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Topic Review
Ecosystem Services Provided by Kelp Forests
Ecosystem services (ES) are defined as the benefits that humans obtain from ecological systems. These include services such as food and fresh water and climate regulation, among others that make human life possible. This concept is established as a “policy advocacy tool” since it helps with management practices. 
  • 855
  • 14 Nov 2022
Topic Review
Marine Resources for COVID-19 Treatment
Marine resources have significant pharmacological potential in combatting various diseases, such as COVID-19. The wide variety of marine bioactive compounds and their implications are extensive. Micro and macro-organisms produce inorganic polyphosphates, sulfated polysaccharides, Bromotyrosines and many more. These compounds possess unique properties that allow them to combat Sars-Cov-2 infection, proving as efficacious potential therapeutics. Despite the challenges faced, marine organisms serve as a promising avenue for future pharmacological intervention. The present review for the first time highlights marine bioactive compounds, their sources, and their anti-viral mechanisms of action, with a focus on potential COVID-19 treatment.
  • 848
  • 27 Jul 2021
Topic Review
Metschnikowia bicuspidata
Metschnikowia bicuspidata is an opportunistic pathogenic yeast that is distributed in marine and freshwater environments worldwide. 
  • 841
  • 01 Mar 2022
Topic Review
Phycoerythrin from Blue-Green Algae
Phycoerythrin (PE) is a colored, water-soluble pigment–protein complex from the phycobiliprotein (PBP) family and is predominantly found in rhodophytes, cryptophytes, and cyanobacteria. It is a 240 kDa oligomeric chromoprotein with an intense pink/red color. This PBP is a light-harvesting accessory pigment that absorbs wavelengths that chlorophyll cannot. In terms of energy transfer, PE is the first PBP to absorb light and emits energy to phycocyanin (PC) and allophycocyanin (APC), consecutively. PE is characterized by its original spectrum properties, such as fluorescence emission. On the other hand, previous PBP research was focused on PC, and the scientific community realized that PE is endowed with antioxidant potential due to its ability to scavenge free radicals. This allows them to prevent or delay the onset of potentially fatal diseases, such as cancer, heart disease, and hepatotoxicity. The potent antioxidant activity promotes human health and boosts the immune response against infections. These bioactive compounds also resist photooxidative damage, which would otherwise have an adverse impact on crucial cellular machineries, such as proteins, lipids, and DNA. In comparison to PC and APC, the unique fluorescent properties of PE have made it a useful tool in the diagnosis and treatment of tumors. 
  • 838
  • 12 Jan 2023
Topic Review
Marine Actinomycetes
Actinomycetales is an order of Gram-positive bacteria consisting of both benign and pathogenic bacteria belonging to the phylum Actinobacteria.
  • 823
  • 14 Jul 2021
Topic Review
Biological Properties of Marine Cyanobacteria
Marine cyanobacteria are an ancient group of photosynthetic microbes dating back to 3.5 million years ago. They are prolific producers of bioactive secondary metabolites.
  • 810
  • 22 Nov 2023
Topic Review
Algal Phlorotannins as Novel Antibacterial Agents
Phlorotannins (PTs), an important group of algae-derived polyphenolic compounds, have been considered potent antibacterial agents both as single drug entities and in combination with commercially available antibacterial drugs.
  • 742
  • 04 Jul 2022
Topic Review
Black Coral Distribution in Italian
The aim of this entry is to present a review of the knowledge on the occurrence of black corals in the Italian seas, providing the first comprehensive distribution map of these species. The distribution of black corals may be considered the first step towards defining a more complete overview regarding the present knowledge on these vulnerable species. This study also highlights the need for the conservation programs protecting black corals in the Italian seas.
  • 717
  • 28 Jul 2021
Topic Review
Marine Verongiid Demosponge Lanthella Basta
Marine sponges were among the first multicellular organisms on our planet and have survived to this day thanks to their unique mechanisms of chemical defense and the specific design of their skeletons, which have been optimized over millions of years of evolution to effectively inhabit the aquatic environment. Ianthella basta (Pallas, 1766) is one of the largest, fan-shaped marine demosponges that can reach up to 2.5 m both in height; and the body of which is a micro-reticular, durable structure that determines the ideal filtration function of this organism. Calcite biomineral is responsible for nano-tuning the chitinous skeletal fibers of this sponge species.
  • 713
  • 07 Dec 2021
Topic Review
Effects of Seawater Acidification on Echinoid Adult Stage
The continuous release of CO2 in the atmosphere is increasing the acidity of seawater worldwide, and the pH is predicted to be reduced by ~0.4 units by 2100. Ocean acidification (OA) is changing the carbonate chemistry, jeopardizing the life of marine organisms, and in particular calcifying organisms. Because of their calcareous skeleton and limited ability to regulate the acid–base balance, echinoids are among the organisms most threatened by OA.
  • 678
  • 17 Jun 2022
Topic Review
RgIA
Conus regius is a marine venomous mollusk of the Conus genus that captures its prey by injecting a rich cocktail of bioactive disulfide bond rich peptides called conotoxins. These peptides selectively target a broad range of ion channels, membrane receptors, transporters, and enzymes, making them valuable pharmacological tools and potential drug leads. α-RgIA (or RgIA) is the most documented α-conotoxin described in C. regius. RgIA was identified using a PCR-based discovery method, which later allowed its synthesis using standard Fmoc chemistry. This peptide is characterized by the cysteine framework I (CC-C-C) and displays a globular disulfide connectivity. The α9α10 nAChR subtype, which is critical for mediating synaptic transmission from the medial olivocochlear to the cochlear hair cells, has also been implicated in a series of pathological conditions, including neuropathic pain, tumor proliferation, and immune-mediated disorders. Considering the high affinity of RgIA towards this receptor subtype, its discovery led to the possibility of studying the role of α9α10 nAChRs in several diseases.
  • 646
  • 26 Dec 2022
Topic Review
Marine Autotroph-Herbivore Synergies
Species invasion is a leading threat to marine ecosystems worldwide, being deemed as one of the ultimate jeopardies for biodiversity along with climate change. Tackling the emerging biodiversity threat to maintain the ecological balance of the largest biome in the world has now become a pivotal part of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Marine herbivores are often considered as biological agents that control the spread of invasive species, and their effectiveness depends largely on factors that influence their feeding preferences, including the specific attributes of their food–the autotrophs.
  • 638
  • 16 Aug 2022
Topic Review
Steelhead Trout
Steelhead Trout is a name given to the anadromous form of the coastal rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus. m. irideus) or redband trout (O. m. gairdneri). The steelhead are native to freshwater and ocean environments across North America, but have been introduced to every other continent except Antarctica. Steelhead use aquatic obstructions like vegetation, boulders, and fallen trees as protection. Steelhead migrate to spawn during the summer months and the winter months.
  • 630
  • 14 Oct 2022
Topic Review
Proteomic Applications in Aquatic Environment Studies
Genome determines the unique individualities of organisms; however, proteins play significant roles in the generation of the colorful life forms below water. Aquatic systems are usually complex and multifaceted and can take on unique modifications and adaptations to environmental changes by altering proteins at the cellular level. Proteomics is an essential strategy for exploring aquatic ecosystems due to the diverse involvement of proteins, proteoforms, and their complexity in basic and advanced cellular functions. Proteomics can expedite the analysis of molecular mechanisms underlying biological processes in an aquatic environment. Previous proteomic studies on aquatic environments have mainly focused on pollution assessments, ecotoxicology, their role in the food industry, and extraction and identification of natural products. Aquatic protein biomarkers have been comprehensively reported and are currently extensively applied in the pharmaceutical and medical industries. Cellular- and molecular-level responses of organisms can be used as indicators of environmental changes and stresses. Conversely, environmental changes are expedient in predicting aquatic health and productivity, which are crucial for ecosystem management and conservation. Advances in proteomics have contributed to the development of sustainable aquaculture, seafood safety, and high aquatic food production. Proteomic approaches have expanded to other aspects of the aquatic environment, such as protein fingerprinting for species identification.
  • 586
  • 20 Sep 2022
Topic Review
Dactylospongia elegans as A Promising Drug Source
Dactylospongia elegans Thiele (Thorectidae) is a wealth pool of various classes of sesquiterpenes, including hydroquinones, quinones, and tetronic acid derivatives. These metabolites possessed a wide array of potent bioactivities such as antitumor, cytotoxicity, antibacterial, and anti-inflammatory. 
  • 580
  • 31 Mar 2022
Topic Review
Molecular Tools for Microbial Carbonates
Molecular methods have successfully characterized the overall community composition of mats, pinpointed microbes involved in key metabolisms, and revealed patterns in the distributions of microbial groups and functional genes. Two promising future directions include “zooming in” to assess the roles of specific organisms, microbial groups, and surfaces in carbonate biomineralization and “zooming out” to consider broader spans of space and time. A middle ground between the two can include model systems that contain representatives of important microbial groups, processes, and metabolisms in mats and simplify visualization and hypothesis testing. These directions will benefit from expanding reference datasets of marine microbes and enzymes and enrichments of representative microbes from mats. Such applications of molecular tools should increase the utility of ancient and modern microbialites as long-term recorders of microbial processes and environmental chemistry and improve modern applications of microbial mineralization.
  • 579
  • 13 May 2022
Topic Review
Navigation Safety for Ferries
Throughout the history of human development, sea transport has been widely exploited for the movement of passengers and cargo in many nations, especially in archipelagic countries. The sea passenger transport has gradually diminished over the past two decades, in part because of rapid developments in aviation and road transport, passengers continue to use cruises or ferries as the main means of transport for different purposes.
  • 555
  • 15 Mar 2023
Topic Review
Production of Bioactive Compounds and Bioethanol using Macroalgae
To achieve sustainable development, alternative resources should replace conventional resources such as fossil fuels. In marine ecosystems, many macroalgae grow faster than terrestrial plants. Macroalgae are roughly classified as green, red, or brown algae based on their photosynthetic pigments. Brown algae are considered to be a source of physiologically active substances such as polyphenols. Furthermore, some macroalgae can capture approximately 10 times more carbon dioxide from the atmosphere than terrestrial plants. Therefore, they have immense potential for use in the environment. Macroalgae have emerged as a biomass feedstock for bioethanol production owing to their low lignin content and applicability to biorefinery processes.
  • 555
  • 16 Jun 2023
Topic Review
Chitosan Nanoparticles-Based Cancer Drug Delivery
Chitin is the second most abundant biopolymer consisting of N-acetylglucosamine units and is primarily derived from the shells of marine crustaceans and the cell walls of organisms (such as bacteria, fungi, and algae). Being a biopolymer, its materialistic properties, such as biodegradability, and biocompatibility, make it a suitable choice for biomedical applications. Similarly, its deacetylated derivative, chitosan, exhibits similar biocompatibility and biodegradability properties, making it a suitable support material for biomedical applications. Furthermore, it has intrinsic material properties such as antioxidant, antibacterial, and antitumor. Population studies have projected nearly 12 million cancer patients across the globe, where most will be suffering from solid tumors. One of the shortcomings of potent anticancer drugs is finding a suitable cellular delivery material or system.
  • 553
  • 10 May 2023
Topic Review
Biomolecular Composition of Sea Ice Microalgae
Microalgae growing on the underside of sea ice are key primary producers in polar marine environments. Their nutritional status, determined by their macromolecular composition, contributes to the region’s biochemistry and the unique temporal and spatial characteristics of their growth makes them essential for sustaining polar marine food webs. The importance of sea ice microalgae as primary producers in polar marine ecosystems means that ongoing research into climate-change driven macromolecular phenotyping is critical to understanding the implications for the regions biochemical cycling and carbon transfer. 
  • 519
  • 24 Jan 2022
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