UCF and MIT Collaborate to Develop Innovative Technology Combating Bacterial Infections and Enhancing Aquaculture Farming

by Fishery News
Published: Last Updated on

Researchers from the University of Central Florida (UCF) and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) are leveraging cutting-edge technology to fight pathogenic bacteria and enhance aquaculture farming, particularly in shrimp farms in Ecuador. The collaborative team, awarded a grant from the U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF), is focused on creating synthetic microbiomes—organized communities of microorganisms—to fortify aquatic environments against bacterial threats.

Microbiologist Salvador Almagro-Moreno from the UCF’s College of Medicine and MIT’s Otto Cordero are at the forefront of this pioneering effort. Recognizing that microbes exhibit a modular organization, the researchers aim to construct synthetic microbiomes by strategically combining these “ecological modules” to effectively combat pathogens. The project is particularly significant as approximately 50% of globally consumed seafood is sourced from aquaculture, a number expected to rise given the increasing demand for seafood.

The team’s collaboration with shrimp farms in Ecuador is strategic, considering the country’s position as one of the top three global shrimp exporters. In 2022 alone, Ecuador produced over 2.34 billion pounds of shrimp valued at more than $6.6 billion, with a substantial portion destined for U.S. markets.

Addressing the vulnerability of aquaculture farms to bacterial infections, the researchers will employ Artemia salina, a fast-growing brine shrimp species, to test the efficacy of various synthetic microbial communities in enhancing resistance to Vibrio parahaemolyticus—a pathogenic bacterium prevalent in aquatic environments. Almagro-Moreno likens the approach to administering probiotics for improved gut health but in a more sophisticated and targeted manner.

The NSF grant, totalling almost $500,000, not only supports the research project but also facilitates a collaborative bridge program between UCF-MIT and the National Centre for Aquaculture and Marine Research in Ecuador. This collaborative effort aims to exchange ideas, implement innovative systems, and foster knowledge transfer between the U.S. scientists and their Ecuadorian counterparts.

Dr. Almagro-Moreno emphasizes the real-world application of their work, tracking bacterial spread while exploring ways to optimize shrimp production. The overarching goal is to eventually apply these techniques to enhance aquaculture production in the United States, including oyster farms, with an ultimate vision of preventing and treating human infections. This ambitious endeavour marks a significant stride in utilizing synthetic microbiomes to revolutionize disease prevention in aquaculture and beyond.

 

 

 

 

 

 

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