Event

Abstract

-Natural products have played a critical role in drug discovery and innovation for many decades - roughly 65% of all approved small molecule drugs are either natural products, derivatives, or embody a natural product pharmacophore. This is especially true for the treatment of certain diseases, including infectious and neurological diseases, both of which have significant unmet needs. The success of natural products in the clinic is due to their evolutionary history, their structures and functions having evolved over millions of years of selective pressures to carry out an essential role for the producing organism. My research group uses information about potential ecological functions that are mediated by small molecules to discover novel natural products. This ecology focused natural product discovery platform has successfully led to the elucidation of truly novel compounds that are produced by millipedes and marine egg mass bacterial symbionts that possess intriguing pharmaceutical applications.

Research Interests

Naturally occurring small molecules (natural products) have long played a critical role in drug discovery with estimates that over 65% of all approved small molecule drugs are either natural products, derivatives, or contain the pharmacophore of a natural product. Some important examples include taxol (anticancer), rapamycin (immunosuppressive), and penicillin (antibiotic) - these drugs have saved countless lives and influenced healthcare outcomes worldwide. The potent and specific bioactivities of natural products is due to their intricate structures, which result from millions of years of evolutionary selection to fine tune their ecological roles. Beginning in Aug. 2020, my lab will use a function-first approach to discover novel natural products from underexplored environmental niches that self-select for production of biologically active small molecules. For example, we will investigate marine egg mass microbiomes to discover metabolites that deter predation and these compounds could serve as therapeutic leads to treat cancer and infections. We will also study small molecule electron shuttles that deep-sea hydrothermal vent bacteria use for respiration on solid mineral substrates and work to understand the chemical exchanges between pathogens and symbionts of hard coral. By studying the chemistry of ecological systems, we will uncover new bioactive natural products and unravel biological mysteries.

https://chem.vt.edu/people/faculty/teaching-and-research/emevers.html

Host Prof. Monica McCallum