Chemical Ecology of the dinoflagellate Lingulodinium polyedra and associated bacteria

The aim of this project is to identify the molecules (e.g. vitamins) the associated bacteria provide to this alga that help it to grow and live. To achieve this aim, the project objectives are: (i) to adapt published methods to grow the bioluminescent marine alga Lingulodinium polyedra and the associated (symbiotic) marine bacteria that live with this alga; (ii) develop methods to isolate chemical extracts produced by the bacteria and demonstrate which extracts help the alga grow; (iii) analyse the bacterially-produced chemical extracts using high resolution mass spectrometry (metabolomics analysis); and (iv) use bioinformatic data analysis to analyse the microbiomes of this alga and related algae.

Supervisors

Dr. David Green, Scottish Association for Marine Science

Dr. Michael Ross, Scottish Association for Marine Science

Dr RuAngelie Edrada-Ebel, Strathclyde Institute of Pharmacy and Biomedical Sciences (SIPBS), Strathclyde University

Funder

The Marshall Aid Commemoration Commission

University

University of the Highlands and Islands