The Action ““Establishing defined communities of Antarctic soil bacteria as potential sources of antimicrobials” delves into the untapped Antarctic soil bacteria as a rich and unexplored source of antimicrobial compounds. With its vast and unexplored bacterial diversity, this frozen continent represents a potential treasure trove of novel antimicrobial compounds. Importantly, this project goes beyond mere discovery; it also investigates our ability to unlock these hidden antimicrobials through innovative cultivation approaches and tailored microbial consortia design.
Our reliance on microbes as a source of life-saving antibiotics is undeniable. The majority of antibiotics used in human medicine today stem from bacterial and fungal sources. However, the "golden antibiotic era" of compound-by-compound discovery has unfortunately slowed down dramatically. Despite extensive screening of microbial cultures and chemical libraries, the desired results have been elusive. This is why the focus shifts back to nature's untapped potential. By exploring unexplored and highly adapted microbes from extreme environments like Antarctica, and by developing novel methods to stimulate antimicrobial production in the laboratory settings, we can reignite the search for effective antimicrobials.
The escalating threat of resistant pathogens demands innovative solutions. The antibiotic revolution saved countless lives, but its very success has fuelled the rise of "superbugs" armed with multiple resistance mechanisms. To combat this growing crisis, we must explore new possibilities how to find novel antimicrobial compounds, or novel approaches how to combat resistant pathogens. This MSCA was designed to unlock the antimicrobial potential of extremophiles in Antarctica. These hardy bacteria face a brutal environment – freezing temperatures, intense UV radiation, and limited resources. But such harshness fosters resilience, driving these microbes to produce unique and potentially powerful chemical compounds. What makes Antarctic extremophiles so promising? Unlike their counterparts in milder environments, these bacteria have evolved under intense pressure, leading to the development of specialized adaptations and novel secondary metabolites. By studying these "extremophile cocktails", we aim to discover antimicrobial compounds with unique modes of action, potentially bypassing existing resistance mechanisms.
Objectives of this MSCA have been to:
(a) to recover high-quality genomes from unique Antarctic isolates and to predict their biosynthetic potential
(b) to establish microbial consortia and improve co-cultivation or monoculture conditions to stimulate production of antimicrobial compounds
(c) to test expressed antimicrobial activity against the most critical multidrug-resistant human pathogens and against a set of human gut commensal strains
The MSCA Fellowship additionally aimed to cultivate the individual researcher's professional development, and this objective was demonstrably achieved.
