MICROPHLOR

Phlorotannins are a diverse class of polyphenols specific to brown algae, structurally distinct from terrestrial tannins. Current industries pre-treat seaweed with toxic organic solvents to remove phlorotannins, which can hinder downstream polysaccharide extractions while also exhibiting promising bioactivities. The MICROPHLOR project will discover previously unknown marine microbes capable of processing phlorotannins and provide novel solutions to replace chemical treatments. Based on a consortium comprising two academic partners and one industrial partner, MICROPHLOR will combine approaches from microbial ecology, molecular biology, biochemistry, and biomass processing to (i) reveal the diversity of phlorotannin-degrading microbes in the natural microbiota associated with seaweed, a current black box in brown algae biomass degradation; (ii) create the first collection of phlorotannin-degrading microbial cultures to enable detailed laboratory studies; (iii) decipher the mechanisms of the enzymatic pathways of phlorotannin degradation; (iv) apply these new microorganisms as live ferments and their enzymes as biocatalysts in industrial processes for the extraction of brown macroalgae.