Metagenomic approach for the isolation and identification of new microbial antibiotic natural products

• Grant number: 09/13861-9
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Post-Doctoral
• Start date: March 01, 2010
• End date: September 30, 2011
• Field of knowledge: Physical Sciences and Mathematics - Chemistry - Organic Chemistry
• Principal Investigator: Mônica Tallarico Pupo
• Grantee: Denise Oliveira Guimarães
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Ciências Farmacêuticas de Ribeirão Preto (FCFRP). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Ribeirão Preto , SP, Brazil

Abstract

The main goal of this proposal for a 2 years postdoctoral research is the use of metagenomic as a new tool for the discovery of microbial natural products with antibiotic activity (specially antimicrobial and antitumoral) from uncultivable soil microorganisms. Metagenomic can provide the access of a great chemical and biological diversity through the investigation of non cultivable microorganisms that represents 99% of all terrestrial microbial diversity. Using molecular biology techniques and metagenomic approach this project will focus on the investigation of the chemical and biological potential of non cultivable microorganisms from Brazilian soil. The potential antibiotic activity obtained from uncultured soil microorganisms will be evaluated by in vitro and in vivo antimicrobial assays and also cytotoxic assays. (AU)