Uncovering the potential of small molecules of oysters Saccostrea glomerata

• Grant number: 22/15362-4
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships abroad - Research Internship - Post-doctor
• Start date: July 01, 2023
• End date: June 30, 2024
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Physiology - Compared Physiology
• Principal Investigator: Renata Guimarães Moreira Whitton
• Grantee: Amanda da Silveira Guerreiro
• Supervisor: Abigail Elizur
• Host Institution: Instituto de Biociências (IB). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). São Paulo , SP, Brazil
• Institution abroad: University of the Sunshine Coast (UniSC), Australia
• Associated to the scholarship: 20/11583-0 - Effects of carbamazepine, a contaminant of emerging concern, on the physiology of Astyanax lacustris mature females, BP.PD

Abstract

Bioactive peptides represent a great potential in economics and in research due to their capacity to improve physiological processes in vertebrate organisms. Previous studies have suggested that peptides with biological properties can induce antimicrobial and anticancer activities, stimulate immunoregulation and improve reproductive function in humans, to name a few. However, obtaining new peptides and uncovering their potential involves a series of processes, such as extraction from important species (e.g. oysters), identification, preparation and characterization, which may be challenging. Regardless, comprehensive analysis on bioactive peptides from oysters and their subsequential testing may be important and helpful in aquaculture and human health. Considering that the Sydney Rock Oyster, Saccostrea glomerata, is an important species in aquaculture and a candidate in ecotoxicology, it may be for a great value in peptide and small molecule discovery. Since only a few studies have evaluated the extracts of this oyster in fish or human health, this proposal aims to uncover S. glomerata peptides potential. (AU)