S128: Microbes and Mollusks: The Philippine Mollusk Symbiont ICBG explores bacteria associated with mollusks for drugs and enzymes

The Philippine Mollusk Symbiont ICBG (PMS ICBG) project links a biodiversity survey of marine mollusks in one of the world's hotspots of diversity, with drug discovery and enzyme discovery aimed at bacterial symbionts of mollusks. Mollusks constitute the most diverse marine eukaryotic group, occupying virtually every possible ecological niche. The diversity of microbes associated with mollusks is equally vast. Within the mollusks, three particular groups exhibit what we believe to be the highest biotechnological and scientific potential: the bivalve family Teredinidae and the gastropod superfamilies Conoidea and Muricoidea . Teredinids (shipworms) live in and feed upon wood; they contain bacterial symbionts that produce cellulolytic enzymes that have applications for biofuels development, and well as secondary metabolites that may have utility as drugs. The Conoideans, Muricoideans and other gastropods that subdue prey with venom have bacterial symbionts that may produce molecules with useful biological activities. The PMS-ICBG has collected 137 specimens of 91 species of mollusks and isolated 563 strains of bacteria. Using an assay based on calcium flux into mouse dorsal root ganglia, several novel compounds with interesting activities have been purified and characterized.