Discovery of New Microorganisms Fuels Ambition to Build New Industry From Sargassum

BRIDGETOWN, Barbados – A University of the West Indies (UWI) scientist has named as Barbados,  three new species of microorganisms in decomposing sargassum that he has since described as a “cell factory” with the potential to produce more than 20 novel antibiotics.

“This is the first time, actually, the microorganisms have been named after Barbados,” Dr Bidyut Mohapatra told the online publication Barbados TODAY, adding “there are no microorganisms that existed before with the name of Barbados”.

Mohapatra told the publication that the findings, validated by the National Centre for Biotechnology Information (NCBI) in the United States and specialised culture collections in Belgium and Germany, mark a historic first for Barbados.

“I could have taken my name, but I prefer to give credit to the country, actually, first. That is the important one… we have to give credit to the country,”  said the Cave Hill campus-based scientist.

“It’s a natural hub. The microbe will produce enzymes as well as antibiotics, both at the same time,” said Mohapatra, noting that beyond healthcare, the bacteria “also eat plastics”, offering a potential breakthrough for plastic degradation.

He said the microbes can facilitate “environmentally sustainable degradation”, breaking sargassum down into biofuels and agricultural chemicals.

The American Society for Microbiology has invited Dr Mohapatra to Washington next month to present his findings – an honour extended to only six fellows worldwide.

The breakthrough also answers a call to action by Danish chemist Professor Morten Meldal, the 2022 Nobel laureate, who recently urged Caribbean scientists to pursue sargassum-related innovations.

Despite intense interest from international industrial players, Mohapatra – who self-funded the decadelong project using “pocket money” – remains committed to national development.

“Many industries are approaching me to go but my main goal is to do something for Barbados. Not to give it to some other countries and they can go ahead and do that,” he told the publication, adding that the aim is to ensure the economic benefits of the discovery remain within the Caribbean.

Mohapatra also gave an assurance that the microbes are non-pathogenic and naturally occurring.

“It is not a pathogen. It doesn’t produce toxins or anything like that. It is a part of the soil ecosystem,”  he told the Barbados TODAY, adding “since the bacteria were isolated from sargassum already on Barbadian shores, they are already a safe, integrated part of the environment.

“It’s from the same systems here… that’s why there’s a lot of interest now.”