An In Vitro Model For Studies Of Barnacle Cyprid Cementation
Abstract
Marine biofouling is a substantial burden for the navy, bringing penalties in propulsion and maneuverability of surface craft, enhanced corrosion, biocide release and the transportation of nonindigenous species, all of which contribute to the financial and environmental drivers for more effective and harmonious fouling-control technologies. Marine biofouling is fundamentally an adhesion challenge, being the unwanted accumulation of animals, plants and microbes on maritime structures. It follows that improved understanding of adhesion could lead to mechanisms of prevention or interference that to not rely on killing or the release of biocides. Barnacles are among the most problematic biofoulers for the Navy and our recent work has identified several proteins involved in initial surface adhesion of their larval form, the cyprid. The core purpose of this project will be to produce authentic copies of these proteins in recombinant systems to enable their study. We will determine the physical and biochemical characteristics of the proteins we produce using a variety of analytical techniques, including fluorescence activity assays, MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry, atomic force microscopy and using the surface forces apparatus. This will be done for proteins alone and in combination to reveal their molecular interactions and how this combines to yield the tough and resilient cyprid cement. Armed with this information, future studies can investigate the efficacy of specific inhibitors that may interfere with adhesive curing without the need for biocides.
Document Details
- Document Type
- DoD Grant Award
- Publication Date
- Jan 12, 2023
- Source ID
- N000142312177
Entities
People
- Nick Aldred
Organizations
- Office of Naval Research
- United States Navy
- University of Essex