Genesis of MMS Biotechnology Research

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MMSs Biotechnology Initiative
The Gulf of Mexico OCS off Louisiana
by Ken Turgeon Chief Scientist
The Pacific OCS off southern California
OCS Policy Committee meeting
October 25, 2000
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Genesis of MMS Biotechnology Research

• National Ocean Conference, June 11-12, 1998
• Biotechnology is a major discussion topic
• Turning to the Sea Americas Ocean Future
• Sept. 1999 Cabinet report to the President
  recommends biotechnology research and sustainable
  bioharvesting
• Ocean Task Force -- created by Pres. Clinton
• Adopts biotechnology as 1 of 11 key action items
• MMS develops biotech. res. proj. for OTF
  consideration
• OTF approves MMS plan -- sees it as cornerstone
  effort
• MMS projects cited in the OTFs report to the
  President

MMS
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Synopsis of MMS research effort

• Determine taxonomic and genetic diversity found
  on offshore oil and gas platforms
• Determine if selected organisms on platforms have
  compounds of potential application to
  pharmaceutical and other commercial uses
• Rationale platforms might serve as sites for
  harvesting marine bioproducts thus mitigating
  need to disturb natural ecosystems
• Conduct research through LSU UCSB CMIs
• Each project is 1 million total over 2 years
• co-funded equally by MMS and the States

MMS
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CMI Biotechnology Research Teams
LSU UCSB
Dr. Larry Rouse 1 Dr. Russ Schmitt 1 Dr. Laurie
Anderson Dr. Jennifer Dugan Dr. Russ
Chapman Dr. Scott Hodges Dr. Dave Foltz Dr.
Bob Jacobs Dr. Mike Hellberg Dr. Henry Page Dr.
Fred Rainey Dr. Les Wilson Dr. Barun Sen
Gupta Dr. Steve Gaines Dr. Suzanne Fredericq
2 1 CMI Director and Research Team Leader 2
University of Louisiana at Lafayette
MMS
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MMS Biotechnology Projects Kick-off

• Signing ceremonies took place at LSU and UCSB on
  September 27, 2000
• DOI officials attending UCSB signing
• -- David Hayes, Deputy Secretary
• -- Bill Brown, Science Advisor to the Secretary
• -- Tom Kitsos, MMS Deputy Director
• -- Lisle Reed, MMS Pacific Regional Director
• DOI officials attending LSU signing
• -- Roger McManus, Ocean Advisor to the Secretary
• -- Walt Rosenbusch, MMS Director
• -- Chris Oynes, MMS Gulf of Mexico Regional
  Director
• -- Ken Turgeon, Chief Scientist

MMS
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Some Marine Bioproducts of Interest

• Coumarins
• -- combat tumor growth promote wound healing
• -- over 1,300 types found in terrestial
  organisms
• very few found to date in marine
  organisms
• Eicosanoids
• -- produced by unicell protists and chlorophytes
• -- anti-inflammatories
• Bryostatin
• -- produced by symbiotic bacteria in bryozoans
• -- combats growth of cultured cancer cells
• -- cannot be synthesized yet (cost gt 2,300/mg)

MMS
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Some Marine Bioproducts of Interest

• Bacterial compounds
• -- many potential pharmaceutical applications,
• especially in area of antibiotics
  enzymes
• Bio-adhesives
• -- found in attached agglutinated organisms
• -- foraminifera mollusks will be
  investigated

MMS
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Divers examine biofouling on understructure of
a platform off southern California
MMS
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Bryozoan encrustation on a Gulf of
Mexico platform
MMS
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Close-up views of bryozoans growing on legs of
oil and gas platforms
MMS