A study from ETH Zurich reveals that coral reefs are an unexplored reservoir of microbial biodiversity. Researchers identified hundreds of unknown microbial species that produce natural substances. This ecosystem represents a source with possibilities for the development of medicines and biotechnological applications.
Metagenomics and High-Throughput Sequencing to Decode the Coral Pharmacy 🧬
The analysis of over 800 Pacific samples employed high-throughput genetic sequencing techniques and metagenomics. This approach allows cataloging the genetic material of complex microbial communities without the need to culture them in the laboratory. Thus, genes associated with the synthesis of bioactive compounds are identified, laying the groundwork for their subsequent characterization and possible large-scale production.
We're Destroying the Pharmacy Before We Can Even Get the Membership Card 😑
Human logic is predictable: we discover that a threatened ecosystem is a goldmine of medical resources, just when we've been degrading it for decades. Half of the corals have disappeared since 1950. It seems our strategy is akin to demolishing a library full of unread books, only to complain later that we have nothing to read. An impractical approach, without a doubt.