SeaScreen: expanding a bioprocess repertoire by smart marine microbe screening.

Lead Research Organisation: Plymouth Marine Laboratory
Department Name: Plymouth Marine Lab

Abstract

The world's oceans contain many different types of cells and viruses which have developed the means necessary to survive under conditions which are very different from those found on land. As a result these cells and viruses contain many proteins and chemicals which are not found in land-based plants, animals, and bacteria. Scientists at Plymouth Marine Laboratory have become experts at finding and growing both bacteria and viruses from the sea. Working with U.K.-based companies Ingenza and Aquapharm Biosciences we plan to use these skills to look for bacteria and viruses which produce particular enzymes which could be used to make new chemicals and medicines which are not normally found in nature. The enzymes could also be used to make existing chemicals in new ways which would be more efficient and less polluting to the environment.

Publications

10 25 50
 
Description A screening protocol was provided by the industrial collaborator and marine bacteria screened for amino acid oxidase activity. This enzyme can be used to make chemically pure amino acids which display only one defined structure and is of value to the pharmaceutical industry. We discovered that these enzymes are very common in the marine environment.
Exploitation Route We have used the basis of the original project to do much wider screening of marine bacteria for a range of industrially-relevant activities.
Sectors Chemicals

Pharmaceuticals and Medical Biotechnology

 
Description A NERC Follow-on fund grant was successfully secured to screen for further biocatalysts and a number of new colorimetric screens developed. A BBSRC PhD studentship with Dr Gideon Grogan (University of York) was also secured based on this follow-on work.
First Year Of Impact 2007
Sector Chemicals,Healthcare,Pharmaceuticals and Medical Biotechnology
Impact Types Economic

 
Description Aquapharm Bio - Discovery Ltd 
Organisation Aquapharm Biodiscovery
Country United Kingdom 
Sector Private 
Start Year 2007
 
Description Heriot-Watt University 
Organisation Heriot-Watt University
Country United Kingdom 
Sector Academic/University 
Start Year 2007
 
Description Ingenza Ltd 
Organisation Ingenza Ltd
Country United Kingdom 
Sector Private 
Start Year 2007
 
Description Aqaba International Conference 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Other academic audiences (collaborators, peers etc.)
Results and Impact A mixed audience of undergraduate, postgraduate and professional scientists from the Middle-East attended a marine sciences conference where I presented a keynote address on marine biotechnology and its applications for commercial science.

Potential development of new collaborations with Scientists in Jordan and Tunisia.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2014
URL http://www.mesp.org/mesp_news/aqaba-international-conference-2014
 
Description Marine Biodiscovery: Enzymes and Molecules for Industry 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Public/other audiences
Results and Impact Presentation to senior scientific staff at DSM facility in Delft, Netherlands on 27/10/10.

Presenation to selected scientists on potential of marine enzymes for industrial biotechnology

This was an opportunity to present work directly to industry representatives and to discuss potential future collaborations in the field of biocatalysis.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2010
 
Description Marine Biodiscovery: Enzymes and molecules for pharmaceuticals and fine chemicals 
Form Of Engagement Activity Scientific meeting (conference/symposium etc.)
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Type Of Presentation keynote/invited speaker
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Other academic audiences (collaborators, peers etc.)
Results and Impact Invited speaker at 11th International Symposium on the Genetics of Industrial Microorganisms, 28 June - 1 July 2010, Melbourne, Australia.

Collaboration with Prof Claude Muller (Institute of Immunology, Luxembourg) to screen for anti-viral activity in extracts against influenza virus.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2010
 
Description Marine Biodiscovery: Enzymes and molecules for pharmaceuticals and fine chemicals 
Form Of Engagement Activity Scientific meeting (conference/symposium etc.)
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Type Of Presentation paper presentation
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Other academic audiences (collaborators, peers etc.)
Results and Impact Speaker at International Marine biotechnology Conference in Qingdao, P.R. China.

Sharing of enzyme screening techniques with Dr Alan Dobson (Environmental Research Institute, Cork, Ireland).
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2010
 
Description Marine enzymes: a novel source of biocatalysts for industry 
Form Of Engagement Activity Scientific meeting (conference/symposium etc.)
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Type Of Presentation keynote/invited speaker
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Other academic audiences (collaborators, peers etc.)
Results and Impact Invited speaker to Society of general Microbiology (Irish Section) meeting: Marine Microbiology and Biotechnology 2012. November 14-16th, 2012, Cork, Ireland. Presenation on biocatalysis research at Plymouth Marine laboratory including results of Seascreen project.

Invited speaker for SGM/FEBS sponsored meeting on marine microbiology and biotechnology

Exchange of ideas and potential for future collaboration
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2012
 
Description Marine enzymes: a novel source of biocatalysts for industry 
Form Of Engagement Activity Scientific meeting (conference/symposium etc.)
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Type Of Presentation keynote/invited speaker
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Other academic audiences (collaborators, peers etc.)
Results and Impact Invited speaker at The Last Frontier of Life: Extremophiles (Expedition, Ecology, Adaptation Mechanism, and Bioenergy Production), an international meeting held at Shineville Resort, Jeju, Korea and organised by KIOST.

A meeting organised by KIOST (Korea Institute for Ocean Science and Technology) to present research of extremophiles from the marine environment and to explore the potential for future collaborations.

Opportunity to participate in the launch of a new Korean marine biotechnology strategy initiated by KIOST. Opportunity to interact with young researchers interested in developing joint proposals in this area.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2013