SEABIOCIDE

ALG-01-0247-FEDER-072232/LISBOA-01-0247-FEDER-072232

Project acronym: SEABIOCIDE

Main goal: Development of an algae-derived biocide

Project ID | ALG-01-0247-FEDER-072232/LISBOA-01-0247-FEDER-072232

Operational Program | Portugal 2020 – Corporate R&D Projects in Co-Promotion for Interior Territories

Call | N º 13/SI/2020

Starting date | 2021-05-03

Ending date | 2023-06-30

Goals, Activities, and Results

Multidrug-resistant infections caused by bacteria, fungi or viruses are a global problem, for which there are no adequate solutions. The consortium formed by the company Sea4Us and the R&D center ITQB NOVA intends to use invasive algae present in the southwest coast of Portugal to extract new biocidal compounds in an innovative way. In line with the strategy defined by the consortium, the SEABIOCIDE R&D project in the field of biotechnology will continue the preliminary studies that demonstrated that the extracts obtained are bioactive against various bacterial and fungal species involved in human pathologies, including against species resistant to existing drugs. In this context, the SEABIOCIDE project is aimed at collecting algae and optimizing the method of extracting compounds (activity 1), identifying new biocidal molecules (activity 2), chemical optimizing these molecules and determining their mechanisms of action (activity 3), as well as the protecting the associated intellectual property, assuring also a wide dissemination of the results associated with the project (activity 4). It should be noted that the Sea4Us and ITQB NOVA teams have strong skills in the fields of knowledge relevant to the SEABIOCIDE project, being fully suited to all its needs. Scientific knowledge related to marine biology, microbiology and chemistry will allow the development of a drug that is based on new concepts of chemical extractions, new biocidal compounds and mechanisms of action, allowing the future treatment of multi-resistant infections caused by several microorganisms (bacteria, fungi and virus). In addition, the collection of invasive algae will allow the management and exploitation of these resources in a sustainable manner, having a positive impact on other species in the ecosystem and preserving their biodiversity.