SBIR Phase I: Development of non-toxic antifouling compounds targeting a key G-protein coupled receptor involved in settlement and metamorphosis of barnacles

这个小型企业创新研究（SBIR）一期项目为水产养殖业开发了一种新型、无毒、防污技术。与现有的生物杀虫金属涂层不同，我们的技术是基于一类化合物，通过调节污垢无脊椎动物中特定营养-盐度感知受体的活性，抑制无脊椎动物在海洋表面的沉降、附着和/或变形。在最初的测试中，在实验室和野外证明了一类被称为石灰化剂的化合物作用于这些受体，并在藤壶中具有防污活性。这些数据将利用多种方法加以改进，以确定适合水产养殖业使用的抗污剂。这种无毒防污系统将取代或大大减少目前有毒替代品的金属含量。这项研究的更广泛的影响是通过发现一种无毒的防污解决方案来造福社会。这种方法如果成功，将减少对金属基涂层的需求，因为金属基涂层对许多不受污染的生物是有毒的，并且可以增加通常在经济萧条地区的水产养殖机会。其中一个地区是缅因州的东北部，因此这项研究是与缅因州大学合作进行的。这种伙伴关系将成为缅因州未来公私合作项目的基础。发展水产养殖业。

This Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase I project develops a novel, non-toxic, antifouling technology for the aquaculture industry. Unlike existing biocidal metal-based coatings, our technology is based on a class of compounds that inhibit the settlement, attachment, and/or metamorphosis of invertebrates on marine surfaces by modulating the activity of a specific nutrient-salinity sensing receptor found in fouling invertebrates. In initial testing, it was demonstrated that a class of compounds called calcimimetics act on these receptors and possess antifouling activity in barnacles in the lab and the field. These data will be refined utilizing a combination of approaches to identify antifoulants suitable for use in the aquaculture industry. Such a non-toxic antifouling system will either replace or dramatically reduce the metal content of current toxic alternatives.The broader impacts of this research are to benefit society by discovering a non-toxic solution to antifouling. This approach, if successful, will reduce the need for metal-based coatings that are toxic to many non-fouling organisms and to allow for increased aquaculture opportunities that are often in economically depressed areas. One of these areas is downeast Maine and as such this research is carried out in collaboration with the University of Maine. This partnership will form the basis for future private-public projects in Maine?s developing aquaculture industries.