Explorative Investigation of Endemic Jordanian Cyanobacteria with Respect to Medical and Ecological Implications

• Applicant: Professor Dr. Hartmut Laatsch
• Subject Area: Organic Molecular Chemistry - Synthesis and Characterisation
• Term: from 2004 to 2009
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 5413534

Cyanobacterial toxins are representing an increasing risk for the health of wild and demestic animals but also for humans. About 900 natural products have been isolated so far from these sources, many of them with structures which do not resemble natural products from other sources. Compared with the estimated number of these bluegreen algae still to be explored, this seems still to be little. Further investigation of cyanobactereia and their toxins of high interest from a medical or ecological point of view, especially in developing countries like Jordan. However, alsomany chemical questions and problems of basic research are still to be answered: There is much speculation about the question of the cyanobacteria itself or associated microorganisms are responsible for this high diversity of metabolites, and the chemical diversity is certainly higher than presently known. Aim of the project is to investigate the endemic Jordanian cyanobacterial flora chemically an dmicrobiologically, with respect to medical and exological implications. For this purpose, a broad biological and chemical screening of local strains will be performed. In a second step, selectid strains will be upscaled to gain sufficient cell material for chemical investigation. The structure evaluation of metabolites will be performed using modern analytical and spectrometric methods. As part of the program, certain compounds may require chemical modification or even studies for a total synthesis for structure/activity analysis.

• DFG Programme: Research Grants
• International Connection: Jordan
• Participating Persons: Professor Dr. Rajab Abu-El-Halawa; Dr. Faiez Al-Ani