Final report

Control of epiphytism in Gracilaria chilensis mariculture –

EPIFIGHT

Defense and signaling in marine algae

Both autotrophic sessile terrestrial organisms and marine plants are continuously being challenged by microorganisms and by grazers. Studies of the defense responses of algae against parasitism and grazing at various biological levels (i.e. molecular, cellular, within individuals, within populations and community-wide) are necessary to determine the specific rules that govern the biotic interactions of plants in the marine environment, and to address general questions such as how innate immunity evolved in eukaryotes.

Our research group includes two teams involving biochemists, molecular biologists and chemists. Our research focuses on two models of interactions between seaweeds and endo/epi-phytes, in which the hosts, brown (Laminaria digitata, Heterokonta) and red algae (Chondrus crispus, Gracilaria spp., Rhodophyta), belong to two eukaryotic lineages which are distinct from the green plant lineages.

Research axis

Oxylipins (Jean-Pierre SALAUN’s team)
Haloperoxidases and halogenated metabolites (Philippe POTIN’s team)
Mining defense genes and algal genomics (collaboration with Catherine BOYEN).