Introduction
4 Introduction
The biosynthesis and regulation route of many secondary metabolites in marine organisms should be
addressed. It is possible, with the recent development of a novel transcriptome profiling methodology
that allows for rapid and high-throughput screening
of changes in messenger ribonucleic acid (mRNA) sequence pools. The application of genomics-based techniques and the integration of both biochemical and
molecular data sets in marine organisms complement
ongoing drug discovery efforts [1.13].
Metagenomic-based strategies are powerful tools to
isolate and identify enzymes with novel biocatalytic activities from the uncultivable component of microbial
communities [1.14]. The recent advances in biotechnological tools such as bioreactors, fermentations, and
bioprocessing are useful in the production of functional
ingredients, including enzymes that can be used in
the food industry [1.15]. Molecular biology is playing
a major role in marine biotechnology for an understanding of the genome level. Genomic analysis of marine
organisms should be identified to utilize novel genes,
proteins, enzymes, and small molecules. The knowledge of metabolic pathways and their genomics is the
novel way to understand the mechanism behind the production of the compounds. Metabolic engineering is
defined as the optimization of genetic and regulatory
pathways to increase the production of compounds by
cells (Fig. 1.2).
1.3 Marine Sources and Research Areas
Science and technology continues to move forward in making different technological tools to develop new products from the marine source. Important marine sources in the research are microorganisms, algae, and sponges. Various biotechnological products have been commercialized, ranging
from novel drugs, chemicals, and enzymes to bioenergy [1.16–22]. Marine biotechnology plays an important role in the development of various biomaterials,
biosensors, seafood safety, aquaculture, bioremediation, and biofouling (Table 1.1). Several drugs are
obtained from natural sources, and researchers are
still searching for potential organisms from marine
sources.
1.4 Applications of Marine Biotechnology
1.4.1 Marine Aquaculture
Marine aquaculture is one of the best examples of marine biotechnology. Fish is one of the most important
marine sources for protein supplement in human food.
Overfishing and changes in the global environment are
contributing to the slow disappearance of this important
food resource. By applying marine biotechnological
tools, we may be able to provide or improve aquaculture
procedures through recombinant technology to develop
genetically modified organisms [1.23–26], which could
be useful to overcome the global food demand.
Table 1.1 Important marine sources and research areas
Research area
Marine source
Aims
Food
Algae, invertebrates, fish
Development of innovative methods, to increase aquaculture production
and zero waste recirculation systems
Energy
Algae
Biofuel production, biorefineries
Health
Algae, sponges, microorganisms To find novel bioactives
Environment
Marine microorganisms
Biosensing technologies for marine environment monitors and non-toxic
antifouling technology
Industrial products Algae
Production of marine biopolymers for food, cosmetics, health
1.4.2 Marine Natural Products for Medicine
Marine bioresources are huge reservoirs for various potential biological molecules, which have tremendous
potential as human medicines. Natural products are
both a fundamental source of a new chemical diversity
and an integral component of today’s pharmaceutical collection [1.27–33]. Numerous marine compounds
are isolated from marine animals, algae, fungi, and
bacteria with antibacterial, anticoagulant, antifungal,
antimalarial, antiprotozoal, antituberculosis, and antiviral activities. There are now 4 approved products, 13
4 Introduction
The biosynthesis and regulation route of many secondary metabolites in marine organisms should be
addressed. It is possible, with the recent development of a novel transcriptome profiling methodology
that allows for rapid and high-throughput screening
of changes in messenger ribonucleic acid (mRNA) sequence pools. The application of genomics-based techniques and the integration of both biochemical and
molecular data sets in marine organisms complement
ongoing drug discovery efforts [1.13].
Metagenomic-based strategies are powerful tools to
isolate and identify enzymes with novel biocatalytic activities from the uncultivable component of microbial
communities [1.14]. The recent advances in biotechnological tools such as bioreactors, fermentations, and
bioprocessing are useful in the production of functional
ingredients, including enzymes that can be used in
the food industry [1.15]. Molecular biology is playing
a major role in marine biotechnology for an understanding of the genome level. Genomic analysis of marine
organisms should be identified to utilize novel genes,
proteins, enzymes, and small molecules. The knowledge of metabolic pathways and their genomics is the
novel way to understand the mechanism behind the production of the compounds. Metabolic engineering is
defined as the optimization of genetic and regulatory
pathways to increase the production of compounds by
cells (Fig. 1.2).
1.3 Marine Sources and Research Areas
Science and technology continues to move forward in making different technological tools to develop new products from the marine source. Important marine sources in the research are microorganisms, algae, and sponges. Various biotechnological products have been commercialized, ranging
from novel drugs, chemicals, and enzymes to bioenergy [1.16–22]. Marine biotechnology plays an important role in the development of various biomaterials,
biosensors, seafood safety, aquaculture, bioremediation, and biofouling (Table 1.1). Several drugs are
obtained from natural sources, and researchers are
still searching for potential organisms from marine
sources.
1.4 Applications of Marine Biotechnology
1.4.1 Marine Aquaculture
Marine aquaculture is one of the best examples of marine biotechnology. Fish is one of the most important
marine sources for protein supplement in human food.
Overfishing and changes in the global environment are
contributing to the slow disappearance of this important
food resource. By applying marine biotechnological
tools, we may be able to provide or improve aquaculture
procedures through recombinant technology to develop
genetically modified organisms [1.23–26], which could
be useful to overcome the global food demand.
Table 1.1 Important marine sources and research areas
Research area
Marine source
Aims
Food
Algae, invertebrates, fish
Development of innovative methods, to increase aquaculture production
and zero waste recirculation systems
Energy
Algae
Biofuel production, biorefineries
Health
Algae, sponges, microorganisms To find novel bioactives
Environment
Marine microorganisms
Biosensing technologies for marine environment monitors and non-toxic
antifouling technology
Industrial products Algae
Production of marine biopolymers for food, cosmetics, health
1.4.2 Marine Natural Products for Medicine
Marine bioresources are huge reservoirs for various potential biological molecules, which have tremendous
potential as human medicines. Natural products are
both a fundamental source of a new chemical diversity
and an integral component of today’s pharmaceutical collection [1.27–33]. Numerous marine compounds
are isolated from marine animals, algae, fungi, and
bacteria with antibacterial, anticoagulant, antifungal,
antimalarial, antiprotozoal, antituberculosis, and antiviral activities. There are now 4 approved products, 13