# Chemodiversity of Cyanobacteria from Brazil Investigated by Metabolomics and Bioassays

## TL;DR

This study explores the chemical diversity of Brazilian cyanobacteria using bioassays and metabolomics to identify potentially new bioactive compounds.

## Contribution

The integration of bioassays and metabolomics tools reveals novel bioactive metabolites from Brazilian cyanobacteria.

## Key findings

- Cyanobacteria from Calothrix and Phormidium genera showed high-priority molecular features linked to bioactivity.
- Untargeted metabolomics and bioassays identified potentially novel and bioactive compounds.
- Integration of UHPLC–HRMS–MS/MS data with bioassay results prioritized molecular features.

## Abstract

Investigations on cyanobacterial secondary metabolites
in Brazil
have been scarce, despite the country’s significant biodiversity.
Herein, we report the results of a screening of cyanobacterial cultures
using both bioassays and untargeted metabolomics. Nineteen cyanobacterial
strains collected at various locations in Brazil were cultured. Cultures
were extracted and prefractionated. Fractions were evaluated for antibacterial,
cytotoxic, and antileishmanial activities. The same fractions were
analyzed by UHPLC–HRMS–MS/MS. Results from bioassays
and LC–MS were integrated using metabolomics tools such as
NP Analyst and GNPS Molecular Networking, allowing for feature prioritization.
Cyanobacteria belonging to genera Calothrix and Phormidium presented high-priority
molecular features associated with observed biological activities,
indicating that such strains are producers of potentially novel and
bioactive metabolites.