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Halogen metabolism of brown macroalgae and its biological significance in the context of pathologies - An omics approach

Project description

Role of halogen metabolism in brown macroalgae immunity

Macroalgal pathogens cause regular disease outbreaks and endanger the sustainable development of macroalgal marine culture and natural algae populations in ecosystems. The lack of proper disease management measures alongside a limited knowledge of macroalgal biology points to an urgent need to study algal pathologies. Following recent studies mimicking pathogen infection, and transcriptomics and proteomics analyses, haloperoxidases were introduced as a generic defence mechanism in brown macroalgae. The EU-funded HALOSPATH project aims to elucidate the significance of halogen metabolism in defence and immunity mechanisms of the filamentous brown macroalga Ectocarpus and the more complex Laminaria (with two large multigenic families of bromo- and iodo-peroxidases), using an integrated approach of comparative metabolomics and RNA-Seq transcriptomics.

Objective

Macroalgal pathogens are a threat to the sustainable development of macroalgal mariculture and natural populations in marine ecosystems, causing spectacular disease outbreaks and significant losses (10-20% annually). The lack of proper posteriori containment and disease management measures has increased the urgency to study macroalgal pathologies. Nevertheless, the biology of macroalgal pathogens is understudied and limited to their documentation and phylotaxonomy. Elicitor-based short-term studies mimicking pathogen infection complemented with recent transcriptomics and proteomics of Ectocarpus-Eurychasma pathosystem highlighted the induction of haloperoxidases as a generic defense mechanism in brown macroalgae. Nothing is known about the nature of metabolites, in particular halometabolites, involved in macroalgal host-pathogen interactions till date. HALOSPATH intends to elucidate the significance of halogen metabolism in defense and immunity mechanisms of the filamentous brown macroalga Ectocarpus (containing one haloperoxidase gene) and the morphologically complex Laminaria (containing two large multigenic families of bromo- and iodo-peroxidases) against pathologies, using an integrated approach of time-series comparative metabolomics, and RNA-seq transcriptomics. This will generate large metabolomic and transcriptomic datasets, offering unprecedented insights to advance the knowledgebase of disease resistance/infection mechanism in macroalgae, revealing the secrets behind the infective success of these pathogens that could be exploited for resilience of macroalgal ecosystem to pathogens. Potential bioactive halometabolite products will be explored during secondment at MEDINA, envisaging transfer of knowledge across EU. This project will significantly advance the scope of existing research in the host lab and contribute to gender equity in research. I will acquire cutting-edge analytical, molecular skills and expertise to lead my own independent research group.

Coordinator

UNIVERSITY OF ABERDEEN
Net EU contribution
€ 224 933,76
Address
King's college regent walk
AB24 3FX Aberdeen
United Kingdom

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Region
Scotland North Eastern Scotland Aberdeen City and Aberdeenshire
Activity type
Higher or Secondary Education Establishments
Links
Other funding
€ 0,00