In the extreme conditions of Antarctica live endemic organisms that have had to adapt to harsh environmental challenges. Among them are Antarctic bacteria, known for their resilience to extremes — the focus of a research project conducted by a scientific team from the Faculty of AgriSciences at Mendel University in Brno, supported by a Standard Grant from the Czech Science Foundation (GAČR). The team is exploring bioactive compounds produced by these bacteria, which could one day be used as antibiotics, anti-cancer agents, or frost protection for crops. The project is being carried out in cooperation with the Brno University of Technology and forms part of the Czech Antarctic Research Programme led by Masaryk University.
While mosses and lichens are among the few visible organisms in Antarctica, microorganisms dominate the ecosystem — and it is these that the team is focusing on. Some may be fully endemic, while others contain uniquely adapted genetic traits. “We study bioactive ribosomal peptides — small molecules produced by bacteria or other microorganisms. From sediment samples, we isolate bacteria and focus on those that generate molecules specific to Antarctica. Our goal is to determine whether these substances are unique to the continent, to analyze their properties and behavior, and assess whether they could be applied in various fields. In short, we explore the genetic potential of these bacteria to produce bioactive compounds,” explained Stanislava Bezdíček Králová, head of the research team at the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Faculty of AgriSciences.
The findings could lead to a wide range of scientific breakthroughs. “The results may expand our understanding of evolution, particularly in biosynthesis, where knowledge is still very limited. The bioactive compounds could also be used in biomedicine, as antibiotics or antifungal agents. There is a general shortage of antifungal substances, and since fungi are the second most abundant microbial group in Antarctica, the natural interaction between them and bacteria drives the production of a wide range of antifungal compounds,” the researcher said. Some of these substances also show anticancer activity, so the team is testing them against human tumor cell lines as well.
The research also has potential agricultural applications, for instance in the form of cold-adapted proteins or enzymes that could be used to protect crops from spring frosts. “Microorganisms produce proteins that protect themselves from the cold. If we can isolate these compounds, we could develop a spray that contains only the protective component. Such a spray would have short-term use and would include only the active molecule, allowing selective application,” Bezdíček Králová noted.
But cold is not the only challenge in Antarctica. “There is extremely high UV radiation — the highest on Earth. There’s almost no accessible water, despite the glaciers; it’s usually in a state unsuitable for life. Antarctica also has the lowest precipitation in the world. It’s a highly inhospitable environment, and nutrient availability is also very limited,” she added.
The team is analyzing bacteria from two types of sediment samples — one nutrient-poor and one nutrient-rich. Bezdíček Králová personally collected the samples in Antarctica in 2019, and she plans to return in early 2026, during the Antarctic summer, when coastal areas near the Czech research station Johann Gregor Mendel are partially ice-free. This allows for both geological and biological research. On the next expedition, she also plans to collect permafrost samples. “In summer, average temperatures are around zero. There are some sunny days, but also days when it’s too dangerous to leave the station — sometimes temperatures drop into the minus twenties. That happens a few times per season. Most days it’s around minus five to minus ten. But the main challenge in coastal Antarctica is wind, which can reach over 100 km/h,” she described.
Preliminary research results could be available by the end of this year, with further findings expected by mid-next year. The Brno University of Technology is a key partner on the project. “Our colleagues from BUT are responsible for the computational analysis — we provide the genomes and metagenomes, and together we identify directions for the bioinformatics work so that the results are biologically relevant and can be tested in the lab,” said the researcher. The project is part of the Czech Antarctic Research Programme, coordinated by Masaryk University, with participation from multiple research institutions.
Contact for more information:
RNDr. Stanislava Bezdíček Králová, Ph.D.
stanislava.kralova@mendelu.cz
Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Faculty of AgriSciences, Mendel University in Brno