Anti-infective natural substances

Episode von InFact - Der HZI-Podcast. Wissenschaft, die ansteckt. von HZI - Helmholtz-Zentrum für Infektionsforschung GmbH · 23. April 2024 · 12 min

The department "Anti-infectives from Microbiota" of Prof Christine Beemelmanns focuses on the identification and functional analysis of novel anti-infective natural products from microbial communities. Co-cultivation studies and cell-based assays in combination with chemical-analytical and molecular biological methods are used to evaluate new microbial natural product producers. The group uses established and innovative metabolomic, activity- and genome-guided methods to elucidate the structure of the secreted natural products. Based on the isolated natural products, the functional analysis and evaluation of their spectrum of activity is carried out. The department is based at the Helmholtz Institute for Pharmaceutical Research Saarland (HIPS) in Saarbrücken, a site of the HZI in co-operation with Saarland University.

The spread of antibiotic-resistant human pathogenic bacteria is an increasing threat to human health. The development of new anti-infectives and a better understanding of their function and mode of action are therefore urgently needed. Microorganisms are a promising source of new active substances. Microbial communities (microbiota / microbiome) are made up of a large number of different bacteria, fungi and representatives of unicellular and few-celled eukaryotes as well as viruses. These communities are found on human, animal and plant tissue surfaces, among others, where they can fulfil essential functions for the host. In many cases, the composition of the microbiota correlates with its localisation and thus its function. Microorganisms regulate and manipulate their coexistence by emitting bioactive natural substances. Microbial natural products can have an antibiotic effect to protect the producers, but can also act as a cellular signal, as a morphogen for the host organism or be metabolised as a nutrient. However, the chemical structures of many of these natural substances are unknown, which means that their natural function, their influence on the microbiota and their potential applications are still poorly understood.

As natural products play important roles in microbial interactions, their production is closely linked to the composition of the microbiota. The Beemelmanns group analyses representative microbial communities to explore this chemical space.

Transparency notice: The podcast contains AI-generated audio material.

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