(Fig. 11.4). Also isolated were diagnostic bacteria, hydrogen-oxidizing bacteria,
iron- and manganese-oxidizing bacteria, and methane-using bacteria. These special
bacteria are expected to prove useful in the future. Tube worms, shellfish, shrimp,
sea anemones, and other marine organisms were also found inhabiting the vicinity
of hydrothermal vents.
11.3 Bioactive Substances from Marine Microorganisms
Among marine microorganisms, bacteria and fungi are very important resources in
the hunt for future medicines and pesticides and the leading compounds for them.
Table 11.3 shows the number of new compounds isolated from marine bacteria and
fungi and the number of related reports. One important point concerning bioactive
substances from marine microorganisms is the production of secondary metabolites
from symbiosis or coexistence between microorganisms and other organisms
(Kobayashi et al. 1992).
While compounds in marine-derived actinomycetes and filamentous fungi are
often found to have similar structures to their land-based counterparts, the likelihood of discovering new compounds with special structures is higher than for
land-based fungi. This is believed to be due to changes in the secondary metabolic
system to adapt to a different living environment from land, including its salinity,
pressure, and temperatures.
Research attempts are currently being made at developing highly marine
environment-adapted bacteria and fungi, or those present in specific marine environments, into resources with greater usage value. Antimicrobial activity testing is
relatively simple, and active explorations are under way on antimicrobial substances in marine bacteria and fungi. Tables 11.4 and 11.5 show lists of new
Table 11.3 Chronology of new compounds from marine bacteria and fungi and related reports
Year
*86
87
88
89
90
91
92
93
94
95
Bacteria
No. of
reports
7
1
0
4
0
4
5
6
1 1
1 0
No. of
compounds
15
1
0
11
0
5
10
10
15
22
Fungi
No. of
reports
1
1
1
4
1
4
2
2
6
7
No. of
compounds
1
1
1
1 2
4
6
5
3
1 9
1 8
Year
96
97
98
99
00
01
02
03
Total
Bacteria
No. of reports
7
14
10
10
10
12
6
16
133
No. of compounds
12
31
16
25
22
26
15
38
274
Fungi
No. of reports
12
7
20
14
17
18
29
23
169
No. of compounds
24
20
44
31
48
34
79
54
404
390
11 Marine Microorganism Resources and Biotechnology
iron- and manganese-oxidizing bacteria, and methane-using bacteria. These special
bacteria are expected to prove useful in the future. Tube worms, shellfish, shrimp,
sea anemones, and other marine organisms were also found inhabiting the vicinity
of hydrothermal vents.
11.3 Bioactive Substances from Marine Microorganisms
Among marine microorganisms, bacteria and fungi are very important resources in
the hunt for future medicines and pesticides and the leading compounds for them.
Table 11.3 shows the number of new compounds isolated from marine bacteria and
fungi and the number of related reports. One important point concerning bioactive
substances from marine microorganisms is the production of secondary metabolites
from symbiosis or coexistence between microorganisms and other organisms
(Kobayashi et al. 1992).
While compounds in marine-derived actinomycetes and filamentous fungi are
often found to have similar structures to their land-based counterparts, the likelihood of discovering new compounds with special structures is higher than for
land-based fungi. This is believed to be due to changes in the secondary metabolic
system to adapt to a different living environment from land, including its salinity,
pressure, and temperatures.
Research attempts are currently being made at developing highly marine
environment-adapted bacteria and fungi, or those present in specific marine environments, into resources with greater usage value. Antimicrobial activity testing is
relatively simple, and active explorations are under way on antimicrobial substances in marine bacteria and fungi. Tables 11.4 and 11.5 show lists of new
Table 11.3 Chronology of new compounds from marine bacteria and fungi and related reports
Year
*86
87
88
89
90
91
92
93
94
95
Bacteria
No. of
reports
7
1
0
4
0
4
5
6
1 1
1 0
No. of
compounds
15
1
0
11
0
5
10
10
15
22
Fungi
No. of
reports
1
1
1
4
1
4
2
2
6
7
No. of
compounds
1
1
1
1 2
4
6
5
3
1 9
1 8
Year
96
97
98
99
00
01
02
03
Total
Bacteria
No. of reports
7
14
10
10
10
12
6
16
133
No. of compounds
12
31
16
25
22
26
15
38
274
Fungi
No. of reports
12
7
20
14
17
18
29
23
169
No. of compounds
24
20
44
31
48
34
79
54
404
390
11 Marine Microorganism Resources and Biotechnology