Microalgae are microscopic microorganisms that exist in almost every ecosystem, and therefore also developed under conditions of stress and competition against a variety of other microorganisms such as bacteria, viruses and fungi. For this reason, in order to survive they had to develop resistance and defenses against these organisms. In recent years there has been great interest in these organisms as a natural source of substances with biological activity, especially because of the potential of producing these substances from culture and the difficulty of producing them by chemical synthesis. Recent studies have reported that microalgae are able to produce substances with biological activity such as carotenoids, phycobilins, lipids, unsaturated fatty acids, proteins, polysaccharides, vitamins, sterols, essential oils and other chemical substances.
We at the Shamir Research Institute are interested in the fact that microalgae can produce a wide variety of substances with antibacterial, antiviral, antifungal, enzyme inhibition, cytotoxic and antiparasitic activity.
Why is it interesting?
Because the ever-increasing demand in the world to reduce the use of chemical pesticides, the increase in the phenomenon of resistance of phytopathogenic bacteria and fungi to fungicides and bacteria, and the rising demand for products from sustainable and organic agriculture, brought with them the idea to harness in the Shamir Research Institute the potential inherent in microalgae to find new active substances from a source natural, thus reducing the damage to the environment and reducing the use of chemical pesticides and the risk of resistance against them.
That is why the MSc students in Prof. Eyal Kurtzbaum's group grow different species of algae and test their properties to be used as a source of "green" pesticides. Algae cultivation is agriculture for all intents and purposes, and cultivation can be carried out on marginal waters (salt water, brackish water, with sewage, etc.) so the potential inherent in the development of agriculture that grows algae is promising and promotes the concept of sustainable agriculture. Eyal Haim recently completed his master's degree in aquatic sciences under Eyal's guidance and in his work he found the most suitable recipe for growing certain types of microalgae from the Sea of Galilee, determined the most effective extraction method for extraction of the antimicrobial substances and more. For more projects see: https://www.kurzbaum-lab.com/
