The research interests of MBL at SJTU focus on microbial symbionts of marine organisms especially sponges and corals. Marine microbial symbionts are suggested to play an important role in the host's chemical defense, nutrients and energy transfer as well as the C/N/P cycle in the ocean, and are important resources for marine natural products and functional genes. Marine microbial symbionts are directly or indirectly involved in the biosynthesis of some bioactive compounds isolated from marine organisms. Our current investigations mainly include: 1.Marine natual products and enzymes from marine microbial symbionts. 2.Community structure and functions of marine microbial symbionts. 3.Roles of marine microbial symbionts in ocean C/N/P cycle. |