Deep-sea microbial genetic resources: new frontiers for bioprospecting

Abstract

Deep-sea ecosystems are home to a diverse community of microorganisms. These microbes are not only fundamental to ecological processes but also a treasure trove of natural products and enzymes with significant scientific and industrial applications. This forum focuses on the vast diversity of deep-sea microbes and their potential for bioprospecting. It also discusses threats posed by climate change and deep-sea mining to deep-sea microbial genetic resources, and proposes future research directions.

Keywords: bioprospecting; deep-sea; genetic resources; microbes; natural products.