CHEMBIOFIGHT

Exploring Chemical Biodiversity with Innovative Approaches for Fighting Chagas and Leismaniasis

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 Obiettivo del progetto (Objective)

'The ChemBioFight project aims towards the exploration of natural resources to the discovery of bioactive therapeutic molecules against leishmania and Chagas disease. This will be accomplished through the establishment of an extended scientific network between European and South American research entities. Already assembled, highly diverse chemical libraries will be employed for the determination of active natural scaffolds leading to the focused collection of biomaterial (plants, marine organisms, fungi, endophytes) from local diversity hot-spots. Automated, high throughput and advanced techniques will be incorporated for the extraction process as well as the isolation and identification of natural products. Sophisticated approaches as metabolomics and chemical profiling will contribute to the discovery of novel active compounds and will be used to conduct dereplication procedures. Semi-synthetic derivatives of lead compounds will be also produced aiming to the optimization of favorable biological properties via medicinal chemistry aspects. In every step of the proposed work flow, the obtained samples (extracts, isolated compounds, synthetic derivatives) will be evaluated in vitro and/or in vivo for their antileishmanial and antitrypanosomal activity. Within the aforementioned context, an extensive net of secondements, both with educational and experimental attributes, will be established. Core scientific knowledge is expected to be produced and exchanged, with the prospect of creating partnerships with future scientific potential. All partners will participate in the dissemination procedure through teaching activities, workshops and international conferences, leading overall to mutual transfer of know-how. Finally, all procedures will be effectively monitored from a management team ensuring effectiveness and prompt objective achievement.'

Introduzione (Teaser)

A consortium has been established to promote bio-prospecting in the search for novel therapeutics to treat neglected diseases.

Descrizione progetto (Article)

Scientists are fine-combing the world's biodiversity in the search for bioactive compounds that could be used in the treatment of disease. Up to now, however, this exploration has somewhat neglected rare parasitic illnesses like ulcerous leishmaniasis and Chagas disease.

The EU-funded 'Exploring chemical biodiversity with innovative approaches for fighting Chagas and Leismaniasis' (http://chembiofight.eu/ (CHEMBIOFIGHT)) project was set up to encourage the discovery of novel natural products able to fight these rare conditions. It is doing so by strengthening partnerships between European and South American research organisations.

Ongoing workshops and researcher exchanges ensure that sharing of expertise and advanced research equipment takes place. So far, 31 early-stage and experienced researchers from all the scientific entities involved have been seconded.

These collaborations enable the focused collection and high-throughput screening of bio-material, like plants, marine organisms and fungi, from local diversity hot-spots. Novel active compounds discovered this way will then be characterised and tested for activity against the parasites that cause leishmaniasis and Chagas disease.

Researchers have already generated a computer model to predict the characteristics of potentially therapeutic compounds using data available within the consortium's chemical libraries. A number of plants have been collected and screened as well, and synthetic analogues of active natural scaffolds have been produced.

By facilitating the mobility of researchers between the two regions, the CHEMBIOFIGHT initiative should help reverse the brain drain experienced in Europe and South America. It will also improve the career prospects of the researchers involved, while developing profitable academic cooperation across borders.