Abstract Authors
Jarmo-Charles Kalinski - Antimicrobial Drug Discovery (ADD) Hub, Department of Biochemistry, Microbiology and Bioinformatics, Rhodes University
Idris Njanje - Antimicrobial Drug Discovery (ADD) Hub, Department of Biochemistry, Microbiology and Bioinformatics, Rhodes University
Gabriella Solomons - Antimicrobial Drug Discovery (ADD) Hub, Department of Biochemistry, Microbiology and Bioinformatics, Rhodes University
Tarryn Swart - Antimicrobial Drug Discovery (ADD) Hub, Department of Biochemistry, Microbiology and Bioinformatics, Rhodes University
Dele Abdissa - Antimicrobial Drug Discovery (ADD) Hub, Department of Biochemistry, Microbiology and Bioinformatics, Rhodes University
Wakisa Kipandula - Antimicrobial Drug Discovery (ADD) Hub, Department of Biochemistry, Microbiology and Bioinformatics, Rhodes University
Alyson Bennett - Antimicrobial Drug Discovery (ADD) Hub, Department of Biochemistry, Microbiology and Bioinformatics, Rhodes University
Michelle Isaacs - Antimicrobial Drug Discovery (ADD) Hub, Department of Biochemistry, Microbiology and Bioinformatics, Rhodes University
Bruno Ruiz Brandão da Costa - Institute of Biosciences, University of São Paulo, Brazil
Daniel Petras - Collaborative Mass Spectrometry Innovation Center, University of California, United States of America
Rosemary Dorrington - Antimicrobial Drug Discovery (ADD) Hub, Department of Biochemistry, Microbiology and Bioinformatics, Rhodes University
Abstract Description
Over the past decade, High-Resolution Liquid Chromatography Tandem Mass Spectrometry (HR-LC-MS/MS) has emerged as the leading technique for resolving the structural complexity inherent in biological and environmental samples. Its unparalleled sensitivity and resolution make it especially effective for identifying both valuable bioactive compounds and harmful contaminants in marine matrices. In this presentation, we report on HR-LC-MS/MS metabolomics data derived from over 200 marine invertebrate and microbial extracts, combined with spectral library matching and in silico structure prediction to support antimicrobial drug discovery workflows. These efforts were further enhanced by integration with genomics and bioassay data leading to several new potential antimicrobial drug leads. We also demonstrate the utility of metabolomics in detecting organic contaminants within dissolved organic matter (DOM) in the marine environment, drawing on a large-scale interlaboratory study involving more than 1000 marine surface water extracts. This study underscores the profound influence of anthropogenic pollution on the marine chemical fingerprint. The talk concludes with a discussion of key challenges and pitfalls in LC-MS/MS analysis of marine samples, along with recommendations for advancing future directions in marine metabolomics.