In biochemistry, form and function are often the same. Take RiPPs, for example. These are peptide sequences that, once produced by the ribosome, are reshaped by post‑translational enzymes and tailored into countless molecular forms—each with a distinct biological function encoded not in the genes themselves, but in the chemical choreography that follows. This remarkable flexibility is a key tool in bacterial evolution: with only a limited set of genes, bacteria generate an astonishing diversity of chemicals to interact with their environment. For us, however, this diversity poses a challenge. When we try to prospect for useful bioactive molecules, the subtle chemical differences that give rise to distinct functions make it extremely difficult to identify, separate, and isolate the compounds we seek from all the other molecules present in a bacterial secretome.
During her UNU-BIOLAC fellowship, Fernanda Claverias sought to leverage state‑of‑the‑art metabolomics technology to explore the antimicrobial potential of the RiPPs of Spiractinospora alimapuensis, a newly described marine actinomycete, isolated from the Chilean coast. By combining precise molecular identification, advanced separation techniques, and rigorous computational analysis, this fellowship aimed to deepen our bioprospecting efforts and help reveal the peptide‑based chemistry hidden in this novel bacterium.
Fernanda worked within the metabolomics platform at CENIBiot under the mentorship of Dr. Jonathan Parra, with additional academic guidance from Prof. Beatriz Cámara. Her work unfolded in stages, each expanding our ability to detect and characterize RiPP‑related molecules, and yielded clear leads to pursue in the search for new antimicrobial molecules.
We are deeply grateful for their generous mentorship, scientific guidance, and access to technology, which were central to the success of this fellowship. We also extend our appreciation to the institutions involved—the Universidad Técnica Federico Santa María and CENIBiot—for their commitment to fostering regional scientific capacity and enabling young researchers to access advanced analytical platforms otherwise unavailable in their home laboratories.
This fellowship marks an essential step in a longer scientific journey. The subsequent phases—targeted MS/MS analysis, compound isolation, and genome‑to‑metabolite correlation—will allow this team to confirm the identity and activity of the most promising peptide features uncovered during the stay.
The advancing discovery of novel, biologically relevant molecules from Latin American microbial biodiversity reminds us why preserving biodiversity is not only an ecological responsibility but also a scientific imperative. Every organism, especially those from unique and fragile environments, carries chemical innovations honed by evolution. Protecting them ensures that we do not lose potential cures, tools, and insights before we even have the chance to discover them.
