Research Summary
Natural products are evolutionarily optimized and validated starting points for the development of valuable products for biomedical and industrial applications. Hence, natural products, particularly from marine organisms, can be dubbed as ‘blue gold’.
Our work at the Marine Science Institute can be subdivided into three broad domains- natural products-initiated drug discovery, establishment of new methodologies to address the supply issue of natural products, and characterization of marine toxins and venoms. Our main focus is on the discovery of natural products from marine organisms such as bacteria, cyanobacteria, sponges, mollusks, seaweeds, and HAB-causative organisms. We are part of two drug discovery consortia in the Philippines: Discovery and Development of Health Products (DDHP) and the Philippine Mollusk Symbiont-International Cooperative Biodiversity Group (PMS-ICBG). Both these projects aim to develop antibiotics, anticancer, and anti-pain agents from molecules produced by marine organisms from the Philippines. In addition, we also spearheaded the assessment of the biotechnological uses of less-studied organisms from the Philippines such as cyanobacteria, and the antimalarial activity assessment of marine microorganisms from the Philippines.
Our work at the Marine Science Institute can be subdivided into three broad domains- natural products-initiated drug discovery, establishment of new methodologies to address the supply issue of natural products, and characterization of marine toxins and venoms. Our main focus is on the discovery of natural products from marine organisms such as bacteria, cyanobacteria, sponges, mollusks, seaweeds, and HAB-causative organisms. We are part of two drug discovery consortia in the Philippines: Discovery and Development of Health Products (DDHP) and the Philippine Mollusk Symbiont-International Cooperative Biodiversity Group (PMS-ICBG). Both these projects aim to develop antibiotics, anticancer, and anti-pain agents from molecules produced by marine organisms from the Philippines. In addition, we also spearheaded the assessment of the biotechnological uses of less-studied organisms from the Philippines such as cyanobacteria, and the antimalarial activity assessment of marine microorganisms from the Philippines.
New methods to address the supply issue of natural products |
Natural Products-Initiated Drug Discovery |
Characterization of marine toxins and venoms |
Recent Publications
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Acyatan, Z.G., Susana-Guevarra, S.R., Picart, M.R.D., Belen, E.L., Salvador-Reyes, L.A., & Concepcion, G.P. (2024). In vivo anti-tumor and anti-metastatic activity of renieramycin M and doxorubicin combination treatments on 4T1 breast cancer murine model. SciEnggJ, 17(Supplement), 379-390. https://doi.org/10.54645/202417SupNLT-14
Fernando, J.C., Batucan, J.D., Peran, J.E., Salvador-Reyes, L.A., Villaraza, A.J. (2024) The Wheel of Fortune: Helical Wheel Alanine Scanning of a Spider Venom Antimicrobial Peptide Reveals Residues Involved in Antimicrobial and Cytotoxic Activity. ChemMedChem. e202400488. doi: 10.1002/cmdc.202400488 Peran, J.E. & Salvador-Reyes, L.A. (2024) Modified oxylipins as inhibitors of biofilm formation in Staphylococcus epidermidis. Front. Pharmacol. 15:1379643. doi: 10.3389/fphar.2024.1379643 Casanova, J. R., Villaraza, A. L., & Salvador-Reyes, L. A. (2024). Synthesis and biological evaluation of cyanobacterial-inspired peptides. ScienggJ, 17(Supplement), 42-88. https://doi.org/10.54645/202417SupJEA-58 |
Listen to Dr. Lilibeth A. Salvador-Reyes' interview on UPMSI's Deep Dive Podcast where she talks about how marine natural products can affect the daily lives of Filipinos.
By making these discoveries [of potential biomedical and industrial products], we also raise awareness to our local communities that you have this resource [...] and other potential high-value materials that we can get from the Philippine seas." |
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Watch the thirteenth entry in the MSI@50 Lecture Series where Dr. Lilibeth Salvador-Reyes, together with students and alumni of Marine Pharmacognosy Lab, showcased how chemical compounds from marine organisms can help develop today's economy
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Join UP MSI's Marine Biotechnology Track! Read the article featuring one of our lab members, Jeremiah Batucan, on his MS Marine Biotech journey.
“’Yun ang turning point kung bakit nagustuhan ko talaga dito sa MSI,” said Jeremiah, who describes marine cyanobacteria as his first love." |
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