Univ.-Prof. Sergey Zotchev, PhD

T: +43-1-4277-55296

sergey.zotchev@univie.ac.at

http://pharmakognosie.univie.ac.at/people/zotchev-sergey-b/

Winter term 2025

321018 VO Pharmazeutische Biotechnologie - B10

322028 VU Ausgewählte Kapitel aus der pharmakognostischen Forschung - M13

323001 VU Introduction to Drug Discovery and Preclinical Drug Development - MPS1

323002 UE Introduction to Experimental Methods in Drug Discovery and Preclinical Drug Development - MPS1

323003 VO Basics of Drug Discovery - MPS2

323004 VO Drug Discovery - MPS3

580004 SE SE Journal Club: Pharmaceutical Biotechnology

580007 SE SE Academic training and discussion in Pharmacognosy - for doctoral students

Summer term 2025

322028 VU Ausgewählte Kapitel aus der pharmakognostischen Forschung - M13

322065 VO Applied Bacterial Genetics - M14

323001 VU Introduction to Drug Discovery and Preclinical Drug Development - MPS1

323002 UE Introduction to Experimental Methods in Drug Discovery and Preclinical Drug Development - MPS1

323007 UE Experimental Methods in Drug Discovery und Preclinical Drug Development - MPS6 - (2 Courses)

580005 VU Academic training and discussion in Pharmacognosy - for doctoral students

580008 SE Journal Club: Pharmaceutical Biotechnology

Winter term 2024

321018 VO Pharmazeutische Biotechnologie - B10

322028 VU Ausgewählte Kapitel aus der pharmakognostischen Forschung - M13

323001 VU Introduction to Drug Discovery and Preclinical Drug Development - MPS1

323002 UE Introduction to Experimental Methods in Drug Discovery and Preclinical Drug Development - MPS1

323003 VO Basics of Drug Discovery - MPS2

323004 VO Drug Discovery - MPS3

580004 SE SE Journal Club: Pharmaceutical Biotechnology

580007 SE SE Academic training and discussion in Pharmacognosy - for doctoral students

Guerrero Garzón JF, Zehl M, Schneider O, Marquez IT, Rückert-Reed C, Kalinowski J et al. Genome mining of Streptomyces bambergiensis AC-800 unravels the biosynthetic gene cluster for inhibitors of prolyl hydroxylase fibrostatins. Scientific Reports. 2025 Sept 1;15(1):32142. doi: 10.1038/s41598-025-17585-y

Tocino-Márquez I, Zehl M, Séneca J, Pjevac P , Felkl M , Becker CFW et al. The bacterial community of the freshwater bryozoan Cristatella Mucedo and its secondary metabolites production potential. Scientific Reports. 2025 Aug 26;15(1):31456. doi: 10.1038/s41598-025-17084-0

Kaur A, Guerrero-Garzón JF, Rasheed S, Zehl M, Fries F, Morgenstern B et al. Saarvienin A - A Novel Glycopeptide with Potent Activity against Drug-resistant Bacteria. Angewandte Chemie (International ed. in English). 2025 Jun 17;64(25):e202425588. Epub 2025 Apr 18. doi: 10.1002/anie.202425588

Vignolle A, Zehl M, Kirkegaard RH, Vignolle GA, Zotchev SB. Secondary Metabolite Biosynthesis Potential of Streptomyces Spp. from the Rhizosphere of Leontopodium nivale Subsp. alpinum. ACS Omega. 2025 Feb 25;10(7):7163-7171. doi: 10.1021/acsomega.4c10476

Sekurova ON, Zehl M, Predl M, Hunyadi P, Rattei T , Zotchev SB. Deletions of conserved extracytoplasmic function sigma factors-encoding genes in Streptomyces have a major impact on secondary metabolism. Microbial Cell Factories. 2024 Jul 18;23(1):201. doi: 10.1186/s12934-024-02479-x

Malfent F, Zehl M, Kirkegaard RH, Oberhofer M, Zotchev S. Genomes and secondary metabolomes of Streptomyces spp. isolated from Leontopodium nivale ssp. alpinum. Frontiers in Microbiology. 2024 Jun 14;15:1408479. doi: 10.3389/fmicb.2024.1408479

Wawrosch C, Oberhofer M, Steinbrecher S, Zotchev SB. Impact of Phylogenetically Diverse Bacterial Endophytes of Bergenia pacumbis on Bergenin Production in the Plant Cell Suspension Cultures. Planta Medica. 2024 Jun 6;90(7-8):651-657. Epub 2023 Sept 6. doi: 10.1055/a-2162-4018

Zotchev SB. Unlocking the potential of bacterial endophytes from medicinal plants for drug discovery. Microbial Biotechnology. 2024 Feb;17(2):e14382. Epub 2024 Feb 12. doi: 10.1111/1751-7915.14382

Malfent F, Niedermayr V, Oberhofer M, Zehl M, Pjevac P , Zotchev S. Discovery of novel natural products from endophytic Streptomyces spp. isolated from Leontopodium nivale ssp. alpinum. Planta Medica. 2023 Nov;89(14):1318-1318. Meeting Abstract: P-053.

Vignolle A, Zehl M, Pjevac P , Zotchev S. Streptomyces spp. from the rhizosphere of Leontopodium nivale subsp. alpinum - uncovering potential for the biosynthesis of secondary metabolites. Planta Medica. 2023 Nov;89(14):1361-1361. Meeting Abstract:P-196.

Graffius S, Garzón JFG, Zehl M, Pjevac P, Kirkegaard R, Flieder M et al. Secondary Metabolite Production Potential in a Microbiome of the Freshwater Sponge Spongilla lacustris. Microbiology Spectrum. 2023 Apr 13;11(2):e04353-22. Epub 2023 Feb 2. doi: 10.1128/spectrum.04353-22, 10.1128/spectrum.04353-22

Tocino Márquez I, Zehl M, Pjevac P, Kirkegaard R, Flieder M, Loy A et al. Developing co-cultures of bacterial isolates from the bryozoan Cristatella mucedo for the discovery of novel secondary metabolites. Planta Medica. 2022 Dec;88(15):1438-1438.

Sekurova ON, Zehl M, Predl M, Hunyadi P, Rattei T , Zotchev SB. Targeted Metabolomics and High-Throughput RNA Sequencing-Based Transcriptomics Reveal Massive Changes in the Streptomyces venezuelae NRRL B-65442 Metabolism Caused by Ethanol Shock. Microbiology Spectrum. 2022 Oct 31;10(6):e0367222. doi: 10.1128/spectrum.03672-22

Schneider O, Zehl M, Ueoka R, Rückert C, Buche T, Jiang Y et al. N-Succinyltransferase Encoded by a Cryptic Siderophore Biosynthesis Gene Cluster in Streptomyces Modifies Structurally Distinct Antibiotics. mBio. 2022 Oct 26;13(5):e0178922. doi: 10.1128/mbio.01789-22

Oberhofer M, Malfent F, Zehl M, Urban E , Wackerlig J , Reznicek G et al. Biosynthetic Potential of the Endophytic Fungus Helotiales sp. BL73 Revealed via Compound Identification and Genome Mining. Applied and Environmental Microbiology. 2022 Mar;88(6):e02510-21. doi: 10.1128/aem.02510-21

Wawrosch C , Zotchev SB. Production of bioactive plant secondary metabolites through in vitro technologies-status and outlook. Applied Microbiology and Biotechnology. 2021 Sept 1;105(18):6649-6668. Epub 2021 Sept 1. doi: 10.1007/s00253-021-11539-w

Sekurova ON, Sun YQ, Zehl M, Rueckert C, Stich A, Busche T et al. Coupling of the engineered DNA "mutator" to a biosensor as a new paradigm for activation of silent biosynthetic gene clusters in Streptomyces. Nucleic Acids Research. 2021 Aug 20;49(14):8396-8405. Epub 2021 Jul 1. doi: 10.1093/nar/gkab583

Atanasov AG, Zotchev SB , Dirsch VM, the International Natural Product Sciences Taskforce, Supuran CT. Natural products in drug discovery: advances and opportunities. Nature Reviews Drug Discovery. 2021 Mar;20:200-216. Epub 2021 Jan 28. doi: 10.1038/s41573-020-00114-z

Oberhofer M, Wackerlig J, Zehl M, Buyuk H, Cao J, Prado-Roller A et al. Endophytic Akanthomyces sp. LN303 from Edelweiss Produces Emestrin and Two New 2-Hydroxy-4 Pyridone Alkaloids. ACS Omega. 2021 Jan 26;6(3):2184-2191. doi: 10.1021/acsomega.0c05472

Bekiesch P, Oberhofer M, Sykora C , Urban E , Zotchev S. Piperazic acid containing peptides produced by an endophytic Streptomyces sp. isolated from the medicinal plant Atropa belladonna. Natural Product Research. 2021;35(7):1090-1096. Epub 2019 Jul 13. doi: 10.1080/14786419.2019.1639174

Sergey Zotchev

Professor

Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences

Employment

Professor

Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences

University of Vienna

Wien, Austria

1 Mar 2021 → present

Publications

Unlocking the potential of bacterial endophytes from medicinal plants for drug discovery

Zotchev, S. B. (Corresponding author), Feb 2024, In: Microbial Biotechnology. 17, 2, e14382.

Metagenomics of Marine Actinomycetes: From Functional Gene Diversity to Biodiscovery

Zotchev, S., Sekurova, O. & Kurtböke, I., 2016, Marine OMICS Principles and Applications. Kim, S.-K. (ed.). 1 ed. Boca Raton : Taylor & Francis, p. 165-186 744 p. 9

Genomics-based insights into the evolution of secondary metabolite biosynthesis in actinomycete bacteria

Zotchev, S. B., 1 Jan 2014, Evolutionary Biology: Genome Evolution, Speciation, Coevolution and Origin of Life. Springer International Publishing, p. 35-45 11 p.

Alkaloids from Marine Bacteria

Zotchev, S. B., 2013, NEW LIGHT ON ALKALOID BIOSYNTHESIS AND FUTURE PROSPECTS. GiglioliGuivarch, N. (ed.). ACADEMIC PRESS LTD-ELSEVIER SCIENCE LTD, p. 301-333 33 p. (Advances in Botanical Research, Vol. 68).

Genome-based bioprospecting of microbes for new therapeutics

Zotchev, S. B., Sekurova, O. N. & Katz, L., Dec 2012, In: Current Opinion in Biotechnology. 23, 6, p. 941-947 7 p.

Antibiotics

Zotchev, S. B., 14 May 2012, Natural Products in Chemical Biology. Civjan, N. (ed.). Hoboken, NJ: Wiley, p. 269-285 17 p.

Marine actinomycetes as an emerging resource for the drug development pipelines

Zotchev, S. B., 30 Apr 2012, In: Journal of Biotechnology. 158, 4, p. 168-175 8 p.

Weaving a synthetic harness for the biosynthesis of natural products

Zotchev, S. B., Mar 2011, In: Microbial Biotechnology. 4, 2, p. 135-137 3 p.

Genetic Analysis of Nystatin and Amphotericin Biosynthesis

Zotchev, S. & Caffrey, P., 2009, Complex enzymes in microbial natural product biosynthesis: Part B. Polyketides, aminocoumarins, and carbohydrates. Hopwood, D. A. (ed.). Amsterdam, Boston: Elsevier Academic Press, p. 243-258 16 p. (Methods in Enzymology, Vol. 459).

Biosynthesis of natural products applied to drug discovery

Zotchev, S. B., May 2008, In: Current Topics in Medicinal Chemistry. 8, 8, p. 616-617 2 p.

Rational design of macrolides by virtual screening of combinatorial libraries generated through in silico manipulation of polyketide synthases

Zotchev, S., Stepanchikova, A., Sergeyko, A., Sobolev, B., Filimonov, D. & Poroikov, V., 23 Mar 2006, In: Journal of Medicinal Chemistry. 49, 6, p. 2077-2087 11 p.

Polyene macrolide antibiotics and their applications in human therapy

Zotchev, S., Feb 2003, In: Current Medicinal Chemistry. 10, 3, p. 211-223 13 p.

Polyne macrolide antibiotics and their applications in human therapy

Zotchev, S. B., 2003, In: Current Medicinal Chemistry. 10, 3, p. 211-223 13 p.

P53 C-terminal interaction with DNA ends and gaps has opposing effect on specific DNA binding by the core

Zotchev, S. B., Protopopova, M. & Selivanova, G., 15 Oct 2000, In: Nucleic Acids Research. 28, 20, p. 4005-4012 8 p.

Identification of a gene cluster for antibacterial polyketide-derived antibiotic biosynthesis in the nystatin producer Streptomyces noursei ATCC 11455

Zotchev, S., Haugan, K., Sekurova, O., Sletta, H., Ellingsen, T. E. & Valla, S., Mar 2000, In: Microbiology. 146, 3, p. 611-619 9 p.

Cloning and heterologous expression of the genes encoding nonspecific electron transport components for a cytochrome P450 system of Saccharopolyspora erythraea involved in erythromycin production

Zotchev, S. B. & Hutchinson, C. R., 14 Apr 1995, In: Gene. 156, 1, p. 101-106 6 p.

Identification of a methyl-specific restriction system mediated by a conjugative element from Streptomyces bambergiensis

Zotchev, S. B., Schrempf, H. & Hutchinson, C. R., 1995, In: Journal of Bacteriology. 177, 16, p. 4809-4812 4 p.

The linear Streptomyces plasmid pBL1: analyses of transfer functions

Zotchev, S. B. & Schrempf, H., Feb 1994, In: Molecular and general genetics : MGG. 242, 4, p. 374-382 9 p.

Characterization of a linear extrachromosomal DNA element (pBL1) isolated after interspecific mating between Streptomyces bambergiensis and S. lividans

Zotchev, S. B., Soldatova, L. I., Orekhov, A. V. & Schrempf, H., 1992, In: Research in Microbiology. 143, 9, p. 839-845 7 p.

Genetic studies of Streptomyces bambergiensis fertility properties: Intra- and interspecific crosses

Zotchev, S. B., Rozenfeld, S. M., Zhdanov, V. G. & Orekhov, A. V., 1990, In: Genetika. 26, 10, p. 1760-1769 10 p.

Obnaruzhenie gigantskikh plazmid v shtammakh Streptomyces bambergiensis.

Zotchev, S. B., Beritashvili, D. R., Rozanfel'd, S. M., Zhdanov, V. G. & Orekhov, A. V., 1990, In: Doklady Akademii nauk SSSR. 313, 1, p. 203-206 4 p.

Influence of pIJ350 plasmid on genetic instability of antibiotic production property in Streptomyces bambergiensis

Zotchev, S. B., Orekhov, A. V., Rozenfeld, S. M. & Zhdanov, V. G., 1989, In: Antibiotiki i khimioterapii︠a︡. 34, 3, p. 180-186 7 p.

Transformatsiia protoplastov Streptomyces bambergiensis S712 plazmidnoĭ DNK

Zotchev, S. B., Rozenfel'd, S. M. & Zhdanov, V. G., Mar 1988, In: Antibiotiki i khimioterapii︠a︡. 33, 3, p. 200-3 4 p.

Activities

Actinomycete bacteria in the discovery of novel natural products

Zotchev, S. (Invited speaker)

17 Mar 2025

Conventional and modern methods for the discovery of novel bacterial natural products

Zotchev, S. (Invited speaker)

27 Feb 2025

From extreme environments to bioactive discoveries: Unveiling the potential of Antarctic bacteria

Bezdicek Kralova, S. (Speaker), Flieder, M. (Contributor), Spacek, P. (Contributor), Gafriller, J. (Contributor), Grienke, U. (Contributor), Sekurova, O. (Contributor), Rattei, T. (Contributor), Zehl, M. (Contributor), Zotchev, S. (Contributor) & Loy, A. (Contributor)

Oct 2024

Harnessing Actinomycete Bacteria for Drug Discovery: from Bioprospecting to Synthetic Biology

Zotchev, S. (Invited speaker)

7 Mar 2024

Deletions of conserved extracytoplasmic sigma factors in Streptomyces have a major impact on secondary metabolism

Sekurova, O. (Selected presenter), Zehl, M. (Contributor), Predl, M. (Contributor), Hunyadi, P. (Contributor), Rattei, T. (Contributor) & Zotchev, S. (Contributor)

2024

Ethanol shock, sigma factors and secondary metabolism: the Streptomyces venezuelae story

Zotchev, S. (Invited speaker)

2024

Exploration and Engineering of a 'Supercluster' for Meroterpenoid and Phenaziterpene Biosynthesis in Streptomyces sp. 4.7

Schneider, O. (Selected presenter), Zehl, M. (Contributor), Cheng, J.-F. (Contributor) & Zotchev, S. (Contributor)

2024

Genome mining-based discovery of new glycosylated terpenoids from Micromonospora sp. isolated from Leontopodium nivale subsp. alpinum rhizosphere

Guerrero Garzón, J. F. (Selected presenter), Bajric, U. (Contributor), Zehl, M. (Contributor), Kirkegaard, R. H. (Contributor) & Zotchev, S. (Contributor)

2024

Engineering actinomycete biology for the discovery of new natural products

Zotchev, S. (Invited speaker)

2 Dec 2023

Streptomyces spp. from the rhizosphere of Leontopodium nivale subsp. alpinum – uncovering potential for the biosynthesis of secondary metabolites

Vignolle, A. (Contributor), Zehl, M. (Contributor), Pjevac, P. (Contributor) & Zotchev, S. (Contributor)

2 Jul 2023

Metabolic Engineering and Synthetic Biology for Drug Discovery

Zotchev, S. (Invited speaker)

8 May 2023

Bioprospecting, biosynthetic engineering and synthetic biology towards drug discovery from bacteria

Zotchev, S. (Invited speaker)

19 Sept 2022

Heterologous expression of terpene synthases from the endophytic fungus Helotiales sp. BL73 in Streptomyces spp.

Malfent, F. (Selected presenter), Oberhofer, M. (Contributor), Zehl, M. (Contributor), Reznicek, G. (Contributor), Rückert, C. (Contributor), Busche, T. (Contributor), Wibberg, D. (Contributor) & Zotchev, S. (Contributor)

19 Jun 2022 → 23 Jun 2022

Bioprospecting of plant-associated bacteria and fungi for novel secondary metabolites

Zotchev, S. (Invited speaker)

6 Dec 2019

Unravelling antibiotically active natural products of fungal endophytes from Leontopodium nivale subsp. alpinum

Oberhofer, M. (Speaker), Isikoglu, H. (Contributor), Haager, C. (Contributor), Haubenwallner, N. (Contributor), Wackerlig, J. (Contributor), Urban, E. (Contributor), Zehl, M. (Contributor), Wawrosch, C. (Contributor) & Zotchev, S. (Contributor)

18 Sept 2019

Harnessing Actinomycete Bacteria for Drug Discovery: from Bioprospecting to Synthetic Biology

Zotchev, S. (Invited speaker)

12 Sept 2019

Construction of a “mutator” device via manipulation of the DNA replication machinery components of Streptomyces lividans TK24

Sekurova, O. (Selected presenter), Sun, Y.-Q. (Contributor), Stich, A. (Contributor), Busche, T. (Contributor), Rückert, C. (Contributor), Kalinowski, J. (Contributor) & Zotchev, S. (Contributor)

11 Sept 2019

Bioactive Amycolatopsis sp. from the Mongolian steppe: identification of secondary metabolites and genome mining yielding novel lasso peptides

Guerrero Garzón, J. F. (Selected presenter), Zehl, M. (Contributor), Urban, E. (Contributor), Cao, Y. R. (Contributor), Jiang, Y. (Contributor), Jiang, C. (Contributor), Rückert, C. (Speaker), Busche, T. (Speaker), Kalinowski, J. (Contributor) & Zotchev, S. (Contributor)

8 Sept 2019 → 11 Sept 2019

Discovery of geninthiocin B from new lichen-associated Streptomyces sp.

Schneider, O. (Selected presenter), Simic, N. (Contributor), Aachmann, F. L. (Contributor), Rückert, C. (Contributor), Kristiansen, K. A. (Contributor), Kalinowski, J. (Contributor), Jiang, Y. (Contributor), Wang, L. (Contributor), Jiang, C. (Contributor), Lale, R. (Contributor) & Zotchev, S. (Contributor)

8 Sept 2019 → 11 Sept 2019

Synthetic biology and metabolic engineering toward the discovery of novel bioactive secondary metabolites from actinomycete bacteria

Zotchev, S. (Invited speaker)

17 Sept 2018 → 20 Sept 2018

Harnessing Bacteria for Drug Discovery: from Bioprospecting to Synthetic Biology

Zotchev, S. (Invited speaker)

2018

Harnessing Bacteria for Drug Discovery: from Bioprospecting to Synthetic Biology

Zotchev, S. (Invited speaker)

18 Dec 2017

Harnessing Bacteria for Drug Discovery: from Bioprospecting to Synthetic Biology

Zotchev, S. (Invited speaker)

10 Nov 2017

Activation of Chloramphenicol Biosynthesis in Streptomyces venezuelae ATCC 10712 by Ethanol Shock: Insights from the Promoter Fusion Studies

Sekurova, O. (Selected presenter), Zhang, J. (Contributor), Kristiansen, K. A. (Contributor) & Zotchev, S. (Contributor)

23 May 2017 → 27 May 2017

Bioactive Amycolatopsis sp. from the Mongolian steppe: identification of secondary metabolites, genome sequencing and genome-based bioprospecting

Guerrero Garzón, J. F. (Selected presenter), Zehl, M. (Contributor), Urban, E. (Contributor), Cao, Y. R. (Contributor), Jiang, Y. (Contributor), Jiang, C. (Contributor), Rückert, C. (Contributor), Busche, T. (Contributor), Kalinowski, J. (Contributor) & Zotchev, S. (Contributor)

23 May 2017 → 27 May 2017

Rare Actinomycete bacteria in the tissues of Leontopodium nivale subsp. alpinum (Edelweiss) and its rhizosphere

Oberhofer, M. (Selected presenter), Leutgeb, M. (Contributor), Rattei, T. (Contributor) & Zotchev, S. (Contributor)

23 May 2017 → 27 May 2017

Activation of chloramphenicol biosynthesis in Streptomyces venezuelae ATCC 10712 by ethanol shock: insights from the promoter fusion studies

Sekurova, O. (Speaker), Zhang, J. (Contributor), Kristiansen, K. A. (Contributor) & Zotchev, S. (Contributor)

30 Sept 2016

Harnessing Actinomycete Bacteria for Drug Discovery: from Bioprospecting to Synthetic Biology

Zotchev, S. (Invited speaker)

29 Sept 2016

Harnessing Bacteria for Drug Discovery: from Bioprospecting to Synthetic Biology

Zotchev, S. (Invited speaker)

13 Jun 2016

Harnessing Bacteria for Drug Discovery: from Bioprospecting to Synthetic Biology

Zotchev, S. (Invited speaker)

30 May 2016

Projects

Anti-Infectives Drug Discovery

Rollinger, J. M. (Project Lead), Dailey, L. A. (Co-Lead), Orts, J. (Co-Lead), Böttcher, T. (Co-Lead), Schmidt, M. (Co-Lead), Rademacher, C. J. H. (Co-Lead), Schützenmeister, N. (Co-Lead), Zotchev, S. (Co-Lead), Kirchmair, J. (Co-Lead) & Ortmayr, K. (Co-Lead)

1/07/25 → 30/06/29

Deciphering the biosynthesis of bioactive meroterpenoids

Zotchev, S. (Project Lead)

1/11/23 → 31/10/27

New bioactive natural products via forced evolution

Zotchev, S. (Project Lead)

1/11/22 → 31/10/26

Novel bacterial metabolites via synthetic biology

Zotchev, S. (Project Lead)

1/11/19 → 31/10/23

STREPSYNTH

Zotchev, S. (Project Lead)

1/09/15 → 30/11/18

Stress-induced antibiotic production in bacteria

Zotchev, S. (Project Lead)

1/04/18 → 30/09/21