Part A | 2.7
22 Part A Marine Flora and Fauna
able for the detection of fungi at the species level. These
rDNA are highly stable and exhibit a mosaic of conserved and diverse regions within the genome [2.18].
ITS regions have been used successfully to generate
specific primers capable of differentiating closely related fungal species [2.81].
2.6 Bioprospecting of Marine Fungi
The need for new and safe bioactive compounds to
provide comfort in all aspect of human life is ever
increasing. Due the emergence of new diseases, the
development of drug resistant pathogenic microorganisms, the appearance of life threatening viruses, the
management of post operative complications in patients with organ transplantations are some of the
challenges to scientists. Synthetic antibiotics and drugs
are extending antibiotic resistant microbes, however
it is essential to investigate a new way to treat diseases [2.82]. This situation has forced scientists to
explore different natural sources for safe and potent
agents to meet the challenges of the twenty-first century. Nature has been a source of medicinal agents
for thousands of years and an impressive number of
modern drugs have been isolated from natural sources
based on their use in traditional medicines or phytomedicines. Due to safety and environmental problems, many synthetic drugs and chemicals have been removed or are currently being targeted for removal from
the market, which creates the need to find alternative
ways to control farm pests and dermatophytes [2.83–
86].
Marine fungi have provided new incentives for research on marine natural products over the past years;
this research also continue to be the subject of vigorous chemical investigation [2.87–89]. The diversity of
secondary metabolites reported in recent decades is fascinating. This highlights the importance of marine fungi
as a source of natural products [2.90–92]. The marine
environment is unique in terms of its specific composition in both organic and inorganic substances, as well
as temperature ranges and pressure conditions. Ecological niches, e.g., deep-sea hydrothermal vents, mangrove
forests, algae, sponge, and fish provide habitats for the
evaluation of specific microorganisms.
2.7 Conclusions
Fungi are not only beautiful but play a significant role
in the daily life of human beings in addition to their
utilization in industry, agriculture, medicine, the food
industry, textiles, bioremediation, biodegradation, biogeochemical cycle, biofertilizers, and in many other
ways. Fungal biotechnology has become an integral
part of human welfare. Fungal biotechnology or mycotechnology has advanced considerably in the last five
decades. Terrestrial fungi are used in the production
of various extracellular enzymes, organic acids, antibiotics, and anticholesterolemic statins. They have been
used as expression by hosts, as well as a source of
new genes. With modern molecular genetic tools, fungi
have been used as cell factories for heterologous protein production and human proteins. The focus of future
research is oriented towards fungi in special ecological
niches, as a basic understanding of the ecology to help
reveal the novelty of an organism and its properties. The
emphasis is on the following aspects for top priority:
i) Fungi associated with endophytic fungi in marine
algae, seagrasses, and mangroves, and the implications.
ii) Fungi associated with marine invertebrates, especially corals and sponges, and their potential for
production of bioactive molecules.
iii) Fungi from extreme environments such as the deep
sea with elevated hydrostatic pressure and low temperatures, hypersaline waters of the Dead Sea, and
anoxic or hypoxic (oxygen deficient) sediments
from the marine environment.
iv) Bioremediation of pollutants using salt-tolerant
fungi and their salt-tolerant enzymes on a pilot scale
and industrial scale.
v) Genomic and proteomic studies with novel organisms such as Corallochytriumlima cisporum
as a model of animal fungal allies. It is hoped
that this will help basic research on evolutionary
biology.
22 Part A Marine Flora and Fauna
able for the detection of fungi at the species level. These
rDNA are highly stable and exhibit a mosaic of conserved and diverse regions within the genome [2.18].
ITS regions have been used successfully to generate
specific primers capable of differentiating closely related fungal species [2.81].
2.6 Bioprospecting of Marine Fungi
The need for new and safe bioactive compounds to
provide comfort in all aspect of human life is ever
increasing. Due the emergence of new diseases, the
development of drug resistant pathogenic microorganisms, the appearance of life threatening viruses, the
management of post operative complications in patients with organ transplantations are some of the
challenges to scientists. Synthetic antibiotics and drugs
are extending antibiotic resistant microbes, however
it is essential to investigate a new way to treat diseases [2.82]. This situation has forced scientists to
explore different natural sources for safe and potent
agents to meet the challenges of the twenty-first century. Nature has been a source of medicinal agents
for thousands of years and an impressive number of
modern drugs have been isolated from natural sources
based on their use in traditional medicines or phytomedicines. Due to safety and environmental problems, many synthetic drugs and chemicals have been removed or are currently being targeted for removal from
the market, which creates the need to find alternative
ways to control farm pests and dermatophytes [2.83–
86].
Marine fungi have provided new incentives for research on marine natural products over the past years;
this research also continue to be the subject of vigorous chemical investigation [2.87–89]. The diversity of
secondary metabolites reported in recent decades is fascinating. This highlights the importance of marine fungi
as a source of natural products [2.90–92]. The marine
environment is unique in terms of its specific composition in both organic and inorganic substances, as well
as temperature ranges and pressure conditions. Ecological niches, e.g., deep-sea hydrothermal vents, mangrove
forests, algae, sponge, and fish provide habitats for the
evaluation of specific microorganisms.
2.7 Conclusions
Fungi are not only beautiful but play a significant role
in the daily life of human beings in addition to their
utilization in industry, agriculture, medicine, the food
industry, textiles, bioremediation, biodegradation, biogeochemical cycle, biofertilizers, and in many other
ways. Fungal biotechnology has become an integral
part of human welfare. Fungal biotechnology or mycotechnology has advanced considerably in the last five
decades. Terrestrial fungi are used in the production
of various extracellular enzymes, organic acids, antibiotics, and anticholesterolemic statins. They have been
used as expression by hosts, as well as a source of
new genes. With modern molecular genetic tools, fungi
have been used as cell factories for heterologous protein production and human proteins. The focus of future
research is oriented towards fungi in special ecological
niches, as a basic understanding of the ecology to help
reveal the novelty of an organism and its properties. The
emphasis is on the following aspects for top priority:
i) Fungi associated with endophytic fungi in marine
algae, seagrasses, and mangroves, and the implications.
ii) Fungi associated with marine invertebrates, especially corals and sponges, and their potential for
production of bioactive molecules.
iii) Fungi from extreme environments such as the deep
sea with elevated hydrostatic pressure and low temperatures, hypersaline waters of the Dead Sea, and
anoxic or hypoxic (oxygen deficient) sediments
from the marine environment.
iv) Bioremediation of pollutants using salt-tolerant
fungi and their salt-tolerant enzymes on a pilot scale
and industrial scale.
v) Genomic and proteomic studies with novel organisms such as Corallochytriumlima cisporum
as a model of animal fungal allies. It is hoped
that this will help basic research on evolutionary
biology.