A4F joins the international consortium ParAqua
Source: a4f
CA20125 - Applications for zoosporic parasites in aquatic systems
Zoosporic organisms are living beings such as algae, fungi and some protists that have mobile structures of asexual reproduction, the zoospores, and can be parasites of other organisms such as algae, fish, plants and crustaceans. Aquatic zoosporic parasites are important selectors of the natural population, causing the death of the host, and therefore these organisms are one of the biggest threats in the biotechnological industry of microalgae production, leading to a decrease in the quality of the final product and/or a reduction, sometimes until elimination, from production. Thus, the economic impact of parasitic diseases on this industry is considerable.
In this context, A4F - Algae for future joined a dynamic network of researchers, industries and other stakeholders, including 38 experts from 23 different countries, in the ParAqua project, which started in November 2021 and lasts for 4 years.
This COST action aims to share and integrate applied and scientific information regarding the occurrence of zoosporic parasites and their relationship with hosts, elucidate drivers and evaluate the impacts of these parasites in aquatic environments. This work goals are the implementation of innovative tools for monitoring and prevention of infections, and to create protocols and a Decision Support Tool for detecting and controlling parasites in the microalgae biotechnological production.
Celina Parreira, RD&I Senior Project Manager at A4F, explains: “A4F participates in ParAqua as a stakeholder and end-user. Our vast experience producing algae up to industrial scale will help to guide the project, exposing the real problems in microalgae production units. In the final phase of the project, we are going to put into practice the results obtained in order to validate them, in a collaborative regime”.
COST (European Cooperation in Science and Technology) is a funding organisation for research and innovation networks. The Actions help connect research initiatives across Europe and beyond and enable researchers and innovators to grow their ideas in any science and technology field by sharing them with their peers. COST Actions are bottom-up networks with a duration of four years that boost research, innovation and careers.