From salt fields to genetic data
In Hon Khoi, Khanh Hoa , samples collected from the salt-making environment have opened up a new avenue of research into marine resources. This research focuses not on salt production or fisheries resources, but on microorganisms capable of surviving in harsh conditions.
According to results published by the Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology in July 2025, scientists from the Institute of Oceanography, in collaboration with Italian colleagues, isolated 27 strains of highly salt-tolerant microorganisms from samples collected at Hon Khoi. Five strains were identified as belonging to the group of halophilic archaea. Several strains were selected for whole-genome sequencing to study their adaptability and potential applications.
This research adds to the collection of nearly 2,000 marine microbial strains currently housed at the Institute of Oceanography, aiming to build a national marine microbial bank. The potential of enzymes for the biotechnology industry is revealed from these tiny organisms, although further research and testing are still needed from discovery to commercial product.