Microbial prospecting for antibiotics and pigments from bacteria isolated from Antarctica.

Abstract

The Antarctic continent is considered a region with extreme weather, low temperatures, high incidence of UV radiation and water deficit. It has a very unique biome, which means that much of their biological heritage can not be found anywhere else on the planet. Under these conditions it is expected to find adapted microrganisms (extremophiles) that can be exploited for the identification of unique and versatile metabolic arsenals with possible biotechnological applications in various areas. The development of recent research in our laboratory with prokaryotes and fungi in Antarctica has allowed the isolation of a large number of microrganisms (around 1200) in that region, possibly many of them indigenous, not yet cataloged and studied for the production of potential bioactive products. Furthermore, as approximately 99% of environmental bacteria can not be isolated by conventional culture methods, molecular technologies using the analysis of genetic material from the environment, such as "metagenomics", are needed to provide more accurate information on the diversity and biotechnological potential of the microbial community. Thus, members of our research group, recently built a metagenomic library of high weight DNA obtained from biofilm formed on the soil of Antarctica. This library has more than 80,000 clones already preserved by ultra-freeze. Based on this bulk of isolated micro-organisms, coupled with a metagenomic library, this study aims to seek out and discover natural products of biotechnological interest from these microbial resources, with a focus on secondary metabolites that cuold have application in the pharmaceutical and cosmetic industry.