All living systems are assembled from nature’s repertoire of small, medium, and large organic molecules. This theme focuses on the study, discovery and development of novel bioactive compounds obtained from biodiversity. We aim for new insights into the role of these molecules in the natural environment, and how they affect the complex biological processes relevant to health and disease.

The strengths of the Bioactive Molecules research include:

Access to New Molecules:

By synthesis:

• Small molecules (drug-like compounds, MW <500 Da)
• Medium-large sized molecules (peptides and proteins)

Isolation from natural sources:

• Bacterial and fungal metabolites
• Plant extracts

Access to (Bio)Activity Assays:

• Anti-bacterial, Anti-fungal assays
• Biochemical assays (i.e. enzyme inhibition assays)
• Biophysical assays (studying ligand-receptor binding)

Keywords: synthesis, semi-synthesis, isolation, structure elucidation, activity assays