Jellyfish-Derived Compounds

Dear Colleagues,

Jellyfish biodiversity holds potential for drug discovery due to the unique and often complex compounds found in their biochemical composition. Jellyfish’s adaptation strategies to different marine environments, including symbiosis, enhance their biochemical complexity and increase the possibility that jellyfish biodiversity can contribute to drug discovery.

Some compounds found in jellyfish are being investigated for their nutraceutical properties; however, few jellyfish species have been explored for their potential health benefits. Nutraceuticals are food or food products that provide health benefits beyond basic nutrition, and jellyfish compounds such as collagen, jellyfish peptides, fatty acids, mucin, and other still-unexplored compounds could have yet unknown bioactivities.

The study of jellyfish compounds can also have significant applications in biotechnology, as well as in the development of molecular tools and biosensors. While jellyfish biodiversity offers exciting possibilities, exploring these potential drug sources is a complex process. The isolation, characterization, formulation, and appropriate testing of compounds for safety and efficacy are still fields in need of further research. Additionally, ethical considerations and conservation efforts are crucial to ensure sustainable practices in the studying and harvesting of jellyfish for scientific purposes.

As a positive consequence of these application-oriented research activities, increased interest in jellyfish species can lead to greater knowledge of their biology and the critical role that they play in supporting marine biodiversity, the evolutionary genomics of jellyfish and symbionts, and the use of jellyfish as a model organism in cutting-edge ocean science research.

The focus of this Special Issue will be to collect research articles that add experimental tests highlighting the potential of natural products originating from cnidaria, particularly from jellyfish-forming species, including sustainability considerations.

Dr. Antonella Leone
Guest Editor

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