Marine microbial resources for bioactive compound screening and pollutant biodegradation

The research group “Microbial Biodegradation and Bioprospecting” at CIIMAR (University of Porto, Portugal) works on marine microbiology and environmental biotechnology.

The group has established a curated collection of more than 1,500 marine actinobacterial strains isolated from diverse Portuguese marine ecosystems. This collection represents a valuable microbial resource platform for the screening of microorganisms producing bioactive metabolites such as pigments, biosurfactants and antimicrobial compounds, with potential applications as sustainable marine-derived bio-based products.

In parallel, the group develops research on microbial biodegradation of emerging pollutants, particularly fluorinated compounds including PFAS, contributing to the development of biological approaches for environmental remediation.

Within Horizon Europe projects, the group can contribute marine microbial resources, microbial strain isolation and characterization, screening for bioactive metabolites and expertise in microbial biodegradation processes. The team can also facilitate access to Portuguese marine habitats for microbial bioprospecting.

The group is interested in participating as a partner in projects related to marine bio-based products and microbial solutions for aquatic pollution remediation.