The University of Oklahoma Natural Products Discovery Group has taken an unconventional approach to finding new compounds with therapeutic relevance by launching a crowdsourcing initiative with citizen scientists from around the country.
With this approach, OU researchers team with the public to sample soils from all across the United States for the purpose of identifying new microorganisms that produce drug-like compounds. This effort recently led to the discovery of maximiscin, a unique bioactive compound obtained from a soil sample submitted by an Alaskan citizen, which has shown early promising results by stopping the growth of melanoma cells in vivo.
“The exciting part of this discovery is that a citizen scientist participated in our program and sent us this sample,” says Robert H. Cichewicz, associate professor in the OU College of Arts and Sciences and director of the National Products Institute. “We probably would not have discovered this compound without the Citizen Science Program.” Cichewicz is collaborating on the project with S.L. Mooberry, University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio; A.N. Miller, University of Illinois; and L. Du, J.B. King and E.R. Powell, OU Natural Products Discovery Group.
“In the next phase of this research, we need to learn more about the molecule to see how it functions and how we can make it better,” Cichewicz explains. “We have to take this bioactive compound from a discovery to a lead compound and, fortunately, OU recently invested in expanding these efforts with the establishment of the new Institutes for Natural Products Applications and Research Technologies.” This new center, housed in the Stephenson Life Sciences Research Center on the OU Research Campus, is bringing together researchers from several different disciplines to collaborate on drug target discovery from natural sources.”
During the last several years, the OU Natural Products Group has collected several thousand fungi from soil samples primarily obtained from three environmentally disparate regions: Alaska (artic/sub-arctic); Hawaii (tropical); and Oklahoma (subtropical/semi-arid). Despite these efforts, the team can only access a relatively slim portion of the available microbial diversity. This group predicts that a significant number of compounds with therapeutic potential await discovery from the untapped majority of the soils’ microbial inhabitants. For this reason, the Citizen Science Program is an important part of the discovery process. By teaming with citizen scientists, the public becomes an active participant in the search for new drugs.
“The public is very curious about science and many of the people I have spoken with are eager to join in the search for new bioactive compounds. With the public as part of the team, we are expanding the search for new medicinal agents to include many previously unexplored areas, as well as providing a means for informing people about how new drugs are discovered,” Cichewicz notes. “So far, results have been encouraging with samples arriving from as far away as California, Hawaii and Alaska. We are thrilled with the early response we have seen to this program, and we look forward to continuing our efforts with our citizen science partners from across the country.”
Go deeper with Bing News on:
Citizen Science
- Bear-tracking study celebrates citizen science in Alberta's grizzly country
An Alberta study celebrates how citizen scientists can help researchers better protect populations of the elusive grizzly bear. But critics say that without more government action, the species will ...
- 'Citizen scientists' help NASA discover over 1,000 new asteroids using Hubble Telescope
NASA said volunteers scanned 19 years' worth of images from the Hubble Telescope, using a new approach that could lead to other discoveries.
- Citizen science: Dept. of Conservation, Agriculture ask for help with black vulture study
MDC, USDA needs public’s help with black vulture studyThe Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) is partnering with the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) ...
- Exploding stars send out powerful bursts of energy − I'm leading a citizen scientist project to classify and learn about these bright flashes
Swift is a multiwavelength space telescope that scientists are using to find out more about these mysterious gamma-ray flashes from the universe.
- Across the Finish Line! Citizen Science Month Final Days.
One Million Acts of Science challenge met, but lots of important project work is still left!
Go deeper with Google Headlines on:
Citizen Science
[google_news title=”” keyword=”Citizen Science” num_posts=”5″ blurb_length=”0″ show_thumb=”left”]
Go deeper with Bing News on:
Crowdsourcing science
- Deciphered Herculaneum papyrus reveals precise burial place of Plato
Most notably, the historical account of Plato being sold into slavery in his later years after running afoul of the tyrannical Dionysius is usually pegged to around 387 BCE. According to the newly ...
- Six months into war, Israeli soldiers still count on donations for basic supplies. Why?
Immediately after Oct. 7, charity at home and abroad aided troops who were mobilized more quickly and in higher numbers than ever before. Many wonder why that help is still needed ...
- The PointConversations and insights about the moment.
The judge said the question wasn’t whether jurors liked accused criminals but whether they could be fair and impartial. But Necheles had a point when she said jurors have preconceived notions about ...
- Hidden “ghost roads” are ravaging tropical forests
One of the biggest threats to rainforests has been flying under the radar. Researchers have uncovered a huge network of illegally and informally constructed roads not found on official road maps.
- How to design better online learning to replicate the essence of the real world
Explore the limitations of virtual learning and the importance of incorporating sensory experiences for effective online education.
Go deeper with Google Headlines on:
Crowdsourcing science
[google_news title=”” keyword=”crowdsourcing science” num_posts=”5″ blurb_length=”0″ show_thumb=”left”]