BMC Seminar - marine polysaccharides and their immunomodulatory effects

BMC Seminar February 5th at 12:30-13:10 in Árnagarður, room 306.

Speaker: Monica Daugbjerg Christensen, PhD, Specialist at Matís, Reykjavík

Title: Refining marine polysaccharides and their immunomodulatory effects    

Abstract: Brown seaweed contains structurally diverse polysaccharides with promising bioactive properties, yet their immunomodulatory potential remains underexplored. Here, we investigate how enzymatic refining alters these marine polysaccharides and their effects on immune cell function.

First, laminarin from three seaweed species (Laminaria digitata, L. hyperborea, and Saccharina latissima) was extracted and enzymatically refined into structurally distinct derivatives. These derivatives regulated dendritic cell activity in a size- and branching-dependent manner, suggesting that controlled enzymatic processing can tailor laminarin’s immune-modulating properties for specific therapeutic applications.

Second, fucoidan from S. latissima was refined into low molecular weight fractions, which significantly suppressed pro-inflammatory cytokine secretion by dendritic cells, highlighting potential anti-inflammatory benefits.

These findings demonstrate that targeted enzymatic modifications can reshape the immunomodulatory activity of marine polysaccharides, supporting sustainable utilization of seaweed biomass and the development of high-value bioactive products for pharmaceutical and nutraceutical applications.

Biography: Monica Daugbjerg Christensen was born in Denmark and pursued her studies in Biology and Biotechnology at the University of Copenhagen, where she earned both her B.Sc. and M.Sc. degrees. During her master’s research, she developed a strong interest in cell and molecular biology in plants. This interest later evolved toward the marine environment when she joined the Department of Biotechnology at Matís ohf for an internship, which led to a collaboration for her Ph.D. with the Faculty of Food Science and Nutrition at the University of Iceland and the Department of Immunology at Landspitali. Monica successfully defended her doctoral thesis and was awarded her Ph.D. degree in October 2025. For her future research, she aims to go deeper into understanding the underlying mechanisms of how and why seaweed polysaccharides and their derivatives can benefit human health.