Fernanda Claverías, Civil Environmental Engineer and doctor in Microbiology, is investigating a new bacterial species on Las Torpederas beach in Valparaíso that could lead to the creation of new antibiotics applicable to humans.
Fernanda Claverías, a Civil Environmental Engineer from the Federico Santa María Technical University and a PhD in Sciences with a mention in Microbiology, is immersed in promising research on Las Torpederas beach in Valparaíso. The researcher at the Biotechnology Center “Dr. Daniel Alkalay Lowitt” studies a group of bacteria known as “Actinomycetotas”, which could be the key to developing new antibiotics for human use.
Claverías has discovered a new bacterial species which he has named “Spiractinospora alimapuensis”. As he explains, the majority of antibiotics of bacterial origin used in human health come from Actinomycetotas, known for producing compounds with antibiotic properties. Although this marine bacteria could exist in other places, until now its isolation has not been recorded anywhere else in the world.
Claverías’ work focuses on understanding the environmental adaptations that allow this bacteria to thrive in Valparaíso. “It is an alkalophilic and halotolerant bacteria, meaning it prefers alkaline pH conditions and can grow without salt, but it thrives best in saline environments. This suggests that it is very adapted to the marine environment, since the sea is slightly alkaline,” explains the researcher.
The next stage of the research focuses on deciphering the genome of this bacteria to identify if it produces any components with antibiotic potential. Claverías and his team carry out genomic analyzes to detect the presence of bioactive compounds. Although they have not found any known antibiotics so far, bioinformatics has revealed potential compounds with interesting modifications that could have antimicrobial or even antitumor activity.
The objective is to evaluate the feasibility and application of these compounds in humans, especially considering the high demand for new antibiotics due to growing bacterial resistance. If they are not viable for human use, they could find applications in the agricultural sector.
