Developing cell lines for cultivated seafood
2020-2023
Dr. Kevan Main and Dr. Cathy Walsh are identifying species, developing methodology, and creating cell lines for optimal cultivated seafood at Mote Marine Laboratory in Florida.
PRODUCTION PLATFORM: Cultivated
TECHNOLOGY SECTOR: Cell line development
Project aims
Isolating cells is a primary initial R&D challenge for many cultivated meat companies. Procuring existing cell lines or establishing new lines also presents a barrier to entry for academic researchers wishing to contribute to advances in cultivated meat. Mote Marine’s GFI-funded research focuses on addressing this issue through the development and characterization of cell lines for aquatic species.
Phase 1: Creating redfish and shrimp cell lines
Phase 1 of this project aims to develop cell lines from redfish (Sciaenops ocellatus) and whiteleg shrimp (Litopenaeus vannamei) to characterize those cells’ proliferative properties and differentiation potential. Through this work, growth media formulations that allow for the proliferation of the developed cell lines and exploring methods for inducing myogenesis in the created cell lines will also be developed. Additionally, this work will lower the barrier to entry for other researchers in the field of cultivated seafood by eliminating the need to develop their own cell lines. It will also advance the field by furthering our knowledge of cell line research from aquatic animals and helping to select optimal species for future cell line development.
Phase 2: Cell characterization, myogenesis, and cell expansion
Phase 2 of this project adds an additional species to the cell line development work: the marine finfish Almaco Jack (Seriola rivoliana). This work will help develop myogenesis protocols for the differentiation of the cell lines into muscle. It will also result in research tools such as well-characterized cell lines and differentiation protocols that will aid in the development of cultivated fish and seafood.
Principal researchers
2020-2021
Dr. Kevan Main
Senior Scientist & Program Manager, Mote Marine Laboratory, USA
Dr. Main has led Mote Marine’s aquaculture programs since 2001 and holds extensive experience in developing sustainable aquaculture methods for multiple species.
2021-2023
Dr. Cathy Walsh
Associate Vice President for Research, Senior Scientist, & Program Manager, Mote Marine Laboratory, USA
Dr. Walsh has served as Mote Marine’s quality assurance officer since 2000 and has extensive expertise in marine cell culture and immunology.
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