title: Microorganisms living on macroalgae: diversity, interactions, and biotechnological applications.
abstract: Marine microorganisms play key roles in every marine ecological process, hence the growing interest in studying their populations and functions. Microbial communities on algae remain underexplored, however, despite their huge biodiversity and the fact that they differ markedly from those living freely in seawater. The study of this microbiota and of its relationships with algal hosts should provide crucial information for ecological investigations on algae and aquatic ecosystems. Furthermore, because these microorganisms interact with algae in multiple, complex ways, they constitute an interesting source of novel bioactive compounds with biotechnological potential, such as dehalogenases, antimicrobials, and alga-specific polysaccharidases (e.g., agarases, carrageenases, and alginate lyases). Here, to demonstrate the huge potential of alga-associated organisms and their metabolites in developing future biotechnological applications, we first describe the immense diversity and density of these microbial biofilms. We further describe their complex interactions with algae, leading to the production of specific bioactive compounds and hydrolytic enzymes of biotechnological interest. We end with a glance at their potential use in medical and industrial applications.
authors.affiliation: Microbiology and Genomics Unit, Gembloux Agro-Bio Tech, University of Liège, Passage des déportés 2, 5030, Gembloux, Belgium, marjolaine.martin@ulg.ac.be.
authors.forename: Marjolaine
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Martin
authors.forename: Daniel
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Portetelle
authors.forename: Gurvan
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Michel
authors.forename: Micheline
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Vandenbol
mesh_terms: D001419:Bacteria / Q000145:classification* / Q000302:isolation & purification* / Q000378:metabolism; D044822:Biodiversity; D001688:Biological Products / Q000378:metabolism*; D001709:Biotechnology / Q000379:methods*; D012624:Seaweed / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000502:physiology; D013559:Symbiosis
chemical_list: D001688:Biological Products