Balik Scientist discovers antimicrobial compounds for use in new antibiotics

ABALIK Scientist makes headway in drug discovery and development in the country by isolating antimicrobial compounds that can be used in formulating new antibiotics, a news release said.

Dr. Julius Adam V. Lopez was able to isolate the structure of novel and bioactive compounds from cultured marine actinomycetes—a group of unicellular bacteria—in the biobank of University of San Agustin (USA) in Iloilo City using Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR).

Lopez is a Department of Science and Technology Balik Scientist being hosted by USA, the DOST Balik Scientist Program (DOSTBSP) news release said. His work focused on capacitybuilding initiatives in handling the NMR technology among Filipino researchers in the Visayas and Mindanao region.

Lopez used the NMR to purify the marine samples and identify β -lactamase inhibitors (drugs that are co-administered with betalactam antimicrobials) which prevents antimicrobial resistance and improves efficacy of antimicrobial treatment, the DOST- BSP said.

The study has been done under the Philippine marine beta-lactamase inhibitor project also in USA.

Science Secretary Renato U. Solidum Jr. expressed his excitement about the potential impact of Filipinos gaining knowledge on using the NMR.

“Advancing our efforts in drug discovery and development and building the NMR competency within the Visayas and Mindanao regions shall help us address perplexing health issues and opens avenues for locally available, accessible and practical solutions,” Solidum said.

“The NMR is a powerful tool to study molecular structures and dynamics of complex systems and widen our understanding of the world we live in which includes discoveries of anti-cancer drugs and antibiotics,” he added.

DOST Undersecretary for R&D Leah J. Buendia said “We need to strengthen and optimize our country’s R&D portfolio in drug discovery and development.”

“Through expert engagement like the DOST Balik Scientist