Saarbrücken, August 20, 2024 - The search for new antibiotics is a central concern of medical research, especially in view of the increasing spread of resistance to existing drugs. At Helmholtz Institute for Pharmaceutical Research Saarland (HIPS), the Microbial Natural Products department led by Prof. Rolf Müller is dedicated to the discovery, biotechnological improvement and production of antimicrobial natural products. A significant part of this research focuses on myxobacteria - soil bacteria that produce a variety of bioactive compounds. In this interview, pharmacist Dr Sebastian Walesch talks about one of his current research projects, the role of citizen science – scientific projects in which interested laypeople actively participate in research processes – and prospects.
What is the task of the Microbial Natural Products department at HIPS and why are myxobacteria considered to be particularly exciting research objects?
In our group, we are looking for new anti-infectives that can act against infectious disease pathogens such as bacteria, fungi, viruses and parasites. Myxobacteria are of particular interest to us because they live in soil, a highly competitive habitat. Here, microorganisms must be extremely well adapted to their environment and survive against numerous competitors. In the course of this, they produce a large number of bioactive natural products. These substances have the potential to be developed into drugs, which is of great interest for drug discovery.
How do you go about isolating new bacteria and compounds?
Our approach is based on the analysis of soil samples that we receive from citizens all over Germany as part of our citizen science project MICROBELIX. These samples often contain previously unknown bacterial species, including myxobacteria. We cultivate the bacteria in the laboratory and analyze the substances they produce for their bioactive effects. This has already enabled us to discover several interesting classes of natural products that were previously unknown or whose potential has not yet been fully exploited.
Can you give a specific example of an interesting discovery you made from soil samples?
Of course! One exciting example is the rediscovery of angiolams. We isolated bacteria that produce substances of this class from soil samples collected in Saarland, Germany. Angiolam A was described as a weak antibiotic about 40 years ago. Interestingly, we discovered that these substances are not only effective against bacteria, but also very active against the malaria parasite Plasmodium. This discovery was unexpected and shows that there may be other bioactive compounds in this natural product family that have been overlooked.
What are the next steps for further research on angiolams?
Our next steps include a more comprehensive study of angiolams. We want to test whether they are active against other pathogens. It is quite possible that they have a broader bioactive spectrum than previously thought. Another important aspect is to test their stability and tolerability in living systems, such as zebrafish larvae or human liver cells. These studies are essential to evaluate the potential of these substances as drugs, as they must not only be effective, but also stable and non-toxic.
How did the “Sample das Saarland” project become MICROBELIX, and what motivated you to expand the project?
"Sample das Saarland" started in 2017 as a pilot project, in which we asked Saarland citizens to send us soil samples from their gardens or favorite places in the forest. The idea was to involve the general public in scientific research, while at the same time obtaining a wide variety of soil samples. The results were extremely positive: we isolated many interesting bacteria, including the producers of the newly discovered angiolams. Due to this success, we have decided to extend the project to the whole of Germany and to rename it MICROBELIX. This expansion will allow us to obtain even more soil samples and thus increase the chances of discovering new and interesting natural products.
What was the response to the MICROBELIX project, and what role do citizen scientists play in your research?
The response has been very positive. Many citizens have shown great interest and sent us soil samples from different regions in Germany. It is fascinating to see that it makes little difference whether the samples were collected by scientists or citizens. In both cases, we discovered an amazing diversity of microorganisms. The participation of citizen scientists is particularly valuable to us, as it helps us to build a larger database and potentially discover bacteria that we would otherwise have missed.
What further developments are you planning for MICROBELIX to optimize the collaboration with citizen scientists?
To improve communication and exchange with citizen scientists, we are planning to develop a special app. This app will make it easier for participants to track their submitted soil samples and be informed about the results. It will provide information on which bacteria were found in the samples and whether they might be producing bioactive compounds of interest. We hope that this app will make the interaction between us and the citizen scientists even closer and more interactive, and further promote interest in scientific work.
