Macroalgae and Halophytes antibiotic resistance project impact

FAM Foundation
Mar 27
3 min read

As part of the FAM Grants 2023/2024 edition, the project “Exploiting the Power of Portuguese Macroalgae and Halophytes: A Promising Approach to Tackle Antibiotic Resistance”, developed by the University of Coimbra, has made significant progress in identifying marine-based solutions to one of the most pressing health threats of our time: antimicrobial resistance (AMR). With direct alignment to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-being) and SDG 14 (Life Below Water), the project has brought forward evidence-based insights into the potential of natural compounds derived from Portuguese marine and coastal ecosystems.

Addressing the Antibiotic Resistance Crisis

With the alarming rise in antibiotic resistance, the World Health Organization emphasizes the need for innovative solutions. This research seeks to explore natural compounds from Portuguese macroalgae and halophytes—plants thriving in saline environments along Portugal’s extensive coastline.

Research Framework and Objectives

The project’s overarching objective is to identify and assess bioactive compounds from native macroalgae and halophyte species along the Portuguese coast that can act as alternative antimicrobial agents, particularly effective against drug-resistant bacteria and fungi. With increasing global concern about AMR—projected to cause up to 10 million deaths annually by 2050 if no new solutions are found—this research is both timely and strategic.

The project was officially launched in April 2024, following its selection as one of four awardees under the FAM Foundation’s grant programme. The grant enabled the establishment of a research team, the acquisition of specialized materials, and the design of a rigorous testing protocol using aqueous extracts from selected marine species.

Methodology and Results

The team focused on 31 native species—19 macroalgae and 12 halophytes—resulting in 58 aqueous extracts prepared using controlled laboratory conditions. Each extract was evaluated using the disk diffusion technique against a spectrum of pathogenic microorganisms:

Standard strains such as Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, Candida albicans, and Enterococcus faecalis, and
Antibiotic-resistant clinical isolates, including Klebsiella pneumoniae, Citrobacter freundii, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Candida krusei.

The findings were striking. Seven extracts, primarily from the brown algae Bifurcaria bifurcata and Fucus spiralis, demonstrated significant antimicrobial activity. Notably, some extracts inhibited the growth of both standard and resistant strains, and at least one extract showed broad-spectrum effectiveness against six different microbial types. This underscores the untapped pharmaceutical potential of marine flora and opens new avenues for further study.

Moreover, the results revealed that bioactivity varied depending on collection site, indicating that environmental conditions and geographic origin may influence the expression of antimicrobial compounds—a discovery with implications for marine conservation, resource mapping, and selective harvesting strategies.

Capacity Building and Public Engagement

As part of the grant’s implementation, the University of Coimbra hired a full-time researcher who is also completing a master’s thesis in Microbiology based on the project’s findings. The team also organized a dissemination session at the Vasco da Gama Aquarium in Lisbon and prepared a short documentary (113 seconds) to visually communicate the project’s scope and potential impact.

The first phase of the project has been completed with the initial 70% of the FAM Grant, and the remaining 30% is being used to deepen laboratory testing, refine extract characterization, and potentially initiate the development of pre-clinical models for select compounds.

Please find more information on the report above

A Promising Future

With global antibiotic development pipelines dwindling and microbial resistance on the rise, the “Macroalgae and Halophytes” project illustrates how local marine biodiversity—when responsibly explored—can play a central role in finding global solutions. It also exemplifies the FAM Foundation’s commitment to high-impact research at the intersection of marine science, public health, and sustainable development.

By investing in frontier research such as this, the FAM Foundation continues to fulfill its mission to protect marine ecosystems, support scientific innovation, and improve lives through strategic philanthropy.

Please find more information on the report above.

FAM Foundation is committed with the sustainable development goals, Exploiting the power of Portuguese macroalgae and halophytes: A promising approach to tackle antibiotic resistance project impact the following SGD's.

The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), also known as the Global Goals, were adopted by the United Nations in 2015 as a universal call to action to end poverty, protect the planet, and ensure that by 2030 all people enjoy peace and prosperity.