1. Isolation and characterization of novel microorganisms

Recently technological advances now allow an unprecedented access to “omic” information and a better understanding of the biology of microorganisms. Since these techniques are optimally applied when studying isolated stains, it is clear that increasing the diversity of cultured microorganisms via renewed cultivation efforts and the development of new culturing techniques to culture novel microorganisms has a great potential in the discovery of novel metabolisms, enzymes and bioactive compound. In this spirit we have developed and maintained a collection of microorganisms containing over 2500 strains from different aquatic environments. Many novel species and genomes have been (and will continue to be) described and this information will help increase our understanding of their functional role in the environment. These novel species are also prime candidates to the screening of bioactive properties and industrial exploitation.

Some recently publications in this topic include

• Barnier C, Clerissi C, Lami R, Intertaglia L, Lebaron P, Grimaud R, Urios L (2019) Description of Palleronia rufa sp. nov., a biofilm-forming and AHL-producing Rhodobacteraceae, reclassification of Hwanghaeicola aestuarii as Palleronia aestuarii comb. nov., Maribius pontilimi as Palleronia pontilimi comb. nov., Maribius salinus as Palleronia salina comb. nov., Maribius pelagius as Palleronia pelagia comb. nov. and emended description of the genus Palleronia. Syst Appl Microbiol:126018
• Antony-Babu S, Stien D, Eparvier V, Parrot D, Tomasi S, Suzuki MT (2017) Multiple Streptomyces species with distinct secondary metabolomes have identical 16S rRNA gene sequences. Sci Rep 7:11089
• Fagervoid SK, Intertaglia L, Batailler N, Bondoso J, Lebaron P (2017) Saonia flava gen. nov., sp nov., a marine bacterium of the family Flavobacteriaceae isolated from coastal seawater. Int J Syst Evol Micr 67:3246-3250