Report on Joint EC-US / CIESM Workshop on Biotechnology Research and Marine Genomics
26 June 2009, CIESM News

The report  on the  Joint EC-US CIESM Workshop Marine Genomics: At the Interface of Marine Microbial Ecology and Biotechnological Applications (1) is now available.
 
This comprehensive report describes the main remaining gaps in knowledge in marine microbial biodiversity [and its associated genomic- and chemo-diversities] of biotechnological interest.

The Mediterranean Sea, thanks to its huge variety of habitats (2), offers a promising, yet mostly untapped, reservoir of bioactive compounds with vast potential industrial applications. While Mediterranean scientific institutions have a long, solid reputation in the field of marine ecology, studies on the industrial applications of marine biological resources are in their infancy.

One of the main recommendations of the Report is the need for more cooperation betweendeveloped and developing countries to accomplish research and development using marine genomic resources.  In particular efforts should be made to strengthen capacities and strengthen concrete international collaborations to develop marine biotechnology programs across the Basin.

Furthermore, important recommendations of the EC-US / CIESM workshop focus on the need for:

• genomic research programs considering  all components of the microbial fraction (bacterial, archaeal, eukaryotic and viral fractions).

• metagenomic efforts to continue to explore under-sampled marine habitats.
  
  
• genomics tool to explore marine microbial ecology on scales and gradients relevant to the ecosystem of interest.
  
  
• improved bioinformatics tools and specific infrastructures to better proceed from (meta)genome sequence information to biochemical and physiological function prediction to finally reach a holistic ecosystem understanding.