Research Directions:
Environmental genomics
Bioanalysis and biotechnology
Marine biodiversity
Ecology and ecosystem management
Description:
In Europe, physicochemically extreme environments, such as the volcanic arc in the Mediterranean Aegean Sea, as well as anoxic zones and ammunition dump sites in the Baltic Sea, serve as extreme ecosystems that selectively favors various extremophilic microorganisms. The central tenet of the proposed research is that the extremophiles play important roles in the cycling of nutrients and chemical elements in these environments, representing a vast genetic source of enzymes with high industrial application potential, which needs to be explored. The proposed research involves applying innovative sampling method that use novel remotely operated underwater vehicles at these extreme environments, and conducting investigative exploration of the sites through underwater hyperspectral cameras, imaging measurements, and robotic sensing technologies. These activities will advance both the fundamental understanding of the extreme ecosystems and will supply a wide range of unique samples for exploration and discovery of novel enzymes. The enzymes will be identified and characterized using cutting-edge gene sequencing technologies, bioinformatics, artificial-intelligence tools for structural and functional comparisons, and high-throughput methods. Furthermore, new enzyme production intensification and up-scaling methods will be employed to provide both a range of novel, unique halogenases for manufacture of new pharmaceutical compounds, and an array of carbohydrate processing enzymes for seaweed and chitin biorefining to provide new value-added compounds (alginates, fucoidans, chitin-derivatives) for pharmaceutical, biomaterial and food applications. The program includes a targeted dissemination plan to share of high-impact research results, along with extensive communication efforts aiming the general public, non-governmental organizations, and regional development agencies. These initiatives collectively contribute to conservation and protection of the marine genetic diversity.