BiMM-Phase III

The funds of the third BiMM funding period will be used to complete the ongoing work in the field of new bioactive substances and to establish an insect screening procedure and for “exploratory research”, which will then serve as the basis for further research applications to other funds. The research plan contains an “open part” for the topics ‘insect screening’ and “exploratory work” as well as a series of work packages for the more detailed characterization of the 5 candidates for new bioactive substances. One of them is BiMM20 (bimmycin), which comes from a new fungal species isolated in a BiMM project and is already well characterized. It has a fungicidal effect. One of the four other molecules has an antibacterial effect against Gram+ organisms; further research is being carried out into its mode of action. Another molecule can break the resistance of bacteria to chloramphenicol and thus restore sensitivity to this important antibiotic. Another molecule from a new, previously undescribed species of fungus from BiMM's own collection has a strong phytotoxic effect. The identity of this molecule and its properties are also being determined in this BiMM III project. The last of the five new molecules has already been tested in collaboration with the FH IMC Krems and found to have anti-inflammatory properties. Funding from the BiMM III project is also required to finance further characterization with a view to medical application. In addition to the specific studies on the new metabolites and their activities, the funds will also be used for exploratory research aimed at establishing new screening systems within BiMM. This includes, for example, the possibility of testing extracts and molecules for their insecticidal effect with a higher throughput.