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Sustainable use of deep-sea organisms collected for biomedical research
| Title: | Sustainable use of deep-sea organisms collected for biomedical research. |
 106 views 26 downloads |
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| Name(s): |
Reed, John K. Pomponi, Shirley A. |
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| Type of Resource: | text | |
| Genre: | Article | |
| Date Issued: | 2000 | |
| Publisher: | Intra Americas Sea Initiative | |
| Place of Publication: | Havana, Cuba | |
| Physical Form: | ||
| Extent: | 13 p. | |
| Language(s): | English | |
| Identifier: | FA00007394 (IID) | |
| Note(s): |
The oceans continue to provide new opportunities for the discovery of marine-derivedmedicines and the deep sea is relatively untapped. The Division of Biomedical MarineResearch (DBMR) at Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institution (HBOI) has conductedexpeditions worldwide to collect a unique set of marine microorganisms andinvertebrates, such as sponges and gorgonians, using the Johnson-Sea-Linksubmersibles to depths of 914 m. Discodermolide, a bioactive compound derived fromthe deep water sponges Discodermia spp., was discovered by HBOI and licensed fordevelopment as an anticancer drug. Other HBOI compounds in preclinical trials includetopsentins with potent antiinflammatory activity and lasonolides with antitumorproperties. With the discovery of marine bioproducts comes the challenge ofdeveloping techniques for the sustainable use of the source organisms. HBOI'sresearch in aquaculture, in vitro production (or cell culture), microbial fermentation andrecombinant production offer biological alternatives to harvesting the organisms.Current HBOI projects include recombinant production of novel anticancer compoundsfrom marine actinomycetes (filamentous bacteria), and the discovery of novel antifungalagents with activity against drug-resistant fungi. We are using DNA microarraytechnology to screen the genome of target sponges and develop in vitro methods tor theproduction of bioactive compounds. Another project focuses on the genetic diversitywithin the microbial community associated with deep water sponges. A criticalcomponent of this research is the ethical utilization of the host country's naturalresources and equitable sharing of properties and technologies. Florida Atlantic University. Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institute contribution 1381 This manuscript is an author version with the final publication available and may be cited as: Reed, J. K., & Pomponi, S. A. (2000). Sustainable use of deep-sea organisms collected for biomedical research. Proceedings of the MarCuba 2000, 5th Congress on Marine Sciences [CD]. Havana, Cuba: Intra Americas Sea Initiative. |
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| Subject(s): |
Biomedical Research Bioactive compounds Marine natural products |
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| Persistent Link to This Record: | http://purl.flvc.org/fau/fd/FA00007394 | |
| Host Institution: | FAU |
