The objective of this work package is to demonstrate that the components of the pipeline from the microorganisms in the environment to the active molecules and products on the market can be constructed and works appropriately. To release the full potential of the microorganisms in the marine environment needs to take full advantage of the competencies in and around the Biological and Medical Sciences Research Infrastructures. Researchers need to have a clear picture of the processes and opportunities available to access active molecules from marine biodiversity for their needs.
The overarching objective of WP6 is to demonstrate that the components of the pipeline from the microorganisms in the environment to the active molecules and products on the market as assembled through the work of WPs 2-5 are effective.
The main activities (tasks) of the work package 6:
Task 6.1. Releasing the potential of recalcitrant bacteria;
Task 6.2. Improving the efficiency and effectiveness of a harmonized natural product discovery pipeline;
Task 6.3. Influence of organism type on extraction and metabolic profiling.
CAB International (CABI) leads this effort and is responsible for coordinating the tasks and forming the bridge between this work and the other work packages of EMBRIC. There are three tasks, the first aims to release the potential of recalcitrant bacteria and is led by the Leibniz-Institut DSMZ-Deutsche Sammlung von Mikroorganismen und Zellkulturen GmbH (DSMZ). They will select key relevant strains to test the pipeline whilst perfecting techniques to grow and scale up production of organisms difficult to isolate and grow. The partners in the work package will work together to characterise these strains. Task 6.2. Improving the efficiency and effectiveness of a harmonized natural product discovery pipeline is led by the University Court of the University of St Andrews (USTAN) where they have access to HNMR, CNMR, HSQC, NOESY. They will carry out identification of the biosynthetic cluster encoding; amongst many strengths they have a proven technology to unlock silent clusters and can generate cosmid/ bac/pac libraries. Task 6.3. Influence of organism type on extraction and metabolic profiling is led by the Helmholtz-Zentrum fuer Infektionsforschung GMBH (HZI). They will characterize the metabolome involving GC/MS and LC/MS(/MS) and correlate metabolism with gene expression data. Extraction of example natural products will be carried out and specific purification procedures will be developed for each molecule and their efficiency tested, leading to mode of action analysis for isolated and structurally characterized compounds.
Together the work package partners will explore links with other initiatives such as PharmaSea and work with ELIXIR on links to relevant data sets outside the partners to add value. Opportunities for further funding will be explored. An overview of legal framework and appropriate business models will be needed. The work will lead to the creation of Network road map delivering a comprehensive picture of the resources, technologies and expertise that can help deliver the target molecules the user requires describing the prototype workflows from the microbial resource to product discovery.
