Biological and chemical diversity from the oceans

 

Marine natural products in health and personal care applications

GlycoMar's expertise is based around the fundamentals of glycobiology and the application of naturally sourced glycomolecules.

We have experience in the development of glycobiology products from many biological feedstocks, but with a particular emphasis on those from the marine environment, including microalgae, seaweed and invertebrates.

GlycoMar has conceived and supported many projects with both academic and commercial partners, which seek to tap into the unique chemical diversity and bioactivity of saccharides from marine sources. Objectives were both to develop novel products for target markets such as healthcare, and to enhance commercialisation of existing processes. For example, projects have included working together with: a Norwegian biotech, MicroA, on a novel extracellular polysaccharide produced by an oceanic microalga; an Australian company growing seaweeds for the biofuel industry; an Icelandic biotech company investigating the valorisation of fishing industry waste streams.

 

Diversity of Marine life

The oceans cover 70% of the earth's surface and marine environment offers a diversity of habitats which is reflected in the biological diversity that is found in marine organisms.

 

The Earth is home to an estimated 10 million species. These are divided by biologists into 3 main kingdoms: fungi, plants and animals. The animal kingdom provides a good example of the diversity of marine organisms: it is divided into a further 33 distinct groups (or phyla), of which 11 phyla exist in terrestrial environments and 28 phyla living in the sea, of which 15 are exclusively marine. Examples of exclusively marine phyla include the echinoderms (starfish and their relatives), ctenophores (comb jellies), hemichordates (acorn worms) and the echiurans (trumpet worms).

Animal Phyla: showing marine (blue) and terrestrial (pink) Phyla with estimated species numbers.

Among the other kingdoms the marine environment is know to offer 23 protist phyla, 1 plant phylum, 1 fungal phylum, and 14 bacterial phyla. The protists include the microalgae and macroalgae, many of which are wholly marine. For more information consult the World Register of Marine Species (WoRMS, www.marinespecies.org) and Ocean Planet exhibition (ocean.si.edu/planet-ocean).

Marine Natural Products

Marine organisms have developed unique metabolic and physiological capabilities that ensure survival in diverse habitats, and have resulted in the evolution of an array of secondary metabolites and unique glycochemistry. Several compounds have been developed commercially, with many others in preclinical and clinical development. The Marine Pharmacology website reports 11 drugs in clinical development, and many other compounds that have pharmacological activity: 592 marine compounds that showed antitumor and cytotoxic activity, and 666 additional chemicals which demonstrated other pharmacological activities i.e. antibacterial, anticoagulant, anti-inflammatory, antifungal, anthelmintic, antiplatelet, antiprotozoal, and antiviral activities; with actions on the cardiovascular, endocrine, immune, and nervous systems; and other miscellaneous mechanisms of action.

A significant focus of marine natural products research in recent decades has been on anti-cancer activity, under a National Cancer Institute programme (which is delivering a pipeline of anti-cancer for development).

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