An ecogenomics solution for biosecurity monitoring of harmful ballast water organisms

入侵的非本地物种是仅次于栖息地丧失的全球生物多样性的第二大威胁，而携带病原体的抗生素耐药性正在上升。国际航运是引入海洋非本地物种和有害病原体的重要途径，许多海运港口被确定为船舶压载水中携带有害生物的高风险地点。应用基因组公司与合作伙伴海底解决方案有限公司、阿里斯特·哈代爵士海洋科学基金会和普利茅斯大学共同制定了一种积极主动的方法，通过开发一种新的早期检测系统，利用对船舶压载水的联合监测和对当地本地生物多样性的监测，及早发现并适应性地管理对人类健康和环境的潜在威胁，从而减轻这些有害压载水生物构成的威胁。这围绕着我们开发海洋环境采样技术，以新的方式应用现有和新兴的基因组学技术，为海洋生物安全带来前所未有的重大进展，并建立一个以证据为导向的机制，支持环境立法和利益攸关方。

Invasive non-native species are the second greatest threat to biodiversity worldwide, after habitat loss, whilst antibiotic resistance carrying pathogens are on the rise. International shiping is a significant pathway for the introduction of marine non-native species and harmful pathogens, with many marine ports identified as locations at high risk from the introduction of harmful organisms carried in ships' ballast water. Applied Genomics Ltd. with partners Benthic Solutions Ltd., the Sir Alister Hardy Foundation for Ocean Science and Plymouth University have devised a proactive approach to mitigating the threats posed by these harmful ballast water organisms through development of a novel system of early detection using combined surveillance of ships' ballast water and monitoring of local native biodiversity for early detection and adaptive management of potential threats to human health and the environment. This centres around our development of marine environmental sampling technology with the novel application of existing and emerging genomics technologies to deliver significant and unprecedented advances to marine biosecurity and an evidence-driven mechanism to support environmental legislation and stakeholders.