Caister Academic Press

Frontiers in Marine Biotechnology

Publisher: Horizon Bioscience
Editor: Peter Proksch Institut für Pharmazeutische Biologie, Heinrich-Heine-Universität, Düsseldorf, Germany
and Werner E. G. Müller Institut für Physiologische Chemie, Abteilung Angewandte, Molekularbiologie, Universität Mainz, Mainz, Germany
Publication date: 01 March 2006
ISBN-10: 1-904933-18-1
ISBN-13: 978-1-904933-18-2
Pages: vi + 368

One of the most exciting aspects of marine biotechnology is bioprospecting: the search for new natural compounds that can be used as novel pharmaceuticals, healthcare products, agrichemicals for crop protection, and novel bioremediation agents for environmental protection. A new marine-derived analgesic drug, ziconotide (trade name "prialt"), was recently licensed in the USA and other drugs, currently in the late stages of clinical trials, are likely to follow soon. This has fuelled enormous interest in marine biotechnology.

This book critically reviews the most innovative strategies to exploit the full potential of many novel natural compounds, to understand their complex structures and to increase their inherent low yields. The authors discuss the genetics and molecular biology of the bioactive compound biosynthesis, the identification of the organisms involved and the methodologies for sustainable product production.

Topics covered include the isolation and characterization of biosynthetic gene clusters, the cloning and expression of the genes in recombinant systems, mariculture and aquaculture of marine invertebrates such as bryozoans, sponges, and tunicates, and the isolation, cultivation and fermentation of microorganisms from their invertebrate hosts. The chemical structures of hundreds of compounds are illustrated and their properties and potential applications detailed. Containing over 1000 references, this book is an essential resource for everyone involved in marine biotechnology today and provides a unique insight into the rapidly expanding initiative to find "New Drugs from the Sea".

"a most recent account ... I suggest one not miss Proksch and Müller's book." from Marine Biotechnology (November 2006)

Key Features:

•   Fully Up-To-Date

•   Reviews the Most Important Issues

•   Expert International Authors

•   Extensive Reference Sections

Chapter List:

Chapter 1
Implications of Marine Biotechnology on Drug Discovery
Peter Proksch, Ru Angelie Edrada, and Wen Han Lin

Chapter 2
The Promise of Aquaculture for Delivering Sustainable Supplies of New Drugs From The Sea: Examples From In-Sea and Tank-Based Invertebrate Culture Projects From Around The World
Dominick Mendola, Santiago A. Naranjo Lozano, Alan R. Duckworth, and Ronald Osinga

Chapter 3
Secondary Metabolites From Marine-derived Fungi
Rainer Ebel

Chapter 4
Microalgae as a Source of Bioactive Molecules: Special Problems and Methodology
Yuzuru Shimizu and Bo Li

Chapter 5
The Secondary Metabolites and Biosynthetic Gene Clusters of Marine Cyanobacteria. Applications in Biotechnology
Aishwarya V. Ramaswamy, Patricia M. Flatt, Daniel J. Edwards, T. Luke Simmons, Bingnan Han and William H. Gerwick

Chapter 6
Marine Bacterial Metabolites
Hartmut Laatsch

Chapter 7
Microorganisms of Sponges: Phylogenetic Diversity and Biotechnological Potential
Matthias Scheuermayer, Sheila Pimentel-Elardo, Lars Fieseler, Lubomir Grozdanov, and Ute Hentschel

Chapter 8
How Does a Marine Sponge Suberites domuncula Cope With the Epibacterial Threat? Experimental Evidence From Molecular Biological Approach
Narsinh L. Thakur and Werner E. G. MMüller

Chapter 9
Genomic and Metagenomic Strategies to Identify Biosynthetic Gene Clusters in Uncultivated Symbionts of Marine Invertebrates
Daniel Butzke and Jörn Piel

(EAN: 9781904933182)