Pathogens of Algae for Biocontrol and Biosecurity

藻类在水生态系统中起着重要的作用，我们的未来越来越依赖于理想和不理想藻类的存在。例如，我们消费的海藻是有益的藻类，可用于生物燃料、制药和化妆品。而有害的藻类会形成有害藻华（HAB），从而改变水质，对野生和养殖的鱼类和贝类以及我们的饮用水供应造成严重后果。微型和大型藻类容易受到许多疾病的影响。病原体的存在及其向非原生地区传播的可能性会严重阻碍海藻生产。同样，能够形成赤潮的微观藻类（即蓝细菌、硅藻和鞭毛藻）也容易受到许多病原体的攻击。微生物的种类很多，包括真菌、卵菌、原生生物、细菌和病毒，它们都能降低藻类的适合度或杀死藻类。因此，中心研究的目标是将PHABBis的所有10个培训项目联系起来，利用藻类病原体的感染策略来对抗它们在海藻中引起的疾病，或者利用这些感染策略来对抗有害藻华。为了实现这一目标，PHABB汇集了来自学术界和中小企业的研究人员，他们拥有独特的专业知识，可以培训和指导10名早期职业生涯研究人员在理解生物和进化过程链接到微生物群落动态，毒力和宿主特异性的一系列病原体的可取的藻类以及asunexpected藻类。总体目标是在天然病原体的帮助下开发新的海藻病害管理策略和赤潮生物防治措施。PHABB的ESRs将通过我们的综合和跨部门培训计划获得广泛的跨学科技能和转化思维，并将确保继续对欧洲有害生物控制和海藻生物安全进行重要研究。

Algae play an important role in water ecosystems and our future increasingly depends on the presence of both desirable andundesirable algae. Desirable algae are, for example, seaweeds that we consume, use for biofuels, pharmaceuticals and cosmetics.Whereas undesirable algae can form harmful algal blooms (HABs) that can alter the quality of water, with dramatic consequences forwild and farmed fish and shellfish, as well as our supply of drinking water.Micro and macroalgae are vulnerable to many diseases. The presence of pathogens and their potential spread to non-native areas cansignificantly hinder seaweed production. Likewise, microscopic algae (i.e. cyanobacteria, diatoms, and dino-flagellates) that can formHABs are also vulnerable to many pathogens. There are a wide range of microorganisms, including fungal, oomycete, protist, bacterialand viral agents that can all reduce fitness or kill algae. Therefore, the central research aim that links all 10 training projects in PHABBis to exploit the infection strategies of algal pathogens to either fight diseases that they cause in seaweeds or to harness theseinfection tactics to combat harmful algal blooms.To achieve this goal, PHABB brings together an exceptional combination of researchers in Europe from both academia and SMEs thathave unique expertise to train and mentor 10 early career researchers in understanding biological and evolutionary processes linkedto microbial community dynamics, virulence and host specificity of a range of pathogens of both desirable algae as well asundesirable algae. The overall aim is to develop new disease management strategies in seaweeds and biocontrol measures of HABswith the help of natural pathogens. The ESRs in PHABB will gain broad interdisciplinary skills plus a translational mindset through ourintegrated and inter-sectoral training programme and will secure continued vital research on Biocontrol of HABs and Biosecurity ofseaweeds in Europe.