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Abstract
Natural products remain a critical source of new therapeutics, and the emergence of novel diseases highlights the need for new drug classes. Teredinibacter turnerae T7901, a bacterial symbiont of shipworms, dedicates a large portion of its genome to secondary metabolite biosynthesis and the production of enzymes for wood degradation. This study used microarray and qRT‑PCR analyses to characterize the regulatory systems controlling these secondary metabolite and carbohydrate‑active gene clusters. Bioassays identified antimicrobial activities linked to phosphate‑ and iron‑regulated pathways, and protein analyses revealed components of siderophore uptake. Results support the symbiont’s dual role in nutrient acquisition and chemical defense, and establish optimized conditions for future discovery of bioactive metabolites and cellulolytic enzymes with biotechnological potential.