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A researcher investigated bioactive compounds on King George Island as part of an investigation that began in February 2014.
With an area of 14 million square kilometers – one and a half times larger than that of Brazil – almost entirely covered by an ice cover with an average thickness of 2.1 kilometers (but which in some places can reach nearly 5 kilometers), and 20 million square kilometers of frozen sea in winter and 1.6 in summer, the icy expanse of L & # 39; Antarctica is an extreme environment. But for this reason, it is an area conducive to the emergence and evolution of species unique to exotic metabolisms that increase the chances of development – and discovery – of new substances that may give birth. to new drugs for the treatment of various diseases, among them cancer.
Researcher Leonardo José Silva, of the Luiz de Queiroz (Esalq) Agricultural College of the University of São Paulo (USP), in Piracicaba, discovered the bacteria that lives in the grbad Deschampsia antarctica, which only exists in Antarctica. He visited the continent between November and December 2014 with a group of other Brazilian researchers. He collected small soil samples, wrapped them in sealed plastic bags and stored them in an ultrafreezer at -80ºC (negative).
Later, during the study of bacteria present in the herb, many of them produce compounds capable of inhibiting the development of glioma (a type of cancer that occurs in the brain and the spinal cord), bad and lung tumors. All research was conducted between February 2014 and July 2018.
The purpose of Silva's trip was to search for bioactive compounds in his case. According to him, prospecting activities can be carried out in any environment. "However, the chances of discovery of new substances, likely to aid in the development of drugs, biological controllers of pests in agriculture or even enzymes favoring the benefits of an industrial process given, are increased when looking in an unexplored place, such as (19659003) Indeed, the inhospitable region reconciles important factors for the establishment of unusual metabolic pathways, such as extreme environmental conditions, a weak gene flow, endemic species (which exist only in this region), and
Silva studied the rhizosphere-badociated microbiome (region where the soil and plant roots come into contact with). King George Island Grbad, located in the Antarctic Peninsula.
The goal of the Esalq researcher's work was to uncover and select the actinobacteria agens line. (a versatile bacterial group in the generation of bioactive compounds) capable of producing substances effective to control the development of human tumors.
Following his exploration, the researcher identified five new species, notably . Rhodococcus psychrotolerans whose disclosure was recently published in the international journal Antonie van Leeuwenhoek.
In addition, 72 strains of this bacterial group were isolated and a "library" containing 42,528 clones was created. "Through the research activities, we have obtained a collection of anti-tumor compounds producing actinobacteria, which can be further explored through partnerships between public research centers or private initiatives," says Silva.
"The reason we are working hard to get active compounds is to contribute to the development of cancer treatments, in order to give patients a longer life expectancy."
Regarding production of antitumor compounds, two lines discovered by Silva showed pronounced activity against the development of glioma, lung and bad cancers, and were therefore selected for the characterization of bioactive constituents
The substances cerebri B and actinomycin D, identified in the crude extract of the CMAA 1527 and CMAA 1653 bacteria found by Silva, are already known antitumor activities. That is, they are already used in countless drugs for the treatment of cancers. Despite this, the results of the work of the USP researcher represent an important scientific contribution for the country, given their significant value. For example, each 100 mg dose of actinomycin D costs around R $ 14,000.
According to Silva, the research was part of his doctoral dissertation conducted by Esalq's agricultural microbiology program and was financially supported by the Council. National Center for Scientific and Technological Development (CNPq). The study, he says, was guided by researcher Itamar Soares de Melo, from Embrapa Meio Ambiente, a unit of the Brazilian Agricultural Research Society, and has forged many partnerships.
Silva's research is part of a larger context in which the increase in the number of cancer cases has attracted the attention of the scientific community worldwide and has led to the search for new strategies and new drugs for the treatment of the disease. "In this sense, substances obtained from microorganisms and plants are among the most promising, accounting for about 60% of antitumor agents whose use has been approved in recent decades."
According to Silva, the discovery and identification of activity An antitumor of compounds in cancer cells grown in the laboratory is the first step in the development of a new drug for clinical use. "The following steps are in vivo tests (with animals), structural modifications to maintain their activity and avoid damaging effects on non-diseased cells, optimal dosing and testing. encapsulation of substances and, finally, in humans, "he explains.
But Silva's work is not over yet. "Since only two discovered lines have been explored and we have 15 other producers of anti-cancer compounds without any additional information, I have the main interest to study them in search of new bioactive compounds," he said. he declares.
Another objective is to continue trials initiated through effective partnerships in the context of clinical trials, drug dosages and structural modifications of substances produced to reduce cytotoxicity (damage that substances may cause to healthy cells) and increase the specificity of the target (tumors), that is to say, to ensure that the new drugs act only against cancer cells.
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