Marine resources & bioprospecting
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Did you know that the first commercial HIV treatment was originally extracted from a Caribbean sponge, or that several of the most widely used hydrocolloids are refined from seaweed biomass? Are you aware that chitosan, a group of chemicals derived from chitin extracted from marine waste products such as crustacean shells, can be applied for multiple purposes, ranging from pharma- and nutraceuticals to water treatment? While there are many more great examples of the exploitation of compounds originating from marine organisms, this practice is still relatively new. Large parts of our oceans are still underexplored and detailed prospecting of organisms in search of valuable compounds is still in its infancy. In the 1970s, deep sea manganese nodules were discovered on ocean floors around the world. Although harvesting them poses a serious technological challenge, they are a potential source of rare metals that are essential to multiple high-tech fields. Therefore, improving insights into the complexities of marine resources and bioprospecting is crucial to further develop this valuable domain. BLUEGent offers a wide range of expertise related to marine resources and bioprospecting. We provide knowledge on topics such as:
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