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BIOTEK2021-Bioteknologi for verdiskaping

ERA-NET: Enhanced Biorefining Methods for the Production of Marine Biotoxins and Microalgae Fish Feed

Awarded: NOK 3.9 mill.

An expanding population together with an increased awareness that fish and shellfish are a healthy source of food lead to a growing global demand for safe seafood. Recognition of the changing climate put an increased pressure on land-based agriculture and therefore the potential for sustainable, nutritious marine sourced food is growing. The quality assurance of fish and shellfish for human consumption is of paramount importance in ensuring the marketability of products from this expanding and predominantly rural sector. The industry and regulators rely heavily on various analytical tools to guarantee safety for human health. With more than 26 EU regulated algal toxins, the availability of purified toxin is critical to produce reference materials, that are required to ensure effective monitoring of these toxins in shellfish, plankton, and water samples.This project focuses on large-scale algal biotechnology with the goal of producing marine algal toxins for reference materials and microalgae supplemented fish feed. The project has resulted in the development of enhanced methods for the purification of several important algal toxins from both microalgae and contaminated shellfish. Among them antibody based specific methods for extraction of algal toxins from different matrices (i.e. immunoaffinity columns for azaspiracids and okadaic acid). This should improve the effectiveness of some of the shellfish testing procedures by removing complex matrixes, and may be useful for purification of toxins. Significant progress has been made with respect to the development of optimized procedures for enhancing the growth and toxin production of the microalgae (Azadinium spinosum, Dinophysis spp and Prorocentrum lima). In addition to the known algal toxins some new algal metabolites have been identified, and attempts will be made to purify and fully characterize these new compounds. Purified stocks of AZA1, AZA2, AZA3, AZA6, OA, DTX1, DTX2 and DA are currently undergoing purity testing. These purified toxins will be used to sustain supplies of calibrant standards for national monitoring programmes, and for other areas of research e.g., evaluation of toxicity, pharmacology, development of bioassays, etc. The project has also resulted in an improved ELISA-method for detection and quantitation of Azaspiracids. The published structure of azaspiracid proved to be incorrect and has been revised in the project. Fish feed supplemented with 20% of microalgal biomass (Nannochloropsis gaditana) was prepared by Neoalgae in Spain. This product is currently being marketed on their website. The feed is targeted toward juvenile fish to support survival, growth, and immunity. A fish feeding trial was performed on juvenile trout, and no significant differences were observed in the survival, growth, and fatty acid content of the fish fed the supplemented feed, compared with the control. It was noted, however, that the fish did not feed as well on the supplemented feed compared to the control. To date, the project has led to the publication of 7 peer reviewed papers, 11 conference presentations, and 3 BSc, whereas the overall ERA-NET project has resulted in another 7 peer reviewed papers, 10 conference presentations and 1 PhD. In addition, another 4 scientific articles are under writing. See also http://toxinology.no/projects/marbiofeed/

ERA-MBT-prosjektet ledet av Havforskningsinstituttet i Irland har ført til et mye tettere samarbeid mellom forskere hos dem, Veterinærinstituttet i Norge, det spanske Oseanografiske Instituttet i Spania, og National Research Council i Canada. Samarbeidet har vært viktig for å bygge kompetanse hos alle partnerne og har også ledet til en nylig innsendt EU-søknad. Et viktig resultat av prosjektet har vært nye referansematerialer, også isotopmerkede, som er essensielt for analyselaboratorier over hele verden for å kunne kalibrere sine analytiske metoder. Referansematerialer er også viktige for muligheten til å gjøre toksikologiforsøk med kalibrerte standarder, for å bestemme optimale trygge grenseverdier. Grenseverdier er viktige for rådgivende myndigheter som VKM, EFSA og nasjonale matmyndighetene som Mattilsynet, for å vurdere risiko ved inntak av sjømat.

Shellfish production sites in the EU are prone to closures due to the accumulation of biotoxins, with over 26 EU regulated toxins requiring statutory monitoring. Further impacts are exerted on fish farming industries through the production of feed from contaminated shellfish. The focus of this proposal is to isolate large quantities of biotoxins using enhanced biorefining methods for the preparation of reference materials and to allow for research to be conducted on the effects of biotoxins on other important aquaculture industries. Further work will focus on enhanced production of microalgae as fish feed. Biotoxins will be sourced from contaminated shellfish, bulk algal culturing, harvesting of algal blooms in situ and enzymatic conversions. Biorefining processes will be enhanced through optimisation of algal culturing, the development and use of novel immunoaffinity and polymeric columns, reducing cost and increasing economic viability.

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BIOTEK2021-Bioteknologi for verdiskaping

Thematic Areas and Topics

BioteknologiAvanserte produksjonsprosesserBruk av avansert produksjonsteknologi (ny fra 2015)NordområdeneGrunnforskningBransjer og næringerBioteknologiMarin bioteknologiPortefølje Banebrytende forskningNordområdeneKlima, miljø og biologiske ressurserInternasjonaliseringInternasjonalt prosjektsamarbeidBioøkonomiBransjer og næringerFiskeri og havbrukAnvendt forskningLTP3 Klima, miljø og energiCo-Funded/ERA-NETBransjer og næringerNæringsmiddelindustriAvanserte produksjonsprosesserLTP3 Samfunnssikkerhet og beredskapGlobale utfordringerGlobal matsikkerhetCo-Funded/ERA-NETERA-NET FP7Delportefølje InternasjonaliseringMarinInternasjonaliseringDelportefølje Et velfungerende forskningssystemDelportefølje KvalitetMiljøteknologiLTP3 Bioøkonomi og forvaltningGlobale utfordringerKlimarelevant forskningNaturmangfold og miljøMarin forurensning inkl. miljøgifterLTP3 Marine bioressurser og havforvaltningLTP3 Et kunnskapsintensivt næringsliv i hele landetLTP3 Høy kvalitet og tilgjengelighetPolitikk- og forvaltningsområderMiljø, klima og naturforvaltningLTP3 Muliggjørende og industrielle teknologierLTP3 Fagmiljøer og talenterLTP3 Nano-, bioteknologi og teknologikonvergensLTP3 Samfunnsikkerhet, sårbarhet og konfliktLTP3 Hav og kystMatGlobal matsikkerhetLTP3 Styrket konkurransekraft og innovasjonsevneMarinMarin bioteknologiMiljøteknologiAnnen miljøteknologiMatMat - BlågrønnMarinMarin forurensning inkl. miljøgifterPortefølje Klima og miljøMatMat, helse og velværeMatPolitikk- og forvaltningsområderNaturmangfold og miljøPolitikk- og forvaltningsområderFiskeri og kystNaturmangfold og miljøMiljøteknologiPortefølje Mat og bioressurserPolitikk- og forvaltningsområderNæring og handelPortefølje ForskningssystemetPortefølje InnovasjonPortefølje Muliggjørende teknologier