Marine biomolecules; properties and mechanisms

This programme is a strategic co-operation between three institutes/faculties at the University of Tromsø (UoT, the Norwegian Institute of Fisheries and Aquaculture (NIFA), and SINTEF Fisheries and Aquaculure (SFA). Within the programme, there will be a j oint effort and synergy connected to collection of organisms, screening, isolation, and testing of the various biological effects of the molecules. The programme will focus on the following activities: Activity 1; Enzymes from marine cold-adapted organism s. Cold adapted marine macro- and micro-organisms will be screened for enzymes of potential industrial/biotechnological importance. Interesting activities will be isolated, expressed, and characterised. The molecular basis of psychrophilicity will be stud ied through the establishment of model systems, and by doing genetic and phenotypic studies of selected representatives of marine, p sychrophilic bacteria studies of selected representatives of marine, p Activity 2; Immunostimulants from marine al gae. Marine algae contain compounds (alginates, glucans etc) that are previously shown to stimulate the immune system in fish and mammals. In the present project, the search for immunostimulatory molecules will be expanded and stimulation will be document ed both in vivo and in vitro experiments using a variety of immune-gene expression assays as well as recording of increased survival (with and without microbial challenge) and performance. Activity area 3; Identification and characterisation of antibacter ial compounds from marine sources. Extracts from selected invertebrates, fish species, and macro-algae will be screened for antibacterial activity to identify the sources and increase the k nowledge of such molecules. Promising candidates will be used for isolation and characterisation of novel antibacterial molecules of possible commercial interest.