WHAT IS NATURAL PRODUCTS CHEMISTRY RESEARCH? | My PhD and Me

Dr Jessica Gomez
20 Nov 202207:40
EducationalLearning
32 Likes 10 Comments

TLDRIn this video, Jessica introduces the field of natural products chemistry, her research as a PhD student at the University of Aberdeen, and the diverse projects at the Marine Biodiscovery Center. She discusses the study's applications in drug discovery and environmental solutions, focusing on her own work to find anti-biofouling compounds from marine organisms. The video also highlights the international team's efforts in exploring new pharmaceuticals, enhancing enzymes for sustainable plastic production, and computational analysis for drug discovery.

Takeaways
  • πŸŽ“ Jessica is a final year PhD student at the University of Aberdeen, specializing in natural products chemistry.
  • 🌿 Natural products chemistry involves studying metabolites and chemicals produced by living organisms, such as plants, bacteria, fungi, and marine invertebrates.
  • πŸ” The primary goal of studying these compounds is to explore their potential applications in the human world, including drug development and solving environmental issues.
  • πŸ’Š The search for bioactive compounds includes looking for anti-cancer and antimicrobial properties, which can lead to the creation of new drugs.
  • 🌊 Jessica's research is conducted at the Marine Biodiscovery Center, a part of the University of Aberdeen's Department of Chemistry, focusing on diverse projects within natural products chemistry.
  • 🀝 The Marine Biodiscovery Center houses a team of researchers with varied interests and backgrounds, all contributing to the field of natural products chemistry.
  • 🧬 Poppy studies deep-sea sponge chemical ecology, aiming to discover compounds with pharmaceutical potential and understand their ecological roles.
  • πŸ’‘ Aziz, a Kurdish scientist from Syria, is researching new antibiotics from bacterial sources with bioactivity against bacteria.
  • 🌎 Rishi's project involves finding antibiotic compounds from desert microorganisms, particularly from the Atacama Desert in South America.
  • πŸ§ͺ Gagan, originally focused on antibacterial studies, has discovered a compound with anti-fouling properties and has also worked on compounds related to Alzheimer's disease.
  • πŸ”¬ Cynthia is part of a European project called Marbles, which involves studying microorganisms to find new molecules with potential applications.
Q & A

  • What is Jessica's field of study?

    -Jessica is a final year PhD student studying natural products chemistry.

  • What does natural products chemistry involve?

    -Natural products chemistry is the study of metabolites and chemicals produced by living organisms, such as plants, bacteria, fungi, and marine invertebrates. It explores the potential applications of these compounds in areas like drug discovery and environmental solutions.

  • What is the primary goal of Jessica's research at the Marine Biodiscovery Center?

    -Jessica's research aims to find natural products from living organisms that can prevent biofouling, which could be used in anti-fouling paints to benefit marine industries.

  • What are some of the potential applications of the compounds studied in natural products chemistry?

    -The compounds studied in natural products chemistry can have applications in drug development, solving environmental issues, and understanding the ecological roles of these substances.

  • What type of bioactivity is Jessica's project specifically looking for?

    -Jessica's project is focused on finding compounds with anti-fouling properties to help marine industries.

  • What is Poppy's area of research within natural products chemistry?

    -Poppy is researching deep sea sponge chemical ecology, looking for compounds with pharmaceutical potential and understanding their ecological roles.

  • What is Aziz's project about?

    -Aziz is working on finding new antibiotics from a bacterial source, focusing on compounds with bioactivity against bacteria.

  • What is the main focus of Federica's research?

    -Federica is working on improving enzymes to produce a monomer for plastic in a more sustainable way, which is not strictly about natural product but related to enhancing environmental sustainability.

  • What are some of the diverse projects being undertaken by Jessica's lab colleagues?

    -The lab colleagues are working on a range of projects including drug discovery from natural products, isolating new molecules with antimicrobial activities, studying chemical ecology of deep sea sponges, and exploring enzymes for plastic production, among others.

  • How does the study of natural products chemistry contribute to our understanding of ecosystems?

    -By studying the compounds produced by organisms, researchers can gain insights into the ecological roles of these substances, the interactions between organisms, and how these compounds are synthesized within cells, which in turn helps in understanding and preserving our ecosystems.

  • What is the significance of studying natural products from marine invertebrates?

    -Studying natural products from marine invertebrates is significant as it can lead to the discovery of new compounds with potential pharmaceutical applications, contribute to environmental solutions like anti-fouling paints, and enhance our understanding of marine ecosystems.

Outlines
00:00
πŸŽ“ Introduction to Natural Products Chemistry

This paragraph introduces Jessica, a final year PhD student at the University of Aberdeen, who focuses on natural products chemistry. She explains that the field involves studying metabolites and chemicals produced by living organisms, primarily plants, bacteria, fungi, and marine invertebrates. The goal is to discover potential applications for these compounds, such as in drug development or solving environmental issues. Jessica also mentions her research at the Marine Biodiscovery Center and provides an overview of the diverse projects conducted within the lab, emphasizing the importance of understanding the synthesis and ecological role of these natural compounds.

05:03
🌿 Meet the Researchers and Their Projects

In this paragraph, Jessica introduces her lab colleagues at the Marine Biodiscovery Center, each with their unique research focus within the realm of natural products chemistry. Poppy from Sheffield investigates deep-sea sponge chemical ecology, seeking compounds with pharmaceutical potential. Aziz, a Kurd from Syria, is on a quest to find new antibiotics from bacterial sources. Another colleague from Georgia focuses on isolating antimicrobial molecules from deep-sea sediment microorganisms. Federica from Italy explores improving enzymes for sustainable plastic production, while Richard from Uganda studies compounds from pseudomonas bacteria and marine invertebrates. Rishi from India searches for antibiotic compounds from desert microorganisms in the Atacama Desert. The paragraph concludes with a mention of a business professor researching bioluminescent properties and a computational analysis expert working with psychopeptides.

Mindmap
Keywords
πŸ’‘Natural Products Chemistry
Natural Products Chemistry is the scientific study of metabolites and chemicals produced by living organisms, primarily focusing on compounds derived from plants, bacteria, fungi, and marine invertebrates. It is central to the video's theme as it defines the research area of Jessica and her colleagues at the Marine Biodiscovery Center. The video illustrates this concept through various projects aimed at discovering potential pharmaceutical applications and environmental solutions from natural compounds.
πŸ’‘Marine Biodiscovery Center
The Marine Biodiscovery Center is a research laboratory within the University of Aberdeen's Department of Chemistry. It serves as the workplace for Jessica and her team, who conduct research projects in the field of natural products chemistry. The center is highlighted in the video as a place where diverse projects are undertaken to explore the potential applications of compounds from marine life.
πŸ’‘PhD student
A PhD student is a graduate student who is conducting research to earn a Doctor of Philosophy degree. In the context of the video, Jessica identifies herself as a final year PhD student at the University of Aberdeen, indicating that she is nearing the completion of her advanced studies and research in natural products chemistry.
πŸ’‘Metabolites
Metabolites are the intermediate products of metabolism and are often theη”ŸεŒ–η‰©θ΄¨ produced by living organisms. In the field of natural products chemistry, as discussed in the video, metabolites are of particular interest because they can have various applications, such as in drug development or environmental problem-solving.
πŸ’‘Bioactivity
Bioactivity refers to the effect that a substance has on biological systems. In the context of the video, Jessica and her colleagues are interested in compounds with specific bioactivities, such as anti-cancer or antimicrobial properties, which could be useful for drug discovery and environmental applications.
πŸ’‘Biofouling
Biofouling is the accumulation of organic material, microorganisms, plants, and animals on surfaces in contact with the marine environment. It is a problem for marine industries like shipping and oil and gas extraction. In the video, Jessica's project aims to find natural products that can prevent biofouling, illustrating the practical applications of natural products chemistry in solving real-world issues.
πŸ’‘Drug Discovery
Drug discovery is the process of finding new therapeutic substances that can be used to treat diseases. In the video, several researchers at the Marine Biodiscovery Center are engaged in projects aimed at discovering new drugs from natural products, highlighting the importance of natural compounds in the development of new medications.
πŸ’‘Ecological Standpoint
An ecological standpoint refers to the perspective of understanding the interactions between organisms and their environment. In the context of the video, researchers are interested in why organisms produce certain compounds from an ecological standpoint, which helps in understanding the role these compounds play in their natural habitats and ecosystems.
πŸ’‘Enzymes
Enzymes are proteins that catalyze biochemical reactions, allowing them to proceed more rapidly and efficiently. In the video, one of the researchers, Federica, is working on improving enzymes to produce a monomer for plastic in a more sustainable way, demonstrating the application of natural products chemistry in environmental sustainability and green chemistry.
πŸ’‘Antibiotics
Antibiotics are drugs used to treat bacterial infections by either killing bacteria or inhibiting their growth. In the video, several researchers are focused on finding new antibiotics from various natural sources, such as bacteria, sponges, and microorganisms from deep-sea sediments, emphasizing the ongoing need for new antibiotics to combat antibiotic resistance.
πŸ’‘Computational Analysis
Computational analysis refers to the use of computer simulations and algorithms to analyze and interpret data. In the context of the video, one of the researchers is using computational analysis to study psychopeptides and data, which is a method that complements traditional laboratory research by providing additional insights into the properties and potential applications of natural compounds.
Highlights

Jessica introduces herself as a final year PhD student at the University of Aberdeen, specializing in natural products chemistry.

Natural products chemistry involves studying metabolites and chemicals produced by living organisms, primarily focusing on compounds from plants, bacteria, fungi, and marine invertebrates.

The goal of studying these compounds is to explore their potential applications in the human world, such as drug development or solving environmental issues.

In drug discovery, researchers look for specific bioactivities in these compounds, like anti-cancer or antimicrobial properties.

There are existing drugs on the market inspired by compounds produced by living organisms, showcasing the practical applications of natural products chemistry.

Understanding why organisms produce certain compounds and how they synthesize them can lead to insights about ecosystems and inform laboratory synthesis methods.

Jessica's project aims to find natural products from living organisms that can prevent biofouling, a significant issue in marine environments.

The Marine Biodiscovery Center is a research lab within the University of Aberdeen's Department of Chemistry, focusing on various projects in natural products chemistry.

Poppy's research investigates deep-sea sponge chemical ecology, seeking compounds with pharmaceutical potential and understanding their ecological roles.

Aziz, a Kurdish scientist from Syria, is searching for new antibiotics from bacterial sources with bioactivity against bacteria.

A researcher from Georgia is working on drug discovery from natural products, focusing on isolating new molecules with antimicrobial activities from deep-sea sediment microorganisms.

Federica from Italy is involved in a project improving enzymes for the sustainable production of a monomer for plastic, branching out from strict natural product research.

Richard Severiva from Uganda is working on two projects: one involving the activity of compounds from Pseudomonas bacteria and another exploring antinfectives from marine invertebrates.

Emmanuel Abisola, a postdoc, is working on a project with samples from a region that hasn't been explored for a long time, hoping to discover new drugs.

Joelle, hailing from Evian, is working with psychopeptides, focusing on computational and data analysis in the context of natural products chemistry.

Yadi, from Nigeria, is examining isolates from bacterial and fungal strains, aiming to discover structural products and understand their bioactivity.

Gagan, originally studying antibacterial compounds, has shifted to a more computational approach and recently researched monkey box, demonstrating the versatility in natural products chemistry research.

Cynthia, a host at the Marine Biodiscovery Center, is working on a European project called Marbles, specifically focusing on marine microorganisms and the discovery of new molecules.

Transcripts

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Natural ProductsChemistry ResearchMarine BiodiescoveryPhD JourneyJessica's LabDeep Sea ExplorationAntibiotics DiscoveryEcology UnderstandingSustainable SolutionsGlobal Collaboration