Marine biodiversity as a source of chemical diversity

Total global biodiversity is estimated at between 3 and 500 × 10⁶ species of prokaryote and eukaryote organisms spread across 70 or more phyla. The marine macrofauna alone are estimated between 0.5 and 30 × 10⁶ species and represents a broader range of taxonomic diversity than that found in the terrestrial environment, which has been the traditional source of natural products. With a typical eukaryote possessing 50,000 genes, the global marine macrofauna are the source of 2.5 × 10¹⁰ to 1.5 × 10¹² primary products and an associated extensive range of secondary products. However, only a few thousand novel compounds from marine organisms have been described. These compounds have proven unique in chemical and pharmacological terms but, as yet, no therapeutic agents have resulted. Given a broader drug discovery strategy, and facilitated by technological advances, it is predicted that the characterisation of marine chemical diversity will be accelerated. Strategies for drug discovery from the virtually untapped chemical diversity of marine organisms are discussed. © 1994 Wiley-Less, Inc.     

A foreign body (gossypiboma) in pregnancy: first report of a case

The technical name for a surgical sponge left in the body of a patient is inadvertent “gossypiboma.” The word is derived from the Latin word Gossypium for cotton and from the Kiswahili word boma for “place of concealment.” These retained sponges were first seen as “textilomas,” but were renamed “gossypiboma” in 1978. The first case was reported by Wilson in 1884. These are rarely are retrieved in the literature, because of legal complications. A higher incidence of retained laparotomy sponges has been reported in association with gynecological procedures. We report a case of gossypiboma in the 38th week of pregnancy that imitated an ovary neoplasm.     

Economic repercussions of fisheries-induced evolution

Fish stocks experiencing high fishing mortality show a tendency to mature earlier and at a smaller size, which may have a genetic component and therefore long-lasting economic and biological effects. To date, the economic effects of such ecoevolutionary dynamics have not been empirically investigated. Using 70 y of data, we develop a bioeconomic model for Northeast Arctic cod to compare the economic yield in a model in which life-history traits can vary only through phenotypic plasticity with a model in which, in addition, genetic changes can occur. We find that evolutionary changes toward faster growth and earlier maturation occur consistently even if a stock is optimally managed. However, if a stock is managed optimally, the evolutionary changes actually increase economic yield because faster growth and earlier maturation raise the stock’s productivity. The optimal fishing mortality is almost identical for the evolutionary and nonevolutionary model and substantially lower than what it has been historically. Therefore, the costs of ignoring evolution under optimal management regimes are negligible. However, if fishing mortality is as high as it has been historically, evolutionary changes may result in economic losses, but only if the fishery is selecting for medium-sized individuals. Because evolution facilitates growth, the fish are younger and still immature when they are susceptible to getting caught, which outweighs the increase in productivity due to fish spawning at an earlier age.     

海洋抗肿瘤天然活性物质Apratoxin家族研究进展

Apratoxins家族是由海洋蓝藻菌中分离得到的一种次级代谢产物,通过抑制共翻译转运过程表现出强力细胞毒性活性,具有作为抑癌药物的开发潜力.近年来由于Apratoxins家族抑制肿瘤的高效活性,人们对它们的合成以及药理机制已经做了大量研究,本文主要对近年来Apratoxins家族的研究进展做一简要介绍.     

海洋放线菌N331生物碱活性组分的研究

目的 对海洋放线菌N331发酵液中的抗菌活性成分进行研究.方法 采用大孔树脂吸附、硅胶柱层析分离纯化抗菌活性成分,并对其理化性质和生物活性进行初步研究.结果 从海洋放线菌N331的发酵液中分离到一种结晶状活性组分,鉴定为生物碱类物质,由几种极性相近的化合物组成;其对金黄色葡萄球菌敏感茼及其耐药菌的最小押菌浓度均为4μg·mL-1,对口腔上皮癌KB细胞和肺癌A549细胞的半数抑制浓度(IC50)分别为2.0,3.0μg·mL-1,与顺铂的抗肿瘤效价相当.结论 海洋放线菌N331能产生抗茸及细胞毒性较强的生物碱类活性物质.     

一株产抑制真菌活性全霉素的胶州湾海洋链霉菌

目的研究胶州湾海洋链霉菌M095抑菌活性代谢产物及菌株M095的分类。方法采用ESI-MS,EI-MS,1H-NMR,13C-NMR和APTNMR等波谱分析进行结构测定;并根据培养特征、形态特征及16SrDNA序列分析进行分类。结果获得一种对金黄色葡萄球菌和丝状真菌毛霉miehei(Tü284)均有显著抑制作用的化合物,经鉴定其结构与全霉素相同;该菌株可能为球孢类群中的一个变种。结论本文首次报道了全霉素对丝状真菌的抑制作用,拓宽了全霉素的抗菌谱。     

棕色扁海绵化学成分研究

采用多种层析手段,从采自西沙群岛永兴岛的棕色海棉Phakellia fusca Thiele中分得10个化合物,应用多种光谱技术测定了其中4个化合物的结构,分别为:尿嘧啶（I）,aldisin(Ⅱ）,（10Z)-debromo axinohy-dantoin(Ⅲ),（10Z)-axinohydantoin(Ⅳ）。其中有一环七肽类化合物,采和600MHz的核磁共振技术测定该化合物的平面结构,进一步的工作仍在进行中。     

DNA提取方法进展

DNA的提取是分子生物学研究的基础技术,提取的DNA的纯度及结构完整性是进行基因工程各项研究所必需的条件。近年来一些新的或改进的DNA提取纯化方法不断出现,本文对从陆生动物、植物、微生物以及海洋生物提取DNA的方法进行综述。     

海洋放线菌细胞毒抗肿瘤活性物质的初筛

本文以改进的ＭＴＴ法为初筛模型,筛选海洋放线菌产生的细胞毒抗肿瘤活性物质,对４３４株海洋放线菌发酵液的筛选结果发现,约１６％的海洋放线菌发酵液对Ｐ３８８和ＫＢ癌细胞的ＩＤ８０等于或大于３２０,其中最高可达２０４８０。这表明海洋放线菌存在着活性高的细胞毒抗肿瘤活性物质,是潜在的抗癌药源。     

南海多刺网结海绵化学成分的研究

从中国南海多刺网结海绵(Gelliodes spinosella Thielle)的正丁醇可溶物中分离出3个有机化合物,通过UV、IR、~1HNMR、~(13)CNMR和EIMS分析,确定其化学结构分别为:胸腺嘧啶脱氧核苷(1)、苯乙酸(2)和α-苯基丙氨酸(3)。