 2) Investigation of the combinatorial synergism between azoles and suberin-derivatives and echinocandins and suberin-derivatives; and 3) To screen null deletion libraries of A. nidulans and A. fumigatus aiming to look for genes involved in the mechanism of action of these suberin-derivative compounds. (AU)