Seafood Safety Programme
Harmful algal blooms may produce toxins that can pass through shellfish to humans. The Seafood Safety Programme is aimed at ensuring safe shellfish growing waters, by providing toxic micro-algae risk assessments.
Micro-algal producers of toxins are identified and technologies developed for their rapid detection, and the toxins are characterized chemically and their toxicology determined.
Funding: FRST
Project Manager: Lesley Rhodes |
Cryopreservation of Micro-algae
Cawthron’s Culture Collection of Micro-algae is now backed-up by the cryopreservation of more than 20 micro-algal strains, including shellfish feed species, small dinoflagellates and diatoms and some cyanobacterial species (blue-green algae).
Funding: FRST
Project Manager: Lesley Rhodes |
Carbohydrate Nanotechnology (IRL)
Description: Isolation of novel marine microbial enzymes which are useful for producing certain characteristics in a class of nanoparticles by incorporating seaweed sugar molecules. This work has relevance for new approaches in the areas of immune stimulation and viral inhibition.
Funding: FRST
Project Manager: Mike Packer |
Hydrogenase Electrodes (LVL, NERF)
Description: Incorporation of the algal enzyme hydrogenase to act as catalyst in electrochemical devices. Such a device might be used as part of a bio-fuel cell for the production and/or consumption of hydrogen as a fuel. The approaches used can also be applied to biosensor development.
Funding: FRST
Project Manager: Mike Packer |
Shellfish Cryopreservation
Methods are being developed for the cryopreservation of sperm, eggs and larvae of Greenshell mussel, Pacific oyster and Blackfoot paua. The aim is to make selective breeding and hatchery production of shellfish independent of their seasonal life cycle.
Funding: FRST
Project Manager: Serean Adams |
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