bluetekna - Innovating Marine Biotechnology Sustainably

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Sustainable Blue Economy Partnership-SBEP2023-61&nbsp;Link: <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://wastetotaste.eu/">https://wastetotaste.eu/</a>Abstract:&nbsp;WASTE2TASTE is a network of 8 European partners including academia, research centers, and SME’s, with proven expertise in higher education and endowed with state-of-the-art scientific and technical expertise aimed at the development of commercially viable products by using postharvest fish losses (PHFL), including unwanted fishery by-catch species (e.g., non-indigenous species (NIS) and cartilaginous fish with low commercial value) and by-products from fish processing and aquaculture industries.&nbsp; The main WASTE2TASTE objective is the valorization of PHFL, showing potential applications in a circular economy and an eco-friendly vision by developing protocols for sustainable exploitation of underused and/or wasted marine resources, to obtain high-value products for food applications. The base of WASTE2TASTE is to utilize PHFL, naturally rich in proteins and bioactive compounds, to develop innovative green and cost-effective bioprocesses for the production of marine ingredients (e.g., collagen, chitin/chitosan, and fish oil), reducing extraction time and use of hazardous solvents/enzymes allowing, at the same time, to minimize pollution into the ecosystem.&nbsp; Therefore, WASTE2TASTE will (i) contribute to reducing the waste volume through the development of appropriate PHFL management measures, (ii) allow to address the European "ZeroWaste" goal aiming at the 3R principle "Reduce, Reuse and Recycle”, (iii) contribute to achieve a resilient and sustainable development for marine/maritime sector and, in an indirect way, (iv) allow to mitigate the NIS, which cause damage to marine ecosystems and humans.&nbsp; The challenge is to gain insights into market opportunities that will be profitable and will satisfy new and different attitudes/demands of consumers.&nbsp; Overall, WASTE2TASTE will fully exploit the potential of underutilized marine biological resources, from laboratory to industrial scale production of marine collagen and chitosan-based products, with potential commercial uses that reach Technological Readiness Level 7. WASTE2TASTE will create a nutritional end product targeting different end-users’ health issues (e.g., exercise performance, muscle growth, joint problems, gut health, and obesity).&nbsp;

From waste to taste: exploring innovative food applications of postharvest fish 

Bluetekna Research Team pioneers sustainable solutions by harnessing marine biodiversity. Our interdisciplinary approach integrates molecular biology, marine chemistry, and ecology to drive innovation in health, nutrition, and environmental restoration.

Innovating Marine Biotechnology Sustainably

Innovative approaches to enhance sustainable aquaculture practices through genetic and ecological research.

Sustainable Aquaculture Innovation

Development of biotechnological products derived from marine organisms aimed at improving human health and nutrition.

Marine Biotechnology Development

Cutting-edge molecular techniques to study and manipulate marine organisms for innovative health and environmental solutions.

Ilfactory Mucosa cells, ß-III Tubulin expression

Molecular Biology Research

Corals and their associated bacteria are emerging as a dual-purpose resource in biotechnology. On one hand, the coral offers a rich source for the bioprospecting of novel bioactive compounds; simultaneously, a deeper study of the microbial community associated with the coral is crucial for developing new techniques aimed at enhancing coral resilience and improving the success of reef restoration efforts in the face of climate change.

Coral Biotecnological Valorization

Marine natural products are a rich source of bioactive compounds with potential applications in medicine, cosmetics, and biotechnology. These compounds, derived from marine organisms offer a promising avenue for the discovery of new drugs, nutraceuticals, cosmeceuticals, and other valuable products.

Marine Natural Products

Fish waste valorization is an emerging field that seeks to convert discarded fish parts into valuable products such as bioactive peptides, collagen, and fish oil, thereby reducing waste and promoting sustainable aquaculture practices.

Fish Waste Valorization

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Funding: LIFE20 ENV/IT/000572.&nbsp;Link: <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://life-sedremed.eu/">https://life-sedremed.eu/</a>Abstract:&nbsp;LIFE SEDREMED is an EU-funded project for the development of an innovative solution to decontaminate polluted marine sites. The LIFE SEDREMED partnership is composed of a multidisciplinary and inter-sectoral group of 7 partners from 4 EU countries. The project is coordinated by the Stazione Zoologica Anton Dohrn and partners with the Site Manager, Invitalia, two technology providers from Belgium and Finland, 2 academic monitoring partners and 1 startup that manages the dissemination and communication aspects of the project. LIFE SEDREMED will aim at demonstrating the efficiency of an innovative methodology for the in-situ remediation of coastal marine sediments. The intervention consists in developing a prototype for the application of microorganisms within the sediments and the transmission of electric current to stimulate bioremediation reactions. It will aim at reducing the critical concentration of several organic contaminants and the bioavailability of heavy metals. In addition, the project will develop an innovative monitoring plan that will serve as a control instrument for remediation results. The project will enable to showcase a new approach to avoid environmental risks and reduce financial costs incurred in dredging activities and ex-situ treatment of contaminated sediments.&nbsp;

LIFE SEDREMED

Director of the Ecosustainable Marine Biotechnology Department - Stazione Zoologica Anton DohrnResearch InterestsHer research activity is in the field of marine biotechnology and marine natural products chemistry. Her work focuses on the isolation and characterization of bioactive metabolites from marine microorganisms, with potential applications in the pharmaceutical, nutraceutical, and environmental sectors, promoting the sustainable use of marine resources through the valorization of fish processing by-products.&nbsp;Link pagina istituzionale: <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.szn.it/index.php/it/personale/staff/807-de-pascale-donatella/6061-de-pascale-donatella">https://www.szn.it/index.php/it/personale/staff/807-de-pascale-donatella/6061-de-pascale-donatella</a>&nbsp;Link google scholar: <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=g4guB6cAAAAJ&amp;hl=it">https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=g4guB6cAAAAJ&amp;hl=it</a>&nbsp;Link linkedin: <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/donatella-de-pascale-851498203/">https://www.linkedin.com/in/donatella-de-pascale-851498203/</a>&nbsp;

Donatella de Pascale

Director of Research

Ecosustainable Marine Biotechnology Department - Stazione Zoologica Anton DohrnResearch InterestsHer research activity is mainly focused on the exploitation of marine biodiversity to isolate new bioactive molecules with several applications (e.g., siderophores, biosurfactants, antibiofilm, antimicrobials, antioxidants, antiproliferatives, antiaging). New projects are based on the exploitation of the fishing discards (e.g., by-catches and fish by-products) to develop a sustainable process for the extraction of high-value compounds, with a reduced impact on the environment.&nbsp;Link pagina istituzionale: <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.szn.it/index.php/en/staff/list-of-personnel/840-coppola-daniela/6582-coppola-daniela">https://www.szn.it/index.php/en/staff/list-of-personnel/840-coppola-daniela/6582-coppola-daniela</a>&nbsp;Link google scholar: <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=bf5_h14AAAAJ&amp;hl=it&amp;oi=ao">https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=bf5_h14AAAAJ&amp;hl=it&amp;oi=ao</a>&nbsp;

Daniela Coppola

Senior Technologist

Ecosustainable Marine Biotechnology Department - Stazione Zoologica Anton DohrnResearch InterestsHis research focuses on exploring unique natural products from marine organisms and microorganisms, through elucidation of their chemical structures and biosynthetic pathways and evaluation of their pharmacological activities to discover anticancer, antiviral and antibacterial lead compounds. The idea behind this research is that harnessing the biosynthetic routes for natural products provides the tools to create sustainable sources of bioactive compounds which are rare in Nature.&nbsp;Link pagina istituzionale: <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.szn.it/index.php/en/staff/list-of-personnel/958-della-sala-gerardo/8950-della-sala-gerardo">https://www.szn.it/index.php/en/staff/list-of-personnel/958-della-sala-gerardo/8950-della-sala-gerardo</a>&nbsp;Link google scholar: <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://scholar.google.it/citations?user=pc1yUnkAAAAJ&amp;hl=it&amp;oi=ao">https://scholar.google.it/citations?user=pc1yUnkAAAAJ&amp;hl=it&amp;oi=ao</a>&nbsp;&nbsp;Link linkedin: <a target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener" class="Hyperlink SCXW5506249 BCX0" href="http://www.linkedin.com/in/gerardo-della-sala-a33557111">www.linkedin.com/in/gerardo-della-sala-a33557111</a>&nbsp;

Gerardo Della Sala 

Senior Researcher

Ecosustainable Marine Biotechnology Department - Stazione Zoologica Anton DohrnResearch InterestsHis research interests are mainly focused on the valorisation of the biotechnological potential of marine microorganisms. One of the main goals is the identification of new molecules from marine microorganisms, using synthetic biology approaches. Specifically, I plan to create and optimize bacterial strains (chassis) for the recombinant expression of molecules of interest derived from marine microorganisms. Another goal is related on the application of bacteria able to perform Microbial Induced Calcite Precipitation (MICP) for metals bioremediation.&nbsp;Link pagina istituzionale: <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.szn.it/index.php/en/staff/list-of-personnel/943-tedesco-pietro/8912-tedesco-pietro">https://www.szn.it/index.php/en/staff/list-of-personnel/943-tedesco-pietro/8912-tedesco-pietro</a>&nbsp;Link google scholar: <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=E8fUrxsAAAAJ&amp;hl=en">https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=E8fUrxsAAAAJ&amp;hl=en</a>&nbsp;Link linkedin: <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/pietro-tedesco-b85349106/">https://www.linkedin.com/in/pietro-tedesco-b85349106/</a>&nbsp;

Pietro Tedesco

Technologist

Ecosustainable Marine Biotechnology Department - Stazione Zoologica Anton DohrnResearch InterestsResponsible for the SZN Mass Spectrometry facility Responsible for the Pharmaceutical and Cosmeceutical functional areas Training and support for undergraduates, PhD students, and Post-docs Instruction on laboratory equipment functioning for microbiology and chemistry laboratories Technical and scientific support to research activities among several research projectsMy research interest is mainly focused on the sustainable exploitation of marine microorganisms to identify and produce novel bioactive compounds (antimicrobials, antioxidants, anticancer, biosurfactants, siderophores and biopolymers) for several biotechnological applications.

Fortunato Palma Esposito 

Technician

Ecosustainable Marine Biotechnology Department - Stazione Zoologica Anton DohrnResearch InterestsMy research interests focus on marine biotechnology, ecotoxicology and molecular ecology. Marine natural products (MNPs) are very interesting for their ecological and biotechnological value. In fact, MNPs possess several biological activities, such as anti-cancer, anti-bacterial, anti-viral, antifungal, anti-oxidant and anti-aging, that are useful for pharmaceutical, nutraceutical and cosmeceutical purposes. I am interested in MNPs from marine invertebrates and their symbionts by applying molecular approaches, such as, metagenomics, transcriptomics and genetic engineering. For instance, metagenomic approaches are able to predict classifiable secondary metabolite biosynthetic gene clusters (BGCs), synthetizing various secondary metabolites such as, terpenes, polyketides, bacteriocins and nonribosomal peptides.Link pagina istituzionale: <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.szn.it/index.php/it/personale/staff/426-ruocco-nadia/876-ruocco-nadia">https://www.szn.it/index.php/it/personale/staff/426-ruocco-nadia/876-ruocco-nadia</a>&nbsp;Link google scholar: <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=nMKSgz4AAAAJ&amp;hl=it">https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=nMKSgz4AAAAJ&amp;hl=it</a>&nbsp;Link linkedin: <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.linkedin.com/feed/?trk=sem-ga_campid.20677489327_asid.153452322614_crid.677545198980_kw.linkedin_d.c_tid.kwd-148086543_n.g_mt.e_geo.1008560">https://www.linkedin.com/feed/?trk=sem-ga_campid.20677489327_asid.153452322614_crid.677545198980_kw.linkedin_d.c_tid.kwd-148086543_n.g_mt.e_geo.1008560</a>&nbsp;

Nadia Ruocco

Researcher

Ecosustainable Marine Biotechnology Department - Stazione Zoologica Anton DohrnResearch InterestsHis research explores the bioactivity of natural products, focusing on mechanisms of action on human cells and tissue models, to characterize antiproliferative, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, cell-repair, and UV-protective effects for human health applications. He is also interested in exploring the use of bioactive compounds to support environmental restoration.&nbsp;Link pagina istituzionale:&nbsp; <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.szn.it/index.php/en/staff/list-of-personnel/274-galasso-christian/453-galasso-christian">https://www.szn.it/index.php/en/staff/list-of-personnel/274-galasso-christian/453-galasso-christian</a>&nbsp;Link google scholar: <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://scholar.google.it/citations?user=MIW6-r8AAAAJ&amp;hl=it">https://scholar.google.it/citations?user=MIW6-r8AAAAJ&amp;hl=it</a>&nbsp;Link linkedin: <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/christian-galasso-0b7611b1/">https://www.linkedin.com/in/christian-galasso-0b7611b1/</a>&nbsp;

Christian Galasso

Ecosustainable Marine Biotechnology Department - Stazione Zoologica Anton DohrnResearch InterestsHis research interests focus on the valorisation of the biotechnological potential of Marine Natural Products extracted from both micro- and macroorganisms. The main aim is to assess the pharmacological, cosmeceutical, and nutraceutical applications of Marine Natural Products by evaluating their antioxidant, antibacterial, antifungal, antibiofilm, and antiviral activities. A second goal is to demonstrate the market applications of their technology by developing proof-of-concept tests.&nbsp;Link pagina istituzionale: <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.szn.it/index.php/it/personale/staff/1069-buonocore-carmine/9622-buonocore-carmine">https://www.szn.it/index.php/it/personale/staff/1069-buonocore-carmine/9622-buonocore-carmine</a>&nbsp;Link google scholar: <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://scholar.google.com/citations?hl=it&amp;user=SqrzRK4AAAAJ">https://scholar.google.com/citations?hl=it&amp;user=SqrzRK4AAAAJ</a>&nbsp;Link linkedin: <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/carmine-buonocore-16a010216/">https://www.linkedin.com/in/carmine-buonocore-16a010216/</a>&nbsp;&nbsp;

Carmine Buonocore

Ecosustainable Marine Biotechnology Department - Stazione Zoologica Anton DohrnResearch InterestsHer research interests focus on the study of marine microorganisms as an unexplored source of high-value compounds, critical for environmental sustainability and the bioeconomy. Her research focuses on their use in the bioremediation and biomining of contaminated matrices, aiming to reduce the impact of potentially toxic elements (PTEs). One line of research is based on the development of microbial-assisted treatment of anthropogenic waste for the simultaneous recovery of critical raw materials (CRMs).

Laura Vitale

Postdoctoral Researcher

H2020‐FNR‐11‐2020: SECRETed — Grant agreement: 101000794&nbsp;SZN budget: € 408,375&nbsp;BLUETEKNA role in the project: Partner&nbsp;Link: <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.secreted.eu/">https://www.secreted.eu/</a>&nbsp;Abstract&nbsp;SECRETed is an EU-H2020 multidisciplinary project involving multiple stakeholders and with a strong participation of SMEs to fully exploit the potential of aquatic biotechnology and produce novel industrial products for the agrochemical, pharmaceutical, cosmetic and chemistry sectors. SECRETed will develop novel hybrid molecules with tailor-made properties obtained from the combination of biosynthetic genes of amphiphilic compounds (biosurfactants and siderophores) produced by marine and extremophilic microorganisms. The project will focus on reutilizing sampling efforts by screening already collected microbial collections from previous European initiatives. Machine Learning algorithms (ML) will be deployed to reveal the genetic mechanisms responsible for their biosynthesis and to expand the chemical diversity of such bio-based compounds. To this end, databases inspection and data collected by participants will be combined to construct a unique microbial amphiphilic compound space comprehending molecular structures, physicochemical characteristics, associated bioactivities and revealed genetic mechanisms responsible for their biosynthesis. To expand the chemical diversity and enhance the industrial sustainable exploitation of such bio-based compounds. Biosynthetic gene clusters (BGCs) in charge of the production of these molecules will be reverse engineered by standardizing and modularizing the genetic elements comprising such clusters. Their potential benefits will be broadened by looking for Industry-driven (agrochemical, cosmetic, nutrition and health) formulations based on the engineered combinations of genetic elements expressed in suitable microbial hosts. New strains will then be designed, built and tested in an iterative process for the development of viable and sustainable industrial processes. To achieve its goals, SECRETed brings together a multidisciplinary team integrating Microbiology, Systems and Synthetic Biology, natural product chemistry, industrial testers, industrial bioprocessing, sustainability assessments, market analysis and knowledge exchange.&nbsp;

SECRETed: Sustainable Exploitation of bio-based Compounds Revealed and Engineere

HORIZON-CL6-2022-CIRCBIO-01-BLUEREMEDIOMICS- Grant Agreement No. 101082304&nbsp;SZN BUDGET: € 438,503.75&nbsp;LINK: <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://blueremediomics.eu/">https://blueremediomics.eu/</a>&nbsp;BLUETEKNA role in the project: WP3 leader&nbsp;ABSTRACT&nbsp;Marine microbial communities perform critical life sustaining functions on Earth and represent a vast unexploited treasure trove of bioresources that have the potential to strengthen the European blue economy. To unlock this hidden potential, as well as responsibly conduct biodiscovery from marine microbes requires multiple developments. We need to amalgamate and apply advanced technologies to elucidate the composition, interactions and functional repertoire of the marine microbiome, while concomitantly ensuring sustainable and equitable exploitation, maintaining ocean health, and improving ocean literacy through an improved appreciation of ocean microbes. To address these needs, BlueRemediomics will: (1) develop and provide an integrated bioinformatics platform to explore the marine microbiome potential; (2) establish innovative culturomics and high-throughput screening platforms to experimentally exploit consortia of marine microbes; (3) apply the platforms to identify and develop natural products derived from marine microbes; (4) foster aquaculture and ecosystem services that embody the “do no significant harm” principle; (5) maximise equitable access to ocean microbiome resources and increase awareness of the marine microbiome to a diverse range of stakeholders; (6) Provide training, tools and resources to a variety of stakeholders. To achieve these objectives, BlueRemediomics interlinks an advanced “Discovery Platform” with “Applications”, so designed to facilitate cyclical and iterative crosstalk. By federating multiple, currently fragmented key data resources, the Discovery Platform will accelerate new product identification and development, reduce resource dependence, raise consumer benefits and address key societal issues. New modalities in access and benefit sharing will be established that balance sustainable and equitable use of marine genetic resources with intellectual property protection.&nbsp;

BlueRemediomics: Harnessing the Marine Microbiome for Novel Sustainable Biogenic

Bando PRIN 2022 PNRR – MUR - Project ID P2022AASFH&nbsp; <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.linkedin.com/company/progetto-biomina/posts/">https://www.linkedin.com/company/progetto-biomina/posts/</a>Abstract:&nbsp;&nbsp;Potentially toxic elements (PTEs) includes many metals, which are non-degradable, carcinogenic and associated to chronic deseases. Anthropic activities are the principal cause for their diffusion into the environments, where they tend to accumulate and spread into the food chain. Strategies for their removal often require physical/chemical processes which can generate pollutants and other secondary toxic waste. Microbial induced calcite precipitation (MICP) is a natural process consisting in the formation of calcium carbonate using cell metabolic products such as carbonic acid and calcium ions present in the solution. MICP has been proposed as a possible treatment for metal recovery. In the MICP process, calcites can incorporate metals (e.g., Pb2+) via substitution of divalent cations (Ca2+) in the calcite lattice causing their mineralization to insoluble forms that can be then recovered. At the moment, microorganisms used for these processes have been isolated from contaminated soil. However, MICP is a process common to many marine microorganisms from bacteria to cyanobacteria, from microalgae to fungi and therefore the ocean can represent a good source of novel high-MICP activities to use for metal bioremediation. The final goal of this project is to develop new biological systems for bioremediation of toxic metals exploiting MICP capabilities of marine microorganisms. We will perform sampling in the Tyrrhenian sea looking for areas characterized by high metal contamination and/or carbonate presence. These sediments will be used for the isolation and characterization of bacteria, cyanobacteria, microalgae and fungi able to perform MICP and resist high concentration of PTEs. We will then characterize the isolated microorganisms and their mechanism of bioprecipitation of calcite and the produced minerals. We will prefer those microorganisms exhibiting several mechanisms including urease, but also by carbonic anhydrase and photosynthesis, with the great advantage to consume CO2 for the production of carbonic acid and then of calcite. Furthermore, we will utilize the produced calcite particles to generate electrospun fibers as flexible 3D filters for the adsorption and sequestering of PTEs. We will then test the isolated microorganisms and the fibers for the removals (precipitation or sequestration) of PTEx from environemental matrices such as mine tailings. This project will provide new sustainable solutions for the treatment of metal-contaminated waste, decreasing pollution and at the same time recovering valuable resources, while also shedding light on MICP mechanisms of marine microorganisms which are still poorly studied. Moreover, we address societal challenges with a multi-faceted approach to promote sustainability and circular economy.&nbsp;

BIOMINA - Exploitation of marine microorganisms biomineralization for PTEs remed

Background&nbsp;<ul><li>Marine extremophiles and marine organism-associated bacteria have developed metabolic flexibility and biosynthetic machineries to assemble unique natural products&nbsp;</li></ul>Significance&nbsp;<ul><li>Marine Natural Products have been designed by Nature to interact selectively with pharmacological targets and still inspire drug design&nbsp;</li></ul>Methodology&nbsp;<ul><li>Multi-omics integration (genomics, metabolomics, culturomics) leads to discovery of novel lead compounds&nbsp;&nbsp;</li></ul>Aim&nbsp;<ul><li>Harnessing the biosynthetic routes for natural products provides the tools to create sustainable sources of bioactive compounds in native and heterologous hosts&nbsp;</li></ul>