Project background
Biofouling is a natural phenomenon that affects submerged structures, boats, docks, and anchors, adding significant costs to Minnesota’s industries and serving as a vector for the spread of numerous invasive species in Minnesota waters. A current method of combating biofouling involves the use of metals or other biocides, which are harmful to the environment. MAISRC researchers aim to evaluate eco-friendly, biological coatings to reduce biofouling, control the spread of aquatic invasive species (AIS), and advance knowledge on zebra mussels.
This project is currently in its fourth phase, developing non-toxic, enzyme-based antifouling coatings to limit the spread of zebra mussels. Building on earlier phases of this project showing that enzyme coatings can reduce both general biofouling and zebra mussel attachment, the team now aims to improve performance through multi-enzyme formulations. The effort is designed to provide an environmentally safe alternative to conventional toxic coatings, support Minnesota industries affected by fouling, and help curb the spread of zebra mussels. New evidence that zebra mussels may respond to microbial signals also opens opportunities to explore mechanisms that influence movement and settlement.
The project has three main objectives:
- Conduct laboratory and field evaluations of multi-enzyme coating formulations.
- Advance production scale-up and assess ecotoxicity.
- Investigate molecular pathways that govern zebra mussel movement, adhesion, and responsiveness to microbial signals.
The team will use established biochemical and microbiological methods, engineered stable enzymes, and field deployments across multiple Minnesota waters. Coated samples will be submerged, analyzed for fouling and mussel attachment, and paired with microbiome data to identify links among water conditions, microbial communities, and attachment. A dedicated tracking system will also be used to examine how zebra mussels respond to microbial cues.
Phase I
Project Manager: Mikael Elias, Principal Investigator, Associate Professor, College of Biological Sciences, University of Minnesota
Funded by: Environment and Natural Resources Trust Fund as recommended by the Legislative-Citizen Commission on Minnesota Resources
Project title: Evaluating Innovative Coatings to Suppress Priority AIS
Project timeline: 2019-2020
Research findings:
Researchers successfully produced an antifouling paint with an enzyme (GcL). The enzyme-embedded paint was applied to coupons at different sites in Minnesota, including the Duluth-Superior Harbor, the Tonka Bay Marina at Lake Minnetonka, and the Mississippi River UMN docks (Twin Cities campus). The experimental coupons were monitored at multiple timepoints during the 2019 field season.
Sample analysis revealed that the enzyme-embedded coating inhibits biofouling at all of the different sites, and more specifically inhibited the adhesion of zebra mussels. These results provide evidence that this coating technology has the potential to reduce the adhesion of sessile aquatic invasive species to surfaces in several real world settings.
Phase II
Project Manager: Mikael Elias, Principal Investigator, Associate Professor, College of Biological Sciences, University of Minnesota
Research team: Reed Jacobson, Graduate scholar
Project title: Evaluating Innovative Coatings to Suppress Priority AIS
Project timeline: 2020-2023
Funding: MAISRC and the Environment and Natural Resources Trust Fund as recommended by the Legislative-Citizen Commission on Minnesota Resources
Research findings:
MAISRC researchers improved their enzymatic coating formulation process, producing coatings with a ~10-fold reduction in enzyme leakage. They initiated and conducted field experiments at various experimental sites across Minnesota to evaluate the effectiveness of lactonase-based coatings in inhibiting the adhesion of aquatic invasive species on surfaces, including in real-world scenarios, such as application on boats.
Preliminary sample analysis indicates that differently formulated enzymatic coatings reduce zebra mussel adhesion. Additional sampling, coupled with sequencing, will be used to correlate changes in biofouling rates with alterations in bacterial community composition, providing unique and critical insights into the role of signal disruption in biofouling.
Phase III
Project Manager: Mikael Elias, Principal Investigator, Associate Professor, College of Biological Sciences, University of Minnesota
Research team: Reed Jacobson, Graduate scholar
Project title: Development of durable, potent biologicals to mitigate the spread of sessile AIS
Project timeline: 2024-2025
Funding: MAISRC and the Environment and Natural Resources Trust Fund as recommended by the Legislative-Citizen Commission on Minnesota Resources
Research findings:
The research team improved its formulas and confirmed that the enzyme they are developing works well with many common materials, which means it could be used more widely than expected. Field tests helped explain why results were sometimes inconsistent, and the team learned that the time of year affects how biofouling builds up - something they plan to study more closely.
Laboratory studies also showed that zebra mussels react to certain microbial systems, which can change how strongly they attach to surfaces; this work will continue with partner researchers. Production methods improved through collaboration with the Biotechnology Resource Center, helping get the technology closer to practical use.