The 4th International Aquatic Biotechnology Symposium was held in Naples, Italy, from September 9 to 11, bringing together leading specialists in aquatic ecosystems and aquatic biotechnology.
At the conference, Lilit Harutyunyan, a student in the "Drug Quality Control" master's program at YSU Institute of Pharmacy, presented the findings of her research group to the international scientific community in an oral presentation titled "Diversity of Cyanophages in Lake Sevan and Their Potential Impact on Harmful Cyanobacterial Blooms."
We spoke with Lilit Harutyunyan about her impressions of the conference, the ecological challenges facing Lake Sevan, and natural approaches to addressing them.
- Lilit, tell us about the 4th International Aquatic Biotechnology Symposium. What was the main purpose of your participation?
- At first glance, it may seem like a highly specialized conference, but in fact it covers a fairly broad range of topics and opens up extensive opportunities. It is a platform that brings together everyone who studies organisms inhabiting aquatic ecosystems and explores ways of putting them to practical use.
The main purpose of my participation was to introduce professionals in the field to the research conducted by our scientific group and present its results and potential applications. It was also important to familiarize myself with international innovations in this branch of science and to hear opinions, criticism and new ideas that could be incorporated into our work. My participation fully met my expectations.
- In simple terms, what are cyanophages, and what role do they play in the ecosystem of Lake Sevan?
- Cyanophages are viruses that kill cyanobacteria responsible for toxic blooms in bodies of water. To properly assess the role of cyanophages, we first need to understand how dangerous cyanobacteria can be. In addition to gradually swamping the lake, they produce various types of toxins that affect the entire biodiversity. These toxins can accumulate in organisms and pose a health risk to other organisms that feed on them, including humans.
Cyanophages are among the unique natural factors that regulate bloom dynamics. Therefore, they may also help prevent blooms.
- Can these viruses become a natural "weapon" against blooms in Lake Sevan?
- Yes, they can. This approach is a classic example of phage therapy. Phage therapy is an antibacterial method that is becoming increasingly important worldwide and is based on targeting harmful bacteria with highly specific bacteriophages, or viruses.
- What kind of interest did your research on Lake Sevan generate among international scientists?
- I am proud to say that the work carried out by our group generated considerable interest among scientists from different countries working in various fields. There was a logical reason for this: our work involved fieldwork, laboratory research, metagenomic analyses and theoretical studies, which were related in one way or another to the work of many of the participants.
- What are your research group's next steps and plans?
- This conference opened up new opportunities for cooperation in several areas at once. Our key task in the near future is therefore to strengthen the connections already established through substantive cooperation, using them to advance science and address this nationwide challenge facing our country.
Speaking about all this, I cannot fail to mention our group. The contribution of my scientific supervisor, Professor Hovik Panosyan, to the success of each of us is invaluable. I am grateful to our group members Razmik Sargsyan and Mane Tadevosyan, whose contributions helped make this work worthy of presentation to the scientific community.
Our work has also been greatly influenced by the group led by Professor Marina Tadiashvili of the George Eliava Institute in Tbilisi. Our cooperation, carried out within the framework of a grant provided by the Higher Education and Science Committee (grant code: 25SRNSF-1F020), produced rewarding results.
It is encouraging to note that students of the Institute of Pharmacy not only master modern scientific methodologies but also represent Armenian science with distinction at prestigious international conferences.
