Subject 2 : Biodiversity and Biomolecules

In this theme, our research focuses on understanding the diversity and the role of small molecules in the ecology of aquatic microorganisms, and in particular in symbiotic associations (such as those in marine sponges and coastal lichens), as well as the potential applications of these molecules to pharmaceutical (antibiotic, antitumoral) and dermo-cosmetic (anti-oxidant, anti-inflammatory, UV protection, etc.) applications. Aquatic microorganisms are an underexploited source of bioactive compounds in comparison to terrestrial counterparts and thus represent a promising source of novel bioactive compounds. Since the production of small biomolecules is a mechanism that helps microorganisms survive and compete in the environment, much of our research involves acquiring knowledge regarding the biology and ecology of aquatic microorganisms, including their diversity, distribution, metabolic potential (via genomics and metagenomics), conditions leading to their cultivation and production of bioactive compounds, and finally the chemical structures of these compounds.

This is a large theme, in which is organized in several subthemes and activities.