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The mission of the Marine Biotechnology Department is to conduct and promote scientific research regarding the possible applications of marine natural products in the biomedical and environmental sectors.
We mainly focus on microalgal products and on the optimization of the production of bioactive compounds by changing growth parameters such as the quality of light and concentration of nutrients. We are interested in the characterization of the biological activity of extracts, fractions and pure compounds isolated from microalgae and other marine organisms, through advanced screening platforms that allow the prediction of the type of pharmacological, nutraceutical, and cosmeceutical activity of compounds.

We also focus on the isolation and characterization of marine microorganisms, including bacteria and fungi, which are able to resist and degrade pollutants such as heavy metals and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons. Bioremediation and bioaugmentation studies are aimed at validating new technologies for the recovery of marine polluted coastal areas. New and innovative approaches are being developed for the restoration of such sites using seagrasses and corals.

Our shared expertise covers such fields as ecology, chemical ecology, physiology, genomics and transcriptomics, chemistry and biochemistry, and cell biology that drive technology and knowledge transfer for industrial applications of marine natural products.

Available platforms include:
• BlueBiomass Platform for the isolation and maintenance and mass cultivation of microalgae and other marine organisms for potential biotechnological applications.
• BlueBioChem Platform for the extraction and fractionation of bioactive marine organisms
• BlueOmics Platform for genome mining of new enzymes and biosynthetic pathways
• BlueCell Platform to test the biological activity of extracts, fractions and pure compounds on marine model species and human cell lines.
• BlueMicrobe Platform for testing antibacterial activity of marine organisms.
• BlueEnvironment Platform for the bioremediation and restoration of polluted marine sites

According to what defined by the Statute, the SZN can:

• participate to the implementation of national networks between public and private Research Institutions;
• contribute to infrastructures aimed at the promotion of the scientific excellence;
• constitute Associations, Consortia or Companies for the management of specific structures or for increasing competitiveness at international level and the implementation of the outreach activities;
• participate to public and/or private investments, when authorized by the MIUR according to the art. 16 of the D.Lgs. 213/09;
• promote the setup of new companies (Spin off) for exploiting the results of the research providing potential outputs also in term of patents.

Currently, the SZN participates in the following companies:

BioSearch Srl - Spin off company of the Stazione Zoologica Anton Dohrn and the National Research Council (CNR)

SECRETED - Sustainable Exploitation of bio-based Compounds Revealed and Engineered from naTural sources

SEDREMED - Bioremediation of contaminated sediments in coastal areas of ex-industrial sites 2021-2024

ISIDORE - Integrated Services For Infectious Diseases Outbreak Research

HOTBIO - A holistic approach to training a new generation of scientists in marine biodiscovery

BlueRemediomics - ARNESSING THE MARINE MICROBIOME FOR NOVEL SUSTAINABLE BIOGENICS AND ECOSYSTEM SERVICES

Project @ CNR “SCANFISH” SEA COSMETICS AND NUTRACEUTICS: FROM FISHERY AND AQUACULTURE BYPRODUCTS

PON project “ALIFUN” Development of functional foods for the innovation of traditional Italian food products

PRoDiA: Droplet digital PCR to assess the occurrence and infer the ROle of prostaglandin in natural DIatom Assemblage in the Ionian coastal waters