Special Issue "Bioactive Compounds from Marine Sponges"

Guest Editor
Prof. Dr. René Wijffels
Bioprocess Engineering Group, Wageningen University, Wageningen, The Netherlands
Website: http://www.bpe.wur.nl/UK/Staff/Professor+Ren%C3%A9+Wijffels/
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Guest Editor
Dr. Detmer Sipkema
Laboratory of Microbiology, Wageningen University, Wageningen, The Netherlands
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Dear Colleagues,

Since many years marine sponges have been ranked at the top with respect to the discovery of bioactive compounds with potential pharmaceutical applications. The diversity in chemical structures of sponge-derived metabolites is related to an equally diverse pattern of activities ranging from anti-fouling to anti-HIV properties. These discoveries have attracted the attention of bioprocess engineers, cell biologists, chemists, geneticist and microbiologists around the world to develop feasible strategies for obtaining sponge-derived metabolites at a larger scale. This is a ‘must’ to bridge the distance between the ocean and the hospital, or to start clinical trials in the first place. A few successful examples of introductions of marine sponge-derived pharmaceuticals have followed the discovery of the first bioactive compounds in sponges. Since these first publications in the 1950s the number of discovered bioactive compounds in sponges has exploded and in this special issue we aim to compile and review the state of the art of developments in sponge-chemistry, -biotechnology, -microbiology and –genetics to reap these fruits of the sea in a sustainable way.

Prof. Dr. René Wijffels
Dr. Detmer Sipkema
Guest Editors

Submission

All manuscripts should be submitted to marinedrugs@mdpi.org with a copy to the Guest Editor. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. Papers will be published continuously (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are refereed through a peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Marine Drugs is an international peer-reviewed Open Access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this Open Access journal is 1400 CHF per accepted paper.

• sponge
• natural product
• cell culture
• chemical synthesis
• genetic modification
• symbiosis

Type of Paper: Article
Title: The Possible Use of Polyacetylenediols Isolated from Marine Sponges in DC-Based Immunotherapy against Cancer
Authors: Masao Takei¹ and Akemi Umeyama²
Affiliations: ¹ Research Center for Cancer Immunotherapy, Chonnam, National University Hwasun Hospital, Jeonnam, Korea; E-Mail: msjens2002@yahoo.co.jp
² Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Tokushima Bunri University, Tokushima, Japan.
Abstract: Dendritic cells (DC) play a pivotal in the initiation of T cell-mediated immune responses, making them an attractive cellular adjuvant for use in cancer vaccines. Siphonodiol and 14,15-dihydrosihophodiol are Polyacetylenediols isolated from marine sponges and are pharmacologically active substances. We demonstrated that Siphonodiol and 14,15-dihydrosihophodiol activate human DC as documented by phenotypic and functional maturation, and altered cytokine production. The expression of levels of surface molecules and HLA-DR on Siphonodiol- or 14,15-dihydrosihophodiol-primed DC were enhanced. Naïve T cells co-cultured with Siphonodiol- or 14,15-dihydrosihophodiol-primed DC turned into typical Th1 cells depending on IL-12 secretion. Moreover, IFN-γ secretion (Th1 type cytokine) from naïve T cells co-cultured with LPS-primed DC was augmented by Siphonodiol or 14,15-dihydrosihophodiol. These results suggest that Siphonodiol or 14,15-dihydrosihophodiol may be used on DC-based vaccines for cancer immunotherapy.

Type of Paper: Review
Title: Marine Sponges—A Natural Probe to Molecular Cell Biology
Authors: Gowri Shankar Bagawananthem, Parastoo Hazemi and Rosa Lemmens-Gruber
Affiliation: Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Vienna, Althanstrasse 14, A-1090 Vienna, Austria; E-Mails: parastoo.hazemi@univie.ac.at (P.H.); rosa.lemmens@univie.ac.at (R.L.-G.)
Abstract: Cyclodepsipeptides have a wide spectrum of biological activity. Members of this class of potential drugs may also serve as lead compounds for more pharmacologically potent and toxicologically safe derivatives. Recently a number of natural products from marine sponges have been identified. Structural determinations revealed unique features for some of these compounds. The scope of activity spans from cytoprotective activity against HIV-1 infection, growth inhibitory effects toward cancer cells, and antibacterial and antiviral activity. A number of sponge-derived cyclodepsipeptides have been well characterized in vitro and in vivo. For drug research these derivatives can be used as a molecular model.

Type of Paper: Review
Title: Microtubule-Stabilizing Drugs from Marine Sponges: Focus on Peloruside and Zampanolide
Authors: John H. Miller and Peter T. Northcote
Affiliation: Cell and Molecular Biosciences Group, School of Biological Sciences, Victoria University, PO Box 600, Wellington, New Zealand; E-Mails: john.h.miller@vuw.ac.nz (J.H.M.), peter.northcote@vuw.ac.nz (P.T.N.)
Abstract: Marine sponges are an excellent source of bioactive chemicals with potential therapeutic utility. One group of these compounds with possible clinical application are the microtubule-stabilizing agents. This review will discuss the initial discovery of these compounds in marine sponges, focusing on two of the more recent additions to the microtubule-stabilizing group, peloruside and zampanolide. The New Zealand sponge compound peloruside already shows promising anti-cancer activity and has good potential as a future pharmaceutical. Zampanolide, a compound isolated from a Tongan sponge, has only recently been added to the microtubule-stabilizing group of marine sponge secondary metabolites.

Type of Paper: Article
Title: The Synthetic and Biological Studies of Discorhabdins and Related Compounds
Authors: Y. Wada, Hiromichi Fujioka and Yasuyuki Kita
Affiliation: Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Osaka University, 1-6 Yamada-oka, Suita, Osaka, 565-0871, Japan; E-Mails: fujioka@phs.osaka-u.ac.jp (H.F.); kita@phs.osaka-u.ac.jp (Y.K.)
Abstract: Discorhabdin alkaloids (discorhabdin A-X) were isolated from marine sponges and have a unique structure with azacarbocyclic spirocyclohexanone and pyrroloiminoquinone system. Because of their prominent potent antitumor activity, discorhabdins have attracted considerable attention. We have accomplished the first total synthesis of discorhabdin A having the strongest activity in vitro among discorhabdins. This time, the synthetic and biological studies of discorhabdins and related compounds were held. Thus, we synthesized a variety of discorhabdins and analogues, which were evaluated in vitro MTT assay for antitumor activity. Moreover, for the study of the mode of action, they were evaluated in HCC panel assay, and it was shown that discorhabdins could have the novel mode of action with tumor cells.