Katja M. Fisch

Polyketide assembly lines of uncultivated sponge symbionts from structure-based gene targeting

There is increasing evidence that uncultivated bacterial symbionts are the true producers of numerous bioactive compounds isolated from marine sponges. The localization and heterologous expression of biosynthetic genes could clarify this issue and provide sustainable supplies for a wide range of pharmaceuticals. However, identification of genes in the usually highly complex symbiont communities remains a challenging task. For polyketides, one of the most important groups of sponge-derived drug candidates, we have developed a general strategy that allows one to rapidly access biosynthetic gene clusters based on chemical moieties. Using this method, we targeted polyketide synthase genes from two different sponge metagenomes. We have obtained from a sponge-bacterial association a complete pathway for the rare and potent antitumor agent psymberin from Psammocinia aff. bulbosa. The data support the symbiont hypothesis and provide insights into natural product evolution in previously inaccessible bacteria.

Responses of marine macroalgae to hydrogen-peroxide stress

In this study, we determined the antioxidative potential of 15 marine macroalgae by measuring the photosynthetic efficiency under artificial oxidative stress after a 30-min exposure to a series of ascending H2O2 concentrations. Species exhibiting high maximum quantum yields (Fv/Fm values) were regarded as not susceptible towards H2O2 stress. In addition to the short-term stress experiments, the antioxidative defense systems (enzymatic and non-enzymatic) of selected algal species under longer exposure times to H2O2 were investigated. Species with striking photosynthetic activity under H2O2 stress were Chaetomorpha melagonium (Chlorophyta), showing 40% reduced Fv/Fm as compared to the control after 8 days of exposure to 20 mM H2O2. In Fucus distichus (Phaeophyta) Fv/Fm decreased to 50% of the control under the same exposure conditions. Polysiphonia arctica (Rhodophyta) exhibited highest Fv/Fm values with a reduction of only 25%, therefore possessing the highest antioxidative potential of the investigated species. In P. arctica the activities of the antioxidative enzymes superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), ascorbate peroxidase (APX) and glutathione reductase (GR), as well as the pool size of the antioxidant ascorbic acid were investigated. When exposed to different H2O2 concentrations (0–2 mM) over 6 days, the intrinsic activities of SOD and GR were stimulated. In a kinetic study over 8 days, the activity of antioxidative enzymes APX and CAT as well as ascorbic acid content were recorded. APX activity was much higher in H2O2-treated thalli at the end of the experiment than in the control, also CAT activity increased significantly with increasing H2O2 stress. In parallel, ascorbic acid content was reduced under high H2O2 concentrations. Furthermore, by using GC–MS techniques in P. arctica bromophenolic compounds with antioxidative properties were identified. This study shows that the measurement of the in vivo fluorescence of photosystem II is a suitable tool to determine the effect of oxidative stress on macroalgae. From these studies it is obvious that different algal species have varying strategies against oxidative stress which correlate with zonation on the shore.

Trichopyrone and other constituents from the marine sponge-derived fungus Trichoderma sp.

The fungus Trichoderma viride was isolated from the Caribbean sponge Agelas dispar, which was collected from waters around the island of Dominica. Its EtOAc extract, exhibiting mild radical scavenging properties, was mass cultivated and found to produce a new pyranone derivative, trichopyrone (1), and ten compounds, namely four sorbicillinoid polyketide derivatives, trichodermanone A-D (2 - 5), two hexaketide derivatives, rezishanone (6) and vertinolide (7), three known dodecaketides, trichodimerol (8), bislongiquinolide (trichotetronine, 9), and bisvertinol (10), as well as 2-furancarboxylic acid (11). The structures of all compounds were determined by interpretation of their spectroscopic data (1D and 2D NMR, MS, UV and IR). The biological activities of all isolates were evaluated in a series of bioassays (radical scavenging, antioxidant, antimicrobial, inhibition of HIV-1 RT). The majority had very weak or no effects in the applied test systems

Antimicrobial Potential of Bacteria Associated with Marine Sea Slugs from North Sulawesi, Indonesia

Nudibranchia, marine soft-bodied organisms, developed, due to the absence of a protective shell, different strategies to protect themselves against putative predators and fouling organisms. One strategy is to use chemical weapons to distract predators, as well as pathogenic microorganisms. Hence, these gastropods take advantage of the incorporation of chemical molecules. Thereby the original source of these natural products varies; it might be the food source, de novo synthesis from the sea slug, or biosynthesis by associated bacteria. These bioactive molecules applied by the slugs can become important drug leads for future medicinal drugs. To test the potential of the associated bacteria, the latter were isolated from their hosts, brought into culture and extracts were prepared and tested for antimicrobial activities. From 49 isolated bacterial strains 35 showed antibiotic activity. The most promising extracts were chosen for further testing against relevant pathogens. In that way three strains showing activity against methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus and one strain with activity against enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli, respectively, were identified. The obtained results indicate that the sea slug associated microbiome is a promising source for bacterial strains, which hold the potential for the biotechnological production of antibiotics.

Toolbox for Antibiotics Discovery from Microorganisms

Microorganisms produce a vast array of biologically active metabolites. Such compounds are applied by humans to positively influence their health and, therefore, natural products serve as drug leads for pharmaceutical and medicinal chemistry. In this minireview, tools for the discovery and the production of potential drug leads are explained. A snapshot is provided, starting from the isolation of new producer strains, across genomic mining of (meta)genomes to identify biosynthetic gene clusters corresponding to natural products, toward heterologous expression to produce potential drug leads.

The Potential of Indonesian Heterobranchs Found around Bunaken Island for the Production of Bioactive Compounds

The species diversity of marine heterobranch sea slugs found on field trips around Bunaken Island (North Sulawesi, Indonesia) and adjacent islands of the Bunaken National Marine Park forms the basis of this review. In a survey performed in 2015, 80 species from 23 families were collected, including 17 new species. Only three of these have been investigated previously in studies from Indonesia. Combining species diversity with a former study from 2003 reveals in total 140 species from this locality. The diversity of bioactive compounds known and yet to be discovered from these organisms is summarized and related to the producer if known or suspected (might it be down the food chain, de novo synthesised from the slug or an associated bacterium). Additionally, the collection of microorganisms for the discovery of natural products of pharmacological interest from this hotspot of biodiversity that is presented here contains more than 50 species that have never been investigated before in regard to bioactive secondary metabolites. This highlights the great potential of the sea slugs and the associated microorganisms for the discovery of natural products of pharmacological interest from this hotspot of biodiversity.