Metabolic induction of endophytic fungi through OSMAC strategy and optimization in the production of biomolecules with antimicrobial activity

• Grant number: 20/16299-9
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: April 01, 2021
• End date: March 31, 2022
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Microbiology - Applied Microbiology
• Principal Investigator: Cristina Paiva de Sousa
• Grantee: Saulo Henrique Rodrigues
• Host Institution: Centro de Ciências Biológicas e da Saúde (CCBS). Universidade Federal de São Carlos (UFSCAR). São Carlos , SP, Brazil

Abstract

Disease control is challenging for science. A major factor that contributed to this difficulty is the growing resistance and microbial multiresistance, a phenomenon detected worldwide. Microbial resistance has restricted the use of drugs. In this context, the bioprospecting of new substances for application in in vitro tests is relevant for combating pathogens and preventing infections. Thus, endophytes, microorganisms that live associated with plant tissues, are a potential source in the production of new innovative bioactive compounds. These microorganisms can produce substances through their secondary metabolism, including those with antimicrobial activity. From this perspective, the present project aims to induce the metabolic production of two fungal endophytic strains isolated from Polygala paniculata by our group, using the OSMAC (One strain many compounds) approach. The microorganism cultivation conditions will be modified to maximize its production. In this experiment, fungi will be subjected to three cultivation variables: glucose concentration (5 to 40 g.L-1), presence of NH4Cl in the medium and the combination of the best glucose concentration with the addition of NH4Cl. With this, microbial extracts will be obtained and tested for their inhibitory activity on pathogens of public health and biotechnological interest. Also, in this project the sequencing of the ITS1-5,8S-ITS2 region of the rDNA will be used for the identification of the isolates, in addition to the in vitro analysis of the enzymatic production of these fungi.

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)

BOGAS, ANDREA CRISTINA; RODRIGUES, SAULO HENRIQUE; GONCALVES, MARIANA OTTAIANO; DE ASSIS, MARCELO; LONGO, ELSON; DE SOUSA, CRISTINA PAIVA. Endophytic Microorganisms From the Tropics as Biofactories for the Synthesis of Metal-Based Nanoparticles: Healthcare Applications. FRONTIERS IN NANOTECHNOLOGY, v. 4, p. 13-pg., 2022-02-24. (16/13423-5, 20/16299-9, 13/07296-2, 17/12905-9)