Investigation of metabolic and biotechnological potential of marine organisms in bioremediation processes and for the production of substances with anti-viral, anti-inflammatory and anti-Leishmania activities (Marine Biodiversity)

Abstract

Marine natural products isolated from both marine invertebrates and microorganisms have received increased attention during the last 50 years due to their structural complexity and biological activities. In particular marine sponges, ascidians, octocorals, bryozoans, as well as marine fungi and bacteria, have shown to be prolific sources of potently active and structurally unique secondary metabolites. Although Brazil has an 8.000 km long coastline, the knowledge of marine natural products from Brazilian marine organisms is still limited. The proposal of this project is the to extend the aims established for the previous thematic project, looking for a wider and deeper investigation of bioactive metabolites from marine organisms. Thus, new bioassays are now included in the proposal: anti-viral and anti-Laeishmania bioectivites, as well as and an enhanced investigation of anti-inflammatory actions. In this sense, crude extracts obtained from marine organisms already collected will be tested in these new bioassays, in order to detect such activities and to further explore the production of bioactive metabolites by marine organisms. Moreover, we also aim to explore the biotechnological potential of microbial strains from marine and mangrove habitats for the degradation of organic pollutants. Strains already obtained will be evaluated in lignin, cellulose and organic matter degradation processes, as well as new strains to be isolated from mangrove sediments and plants. Our main goal is to reinforce the rational exploration of biodiversity resources from São Paulo state, in particular from a yet unexplored area (mangrove from southern Sao Paulo state coastline), for the description of microbial species and to explore their metabolic and biotechnological potential. (AU)