POTENZIALI APPLICAZIONI BIOTECNOLOGICHE DEI POLICHETI HALLA PARTHENOPEIA (OENONIDAE) E HERMODICE CARUNCULATA (AMPHINOMIDAE)

Abstract

A few polychaetes have commercial value, being used as bait or in the fed industry. Recent research also evidenced that polychaetes could be a source of natural products and employed to exploit the organic wastes produced by fishery and aquaculture. In the present study, we offered mussels and clams simulating bivalve wastes to the polychaetes Halla parthenopeia (a valuable bait) and Hermodice carunculata (an invasive species in Central Mediterranean). We 1) evaluate of the activity of Hallachrome, a secundary metabolite produced by H. parthenopeia, on different bacterial strains and growth modes, and 2) use H. carunculata for the treatment of bivalve waste aimed at recovering and valorising the shells. Hallachrome inhibits the growth of Candida albicans and gram+ bacteria (MIC 0.06-0.25 mM) also in the biofilm growth mode. Fireworms were able to consume up to 0.5 kg of mussel meat per kg of worms per week, leaving almost clean shells.