Chemical study of the actinobacteria Streptomyces sp. CM17 associated with the stingless bee Melipona scutellaris

• Grant number: 24/06881-3
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: July 01, 2024
• End date: June 30, 2025
• Field of knowledge: Physical Sciences and Mathematics - Chemistry - Organic Chemistry
• Principal Investigator: Mônica Tallarico Pupo
• Grantee: Isabelle Cristine Genari
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Ciências Farmacêuticas de Ribeirão Preto (FCFRP). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Ribeirão Preto , SP, Brazil
• Associated research grant: 13/07600-3 - CIBFar - Center for Innovation in Biodiversity and Drug Discovery, AP.CEPID

Abstract

Natural products, which are derived from plants, marine organisms, and microorganisms, are crucial for the development of new pharmaceuticals. It is estimated that approximately half of the pharmaceuticals sold originate from natural products. Microorganisms are important sources in the discovery of new pharmaceuticals, with antimicrobial and antitumor potential, among others. Furthermore, these microbial metabolites can play important roles in environmental communication and in symbiotic relationships, as in the case of insects, where microorganisms can offer defense against pathogens and assistance in nutrition. Recent studies highlight the importance of stingless bees and their symbiotic relationships with microorganisms, both from an ecological and economic point of view. The analysis of compounds produced by microorganisms associated with these bees has revealed therapeutic potential against human and bee pathogens. However, there is still a knowledge gap in this field, which highlights the importance of further research in this area. The Microorganism Chemistry Laboratory (LQMo-FCFRP-USP), coordinated by Profa. Dr. Mônica T. Pupo, has been a pioneer in these studies, identifying new compounds with bioactive potential. These findings reinforce the relevance of investigating symbiotic relationships between insects and microorganisms, especially in the context of chemical ecology, and also allow us to infer a biotechnological and pharmacological potential of these microorganisms associated with stingless bees as a source of new active compounds. The Streptomyces sp. CM17 strain, isolated from the stingless bee Melipona scutellaris, showed very promising results with inhibitory activity against the honeybee pathogen Paenibacillus larvae, against the entomopathogen Beauveria bassiana, and against the human pathogen Staphylococcus aureus. Furthermore, preliminary chemical analyses suggest the presence of new and bioactive compounds. Therefore, the objective of this work will be the large-scale cultivation of the Streptomyces sp. CM17 strain for compound isolation, followed by structural elucidation and determination of their minimum inhibitory concentration.