Biotechnology
Biotechnology: from the enzyme to the algorithm
Biotechnology at SMBI Tangier follows a research path built over more than twenty years. Students learn the methods as they were developed and applied, from the laboratory bench to the computer. The program is taught by Pr. Amal Maurady.
Twenty years of research, one program
It began with the study of enzymes. Over the years the work grew to include microbial genomics, bioinformatics, natural products and AI-driven drug discovery, always with a practical aim.
The program follows that path. Students move between the bench and the computer, from sampling and sequencing to modelling and prediction, and learn from methods that have been published and tested.
Enzymes and biosensors
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How enzymes work
Work on the catalytic mechanism of fructose-1,6-bisphosphate aldolase, published in the Journal of Biological Chemistry, showed how a single amino acid can drive a reaction.
2002
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An oxygen biodetector
Polyphenol oxidase was used to build a colorimetric oxygen sensor, protected by a patent, and an optical method for detecting oxygen.
2016 to 2018
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Polyphenol oxidase in food
The same enzyme was characterized in blackberry and Mediterranean palm heart, including its inhibition by natural and non-toxic compounds.
2022 to 2024
Environment and sustainability
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Ports and climate
A study of the impact of maritime ports on climate change, with the Tangier Mediterranean port as the main case.
2019
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Management systems and indicators
Environmental management systems and monitoring indicators for ports, covering water pollution, waste, noise and air quality.
2019 to 2021
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Sustainability maturity and emissions
A sustainability maturity scale for port managers and an inventory of air emissions at the Tangier Mediterranean port.
2022 to 2023
Microbiomes and symbionts of insects
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Flies and their bacteria
Studies of Wolbachia and gut bacteria in the Hessian fly, the Mediterranean fruit fly and the tsetse fly, a vector of African trypanosomiasis.
2020 to 2023
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Agricultural pests
Bacterial communities of the barley stem gall midge, the olive fruit fly and the prickly pear cochineal across Moroccan regions, using high-throughput sequencing.
2023 to 2025
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MetaXplore
An interactive tool developed by the team for targeted metagenomic analysis of amplicon sequencing data.
2024
Computational drug discovery
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Neurodegenerative diseases
Molecular docking, QSAR, pharmacophore modelling and molecular dynamics to find inhibitors for Parkinson's disease, Alzheimer's disease and multiple sclerosis, using natural products from plants such as Stachys and Dendrobium.
2020 to 2026
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Infectious diseases
Screening for SARS-CoV-2 main protease inhibitors, an AI-guided antibiotic search against Acinetobacter baumannii confirmed in vitro, and anti-quorum-sensing strategies against Pseudomonas aeruginosa.
2020 to 2026
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Predictive models
Machine-learning models that predict blood-brain barrier permeability of drugs and the risk of cervical cancer from clinical features.
2022 to 2023
Plants, seeds and natural products
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Germination of Moroccan plants
Optimal germination conditions for threatened medicinal Stachys species, and for wild and cultivated blackberries of northern Morocco.
2022 to 2024
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Seeds and seed oil
The fatty acid composition and antioxidant potential of Stachys germanica seed oil, and a comparison of seed traits across seven Moroccan Stachys species.
2026
Nanobiotechnology
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Nanoparticles against resistant bacteria
Silver, zinc oxide and copper oxide nanoparticles tested against the quorum sensing systems of Pseudomonas aeruginosa.
2023 to 2024
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Nanocomposites and coatings
Graphene oxide and silver nanocomposites stabilized with PDDA, and a patented dip-coating device for depositing thin films.
2023 to 2026
What this means for students
You will be trained in enzymology, microbiology, bioinformatics, natural-product research and sustainable practice. This prepares you for careers in research, health, agriculture and the environment. Become a member to register for courses.
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