Morten Bøhmer Strøm


Professor, Vice-dean Research and Innovation

Job description

Morten B. Strøm is Vice-dean Research and Innovation at the Faculty of Health Sciences. He is a professor in medicinal chemistry at the Department of Pharmacy, Natural Products and Medicinal Chemistry Research Group. His research involves development of peptides and peptidomimetics with activity against resistant bacteria and with activity against cancer cells. Together with other research groups at UiT we are studying how these molecules can be developed into future drug candidates and drug formulations. This has given important experience with innovation, patents, and commercialization.

Professor at the Natural Products and Medicinal Chemistry Research Group.

 

 


  • Alexandra Sofia Antunes de Sousa, Vegard Borøy, Agnethe Hansen Bæverud, Kjersti Julin, Annette Bayer, Morten B. Strøm et al.:
    Polymyxin B stabilized DNA micelles for sustained antibacterial and antibiofilm activity against P. aeruginosa
    Journal of materials chemistry. B 2023 ARKIV / DOI
  • Lisa Myrseth Hemmingsen, Barbara Giordani, Marianne Hagensen Paulsen, Zeljka Vanic, Gøril Eide Flaten, Beatrice Vitali et al.:
    Tailored anti-biofilm activity – Liposomal delivery for mimic of small antimicrobial peptide
    Biomaterials Advances 2023 ARKIV / DOI
  • Manuel K Langer, Ataur Rahman, Hymonti Dey, Trude Anderssen, Hans-Matti Blencke, Tor Haug et al.:
    Investigation of tetrasubstituted heterocycles reveals hydantoins as a promising scaffold for development of novel antimicrobials with membranolytic properties
    European Journal of Medicinal Chemistry 2023 ARKIV / DOI
  • Susannah von Hofsten, Manuel K Langer, Katja Korelin, Synnøve Norvoll Magnussen, Dominik Ausbacher, Trude Anderssen et al.:
    Amphipathic barbiturates as marine product mimics with cytolytic and immunogenic effects on head and neck squamous cell carcinoma cell lines
    Frontiers in Pharmacology 30. March 2023 ARKIV / DOI
  • Dominik Ausbacher, Lindsey A. Miller, Darla M. Goeres, Philip S. Stewart, Morten Bøhmer Strøm, Adyary Fallarero :
    α,α-disubstituted β-amino amides eliminate Staphylococcus aureus biofilms by membrane disruption and biomass removal
    Biofilm 2023 ARKIV / DOI
  • Manuel K Langer, Ataur Rahman, Hymonti Dey, Trude Anderssen, Francesco Zilioli, Tor Haug et al.:
    A concise SAR-analysis of antimicrobial cationic amphipathic barbiturates for an improved activity-toxicity profile
    European Journal of Medicinal Chemistry 2022 ARKIV / FULLTEKST / DATA / DOI
  • Hymonti Dey, Danijela Simonovic, Ingrid Sofie Norberg-Schulz Hagen, Terje Vasskog, Elizabeth G. Aarag Fredheim, Hans-Matti Blencke et al.:
    Synthesis and Antimicrobial Activity of Short Analogues of the Marine Antimicrobial Peptide Turgencin A: Effects of SAR Optimizations, Cys-Cys Cyclization and Lipopeptide Modifications
    International Journal of Molecular Sciences 2022 ARKIV / DOI
  • Susannah von Hofsten, Marianne Hagensen Paulsen, Synnøve Magnussen, Dominik Ausbacher, Mathias Kranz, Annette Bayer et al.:
    The marine natural product mimic MPM-1 is cytolytic and induces DAMP release from human cancer cell lines
    Scientific Reports 2022 ARKIV / DOI
  • Marianne Hagensen Paulsen, Magnus Engqvist, Dominik Ausbacher, Trude Anderssen, Manuel K- Langer, Tor Haug et al.:
    Amphipathic Barbiturates as Mimics of Antimicrobial Peptides and the Marine Natural Products Eusynstyelamides with Activity against Multi-resistant Clinical Isolates
    Journal of Medicinal Chemistry 2021 ARKIV / DOI
  • Ida Kristine Østnes Hansen, Tomas Lövdahl, Danijela Simonovic, Kine Østnes Hansen, Aaron John Christian Andersen, hege Devold et al.:
    Antimicrobial activity of small synthetic peptides based on the marine peptide turgencin A: Prediction of antimicrobial peptide sequences in a natural peptide and strategy for optimization of potency
    International Journal of Molecular Sciences 2020 ARKIV / DOI
  • Runar Gjerp Solstad, Cecilie Johansen, Klara Stensvåg, Morten B. Strøm, Tor Haug :
    Structure‐activity relationship studies of shortened analogues of the antimicrobial peptide EeCentrocin 1 from the sea urchin Echinus esculentus
    Journal of Peptide Science 2019 ARKIV / DOI
  • Marianne Hagensen Paulsen, Dominik Ausbacher, Annette Bayer, Magnus Engqvist, Terkel Hansen, Tor Haug et al.:
    Antimicrobial activity of amphipathic α,α-disubstituted β-amino amide derivatives against ESBL–CARBA producing multi-resistant bacteria; effect of halogenation, lipophilicity and cationic character
    European Journal of Medicinal Chemistry 2019 ARKIV / DOI
  • Marianne Hagensen Paulsen, Eskil Andre Karlsen, Dominik Ausbacher, Trude Anderssen, Annette Bayer, Philipp Ochtrop et al.:
    An amphipathic cyclic tetrapeptide scaffold containing halogenated β2,2-amino acids with activity against multi-resistant bacteria
    Journal of Peptide Science 2018 DOI
  • Elizaveta Igumnova, Ekaterina Mishchenko, Tor Haug, Hans-Matti Blencke, Johanna U Ericson Sollid, Elizabeth Aarag et al.:
    Amphipathic sulfonamidobenzamides mimicking small antimicrobial marine natural products; investigation of antibacterial and anti-biofilm activity against antibiotic resistant clinical isolates.
    Bioorganic & Medicinal Chemistry 2018 DOI
  • Thomas Aleksander Bakka, Morten B. Strøm, Jeanette hammer Andersen, Odd Reidar Gautun :
    Methyl propiolate and 3-butynone: starting points for synthesis of amphiphilic 1,2,3-triazole peptidomimetics for antimicrobial evaluation
    Bioorganic & Medicinal Chemistry 2017 ARKIV / DOI
  • Thomas Aleksander Bakka, Morten B. Strøm, Jeanette hammer Andersen, Odd Reidar Gautun :
    Synthesis and antimicrobial evaluation of cationic low molecular weight amphipathic 1,2,3-triazoles
    Bioorganic & Medicinal Chemistry Letters 2017 ARKIV / DOI
  • Hymonti Dey, Danijela Simonovic, Celine Sarah Marine Richard, Ataur Rahman, Ingrid Sofie Norberg-Schultz Hagen, Natascha Johansen et al.:
    Combining outer membrane active synthetic antimicrobial peptides with vancomycin or erythromycin increases antibacterial and antibiofilm activities
    2024
  • Hymonti Dey, Hans-Matti Blencke, Morten B. Strøm, Elizabeth G. Aarag Fredheim, Tor Haug :
    Antimicrobial activities and mechanisms of action of peptide analogues of marine origin
    2024 FULLTEKST
  • Vilde Flaget Hesle, Camtu Cathrine Tran, Morten B. Strøm, Odd Reidar Gautun :
    Synthetic studies towards amphipathic pyrazino-pyrimidine-dione scaffolds for antimicrobial testing
    2024
  • Alexandra Sofia Antunes De Sousa, Mona Susan Johannessen, Annette Bayer, Morten Bøhmer Strøm, Natasa Skalko Basnet, Sybil Akua Okyerewa Obuobi :
    Study of the penetration ability of DNA nanoparticles in biofilms
    2024
  • Alexandra Sofia Antunes de Sousa, Kjersti Julin, Annette Bayer, Morten Bøhmer Strøm, Mona Johannessen, Natasa Skalko-Basnet et al.:
    Drug-loaded DNA nanoparticles against bioflms
    2023
  • Christoffer Ågnes, Ataur Rahman, Hege Devold, Klara Stensvåg, Morten Bøhmer Strøm, Tor Haug :
    Antibacterial and antibiofilm compounds in six marine invertebrates from Arctic and sub-Arctic Oceans
    2023
  • Ataur Rahman, Manuel K Langer, Hans-Matti Blencke, Tor Haug, Johanna U Ericson, Morten B. Strøm et al.:
    Development of novel antimicrobial peptides: two classes with improved antimicrobial and antibiofilm activity
    2023 PROSJEKT
  • Hymonti Dey, Danijela Simonovic, Ingrid Sofie Norberg-Schulz Hagen, Terje Vasskog, Elizabeth G. Aarag Fredheim, Hans-Matti Blencke et al.:
    Antimicrobial activity and mode of action study of short cyclic analogues of the marine antimicrobial peptide Turgencin A
    2023
  • Christoffer Ågnes, Ataur Rahman, hege Devold, Klara Stensvåg, Morten B. Strøm, Tor Haug :
    Antibacterial and antibiofilm activity in Arctic and sub-Arctic marine benthic invertebrates
    2023
  • Manuel K Langer, Ataur Rahman, Hymonti Dey, Trude Anderssen, Hans-Matti Blencke, Tor Haug et al.:
    Tetrasubstituted hydantoins: Novel membranolytic antimicrobials
    2023
  • Lisa Myrseth Hemmingsen, Barbara Giordani, Marianne Hagensen Paulsen, Zeljka Vanic, Gøril Eide Flaten, Beatrice Vitali et al.:
    Liposomes in topical delivery of mimic of small antimicrobial peptide - Improving the anti-biofilm effect
    2023
  • Ataur Rahman, Manuel K Langer, Bartosz Michno, Hans-Matti Blencke, Tor Haug, Johanna U Ericson et al.:
    In vivo toxicity and activity of newly developed novel analogues of short-cationic antimicrobial peptides as novel antibacterial agents
    2023
  • Ataur Rahman, Manuel K Langer, Bartosz Michno, Hans-Matti Blencke, Tor Haug, Johanna U Ericson et al.:
    In vivo toxicity and activity of newly developed novel analogues of short-cationic antimicrobial peptides as novel antibacterial agents
    2023
  • Julie Sofie Kleppe Strømberg, Tor Haug, Morten B. Strøm, Terkel Hansen, Terje Vasskog, Johannes Kristensen et al.:
    Structure Elucidation of the Disulfide Connectivity in Marine Antimicrobial Disulfide Rich Peptides
    2023
  • Danijela Simonovic, Hymonti Dey, Natascha Johansen, Trude Anderssen, Terje Vasskog, Elizabeth G. Aarag Fredheim et al.:
    Investigation of the antimicrobial activity and proteolytic stability of the short analogues of the marine peptide EeCentrocin 1
    2022
  • Hymonti Dey, Danijela Simonovic, Ingrid Sofie Norberg-Schulz Hagen, Terje Vasskog, Elizabeth G. Aarag Fredheim, Hans-Matti Blencke et al.:
    Antimicrobial Activity and Mode of Action Study of Short Analogues of The Marine Antimicrobial Peptide Turgencin A
    2022
  • Kjersti Julin, Annette Bayer, Morten Bøhmer Strøm, Mona Johannessen, Natasa Skalko-Basnet, Sybil Akua Okyerewa Obuobi :
    DNA Nanocarriers for improved biofilm penetration
    2022
  • Nima Alinejad Chatli, Morten B. Strøm, Danijela Simonovic, Tor Haug :
    Synthesis of linear and cyclic proline-rich analogues of the marine, antimicrobial peptides Hyasin 1 and Arasin 1
    UiT Norges arktiske universitet 2022
  • Lisa Myrseth Hemmingsen, Gøril Eide Flaten, Morten B. Strøm, Natasa Skalko-Basnet :
    Membrane-active antimicrobials – in synergy with nature – the role of chitosan
    2022
  • Susannah von Hofsten, Marianne Hagensen Paulsen, Manuel K Langer, Synnøve Norvoll Magnussen, Dominik Ausbacher, Annette Bayer et al.:
    A Compound Inspired by Arctic Marine Animals Kills Cancer Cells in vitro and in vivo
    2022
  • Danijela Simonovic, Hymonti Dey, Natascha Johansen, Trude Anderssen, Terje Vasskog, Elizabeth G. Aarag Fredheim et al.:
    Investigation of the antimicrobial activity and proteolytic stability of the short analogues of the marine peptide EeCentrocin 1
    2021
  • Natascha Johansen, Danijela Simonovic, Tor Haug, Morten B. Strøm :
    Synthesis of analogues of the antimicrobial lead peptide P6 developed from the marine peptide EeCentrocin 1
    UiT Norges arktiske universitet 2021
  • Ingrid Norberg-Schulz Hagen, Danijela Simonovic, Tor Haug, Morten B. Strøm :
    Synthesis of short lipopeptide analogues of the marine, antimicrobial peptide Turgencin A
    UiT Norges arktiske universitet 2021
  • Hymonti Dey, Danijela Simonovic, Ingrid Sofie Norberg-Schulz Hagen, Terje Vasskog, Elizabeth G. Aarag Fredheim, Hans-Matti Blencke et al.:
    Antimicrobial activity and mode of action study of short analogues of the marine antimicrobial peptide Turgencin A
    2021
  • Lisa Myrseth Hemmingsen, Ann Kristin Pettersen, Morten B. Strøm, Natasa Skalko-Basnet :
    Nano-antimicrobials in biofilm eradication - Optimization of stability and toxicity profile
    2020
  • Ataur Rahman, Manuel Karl Langer, Hymonti Dey, Jonathan Hira, Ekaterina Mishchenko, Annette Bayer et al.:
    Novel antimicrobial and biofilm-inhibitors from marine resources
    2020
  • Susannah von Hofsten, Synnøve Norvoll Magnussen, Dominik Ausbacher, Marianne Hagensen Paulsen, Annette Bayer, Morten B. Strøm et al.:
    The Marine Natural Product Mimic MHP88 Shows Anticancer Activity and has the Potential to Cause Immunogenic Cell Death
    2020 ARKIV
  • Klara Stensvåg, Jonathan Hira, Ekaterina Mishchenko, Hans-Matti Blencke, Morten B. Strøm, Bjarne Landfald et al.:
    Marine antimicrobial peptides – an inspiration for new compounds to fight bacteria
    2019
  • Solveig Valderhaug, Daniel Lindberg, Thomas A Bakka, Morten B. Strøm, Jeanette hammer Andersen, Odd Reidar Gautun :
    Synthesis and antimicrobial evaluation of fused benzene amphiphiles
    2018
  • Tomas Lövdahl, Tor Haug, Morten B. Strøm :
    Solid phase peptide synthesis and structure activity relationship study of a marine peptide from Synoicum turgens
    UiT Norges arktiske universitet 2018
  • Manuel K Langer, Marianne Hagensen Paulsen, Morten B. Strøm, Annette Bayer :
    Amphipathic Hydantoins – potential new antibiotics Mimicing the marine antimicrobials eusynstyelamides
    2018
  • Thomas A Bakka, Odd Reidar Gautun, Morten B. Strøm, Anne Fiksdahl :
    Synthesis and Antimicrobial Evaluation of Small Molecule Amphiphiles Derived from Amphiphilic Antimicrobial Natural Products
    2017
  • Eskil André Karlsen, Marianne H. Paulsen, Tor Haug, Morten B. Strøm :
    Solid-phase peptide synthesis of antimicrobial peptide analogues of a marine peptide from Echinus esculentus and cyclic peptides with unnatural β2,2-amino acids incorporated
    UiT Norges arktiske universitet 2017
  • Ekaterina Mishchenko, Elizaveta Igumnova, Johanna U Ericson Sollid, Hans-Matti Blencke, Reidunn Silje Lauksund, Tor Haug et al.:
    Antibacterial marine natural product mimics for treatment of infections.
    2017

  • The 50 latest publications is shown on this page. See all publications in Cristin here →

    Publications outside Cristin

    List of publications

    1. Strøm, M. B.; Rekdal, Ø.; Svendsen, J. S., Antibacterial activity of 15-residue lactoferricin derivatives. J. Peptide Res. 2000, 56, 265-274.
    2. Lejon, T.; Strøm, M. B.; Svendsen, J. S., Antibiotic activity of pentadecapeptides modelled from amino acid descriptors. J. Peptide Sci. 2001, 7, 74-81.
    3. Lejon, T.; Strøm, M. B.; Svendsen, J. S., Is information about peptide sequence necessary in multivariate analysis? Chemometrics and Intelligent Laboratory Systems 2001, 57, 93-95.
    4. Strøm, M. B.; Rekdal, Ø.; Stensen, W.; Svendsen, J. S., Increased antibacterial activity of 15-residue murine lactoferricin derivatives. J. Peptide Res. 2001, 57, 127-139.
    5. Strøm, M. B.; Haug, B. E.; Rekdal, Ø.; Skar, M. L.; Stensen, W.; Svendsen, J. S., Important structural features of 15-residue lactoferricin derivatives and methods for improvement of antimicrobial activity. Biochem Cell Biol. 2002, 80, 65-74.
    6. Strøm, M. B.; Rekdal, Ø.; Svendsen, J. S., Antimicrobial activity of short arginine- and tryptophan-rich peptides. J. Peptide Sci. 2002, 8, 431-437.
    7. Strøm, M. B.; Rekdal, Ø.; Svendsen, J. S., The effects of charge and lipophilicity on the antibacterial activity of undecapeptides derived from bovine lactoferricin. J. Peptide Sci. 2002, 8, 36-43.
    8. Strøm, M. B.; Haug, B. E.; Skar, M. L.; Stensen, W.; Stiberg, T.; Svendsen, J. S., The pharmacophore of short cationic antibacterial peptides. J. Med. Chem. 2003, 46, 1567-1570.
    9. Lejon, T.; Stiberg, T.; Strøm, M. B.; Svendsen, J. S., Prediction of antibiotic activity and synthesis of new pentadecapeptides based on lactoferricins. J. Peptide Sci. 2004, 10, 329-335.
    10. Moe, M. K.; Anderssen, T.; Strom, M. B.; Jensen, E., Vicinal hydroxylation of unsaturated fatty acids for structural characterization of intact neutral phospholipids by negative electrospray ionization tandem quadrupole mass spectrometry. Rapid Commun. Mass Spec. 2004, 18, (18), 2121-2130.
    11. Moe, M. K.; Strom, M. B.; Jensen, E.; Claeys, M., Negative electrospray ionization low-energy tandem mass spectrometry of hydroxylated fatty acids: A mechanistic study. Rapid Commun. Mass Spec. 2004, 18, (15), 1731-1740.
    12. Yang, N.; Strom, M. B.; Mekonnen, S. M.; Svendsen, J. S.; Rekdal, O., The effects of shortening lactoferrin derived peptides against tumor cells, bacteria and human normal cells. J. Peptide Sci. 2004, 10, (1), 37-46.
    13. Moe, M. K.; Anderssen, T.; Strøm, M. B.; Jensen, E., Total structure characterization of unsaturated acidic phospholipids provided by vicinal di-hydroxylation of fatty acid double bonds and negative electrospray ionization mass spectrometry. J. Am. Soc. Mass Spec. 2005, 16, (1), 46-59.
    14. Haug, B. E.; Strøm, M. B.; Svendsen, J. S., The medicinal chemistry of short lactoferricin-based antibacterial peptides. Curr. Med. Chem. 2007, 14, (1), 1-18.
    15. Michelsen, V. B.; Moe, G.; Strøm, M. B.; Jensen, E.; Lygre, H., Quantitative analysis of TEGDMA and HEMA eluted into saliva from two dental composites by use of GC/MS and tailor-made internal standards. Dental Materials 2008, 24, 724-731.
    16. Tadesse, M.; Gulliksen, B.; Strøm, M. B.; Styrvold, O. B.; Haug, T., Screening for antibacterial and antifungal activities in marine benthic invertebrates from northern Norway. J. Invertebrate Pathology 2008, 99, 286-293.
    17. Hansen, T.; Alst, T.; Havelkova, M.; Strøm, M. B., Antimicrobial Activity of Small β-Peptidomimetics Based on the Pharmacophore Model of Short Cationic Antimicrobial Peptides. J. Med. Chem. 2010, 53, 595–606.
    18. Tadesse, M.; Tørfoss, V.; Strøm, M. B.; Hansen, E.; Andersen, J. H.; Stensvåg, K.; Haug, T., Isolation and biological activity of (E)-1-(4-hydroxystyryl)guanidine from the sub-Arctic ascidian, Dendrodoa aggregata. Biochemical Systematics and Ecology 2010, 38, 827–829.
    19. Tadesse, M.; Strøm, M. B.; Svenson, J.; Jaspars, M.; Milne, B. F.; Tørfoss, V.; Andersen, J. H.; Hansen, E.; Stensvåg, K.; Haug, T., Synoxazolidinones A and B: Novel Bioactive Alkaloids from the Ascidian Synoicum pulmonaria, Org. Lett. 2010, 12, 4752-4755.
    20. Tadesse, M.; Tabudravu, J. N.; Jaspars, M.; Strøm, M. B.; Hansen, E.; Andersen, J. H.; Kristiansen, P. E.,; Haug, T., The antibacterial ent-eusynstyelamide B and eusynstyelamides D, E, and F from the arctic bryozoan Tegella cf. spitzbergensis, J. Nat. Prod. 2011, 74, 837-841.
    21. Tadesse, M.; Svenson, J.; Jaspars, M.; Strøm, M. B.; Abdelrahman, M. H.; Andersen, J. H.; Hansen, E.; Kristiansen, P. E.; Stensvåg, K.; Haug, T., Synoxazolidinone C; a bicyclic member of the synoxazolidinone family with antibacterial and anticancer activities, Tetrahedron Lett. 2011, 52, 1804-1806.
    22. Hansen, T.; Ausbacher, D.; Flaten, G. E.; Havelkova, M.; Strøm M. B., Synthesis of cationic antimicrobial β2,2-amino acid derivatives with potential for oral administration, J. Med. Chem. 2011, 54, 858-868.
    23. Tørfoss, V.; Ausbacher, D.A.; Cavalcanti-Jacobsen, C.deA.; Hansen, T.; Brandsdal, B-.O.; Havelkova, M.; Strøm, M.B. Synthesis of anticancer heptapeptides containing a unique lipophilic β2,2-amino acid building block, J. Peptide Sci. 2012, 18, 170-176.
    24. Hansen, T.; Moe, M. K.; Anderssen, T.; Strøm, M. B. Metabolism of small antimicrobial β2,2-amino acid derivatives by murine liver microsomes, Eur. J. Drug Metab. Pharmacokinet. 2012, 37,191–201
    25. Ausbacher, D.; Svineng, G.; Hansen, T.; Strøm, M.B. Anticancer mechanisms of action of two small amphipathic β2,2-amino acid derivatives derived from antimicrobial peptides. Biochim. Biophys. Acta – Biomembranes. 2012, 1818, 2917-2925.
    26. Tørfoss, V.; Isaksson, J.; Ausbacher, D.; Brandsdal, B-.O.; Flaten, G. E.; Anderssen, T.; Cavalcanti-Jacobsen, C.deA.; Havelkova, M.; Nguyen, L. T.; Vogel, H. J.; Strøm, M.B. Improved anticancer potency by head-to-tail cyclisation of short cationic anticancer peptides containing a lipophilic β2,2-amino acid. J. Peptide Sci. 2012, 18, 609-619.
    27. Hansen, T.; Ausbacher, D.; Zachariassen, Z.G.; Anderssen, T.; Havelkova, M.; Strøm, M.B. Anticancer activity of small amphipathic β2,2-amino acid derivatives. Eur. J. Med. Chem. 2012, 58, 22-29.
    28. Ausbacher, D.; Fallarero, A.; Kujala, J.; Määttänen, A.; Peltonen, J.; Strøm, M.B.; Vuorela, P.M. Staphylococcus aureus biofilm susceptibility to small and potent β2,2-amino acid derivatives. Biofouling. 2014, 30, 81-93.
    29. Sivertsen, A.; Tørfoss, V.; Isaksson, J.; Ausbacher, D.; Anderssen, T.; Brandsdal, B-.O;Havelkova, M.; Skjørholm, A.E.; Strøm, M.B. Anticancer potency of small linear and cyclic tetrapeptides and pharmacokinetic investigations of peptide-binding to human serum albumin. J. Peptide Sci. 2014, 20, 279-291.
    30. Hanski, L.; Ausbacher, D.; Tiirola, T.; Strøm, M.B.; Vuorela, P.M. Amphipathic β2,2-amino acid derivatives suppress infectivity and disrupt the intracellular replication cycle of Chlamydia pneumoniae. PLoS ONE. 2016, 11(6): e0157306. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0157306.
    31. Paulsen, M.H.; Engqvist, M.; Ausbacher, D.;  Strøm, M.B.; Bayer, A. Efficient and scalable synthesis of α,α-disubstituted β-amino amides. Org. Biomol. Chem. 2016, 14, 7570-7578.
    32. Igumnova, E.M.; Mishchenko, E.; Haug, T.; Blencke, H.-M.;Ericson Sollid, J.U.; Fredheim, E.G.Aa.; Lauksund, S.; Stensvåg, K.; Strøm, M.B. Synthesis and antimicrobial activity of small cationic amphipathic aminobenzamide marine natural product mimics and evaluation of relevance against clinical isolates including ESBL-CARBA producing multi-resistant bacteria. Bioorganic & Medicinal Chemistry. 2016, 24, 5884-5894.
    33. Bakka, T.A.; Strøm, M.B.; Andersen, J.H.; Gautun, O.R. Synthesis and antimicrobial evaluation of cationic low molecular weight amphipathic 1,2,3-triazoles. Bioorganic & Medicinal Chemistry Letters. 2017, 27, 1119-1123.
    34. Bakka, T.A.; Strøm, M.B.; Andersen, J.H.; Gautun, O.R. Methyl propiolate and 3-butynone: starting points for synthesis of amphiphilic 1,2,3-triazole peptidomimetics for antimicrobial evaluation. Bioorganic & Medicinal Chemistry. 2017, 25, 5380-5395.
    35. Paulsen, M.H.; Karlsen, E.A.; Ausbacher, D.; Andersen, T.; Bayer, A.; Ochtrop, P.; Hedberg, C.; Haug, T.; Sollid, J.U.E.; Strøm, M.B. An amphipathic cyclic tetrapeptide scaffold containing halogenated beta2,2-amino acids with activity against multi-resistant bacteria. J. Peptide Sci. 2018;24:e3117. DOI: 10.1002/psc.3117
    36. Igumnova, E.M.; Mishchenko, E.; Haug, T.; Blencke, H.-M.; Sollid, J.U.E.; Aarag Fredheim, E.G.; Lauksund, S.; Stensvåg, K.; Strøm, M.B. Amphipathic sulfonamidobenzamides mimicking small antimicrobial marine natural products; investigation of antibacterial and anti-biofilm activity against antibiotic resistant clinical isolates. Bioorg. Med. Chem. 2018, 26, 4930-4941. DOI: 10.1016/j.bmc.2018.08.032
    37. Paulsen, M.H., Ausbacher, D., Bayer, A., Engqvist, M., Hansen, T., Haug, T., Anderssen, T., Andersen, J.H., Sollid, J.U. E., Strøm, M.B. Antimicrobial activity of amphipathic alfa,alfa-disubstituted beta-amino amide derivatives against ESBL – CARBA producing multi-resistant bacteria; effect of halogenation, lipophilicity and cationic character. Eur. J. Med. Chem. 2019, 183, 111671. DOI:10.1016/j.ejmech.2019.111671
    38. Solstad, R.G.; Johansen, C.; Stensvåg, K.; Strøm, M.B.; Haug, T. Structure‐activity relationship studies of shortened analogues of the antimicrobial peptide EeCentrocin 1 from the sea urchin Echinus esculentus. J. Peptide Sci. 2020;26:e3233. DOI:10.1002/psc.3233
    39. Ida K. Ø. Hansen, I.K.Ø.; Lövdahl, T.; Simonovic, D.; Hansen, K.Ø.; Andersen, A.J.C.; Devold, H.; Richard, C.S.M.; Andersen, J.H.; Strøm, M.B.; Haug, T. Antimicrobial activity of small synthetic peptides based on the marine peptide turgencin a: prediction of antimicrobial peptide sequences in a natural peptide and strategy for optimization of potency. Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2020, 21(15), 5460. DOI:10.3390/ijms21155460.
    40. Paulsen, M.H.; Engqvist, M.; Ausbacher, D.; Anderssen, T.; Langer, M.K.; Haug, T.; Morello, G.R.; Liikanen, L.E.; Blencke, H-.M.; Isaksson, J.; Juskewitz, E.; Bayer, A.; Strøm, M.B. Amphipathic Barbiturates as Mimics of Antimicrobial Peptides and the Marine Natural Products Eusynstyelamides with Activity against Multi-resistant Clinical Isolates. J. Med. Chem. 2021, 64, 11395. doi.org/10.1021/acs.jmedchem.1c00734.
    41. Langer, M.K.; Rahman, A.; Dey, H.; Anderssen, T.; Zilioli, F.; Haug, T.; Blencke, H.-M.; Stensvåg, K.; Strøm, M.B., Bayer, A. A concise SAR-analysis of antimicrobial cationic amphipathic barbiturates for an improved activity-toxicity profile. Eur. J. Med. Chem. (2022), doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ejmech.2022.114632.
    42. Hofsten, S.; Paulsen, M.H.; Magnussen, S.N.; Ausbacher, D.; Kranz, M.; Bayer, A.; Strøm, M.B.; Berge, G. The marine natural product MPM-1 is cytolytic and induces DAMP release from human cancer cell lines. Scientific Reports. 2022, 12, 15586. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-022-19597-4.
    43. Dey, H.; Simonovic, D.; Norberg-Schulz Hagen, I.; Vasskog, T.; Strøm, M.B.; Fredheim, E.G.Aa.; Haug, T. Synthesis and antimicrobial activity of short analogues of the marine antimicrobial peptide turgencin A: Effects of SAR optimizations, Cys-Cys cyclization and lipopeptide modifications. Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2022, 23, 13844. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms232213844.
    44. Hemmingsen, L.M.; Giordani, B.; Paulsen, M.H.; Vani, Z.; Flaten, G.E.; Vitali, B.; Basnet, P.; Bayer, A.; Strøm, M.B.;  Sˇkalko-Basnet, N. Tailored anti-biofilm activity – Liposomal delivery for mimic of small antimicrobial peptide. Biomaterials Advances 145 (2023) 213238. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bioadv.2022.213238.
    45. Hofsten, S.; Langer, M.K.; Korelin, K.; Magnussen, S.; Ausbacher, D.; Anderssen, T.; Salo, T.; Strøm, M.B.; Bayer, A.; Al-Samadi, A.; Berge, G. Amphipathic barbiturates as marine product mimics with cytolytic and immunogenic effects on head and neck squamous cell carcinoma cell lines. Front. Pharmacol. 14:1141669. https://doi.org/10.3389/fphar.2023.1141669.
    46. Langer, M.K.; Rahman, A.; Dey, D.; Anderssen, T.; Blencke, H.-M.; Haug, T.; Stensvåg, K.; Strøm, M.B.; Bayer, A. Investigation of tetrasubstituted heterocycles reveals hydantoins as a promising scaffold for development of novel antimicrobials with membranolytic properties. Eur. J. Med. Chem. 2023, 249, 115147. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ejmech.2023.115147.

    Patents

    1. Svendsen, J. S.; Haug, B. E.; Istvan, M.; Øystein, R.; Skar, M. L.; Stensen, W.; Strøm, M. B., Antimicrobial membrane-destabilizing peptidic compounds and formulations. 2001. WO  2001066147  (A2).
    2. Stroem, M.B.; Hansen, T.; Havelkova, M.; Tørfoss, V. Therapeutic peptides. 2011. WO 2011051692 (A1).
    3. Tadesse, M,; Stroem, M.B.; Svenson, J.; Jaspars M.; Stensvaag K.; Haug T. Bioactive alkaloids. WO2012035305  (A1).
    4. Strøm, M.B.; Bayer, A.; Engqvist, S.O.M.; Paulsen, M.H; Ausbacher, D. 2018. Barbituric acid derivatives comprising cationic and lipophilic groups. WO/2018/178198. PCT/EP2018/058011.

     

     


    Research interests

    JOB DESCRIPTION
    Morten B. Strøm is Vice-dean Research and Innovation at the Faculty of Health Sciences. He is a professor in medicinal chemistry at the Department of Pharmacy, Natural Products and Medicinal Chemistry Research Group. His research involves development of peptides and peptidomimetics with activity against resistant bacteria and with activity against cancer cells. Together with other research groups at UiT we are studying how these molecules can be developed into future drug candidates and drug formulations. This has given important experience with innovation, patents, and commercialization.

    Professor at the Natural Products and Medicinal Chemistry Research Group.

    RESEARCH INTERESTS

    1) Design, synthesis and development of antimicrobial and anticancer peptides and peptidomimetics as lead-compounds for drug-development and investigation of pharmacophore models.

    2) Design and synthesis of peptidomimetics and bioactive scaffolds for optimization of potency and pharmacokinetic properties.

    3) Isolation and structural elucidation of marine bioactive compounds from Arctic and sub-Arctic marine invertebrates and synthesis of marine natural product mimics (marine bio-prospecting).

    ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1973-0778

    PhD student supervision

    1. 2000 – 2004: Assistant supervisor for PhD Morten K. Moe - PhD thesis: ESI low-energy tandem MS characterisation of lipids modified by a novel derivatisation method. Financed by the Norwegian Research Council.
    2. 2007 – 2010: Assistant supervisor for PhD Margey Tadesse - PhD thesis: Antimicrobial natural products from Arctic and sub-Arctic marine invertebrates. Financed by UiT.
    3. 2007 – 2011: Primary supervisor for PhD Terkel Hansen (cand. pharm.) - PhD thesis: Antimicrobial and anticancer beta-peptidomimetics – synthesis and biological evaluation of a new class of small and highly potent compounds. Financed by UiT.
    4. 2008 – 2012: Primary supervisor for PhD Dominik A. Ausbacher (cand. pharm.) - PhD Thesis: Biological activity of β2,2-amino acid derivatives derived from antimicrobial peptides - Investigations of antimicrobial and anticancer activity and the mechanisms of action. Financed by UiT.
    5. 2008 – 2013: Primary supervisor for PhD Veronika Tørfoss (cand. pharm.) - PhD thesis: Short anticancer peptides containing a lipophilic β2,2-amino acid - Synthesis and biological evaluation of linear and cyclic hepta-, hexa-, penta-, and tetrapeptides. Financed by the Norwegian Research Council (KOSK-II program).
    6. 2011 – 2015: Assistant supervisor for PhD Elisabeth Klungerbo Olsen (cand. pharm.) - PhD thesis: Bioprospecting of Arctic marine organisms. Financed by MabCent – SFI.
    7. 2011 – 2015: Primary supervisor for Elizaveta Mikhailovna Igumnova - Working title: Chemical synthesis, isolation, and structural characterization of marine bioactive hit compounds. Financed by MabCent – SFI.
    8. 2012 – 2016: Assistant supervisor for PhD Runar Gjerp Solstad - PhD thesis: Discovery of antimicrobial peptides in two invertebrates, the sea anemone Urticina eques and the sea urchin chinus esculentus - Isolation, characterization and structure-activity relationship studies. Financed by UiT.
    9. 2012 – 2017: Primary supervisor for PhD Marianne Hagensen Paulsen - PhD thesis: Synthetic mimics of antimicrobial peptides. Synthesis and biological studies of novel synthetic mimics of antimicrobial peptides. Financed by the Norwegian Research Council (NFR) and UiT - "Fellesløftet".
    10. 2014 – 2017: Assistant supervisor for PhD Thomas Aleksander Bakka (NTNU - Trondheim - Norway) - PhD thesis: Synthesis and antimicrobial evaluation of small molecule amphiphiles derived from amphiphilic antimicrobial natural products. Financed by NTNU.
    11. 2018   in progress: Assistant supervisor for Christoffer Ågnes Sivertsen (Faculty of Bioscience, fisheries, and economics – UiT) – Working title: Antibacterial and antibiofilm compounds in Arctic and sub-Arctic invertebrates. Financed by UiT – The Arctic University of Norway – "Thematic emphasis programme" – AntifoMar.
    12. 2018 – 2022: Assistant supervisor for PhD Manuel Karl Langer (Department of chemistry – UiT) – PhD thesis: Marine natural product inspired synthesis towards new antimicrobial and antifouling agents. Financed by UiT – The Arctic University of Norway – "Thematic emphasis programme" - AntifoMar.
    13. 2019 – 2023: Assistant supervisor for PhD Susannah von Hofsten (Department of medical biology – UiT) – PhD thesis: Anticancer activity of amphipathic barbiturates. Financed by UiT – The Arctic University of Norway.
    14. 2018 – 2023: Primary supervisor for PhD Danijela Simonovic (Department of Pharmacy – UiT) – PhD thesis: Synthesis and structure-activity relationship studies of marine-derived antimicrobial peptides and small cyclic peptidomimetics.  Financed by UiT – The Arctic University of Norway – "Thematic emphasis programme" – LEADScAMR.
    15. 2019 – 2024: Assistant supervisor for PhD Ataur Rahman (Faculty of Bioscience, fisheries, and economics – UiT) – PhD thesis: Bioactivity profiling and mode of action studies of antibacterial and antibiofilm agents of marine origin. Financed by UiT – The Arctic University of Norway – "Thematic emphasis programme" – AntifoMar.
    16. 2019 – 2024: Assistant supervisor for PhD Hymonti Dey (Faculty of Bioscience, fisheries, and economics – UiT) – PhD thesis: Antimicrobial activities and mechanisms of action of peptide analogues of marine origin. Financed by UiT – The Arctic University of Norway – "Thematic emphasis programme" - LEADScAMR.

    Supervision of master students

    I have since 2003 been supervisor for 31 master students in pharmacy / medicinal chemistry / organic chemistry.

     

    Teaching

    FAR-2301: Medicinal chemistry and natural products chemistry

    FAR-3301: Advanced pharmaceutical chemistry




    CV

    Academic background:

    1994: Bachelor of Science (Norwegian Cand. Mag.) in chemistry, UoT.

    1996: Master of Science (Norwegian Cand. Scient.) in organic chemistry, UoT. Title of thesis: “Synthesis of substrate-analogs for collagenase by peptide synthesis in solution.”

    1996: Scientific Researcher at the University Hospital of Northern-Norway (UNN).

    1997: PhD student in organic chemistry, UoT.

    2001: Philosophiae Doctor (PhD) in organic chemistry. Title of PhD thesis: “Lactoferricin as a model system for preparing highly active antimicrobial peptides”.

    2001: Post doc.

    2002 – 2012: Associate professor at the Department of Pharmacy (UoT).

    2006: University Pedagogical Seminar (UPS) completed.

    2012: Professor at the Department of Pharmacy (UoT).

    2022 - : Vice-dean Research and Innovation, Faculty of Health Sciences (UiT).

    Teaching

    FAR-2301: Medicinal chemistry and natural products chemistry

    FAR-3301: Advanced pharmaceutical chemistry