In the current context of climatic and ecological changes, considering that more than 50% of agricultural production loss is caused by abiotic stresses and that phytosanitary products used against pests are widely criticized, there is an urgent need to find new solutions for a sustainable agriculture increasing productivity and helping plants to grow in adverse environments focusing on nature-based solutions such as biostimulants. Within a few years, the use of biostimulants and low-concern substances (PNPP) with biostimulant use (SNUB) in agriculture is of growing interest. In contrast with this increased interest, there is no fully harmonized definition for the concept of biostimulant, almost no scientific information for SNUB and most importantly no uniform scoring method developed to validate their efficiencies. In addition, several of these products are rich of glycomolecules. However, only very few studies, considered them as active molecules in biostimulation. Therefore, a considerable piece of work is necessary to achieve a comprehensive understanding of the mechanisms responsible for the activity of the biostimulants, SNUB and glycans that they contain. This project comes within the scope of contributing to the knowledge on these preparations. It is aiming to promote mode-of-action of biostimulants activities by using large-scale approaches at different levels (morphological, physiological, biochemical and molecular) using several high-throughput tools (phenomics, glycomics, transcriptomics, proteomics, metabolomics and ionomics).

Monoclonal antibodies (mAb) used to treat cancers, immune and infectious diseases represent a multibillion dollar industry. Chinese Hamster Ovary cells are currently the gold standard. However, high expense, potential virus contamination and mAb heterogeneity represent major drawbacks that drive scientists to seek alternatives. Among these, the diatom P. tricornutum represent an option because of (i) its robustness in industrial process, (ii) its ability to be cultivated in mixotrophy, (iii) its genome availability and possibility to be genetically engineered. The proof of concept in P. tricornutum has already been exemplified through the production of a glycosylated mAb. A human-like N-glycosylation is now required for mAb optimal safety and efficacy when used in human therapies. Therefore, we propose to engineer the N-glycosylation pathway of P. tricornutum by gene silencing and expressing heterologous enzymes, thus allowing galactosylated algae-made mAb production.

The LabCom SEASIDES aims to set up a collaborative research and development structure between the Glyco-MEV laboratory (Glycobiology and Plant Extracellular Matrix - EA4358) at the University of Rouen Normandy and ETI ALGAIA. This LabCom aims to bring together in a structuring project these two partners who have scientific and technological expertise on plant and seaweeds glycomolecules and their uses. The Glyco-MEV works in plant sciences and a part of researches is focused on structure, biosynthesis and functions of glycopolymers (polysaccharides, glycoproteins and proteoglycans) involved in plant growth, development and plant defense elicitors. This activity is now well recognized in the scientific community thanks to an excellent ranking during its last evaluation by the HCERES and publications in journals with high impact factor. The company ALGAIA is specialized in the production of bio-ingredients of marine origin (in particular glycomolecules such as carrageenans, alginates, fucoïdans, laminarans, ...) produced in a sustainable way for the agricultural, agroalimentary industries, cosmetics and nutraceuticals. It is present in the international market field of these industries. The two partners have common interests and objectives in understanding and valuing active molecules and glycomolecules. With this project, the two partners aim to find alternative uses of phytosanitary products in order to increase plant resistance to environmental stresses related to new agro-environmental issues. This will be done through tools / approaches of cellular biology, molecular biology and sustainable extraction of marine ingredients. The LabCom SEASIDES is a real opportunity in terms of partnership skills development in public and private R & D, industrial and scientific impact, employment and training. Its objective is to develop a collaborative, synergistic and innovative scientific activity between the laboratory and the company in order to (i) increase knowledge on marine bio-ingredients, (ii) enhance the fundamental knowledge on plants in the industrial field in connection with plant sectors by developing new diagnostic tools and new plant growth elicitors in response to abiotic and biotic stresses and iii) promoting agroecology in plant production according to ECOPHYTO plans in reducing intensive use of phytosanitary treatments.