EAST BOOTHBAY — A Maine ocean science laboratory and the University of Mississippi say their collaboration to identify new anti-microbial compounds with disease treating potential is yielding results.
The university and the Bigelow Laboratory for Ocean Sciences began the five-year partnership in 2013. The laboratory says its National Center for Marine Algae and Microbiota has provided 200 strains for screening for potential treatments for malaria and possibly some forms of cancer.
Algae center director Mike Lomas says the next step is to grow potential new compounds in large enough quantities that more analysis and testing can be completed. University of Mississippi’s nuclear magnetic resonance imaging equipment is being used as part of the effort.
Bigelow is offering 3,000 algal strains for experimentation as part of the project.
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