Impact of Marine Chemical Ecology Research on the Discovery and Development of New Pharmaceuticals

Abstract

Diverse ecologically important metabolites, such as allelochemicals, infochemicals and volatile organic chemicals, are involved in marine organismal interactions. Chemically mediated interactions between intra- and interspecific organisms can have a significant impact on community organization, population structure and ecosystem functioning. Advances in analytical techniques, microscopy and genomics are providing insights on the chemistry and functional roles of the metabolites involved in such interactions. This review highlights the targeted translational value of several marine chemical ecology-driven research studies and their impact on the sustainable discovery of novel therapeutic agents. These chemical ecology-based approaches include activated defense, allelochemicals arising from organismal interactions, spatio-temporal variations of allelochemicals and phylogeny-based approaches. In addition, innovative analytical techniques used in the mapping of surface metabolites as well as in metabolite translocation within marine holobionts are summarized. Chemical information related to the maintenance of the marine symbioses and biosyntheses of specialized compounds can be harnessed for biomedical applications, particularly in microbial fermentation and compound production. Furthermore, the impact of climate change on the chemical ecology of marine organisms—especially on the production, functionality and perception of allelochemicals—and its implications on drug discovery efforts will be presented.

Study of marine microorganism metabolites: new resources for bioactive natural products

“…Avila and Angulo-Preckler demonstrated that P. tunicata -produced marine bacteria have a competitive edge over their fungi counterparts in surface colonization. Additionally, P. tunicata -derived yellow chemical molecule, tamjamine, is believed to possess antibacterial properties ( Avila and Angulo-Preckler, 2020 ) that effectively suppress the growth of staphylococci and bacilli ( Tan, 2023 ).…”

Marine Resources Offer New Compounds and Strategies for the Treatment of Skin and Soft Tissue Infections

“…Accordingly, screening campaigns revealed marine organisms as a particularly rich source of secondary metabolites with potential antimicrobial activity. Many marine organisms, such as sponges, corals, and algae, produce secondary metabolites as part of their defense against microbial pathogens in their environment necessary for organisms with a sessile lifestyle in a water environment [28,29]. Bioprospecting of the marine environment has gained much attention in recent years owing to its massive chemical and biological diversity [30].…”

Marine Toxins as Pharmaceutical Treasure Troves: A Focus on Saxitoxin Derivatives from a Computational Point of View

“…Marine organisms hold significant potential in becoming vital resources for the exploration of novel pharmaceuticals [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]. Notably, marine toxins, which mainly include toxic compounds of dinoflagellates, diatoms, and cyanobacteria by bivalve mollusks and other filter-feeding organisms such as algae in marine environments, stand out in this regard.…”

“…Notably, marine toxins, which mainly include toxic compounds of dinoflagellates, diatoms, and cyanobacteria by bivalve mollusks and other filter-feeding organisms such as algae in marine environments, stand out in this regard. The chemical and biological diversity exhibited by marine toxins is vast, rendering them an exceptional reservoir for uncovering new medications [ 1 , 2 , 3 ].…”