Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is one of the greatest threats to global health, affecting both medical
treatments and food safety, and it requires the discovery of new antimicrobial compounds that can
be developed into new antibiotics. At the same time, consumers and industries are seeking safer and
more natural alternatives to synthetic preservatives.
MOSAICOH 2.0 addresses these challenges by exploring microorganisms as a vast and largely
untapped source of natural antimicrobial substances. Many bacteria found in the environment are
capable of producing compounds that inhibit the growth of harmful microbes, yet only a small
fraction of this potential has been studied so far. Using a combination of modern genomic tools and
laboratory experiments, the team will screen selected microorganisms to find promising
antimicrobial candidates. These candidates will then be tested in realistic conditions, including food
systems such as meat and fish products, to assess their effectiveness and safety.
Importantly, MOSAICOH 2.0 follows a dual strategy. On one hand, it explores novel compounds
that may contribute to the future development of new antibiotics. On the other hand, it focuses on
compounds that are already close to being applied in food preservation, supporting the development
of natural alternatives to chemical additives, their validation in real food systems, and their transfer
to the food industry sector.