WORK PERFORMED AND MAIN RESULTS ACHIEVED
The BIOPTAL project focused on addressing the rising threat of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) in aquaculture by identifying novel bioactive compounds, particularly AMPs from Octopus vulgaris. The project utilized a high-throughput framework for screening natural compounds, employing a multidisciplinary approach combining in vivo challenges, proteogenomics, and computational analyses to discover and characterize octopus AMPs with therapeutic potential.
KEY ACHIEVEMENTS AND MILESTONES
1. Generation of New Omics Data:
The project provided extensive omics data on octopus tissues, including proteomes and transcriptomes from both challenged and unchallenged specimens. This foundational data supports a detailed analysis of AMP families expressed under stress conditions, contributing to the proteogenomic database for cephalopods.
2. Multi-Omics Screening of Bioactive Compounds:
Comprehensive multi-omics high-throughput screening led to the identification of novel AMPs, characterized for their therapeutic potential across industries, especially aquaculture. The analysis integrated proteomic, transcriptomic, and genomic data to identify differentially expressed candidates as next-generation antimicrobial agents.
3. High-Throughput Computational Approach:
Integrative computational analyses predicted the drug-candidate potential of identified peptides, indicating antimicrobial, antifungal, and anticancer properties. This approach combined transcriptomics and proteomics to identify strong candidates for drug development, enabling a robust understanding of their bioactive efficacy.
4. Peptide Candidate Selection for Future Testing:
BIOPTAL shortlisted promising AMPs based on in vivo stimulations and in silico evaluations, laying the groundwork for in vitro testing against pathogenic bacteria affecting aquaculture. These tests will guide the development of sustainable antimicrobial strategies applicable to human health.
5. Contribution to Sustainable Aquaculture:
The project identified bioactive peptides with potential applications in aquaculture as environmentally safe alternatives to conventional antimicrobials. Additionally, the peptides may serve as immunomodulators, enhancing vaccine efficacy for aquaculture species.
6. Insights into Cephalopod Bioactive Compounds:
Investigations provided new insights into immune response mechanisms in cephalopods, revealing AMPs and other immune-related peptides in barrier tissues, glands, and fluids of octopuses. These compounds represent a largely untapped resource for pharmaceutical and industrial applications.
7. Enhancing Public Databases:
BIOPTAL's findings will be publicly accessible in omics databases, expanding proteogenomic data on cephalopods and supporting further research in comparative studies of AMPs from other marine species.
EXPLOITATION AND DISSEMINATION OF RESULTS
Significant efforts were made to disseminate findings to the scientific community and industry stakeholders, including:
• Conferences and Workshops: Participation in international conferences to present project results and foster collaborations (e.g. The Non-Coding Genome, EMBL 2023; AE2023; AQUA2024).
• Outreach: Workshops and seminars aimed at sharing findings with the public, highlighting practical AMP applications in infection prevention.
• Proteogenomic Database Expansion: By providing comprehensive datasets on octopus bioactive compounds, BIOPTAL opened avenues for developing therapeutic agents and improving high-throughput assays for non-model organisms.
CONCLUSION
BIOPTAL established a framework for developing natural peptide-based therapies for aquaculture, with implications for biomedicine and environmental health. Its integrative approach identified promising new AMPs and set a robust foundation for future research into underexplored non-model marine species for biodiscovery of bioactive compounds. By leveraging these discoveries, BIOPTAL contributes to combating antimicrobial resistance and promoting sustainable aquaculture practices.
