MARBLES partners contribute to ISBA2025: Advancing actinomycete research
The MARBLES project is proud to highlight the involvement of its partners at the 20th International Symposium on the Biology of Actinomycetes (ISBA2025), held from 15–19 June 2025 in Egmond aan Zee, the Netherlands. This prestigious event brought together leading scientists and emerging researchers to explore cutting-edge developments in actinomycete biology, genetics, ecology and biotechnology.
The local organising committee included the MARBLES coordination team, Gilles van Wezel and Mariana Avalos Garcia (Leiden University (ULEI)). ISBA2025 featured an extensive scientific programme, including 12 symposia, seven plenary lectures, interactive workshops and networking sessions designed to foster collaboration across disciplines. The symposium’s theme, “Where Talent Meets Experience”, reflects its mission to connect established experts with early-career researchers in a dynamic exchange of ideas.
MARBLES partners contributed to several sessions, here are a few:
- Genomics of Natural Products Biosynthesis – chaired by MARBLES partner Marnix Medema (Wageningen University (WU)), focusing on innovative approaches to uncover and engineer biosynthetic pathways.
- Industrial Applications and Biotechnology – chaired by MARBLES Scientific Advisory Board (SAB) member Paul Hoskisson and MARBLES partner Olga Genilloud (MEDINA), highlighting the translation of actinomycete research into sustainable biotechnological solutions.
- Plenary 4: Tropodithietic acid – a multifunctional bacterial secondary metabolite by MARBLES partner Lone Gram (DTU)
- MARBLES SAB member Paul R. Jensen presented: Actinobacterial compounds and their ecological functions in marine sediments
- MARBLES partner Andrea Del Rio (ULEI) presented: Ecology-inspired approaches to identify elicitors and activate silent BGCs in sponge-associated Streptomyces
- Plenary 6: Harnessing Actinomycetes for Plant Stress Resilience by MARBLES partner Jos Raaijmakers (ULEI)
- Poster presentation by MARBLES partner Stephen Jackson (University College Cork (UCC)): Growth inhibition of the fish pathogen Aeromonas salmonicida subsp. achromogenes by Streptomyces sp. B188M101, isolated deep-sea sponge
- Poster presentation by MARBLES partner Andrea Del Rio (ULEI): Marine environments as sustainable resource of new microbial and chemical diversity
The symposium included plenary talks from global leaders in microbial biotechnology, reinforcing the importance of actinomycetes in producing antibiotics, enzymes and other bioactive compounds critical for health and industry.
By actively engaging in ISBA2025, MARBLES partners continue to advance the project’s mission of unlocking marine actinomycetes for novel bioactive compounds, fostering innovation in sustainable drug discovery and marine biotechnology.
Learn more, explore the full ISBA2025 programme
