Northern Germany – Center of blue biotechnology: 4th International Symposium on Marine Biotechnology

Currently, the Institute of Marine Biotechnology e.V. is welcoming the scientific community to an international symposium on marine biotechnology in Greifswald, Germany. The conference is held for the fourth time and will take place from June 21st until 23rd 2006. It is entitled "From functional genomics to new natural products from marine microorganisms". In the main focus of the symposium are marine bacteria and microalgae and their pharmaceutical potential. The vast majority of microorganisms can not be cultivated so far. However, genomic sequencing methods and especially the techniques of "Functional Genomics" are beginning to provide a new access to even uncultured marine microorganisms and their highly interesting agents for new medical drugs. About 130 participants, among them 50 foreign scientists, are anticipated for this international symposium that is concertedly organized by the Institute of Marine Biotechnology e.V. and the Ernst-Moritz-Arndt-University at the Krupp-Kolleg of the Hanseatic City of Greifswald. More than 70% of the earth’s surface are covered by water, mostly forming marine habitats. During evolution, extreme marine environmental conditions have enhanced the development of adaptation strategies in marine microorganisms that are different from their terrestrial counterparts. This involves new natural products that are different from known structures of terrestrial organisms. However, the exploration of new drugs, enzymes or biochemical capabilities of marine origin is difficult. Less than 1% of marine microorganisms have been cultivated so far, and only for a negligible number of known marine microorganisms genetic tools are available. Metagenomics, genome sequencing and the techniques of functional genomics make it possible to visualize potential metabolic and biochemical capabilities of even unculturable marine cells. The conference will present recent results of these new research fields and discuss the potential of molecular methods for the discovery of new natural compounds from marine microorganisms. To this international symposium at the Alfried-Krupp-Kolleg in Greifswald, organized by the Institute of Marine Biotechnology e.V. in collaboration with the Ernst-Moritz-Arndt-University, 130 participants are expected. The Institute of Marine Biotechnology e.V. was established 10 years ago and is situated at the Biotechnikum of the Hanseatic City of Greifswald. The Institute of Marine Biotechnology e.V. is a member of BioCon Valley – the initiative for life science and health economy in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, Germany. "Source":[ http://www.alphagalileo.org/index.cfm?fuseaction=readrelease&releaseid=513338]

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