Title: Microbial natural products in drug discovery – Stories from fungi and bacteria and their chemistry

Speaker: Dr. Sandra Loesgen (Associate Professor of Chemistry, University of Florida)

Abstract: Many microorganisms produce secondary metabolites that are believed to have critical roles in intra- and inter-species communication, competition for resources, or defense of a symbiotic partner. Despite the importance of these metabolites, it is estimated that only a small fraction of microbial secondary metabolites has been identified, and a much smaller fraction of identified secondary metabolites have well-established ecological functions. The secondary metabolites of microorganisms often exhibit inherent biological activities, and many have are serving as clincailly approved drugs, examples are antibiotic penicillin from Penicillium fungi and the chemotherapeutic doxorubicin from Streptomyces bacteria. 

In this seminar, I will give an overview of the research in the Loesgen Lab on fungal and bacterial metabolites from both terrestrial and marine habitats. In our drug discovery program, we pursue new compounds with antibiotic, antiviral, and anticancer activity. I will give examples of our screening and gene activation approaches and will present the latest news towards the mode-of-action studies of the melanoma selective metabolite mensacarcin.

If you would like to attend this seminar virtually, please contact imetdirectorsoffice@umces.edu for the WebEx call-in information