4 research outputs found
Impact of per- and polyfluorinated alkyl substances (PFAS) on the marine environment: Raising awareness, challenges, legislation, and mitigation approaches under the One Health concept /
Per- and polyfluorinated alkyl substances (PFAS) have long been known for their detrimental effects on the ecosystems and living organisms; however the long-term impact on the marine environment is still insufficiently recognized. Based on PFAS persistence and bioaccumulation in the complex marine food network, adverse effects will be exacerbated by global processes such as climate change and synergies with other pollutants, like microplastics. The range of fluorochemicals currently included in the PFAS umbrella has significantly expanded due to the updated OECD definition, raising new concerns about their poorly understood dynamics and negative effects on the ocean wildlife and human health. Mitigation challenges and approaches, including biodegradation and currently studied materials for PFAS environmental removal are proposed here, highlighting the importance of ongoing monitoring and bridging research gaps. The PFAS EU regulations, good practices and legal frameworks are discussed, with emphasis on recommendations for improving marine ecosystem management
Yeast Kluyveromyces lactis as host for expression of the bacterial lipase: cloning and adaptation of the new lipase gene from Serratia sp.
A new network for the advancement of marine biotechnology in europe and beyond
Marine organisms produce a vast diversity of metabolites with biological activities
useful for humans, e.g., cytotoxic, antioxidant, anti-microbial, insecticidal, herbicidal,
anticancer, pro-osteogenic and pro-regenerative, analgesic, anti-inflammatory, anticoagulant, cholesterol-lowering, nutritional, photoprotective, horticultural or other
beneficial properties. These metabolites could help satisfy the increasing demand for
alternative sources of nutraceuticals, pharmaceuticals, cosmeceuticals, food, feed,
and novel bio-based products. In addition, marine biomass itself can serve as
the source material for the production of various bulk commodities (e.g., biofuels,
bioplastics, biomaterials). The sustainable exploitation of marine bio-resources and
the development of biomolecules and polymers are also known as the growing
field of marine biotechnology. Up to now, over 35,000 natural products have been
characterized from marine organisms, but many more are yet to be uncovered, as
the vast diversity of biota in the marine systems remains largely unexplored. Since
marine biotechnology is still in its infancy, there is a need to create effective, operational,
inclusive, sustainable, transnational and transdisciplinary networks with a serious and
ambitious commitment for knowledge transfer, training provision, dissemination of
best practices and identification of the emerging technological trends through science
communication activities. A collaborative (net)work is today compelling to provide
innovative solutions and products that can be commercialized to contribute to the
circular bioeconomy. This perspective article highlights the importance of establishing
such collaborative frameworks using the example of Ocean4Biotech, an Action within
the European Cooperation in Science and Technology (COST) that connects all and any
stakeholders with an interest in marine biotechnology in Europe and beyond