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University of Sydney marine biologist Dr Elliot Scanes wants to ensure future generations can enjoy an Australian icon鈥攖he humble oyster.

Elliot has partnered with the NSW Department of Primary Industries to investigate oysters鈥� microbiota, or the bacteria, viruses, fungi and other single-celled animals that live within them.

All animals, be they oysters or humans, have microorganisms living inside them.

鈥淭hese microorganisms are really important to our health and wellbeing鈥� Elliot says. 鈥淏ut we鈥檙e really only just discovering how important they can be.鈥�

Elliot says oysters might not have as strong an immune response as mammals.

This, combined with their exposure to changing environments, leaves them vulnerable to diseases and other pathogens.

鈥淢icroorganisms associated with oysters are really important in helping them fight disease, and also be healthy in general鈥� Elliot says.

Elliot鈥檚 project has two parts; the first is looking at how climate change, especially the warming of the oceans, might affect the microbiota inside oysters.

The second is to see if existing techniques, such as selective breeding, can be used to improve that microbiota.

Elliot says it鈥檚 an area of research that has only recently been opened up by new techniques and equipment. 鈥淚t鈥檚 a clean slate, if you will, for us to begin to really explore these questions鈥� he says.

Elliot has always loved the coast, and marine biology was a natural fit.He enjoys research on oysters because it can both answer a lot of interesting questions in marine biology and improve food production.

鈥淥ysters are a real cultural icon in Australia鈥� Elliot says.

鈥淲e know that diseases are one of the biggest issues with oyster growing, so if we can wind that back a little bit, it鈥檒l be really rewarding to know that we actually helped the industry that way.鈥�

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Originally published by the聽.