Business trip report, Greece, Kuebutornye

Institution: Hellenic Centre for Marine Research (HCMR), Crete, Greece

Duration: 4th May – 3rd June 2025

Supervisor: Prof. Pantelis Katharios

Funding: AQUAEXCEL TNA Grant (PID35187)

From 4^th May to 3^rd June 2025, I undertook a research internship at the Hellenic Centre for Marine Research (HCMR), Crete, Greece, under the supervision of Prof. Pantelis Katharios. The internship was funded by the AQUAEXCEL TNA grant (PID35187).

The primary objectives were to evaluate the antibacterial properties of fish-pond microbiota against a broad range of fish pathogens and to investigate their genomic characteristics. During the internship, seven fish-pond bacterial isolates were tested for their inhibitory effects against 15 fish pathogens belonging to the genera Aeromonas, Vibrio, and Edwardsiella.Subsequently, the whole genomes of the isolates were sequenced, annotated, and characterized.

This experience significantly enhanced my expertise in antibacterial assays, bacterial whole-genome analysis, and bioinformatics, as well as strengthened my interpersonal and collaborative skills. I am sincerely grateful to the AQUAEXCEL TNA program for supporting this valuable training and research opportunity.