Regional Science and Technology Fund
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Esta é uma presença online oficial do Governo dos Açores
Characterization of Bacterial Communities associated with non-native marine Macroalgae from the Azores and the use of their biological properties for the development of innovative biotechnological applications
- StateONGOING
- NameJoão Carlos da Silva Moreira
- Entity hostAzores Life Science, S.A.
- University awarding the degreeUniversidade dos Açores
- Email
- Science Networks
Objective
- Study and characterize the microbiota of two invasive algae through metagenomic analysis, aiming to obtain taxonomic identification of the associated bacterial communities, metabolic pathways, enzymes, and relevant proteins.
- Study of the biotechnological potential of epiphytic bacterial strains isolated from the selected invasive algae.
- Production of molecules, compounds and extracts, creating or optimizing biotechnological processes using previously isolated bacteria.
- Establishment of a biobank and database containing all the material discovered or produced during this project.
Results & Impact
This project aims for a detailed characterization of bacterial communities associated with invasive algae, identifying strains with biotechnological potential and their industrial applications, aligning with the goals of the Blue Economy. The acquired knowledge will also help understand the mechanisms behind the strong invasive capability of these algae, as well as their impacts on local coastal ecosystems and native species. Additionally, the results may provide essential tools for mitigating future invasions while simultaneously supporting sustainable development of marine resources.
