The constant emergence of pathogens resistant to traditional pesticides and antibiotics necessitates the continual discovery of novel therapies for medical and agricultural use. It is our long-range goal to discover new antifungal and antibiotic therapies utilizing bioactive natural products. This REU research project sought to isolate and purify heat stable antifungal factor (HSAF) and analogs from Lysobacter enzymogenes OH11 in amounts greater than 100 mg. HSAF is a new polycyclic tetramate macrolactams that displays novel modes of action in fungal pathogen suppression. Obtaining large quantities of HSAF and analogs will allow for the investigation of the molecular mechanisms through which HSAF and analogs interact with fungal pathogens. In order to accomplish this goal, it is necessary to first obtain a basic knowledge of the the techniques used in Lysobacter research, including methods of growing and maintaining Lysobacter, and fermentation of Lysobacter to produce target compounds. Then, HPLC and LC-MS were used to detect and analyze the target compounds from various cultures of Lysobacter enzymogenes OH11. Finally, HSAF and analogs were purified from cultures of Lysobacter enzymogenes OH11 using column chromatography and preparative HPLC. New analogs were characterized using HPLC and LC-MS and their antifungal properties were investigated.

Preparation of the antifungal compounds HSAF and analogs from Lysobacter enzymogenes

255th National Meeting (2018)

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