Welcome to Virtual Research Night, Fall 2023 – the premiere event showcasing the latest discoveries in evidence-based botanical medicine.
(Free CME credits available)

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Presentation Schedule:

A new era:  Artificial intelligence and computational chemistry in natural products discovery and development.
Presenter: Dr. Jerome Baudry
Mrs. Pei-Ling Chan Chair and Professor, Department of Biological Sciences, The University of Alabama in Huntsville

Computational biology and computational chemistry approaches have been, for about two decades, the first R&D tool used in the drug discovery pipeline. We will discuss briefly what these approaches are, how they are used, how they perform and what their limitations are. We will illustrate this discussion using examples from our NIH, FDA and privately-funded SARS-CoV- 2 recent research programs. Recently, with the development of big data analytics, machine learning and artificial intelligence, the landscape of drug discovery has experienced major landscape changes. Thanks to these fundamental advances and to the availability of supercomputers, what was totally impossible to do even five years ago is now becoming a strategic part of R&D labs around the world. We will discuss how that pertains to natural products research, and how the drug discovery process can go beyond using natural products as ‘seeds’ for new, man-made chemicals, and instead use natural products themselves and blur the traditional boundaries between naturopathic approaches and traditional pharmaceuticals. We will also discuss what that means in terms of global strategy and in particular in terms of funding approaches, intellectual property landscape, and, importantly, in the need to develop and curate vast databases that integrate together chemical, clinical and biological data. 

In vitro evaluation of the effects of CBD on depression.
Presenter: Dr. Susan Trapp
Research Scientist, Ric Scalzo Institute for Botanical Research

Botanical extracts are widely used in the United States with sales exceeding $6 billion and forecasted to exceed $11 million by 2030. In 2021, the cannabis-derived cannabidiol (CBD) ranked among the 40 top-selling herbal supplement ingredients in the US with sales over $38 million in natural retail stores. The majority of CBD sales are attached to products with non-specific health focuses, such as those for mood support, pain and inflammation. Although there is a growing body of evidence that suggests the cannabis plants and cannabinoids constituents have potential in the treatment of a number of indications from pain to epilepsy, the evidence is largely still inconclusive and requires further investigation. Of the cannabinoids, CBD typically is the most abundant and most studied, however, there are well over 100 different cannabinoids in the cannabis plant. A few of the minor cannabinoids, cannabigerol (CBG), cannabichromene (CBC) cannabichromevarin (CBDV), and their acid forms have shown promising therapeutic benefits although more research is needed to further characterize the mechanism of action and biological properties. Furthermore, these cannabinoids are presumed to be non-psychoactive and thus the potential for less adverse effects or limitations compared those surrounding HC (tetrahyrocannabinol). During this presentation, we will discuss our evaluation of the effects of CBD on anxiety and depression in an in vitro cell assay system using neuronal cells (SH-SY5Y). The study measured the global cellular gene expression using RNAseq NextGen sequencing technology to evaluate the effect of CBD on gene expression of neuronal cells, using pharmacologically relevant doses. The in vitro results support the in vivo physiological effects observed with CBD treatment. The in vitro results support the effect of CBD on several key physiological pathways involved in depression/ anxiety. Several genes (CaMKII, Ca+2/Calmodulin-dependent protein kinase; DARPP32, Dopamine and cyclin Adenosine 3 ’5’ monophosphate-regulated Phosphoprotein 32Kda) affected by CBD are similar targets for pharmaceutical anti-depressive drugs. Similar studies are underway with other minor cannabinoids. 

Antimicrobial activity of volatile terpenes from various essential oils.
Presenter: Adriana Brandes
Research Lab Manager, Ric Scalzo Institute for Botanical Research

This project aims to contribute to scientific research on volatile terpenes’ impact on pathogenic bacteria. Streptococcus pyogenes, known for causing a range of infections, from strep throat to severe diseases, poses a significant public health challenge. In the presentation, we will explore essential oils’ active components, terpenes, and their combined effectiveness in combating S. pyogenes. Attendees will gain insights into the differing antimicrobial strengths of various essential oils and how to use these variations for effective treatment strategies. 

A clinical study of biomarkers in COVID-19.
Presenter: Dr. Sarah Trahan
Staff Physician, Neil Riordan Center for Regenerative Medicine

This lecture will review the clinical implications of serum vitamin D and other bio markers including vitamins C and A in patients with COVID-19. We performed an open-label pilot study investigating vitamin D levels in individuals recently diagnosed with COVID-19. Participants who were currently experiencing symptoms of COVID-19 and who had lower levels of vitamin D were invited to participate in the treatment arm of the study. We recommended a daily vitamin D supplementation for 5 weeks. We evaluated symptom severity in addition to serum vitamin D, C, A and related carotenoids, K, and zinc. We found evidence that low and sub-optimal levels of vitamin D was associated with more severe COVID-19 symptoms and that individuals who had the infection had additional evidence of oxidative stress due to low levels of vitamins C and A in addition to other vitamin A-related carotenoids. 

Mutant viruses for cancer therapy
Presenter: Dr. Johanne Gerstel
Adjunct Faculty, Sonoran University of Health Sciences

Cancer is a detrimental disease with approximately 2 million new cases diagnosed each year in the United States. In order to improve survival rates, diverse treatment options should be available for patients. The development of oncolytic viruses as a potential therapeutic can provide another avenue of care for patients diagnosed with cancer through utilizing known cell death pathways. Necroptosis, a receptor-interacting protein kinase 3 (RIPK3)-dependent cell death pathway, has gained recognition as a critical host defense mechanism against viral infection and cancer cell development. Not surprisingly, many cancers occur when cells develop processes to block necroptotic cell death. In our lab, we have generated mutants of vaccinia virus, a member of the poxvirus family, that only replicate in cells that do not have the ability to undergo necroptosis. Thus, we believe that these viruses have the potential to preferentially replicate in cancer cells that do not undergo necroptosis, but will not replicate in normal, non-cancerous cells. We currently have a collaboration with the Mayo Clinic to look into mechanisms of action and potential combination therapies using another virus, vesicular stomatitis virus. 

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