Search for bioactive compounds from unutilized microbes of marine sponge

2022 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 20K15409
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Early-Career Scientists
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Review Section: Basic Section 37020:Chemistry and chemical methodology of biomolecules-related
• Research Institution: Waseda University
• Principal Investigator: Machida Koshi 早稲田大学, 理工学術院, 次席研究員(研究院講師) (30778163)
• Project Period (FY): 2020-04-01 – 2023-03-31
• Keywords: 海綿 / 天然化合物 / 微生物

Outline of Final Research Achievements

Symmbiotic microorganisms in marine sponge have been attractive as a source of lead compounds for medical and pesticide candidates. Recently, it has become clear that only about 1% of all environmental microorganisms can be cultured, and more than 99% of the remaining microorganisms cannot be cultured, indicating that most environmental microorganisms are underutilized resources. The objective of this study is to cultivate difficult-to-culture microorganisms　in sponges using special culture devices, purify novel natural compounds from them, and elucidate the structure and biological activity of the compounds.

Free Research Field

ケミカルバイオロジー

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

天然化合物の探索研究において、既知化合物にいきついてしまうことを回避するには、従来にない新しい生物活性を指標とするか、未開拓な生物資源から探索する戦略が有効と考えられる。本研究成果は、海綿からこれまで培養されてこなかった微生物を分離培養したことで、生物活性物質の新たな探索源開拓につながると期待される。