Services

SZN is dedicated to research in marine biological sciences, comprising the Department of Ecosustainable Marine Biotechnology (BIOTECH) and the scientific service units of the Department of Research Infrastructure for Research (RIMAR). Research integrates state-of-the-art technologies, including “Omics” into marine biological systems to explore the diversity and functioning of marine organisms and whole ecosystems, with a strong focus on their applications in blue biotechnologies. SZN provides access to diverse Mediterranean ecosystems, including extreme ones. Model taxa include protists (including microalgae), echinoderms, cephalopods, ascidians and vertebrates (including fish), and their various parasites. SZN core facilities comprise: a) production of marine biological resources; b) molecular biology, sequencing and bioinformatics; c) taxonomy of marine organisms; d) microscopes and bioimaging; e) Field sampling, scientific diving, and research vessels; f) in extreme marine habitats; g) monitoring the quality of the marine environment and educational training.

SZN can provide access to:

1. BlueBioprospecting service, which provides metabolically unique organisms and collections that have vast and undocumented molecular diversity and may provide leads for the current and future infectious disease challenges, and screening capabilities for developing and testing alternative antimicrobials and antiviral targeted towards the most important emerging fish pathogens, and vaccine adjuvants (e.g., complex polysaccharides of marine origin),

2. MOTAX service, which is an advanced unit for the isolation, culturing and taxonomical identification of various groups of marine organisms (specialization in phytoplankton, zooplankton, Macrozoobenthos), integrating traditional morphological approaches and modern technologies such as electron microscopy and molecular barcoding, an integrated approach that can apply to specific and scarcely tested fish feeds.

Bioresources

• Microorganisms collection, more than 400 bacterial strains, encompassing 40 genus. 

• The complete list of bacteria is available upon request (pasquale.deluca@szn.it)

• Access to extreme environments 

Support offered

The Local Liaison officer arranges access as agreed upon in the user-access contract. Service staff provides required training in platform use if needed and assists with troubleshooting. Other amenities include in-house or nearby cafeterias. No lodging is provided as hotels and restaurants are nearby. The Local Liaison assists with logistics and hotel reservations. Users are invited to attend weekly seminars and to present one to foster contacts. 

Modality of access

Typical access is 30 days on-site. The user will have access to laboratories (including consumables and bench fee), preparatory work, specific training courses, state-of-the-art experimental facilities and technological platforms, ecosystems, and a wide variety of marine biological resources, subsistence and shipping of project materials from the EMBRC-IT to home institution.