A Broad Pipeline: From Isolation to Application
Our work on bioactive molecules follows an integrated pipeline that begins with the collection of microbes from underexplored sources – traditional fermented foods, soil, water, oil‑contaminated sites, and even alkaline household products. We then screen these isolates for the production of industrially relevant metabolites using both classical plate assays and modern multi‑omics approaches. Promising compounds are purified, structurally characterised and tested for biological activities such as antimicrobial, antioxidant, anti‑inflammatory, emulsifying or catalytic functions. Finally, we explore their potential in applied settings, from functional food formulations and natural preservatives to bioremediation and drug discovery.
Exopolysaccharides: Multifunctional Polymers from Lactic Acid Bacteria
Exopolysaccharides (EPS) are long‑chain carbohydrate polymers secreted by many bacteria, particularly lactic acid bacteria. Our lab has isolated several EPS‑producing strains, notably Limosilactobacillus fermentum LAB‑1 and strains from bovine milk. In a published study, the EPS from LAB‑1 exhibited potent antioxidant activity, broad‑spectrum antimicrobial effects against both Gram‑positive and Gram‑negative pathogens, inhibition of biofilm formation, significant anti‑inflammatory properties, and good emulsification capacity. Such multifunctional EPS are promising as natural additives for food preservation, wound healing materials, and eco‑friendly emulsifiers in cosmetics and bioremediation.
Prodigiosin: A Red Pigment with Therapeutic and Industrial Potential
Prodigiosin, a striking red tripyrrole pigment produced by bacteria such as Serratia marcescens, is one of nature’s most versatile bioactive compounds. HOPE Lab has contributed to this field through in‑silico studies demonstrating that prodigiosin has strong binding affinities to the NS5 methyltransferase of dengue and Zika viruses, suggesting antiviral potential. Furthermore, our computational work has identified prodigiosin as a multi‑target antidiabetic candidate, with stable interactions against SGLT‑2, GSK‑3β, aldose reductase, and α‑glucosidase. Beyond these therapeutic angles, prodigiosin also shows anticancer, immunosuppressive, and algicidal activities, making it a molecule of high interest for both medicine and environmental management.
Biosurfactants and Surface‑Active Compounds
Many microbes produce surface‑active molecules that reduce interfacial tension, emulsify hydrocarbons, and enhance the bioavailability of hydrophobic pollutants. HOPE Lab has isolated biosurfactant‑producing bacteria from oil‑contaminated soils and characterised their secreted compounds. These biosurfactants form stable emulsions with various oils, retain activity under high pH, salinity and temperature, and also exhibit antimicrobial properties. Such molecules are valuable for enhanced oil recovery, bioremediation of oil spills, and as natural cleaning agents in industrial formulations.
Hydrolytic Enzymes: Biocatalysts for Industry
Extracellular hydrolases – including proteases, amylases, cellulases, and lipases – are workhorses of industrial biotechnology. Our lab has isolated alkalitolerant bacteria from household alkaline products (soaps, detergents, baking soda) that secrete alkaline‑active proteases and amylases. These enzymes retain activity up to pH 13, making them attractive for detergent formulations, leather processing, and waste treatment. We continue to search for novel biocatalysts from extremophiles and from the gut microbiomes of fish and other animals, where hydrolytic enzymes play key roles in digestion.
Nanoparticles and Biomaterials
In addition to soluble metabolites, we explore microbe‑mediated synthesis of nanomaterials. Exopolysaccharides, biosurfactants and pigments can act as reducing and capping agents to produce metal and metal‑oxide nanoparticles. These biologically synthesised nanoparticles exhibit unique physicochemical properties and hold promise for targeted drug delivery, antimicrobial coatings, environmental sensing, and catalytic degradation of pollutants.
Aligning with the 1H→2O→3P→4E Framework
The discovery of bioactive molecules lies at the heart of the HOPE research framework. Our 1H (Health) pillar focuses on beneficial microorganisms that support human, animal, plant, and environmental well-being. Through 2O (Organisms · Omics), we explore diverse microbial systems and employ genomics, glycomics, metabolomics, microbiome analysis, and other omics approaches to uncover their functional potential.
Building upon these foundations, 3P (Pathways · Probiotics · Protection) investigates the biological pathways that generate bioactive compounds and examines how these molecules contribute to probiotic function, pathogen inhibition, environmental resilience, and host protection. Finally, 4E (Ecology · Environment · Evolution · Emergence) places these discoveries within a broader ecological context, exploring how microbial products influence biological interactions, environmental processes, and sustainable solutions across health, food systems, agriculture, and biotechnology.
Together, this framework enables us to move from microbial discovery to molecular understanding and ultimately to practical applications that benefit both people and the environment.
Current Efforts and Future Directions
Our current research aims to expand the discovery of microbial bioactive molecules through integrated culture-based screening, multi-omics analysis, and computational prediction. We are investigating novel exopolysaccharides, pigments, biosurfactants, and enzyme systems from probiotic, environmental, and extremotolerant microorganisms, while exploring their potential applications in food preservation, pathogen control, sustainable agriculture, and environmental biotechnology. By combining genomics, metabolomics, glycomics, and bioinformatics, we seek to accelerate the translation of microbial metabolites into practical solutions for health, industry, and sustainability.
If you are working on microbial bioactive compounds – whether from extremophiles, fermented foods, or environmental isolates – and are interested in joint characterisation, mechanistic studies, or application development, we welcome your collaboration.
