Standard Project by the the Czech Science Foundation (GACR)

I am excited to launch my research group as a Junior Group Leader with the project "Exploration of Ribosomally Synthesized Natural Product Diversity in Antarctic Extremophiles" (ID: 25-17343S). This project aims to uncover the hidden biosynthetic potential of bacteria adapted to Antarctica's extreme environments, with a focus on ribosomally synthesized and post-translationally modified peptides (RiPPs)—a promising and underexplored class of natural products with significant bioactive potential.

Leveraging access to a unique collection of Antarctic microbial isolates through the Czech Antarctic Research Programme (CARP), this project will combine cutting-edge genome mining, metagenomics, and laboratory expression techniques to identify and validate novel RiPPs with Antarctic origin. By systematically exploring these biosynthetic pathways, we aim to uncover the unique characteristics, functionalities, and evolutionary divergence of Antarctica-derived RiPPs, shedding light on how these compounds differ from currently known RiPPs and their potential to offer novel bioactive properties.

The project is hosted at Mendel University's Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, in collaboration with co-applicants Helča Skutková and Markéta Jakubíčková from Brno University of Technology, and supported by the CARP at Masaryk University, providing invaluable access to unique Antarctic microbial resources.