marinedrugs-logo

Journal Browser

Journal Browser

Marine Omics for Drug Discovery and Development, 2nd Edition

A special issue of Marine Drugs (ISSN 1660-3397). This special issue belongs to the section "Marine Biotechnology Related to Drug Discovery or Production".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 January 2026 | Viewed by 2132

Special Issue Editor

School of Science, Technology, and Engineering, University of the Sunshine Coast, Maroochydore, QSL 4558, Australia
Interests: bioinformatics; disease genomics; big data integration
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

We are excited to announce the second Special Issue dedicated to advancing research on marine organisms through multi-omics approaches and AI-driven analytics. This Issue will explore the integration of genomic, transcriptomic, proteomic, and metabolic data to unlock the vast biochemical potential of marine taxa.

We welcome contributions that leverage AI-based drug discovery, machine learning-driven data integration, and network-based approaches to address key challenges in marine biotechnology. Topics of interest include, but are not limited to, the following:

  • Unraveling metabolic biodiversity in marine taxa through AI-powered omics analysis.
  • Integrative computational strategies for identifying novel bioactive compounds.
  • Deep learning models for predicting natural product structures and optimizing bioactivity.
  • Omics-driven insights into marine-derived therapeutics for cancer, cardiovascular disease, and infectious diseases.
  • AI-enhanced screening pipelines to overcome bottlenecks in marine natural product drug discovery.
  • Systems biology approaches to understand regulatory networks underlying marine organism metabolism.

By combining high-throughput data generation with advanced AI methodologies, this Issue aims to accelerate biomedical applications of marine-derived natural products, from early-stage discovery to clinical translation. We invite researchers from diverse fields to contribute original studies and reviews that showcase the power of integrated omics and AI-driven innovations in marine biotechnology.

Dr. Min Zhao
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short 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 thoroughly refereed through a single-blind 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 2900 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • marine genome
  • omics technology
  • marine natural products
  • marine drug discovery
  • high-throughput screening
  • computer-aided drug discovery/design
  • anti-disease
  • anti-cancer
  • anti-infectious
  • anti-inflammation
  • biological products
  • pharmacology
  • clinical outcome
  • AI-based drug discovery

Benefits of Publishing in a Special Issue

  • Ease of navigation: Grouping papers by topic helps scholars navigate broad scope journals more efficiently.
  • Greater discoverability: Special Issues support the reach and impact of scientific research. Articles in Special Issues are more discoverable and cited more frequently.
  • Expansion of research network: Special Issues facilitate connections among authors, fostering scientific collaborations.
  • External promotion: Articles in Special Issues are often promoted through the journal's social media, increasing their visibility.
  • Reprint: MDPI Books provides the opportunity to republish successful Special Issues in book format, both online and in print.

Further information on MDPI's Special Issue policies can be found here.

Related Special Issue

Published Papers (2 papers)

Order results
Result details
Select all
Export citation of selected articles as:

Research

21 pages, 879 KB  
Article
Multiblock Metabolomics Responses of the Diatom Phaeodactylum tricornutum Under Benthic and Planktonic Culture Conditions
by Andrea Castaldi, Mohamed Nawfal Triba, Laurence Le Moyec, Cédric Hubas, Gaël Le Pennec and Marie-Lise Bourguet-Kondracki
Mar. Drugs 2025, 23(8), 314; https://doi.org/10.3390/md23080314 - 31 Jul 2025
Viewed by 767
Abstract
This study investigates the metabolic responses of the model diatom Phaeodactylum tricornutum under different growth conditions, comparing benthic (adherent) and planktonic states. Using a multiblock metabolomics approach combining LC-HRMS2, NMR, and GC-MS techniques, we compared the metabolome of P. tricornutum cultivated [...] Read more.
This study investigates the metabolic responses of the model diatom Phaeodactylum tricornutum under different growth conditions, comparing benthic (adherent) and planktonic states. Using a multiblock metabolomics approach combining LC-HRMS2, NMR, and GC-MS techniques, we compared the metabolome of P. tricornutum cultivated on three laboratory substrates (glass, polystyrene, and polydimethylsiloxane) and under planktonic conditions. Our results revealed metabolic differences between adherent and planktonic cultures, particularly concerning the lipid and carbohydrate contents. Adherent cultures showed a metabolic profile with an increase in betaine lipids (DGTA/S), fatty acids (tetradecanoic and octadecenoic acids), and sugars (myo-inositol and ribose), suggesting modifications in membrane composition and lipid remodeling, which play a potential role in adhesion. In contrast, planktonic cultures displayed a higher content of cellobiose, specialized metabolites such as dihydroactinidiolide, quinic acid, catechol, and terpenes like phytol, confirming different membrane composition, energy storage capacity, osmoregulation, and stress adaptation. The adaptative strategies do not only concern adherent and planktonic states, but also different adherent culture conditions, with variations in lipid, amino acid, terpene, and carbohydrate contents depending on the physical properties of the support. Our results highlight the importance of metabolic adaptation in adhesion, which could explain the fouling process. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Marine Omics for Drug Discovery and Development, 2nd Edition)
Show Figures

Graphical abstract

15 pages, 4009 KB  
Article
Metabolomic Profiling and Anti-Helicobacter pylori Activity of Caulerpa lentillifera (Sea Grape) Extract
by Chananchida Thacharoen, Thisirak Inkaewwong, Watthanachai Jumpathong, Pornchai Kaewsapsak, Thiravat Rattanapot and Tippapha Pisithkul
Mar. Drugs 2025, 23(7), 282; https://doi.org/10.3390/md23070282 - 7 Jul 2025
Viewed by 1052
Abstract
Helicobacter pylori is a gastric pathogen implicated in peptic ulcer disease and gastric cancer. The increasing prevalence of antibiotic-resistant strains underscores the urgent need for alternative therapeutic strategies. In this study, we investigated the chemical composition and antibacterial activity of an aqueous extract [...] Read more.
Helicobacter pylori is a gastric pathogen implicated in peptic ulcer disease and gastric cancer. The increasing prevalence of antibiotic-resistant strains underscores the urgent need for alternative therapeutic strategies. In this study, we investigated the chemical composition and antibacterial activity of an aqueous extract from Caulerpa lentillifera (sea grape), a farm-cultivated edible green seaweed collected from Krabi Province, Thailand. Ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry (UHPLC-MS/MS) revealed that the extract was enriched in bioactive nucleosides and phenolic compounds. In vitro assays demonstrated dose-dependent inhibition of H. pylori growth following exposure to sea grape extract. Furthermore, untargeted intracellular metabolomic profiling of H. pylori cells treated with the extract uncovered significant perturbations in central carbon and nitrogen metabolism, including pathways associated with the tricarboxylic acid (TCA) cycle, one-carbon metabolism, and alanine, aspartate, and glutamate metabolism. Pyrimidine biosynthesis was selectively upregulated, indicating a potential stress-induced shift toward nucleotide salvage and DNA repair. Of particular note, succinate levels were markedly reduced despite accumulation of other TCA intermediates, suggesting disruption of electron transport-linked respiration. These findings suggest that bioactive metabolites from C. lentillifera impair essential metabolic processes in H. pylori, highlighting its potential as a natural source of antimicrobial agents targeting bacterial physiology. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Marine Omics for Drug Discovery and Development, 2nd Edition)
Show Figures

Graphical abstract

Back to TopTop