Prospection of new substances with anticancer potential in bacteria isolated from the ascidian Trididemnum maragogi

• Grant number: 23/02775-1
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: June 01, 2023
• End date: December 31, 2024
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Pharmacology
• Principal Investigator: Leticia Veras Costa Lotufo
• Grantee: Julia Stutz Fiasca
• Host Institution: Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas (ICB). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). São Paulo , SP, Brazil
• Associated research grant: 14/50926-0 - INCT 2014: biodiversity and natural products, AP.BTA.TEM

Abstract

Cancer is a set of diseases characterized by the abnormal growth of cells in any tissue or organ, and represents the second cause of death in the world. In order to reduce this problem, the search for new antineoplastic drugs is still a major focus of research. In this context, marine natural products play a key role in the discovery of new substances with pharmacological potential, represented by some drugs approved for clinical use against cancer. Of particular interest, sea squirts are invertebrate marine animals, belonging to the class Ascidiacea, subphylum Tunicata, which establish symbiotic relationships with several species of microorganisms. This project proposes the prospection of new substances with potential antitumor activity in bacteria associated with the ascidian Trididemnum maragogi, collected in the São Pedro and São Paulo Archipelago. Of particular importance is the fact that several previous studies have proven the potential of substances isolated from holobiont systems (host and its associated microbiota), which have proven effective in clinical treatments. The project aims at the isolation and growth of marine bacteria associated with sea squirts, the production of an extract containing substances produced by these microorganisms and their screening in tumor cells. Establishing the effectiveness of metabolites produced by marine bacteria in inhibiting cell growth will allow future studies to identify molecules and their mechanism of action in cells, in addition to their application in Biotechnology.