The use of algaecides to control red tide and blue-green algae is expected to be an environmentally friendly method. In fact, many algaecidal bacteria have been reported, and algaecidal substances have been found in their culture media in some cases. However, there are still issues that need to be solved for their effective use.For example, the algaecidal mechanisms of many algaecides are still unknown, it is unclear whether the algaecides found are involved in algaecidal phenomena in the environment, and there is a possibility that unisolated (difficult-to-culture) algaecides exist.
Therefore, in addition to conventional research on the identification of algaecides using natural product chemistry, we are conducting multifaceted analyses. For example, we are identifying biosynthetic genes through genome analysis of algaecides, examining the distribution of algaecides and causative algae in the environment through aquatic metagenome analysis, and detecting algaecides through metabolome analysis of environmental water. The goal of this project is to clarify algaecidal phenomena in the actual environment at the level of material science.
