London, Aug 8: Novel marine microbes could open the way to more efficient and greener ways to manufacture new drugs for epilepsy, diabetes, flu and other viruses.

Micro-organisms account for more than 95 percent of ocean biomass but relatively little is known about them and their potential applications.

Researchers from Heriot-Watt University (HWU) and Plymouth Marine Lab (PML) in Britain along with Ingenza Ltd are looking for industrially relevant enzymes in marine microbes, which will reduce waste and increase productivity in the manufacture of drugs and agrochemicals.

The research project uses biochemical techniques to identify such potentially useful enzymes.

"We are now identifying microbes with a type of enzyme called an amine oxidase. This could be key to cheaper, more efficient and sustainable process in the synthesis of valuable chemicals by both the pharmaceutical and agrochemical," said Mark Keane, professor at HWU.

The research has been published in the new look Business.