NOPR Collection:

Antimicrobial secondary metabolites from marine fungi: A mini review

2016-08-19T07:56:34Z

Title: Antimicrobial secondary metabolites from marine fungi: A mini review Authors: Bajpai, Vivek K. Abstract: Marine fungi living in a stressful habitat, under cold, lightless and high pressure conditions have shown significant importance as new promising sources of biologically active products. These marine fungi produce fascinating and structurally complex natural products. To date, only a minimum amount of microorganisms have been investigated for the production of bioactive marine metabolites with unique structural skeletons. Marine microorganism based secondary metabolites are considered to be a burning area of research in few last decades. Many of such compounds have been proven to be anti-bacterial, anti-fungal, anti-algal, anti-HIV, anti-helminthic, anti-protozoan, anti-tumor and anti-allergic agents. Marine fungi have been reported to be the producers of such compounds owing to their multitude of defense mechanisms and complex metabolism. Although a number of natural products have been isolated from marine microbial flora, a limited number of compounds have reached to the clinical trial levels as a drug. Herein this review we have discussed recent studies on the isolation, characterization and the pharmacological significances of anti-bacterial, anti-fungal and anti-infective agents of marine fungal origin. Further, the clinical status of such compounds has also been discussed in comparison with those derived from their terrestrial counterparts. This review provides research insights so far conducted on marine fungi with aspects to provide baseline information on marine flora-based antimicrobial research which may assist in context to provide cheaper, safer, and potent medicinal alternatives to challenge the dreadful human disease. Page(s): 1067-1075

Antimicrobial bioactive compounds from marine algae: A mini review

2016-08-19T07:52:22Z

Title: Antimicrobial bioactive compounds from marine algae: A mini review Authors: Bajpai, Vivek K. Abstract: Research on natural products from marine algae has increased dramatically since last few decades. Marine natural products provide a rich source of chemically diverse compounds which have significant potential to be developed as novel types of therapeutic agents. Certain marine products diverse in biological and therapeutic potential have been found to exhibit significant antimicrobial effects against number of harmful pathogens. Among them, marine macro-algae are considered as an excellent source of bioactive compounds which have a broad range of biological activities including antibacterial, antifungal and antiviral potential. In this article, we review the biological potential of bioactive compounds derived from marine algae with a proposed outline of their antimicrobial mechanism of action. In addition, we have also given emphasis on recent advances of secondary metabolites from marine resources along with their pharmacological effects and other uses in human food. A brief discussion on the chemical nature of marine-based bioactive compounds has also been presented. Page(s): 1076-1085

Biodiversity of Pelagic Copepod in the Yellow Sea and East China Sea

2016-08-19T07:48:44Z

Title: Biodiversity of Pelagic Copepod in the Yellow Sea and East China Sea Authors: CHEN, Hong-Ju; LIU, Guang-Xing Abstract: A total of 265 copepod species belong to 70 genera, 33 families and 5 orders were identified during 4 surveys in the study area. Copepod diversity varied significantly in different seasons, and the distribution patterns were quite different between Yellow Sea and East China Sea. Species richness, evenness and taxonomic diversity were significantly higher in East China Sea, whereas taxonomic distinctness was significantly higher in the Yellow Sea. Based on the present surveys combined with previous studies, the master list of pelagic copepods in the Yellow Sea and the East China Sea were set up, and its hierarchical diversity was analyzed. Total Taxonomic Distinctness (sΔ⁺) in four seasons were calculated. Funnel plots with 95% confidence limits for both Average Taxonomic Distinctness (Δ⁺) and Variation in Taxonomic Distinctness (Λ⁺) and the ellipse plots with 95% probability contours for the joint distribution of Δ⁺ and Λ⁺ of the pelagic copepods master list of the Yellow Sea and East China Sea were established, and the theoretical mean value of Δ⁺ is 84.3. Page(s): 1086-1093

Increase in fish catch after the cyclone Phailin in the northern Bay of Bengal lying adjacent to West Bengal coast – A case study

2016-08-19T07:38:43Z

Title: Increase in fish catch after the cyclone Phailin in the northern Bay of Bengal lying adjacent to West Bengal coast – A case study Authors: Giri, Sandip; Das, Sourav; Chanda, Abhra; Das, Isha; Maity, Sourav; Hazra, Sugata Abstract: The present paper reports an enhancement in fish catch in the northern Bay of Bengal lying adjacent to West Bengal coast after the occurrence of the cyclone Phailin on the 12^th October, 2013. MODIS L3 monthly composite data for both chlorophyll and SST of two consecutive years 2012 and 2013 were investigated to see the aftereffects of cyclone on these two parameters. Generally, during a cyclone vertical mixing of the water column uplifts nutrients to mixed layer depth that results in the increase in chlorophyll-a and decrease in sea surface temperature (SST). In this study a substantial increase in mean chlorophyll was observed in October, 2013 in comparison to 2012 (no severe cyclone was reported in Orissa-West Bengal coast). However, no significant change in SST was observed. Mean chlorophyll concentration in October 2012 was 3.12 ± 1.97 mg m^-3, however, in October, 2013 it increased to 4.50 ± 2.09 mg m^-3. Following this event, a huge increase in fish catch and Catch Per Unit Effort (CPUE) were also observed. Mean CPUE in October 2012 and 2013 was observed as 9.04 ± 4.70 and 18.63 ± 11.54 respectively. This increase in CPUE after cyclone Phailin might be due to enhanced productivity. Page(s): 1094-1097