Sustainable Bioprospecting of Natural Products
The course includes the follows topics:
- Biological diversity, structural diversity and biological activity of natural products from marine, plant and animal life;
- Main classes of natural products and main biosynthetic pathways;
- Prospecting bioactive compounds from natural resources;
- Evaluation of biological activity in vitro and in vivo;
- Toxicity;
- Use of natural products in medicine, veterinary, agriculture, food industry, environment and cosmetics;
- Examples of processes for the production of biologically active natural products by biotechnological methods;
- Examples of new pharmaceutical products derived from natural products at various stages of clinical development and commercialisation;
- Examples from naturally derived compounds for potential bioactivity will be studied, namely compounds with anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, antimicrobial, antiviral, anti-fungal and/or anti-tumour activity, anti-thrombotic, and anti-obesity activities, as well as drugs for cardiovascular system and central nervous system.
- Over-exploitation of natural resources and the role of biotechnology in the sustainability of their exploitation;
- Regulation and biosafety.
Final Competencies
1 Recognise the importance of natural products in the current scenery.
2 Recognise the importance that the discovery of new natural products can have in areas such as medicine, veterinary, agriculture, food industry, environment and cosmetics.
3 Know the main research methodologies used in bioprospecting natural products.
4 To know examples of production processes of biologically active natural products by biotechnological methods.
5 Develop skills of application, analysis and synthesis of knowledge. 6 To develop student competencies such as deep mastery of challenging content, critical thinking, complex problem-solving, effective communication and collaboration, and self direction.
Further course information can be found here: https://studiekiezer.ugent.be/studiefiche/en/C004251/2021
