Aquapreneur » marine bioprospecting

GlycoMar awarded grant for collaboration with MicroA of Norway

Admin — Thu, 05 Jan 2012 16:57:24 +0000

The UK Technology Strategy Board today announced funding of a collaboration between GlycoMar and MicroA of Norway for the pilot scale production of one of GlycoMar’s biologically active polysaccharides from a marine microalga using MicroA’s patented photobioreactor technology.

The project will use MicroA’s recently patented PBR technology as the scale-up platform for GlycoMar’s microalgal polysaccharide product development. MicroA will use their pilot scale system to optimise growth conditions for maximum algal polysaccharide production. GlycoMar will optimise downstream processing to maximise recovery of the target product. The project will establish the commercial viability of full-scale production. Success of the project will be an important milestone for both partner companies and the wider biotechnology and microalgae industries, and will lead to commercialisation as a high value natural skin care ingredient within 3 years.

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Mar. Drugs, Volume 9, Issue 12 (December 2011), Pages 2488-2817 Release issue

Admin — Tue, 27 Dec 2011 15:35:57 +0000

MDPI is pleased to announce the publication of the following issue:Mar. Drugs, Volume 9, Issue 12 (December 2011), Pages 2488-2817 at http://www.mdpi.com/1660-3397/9/12/

Maria Mansson, Anita Nielsen, Louise Kjærulff, Charlotte H. Gotfredsen, Matthias Wietz, Hanne Ingmer, Lone Gram and Thomas O. Larsen
Article: Inhibition of Virulence Gene Expression in Staphylococcus aureus by Novel Depsipeptides from a Marine Photobacterium
Mar. Drugs 2011, 9(12), 2537-2552; doi:10.3390/md9122537
http://www.mdpi.com/1660-3397/9/12/2537/

Julianne Dyble, Duane Gossiaux, Peter Landrum, Donna R. Kashian and Steven Pothoven
Article: A Kinetic Study of Accumulation and Elimination of Microcystin-LR in Yellow Perch (Perca Flavescens) Tissue and Implications for Human Fish Consumption
Mar. Drugs 2011, 9(12), 2553-2571; doi:10.3390/md9122553
http://www.mdpi.com/1660-3397/9/12/2553/

Massimiliano Borgogna, Barbara Bellich and Attilio Cesàro
Review: Marine Polysaccharides in Microencapsulation and Application to Aquaculture: “From Sea to Sea”
Mar. Drugs 2011, 9(12), 2572-2604; doi:10.3390/md9122572
http://www.mdpi.com/1660-3397/9/12/2572/

Marcel Tutor Ale, Hiroko Maruyama, Hidekazu Tamauchi, Jørn D. Mikkelsen and Anne S. Meyer
Article: Fucose-Containing Sulfated Polysaccharides from Brown Seaweeds Inhibit Proliferation of Melanoma Cells and Induce Apoptosis by Activation of Caspase-3 in Vitro
Mar. Drugs 2011, 9(12), 2605-2621; doi:10.3390/md9122605
http://www.mdpi.com/1660-3397/9/12/2605/

Ching-Chyuan Su, Jui-Hsin Su, Jen-Jie Lin, Cheng-Chi Chen, Wen-Ing Hwang, Han Hsiang Huang and Yu-Jen Wu
Article: An Investigation into the Cytotoxic Effects of 13-Acetoxysarcocrassolide from the Soft Coral Sarcophyton crassocaule on Bladder Cancer Cells
Mar. Drugs 2011, 9(12), 2622-2642; doi:10.3390/md9122622
http://www.mdpi.com/1660-3397/9/12/2622/

Priscilla L. Winder, Shirley A. Pomponi and Amy E. Wright
Review: Natural Products from the Lithistida: A Review of the Literature since 2000
Mar. Drugs 2011, 9(12), 2643-2682; doi:10.3390/md9122643
http://www.mdpi.com/1660-3397/9/12/2643/

Asuncion Rocher, Ana Isabel Caceres, Ana Obeso and Constancio Gonzalez
Review: Tetrodotoxin as a Tool to Elucidate Sensory Transduction Mechanisms: The Case for the Arterial Chemoreceptors of the Carotid Body
Mar. Drugs 2011, 9(12), 2683-2704; doi:10.3390/md9122683
http://www.mdpi.com/1660-3397/9/12/2683/

Shih-Tseng Lin, Shang-Kwei Wang and Chang-Yih Duh
Article: Cembranoids from the Dongsha Atoll Soft Coral Lobophytum crassum
Mar. Drugs 2011, 9(12), 2705-2716; doi:10.3390/md9122705
http://www.mdpi.com/1660-3397/9/12/2705/

Charles B. Berde, Umeshkumar Athiraman, Barak Yahalom, David Zurakowski, Gabriel Corfas and Christina Bognet
Article: Tetrodotoxin-Bupivacaine-Epinephrine Combinations for Prolonged Local Anesthesia
Mar. Drugs 2011, 9(12), 2717-2728; doi:10.3390/md9122717
http://www.mdpi.com/1660-3397/9/12/2717/

Aloysio da S. Ferrão-Filho and Betina Kozlowsky-Suzuki
Review: Cyanotoxins: Bioaccumulation and Effects on Aquatic Animals
Mar. Drugs 2011, 9(12), 2729-2772; doi:10.3390/md9122729
http://www.mdpi.com/1660-3397/9/12/2729/

Yang-Chang Wu, Jui-Hsin Su, Tai-Ting Chou, Yin-Pin Cheng, Ching-Feng Weng, Chia-Hung Lee, Lee-Shing Fang, Wei-Hsien Wang, Jan-Jung Li, Mei-Chin Lu, Jimmy Kuo, Jyh-Horng Sheu and Ping-Jyun Sung
Review: Natural Product Chemistry of Gorgonian Corals of Genus Junceella—Part II
Mar. Drugs 2011, 9(12), 2773-2792; doi:10.3390/md9122773
http://www.mdpi.com/1660-3397/9/12/2773/

Kumiko Yokogawa, Isao Matsui-Yuasa, Akiko Tamura, Masaki Terada and Akiko Kojima-Yuasa
Article: Inhibitory Effects of Ecklonia cava Extract on High Glucose-Induced Hepatic Stellate Cell Activation
Mar. Drugs 2011, 9(12), 2793-2808; doi:10.3390/md9122793
http://www.mdpi.com/1660-3397/9/12/2793/

Rihab F. Angawi, Giorgio Bavestrello, Barbara Calcinai, Henny Adeleida Dien, Giovanna Donnarumma, Maria Antonietta Tufano, Iole Paoletti, Elena Grimaldi, Giuseppina Chianese, Ernesto Fattorusso and Orazio Taglialatela-Scafati
Article: Aurantoside J: a New Tetramic Acid Glycoside from Theonella swinhoei. Insights into the Antifungal Potential of Aurantosides
Mar. Drugs 2011, 9(12), 2809-2817; doi:10.3390/md9122809
http://www.mdpi.com/1660-3397/9/12/2809/

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Norway: Researcher in marine bioprospecting sought

Admin — Tue, 06 Dec 2011 20:17:15 +0000

Researcher in marine bioprospecting at the University of Tromsø, Faculty of Biosciences, Fishery and Economics, Norwegian College of Fishery Science – temporary position for 3 years.

Application deadline: 22.12.11
The following reference number must be quoted in your application: Ref. 2011/4954

The University of Tromsø has a vacant position as researcher in marine bioprospecting. The appointment is for a 3-year term within the project “Cell-based screening for small membrane permeable metal chelators of marine origin”, financed by the Research Council of Norway (The FUGE program).

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Mar. Drugs, Volume 9, Issue 11 (November 2011), Pages 2164-2487 released

Admin — Sun, 04 Dec 2011 15:39:41 +0000

MDPI announces the publication of the following issue: Mar. Drugs, Volume 9, Issue 11 (November 2011), Pages 2164-2487 at http://www.mdpi.com/1660-3397/9/11/

Renan Oliveira Silva, Geice Maria Pereira dos Santos, Lucas Antonio Duarte Nicolau, Larisse Tavares Lucetti, Ana Paula Macedo Santana, Luciano de Souza Chaves, Francisco Clark Nogueira Barros, Ana Lúcia Ponte Freitas, Marcellus Henrique Loiola Ponte Souza and Jand-Venes Rolim Medeiros
Article: Sulfated-Polysaccharide Fraction from Red Algae Gracilaria caudata Protects Mice Gut Against Ethanol-Induced Damage
Mar. Drugs 2011, 9(11), 2188-2200; doi:10.3390/md9112188
http://www.mdpi.com/1660-3397/9/11/2188/

Oded Bergman, Boaz Mayzel, Matthew A. Anderson, Muki Shpigel, Russell T. Hill and Micha Ilan
Article: Examination of Marine-Based Cultivation of Three Demosponges for Acquiring Bioactive Marine Natural Products
Mar. Drugs 2011, 9(11), 2201-2219; doi:10.3390/md9112201
http://www.mdpi.com/1660-3397/9/11/2201/

Francisco Cen Pacheco, Janny A. Villa-Pulgarin, Faustino Mollinedo, Manuel Norte Martín, José Javier Fernández and Antonio Hernández Daranas
Article: New Polyether Triterpenoids from Laurencia viridis and Their Biological Evaluation
Mar. Drugs 2011, 9(11), 2220-2235; doi:10.3390/md9112220
http://www.mdpi.com/1660-3397/9/11/2220/

Carla Pereira, Yolanda J. Silva, Ana L. Santos, Ângela Cunha, Newton C. M. Gomes and Adelaide Almeida
Article: Bacteriophages with Potential for Inactivation of Fish Pathogenic Bacteria: Survival, Host Specificity and Effect on Bacterial Community Structure
Mar. Drugs 2011, 9(11), 2236-2255; doi:10.3390/md9112236
http://www.mdpi.com/1660-3397/9/11/2236/

Saveetha Kandasamy, Di Fan, Jatinder Singh Sangha, Wajahatullah Khan, Franklin Evans, Alan T. Critchley and Balakrishnan Prithiviraj
Article: Tasco^®, a Product of Ascophyllum nodosum, Imparts Thermal Stress Tolerance in Caenorhabditis elegans
Mar. Drugs 2011, 9(11), 2256-2282; doi:10.3390/md9112256
http://www.mdpi.com/1660-3397/9/11/2256/

Toshiaki J. Hara
Review: Gustatory Detection of Tetrodotoxin and Saxitoxin, and Its Competitive Inhibition by Quinine and Strychnine in Freshwater Fishes
Mar. Drugs 2011, 9(11), 2283-2290; doi:10.3390/md9112283
http://www.mdpi.com/1660-3397/9/11/2283/

Kelvin Sze-Yin Leung, Bonnie Mei-Wah Fong and Yeuk-Ki Tsoi
Review: Analytical Challenges: Determination of Tetrodotoxin in Human Urine and Plasma by LC-MS/MS
Mar. Drugs 2011, 9(11), 2291-2303; doi:10.3390/md9112291
http://www.mdpi.com/1660-3397/9/11/2291/

Ruiyue Yang, Junbo Wang, Zhigang Liu, Xinrong Pei, Xiaolong Han and Yong Li
Article: Antioxidant Effect of a Marine Oligopeptide Preparation from Chum Salmon (Oncorhynchus keta) by Enzymatic Hydrolysis in Radiation Injured Mice
Mar. Drugs 2011, 9(11), 2304-2315; doi:10.3390/md9112304
http://www.mdpi.com/1660-3397/9/11/2304/

Narlize Silva Lira, Ricardo Carneiro Montes, Josean Fechine Tavares, Marcelo Sobral da Silva, Emidio V. L. da Cunha, Petronio Filgueiras de Athayde-Filho, Luis Cezar Rodrigues, Celidarque da Silva Dias and Jose Maria Barbosa-Filho
Review: Brominated Compounds from Marine Sponges of the Genus Aplysina and a Compilation of Their¹³C NMR Spectral Data
Mar. Drugs 2011, 9(11), 2316-2368; doi:10.3390/md9112316
http://www.mdpi.com/1660-3397/9/11/2316/

Adriana Oliveira dos Santos, Elizandra Aparecida Britta, Everson Miguel Bianco, Tania Ueda-Nakamura, Benedito Prado Dias Filho, Renato Crespo Pereira and Celso Vataru Nakamura
Article: 4-Acetoxydolastane Diterpene from the Brazilian Brown Alga Canistrocarpus cervicornis as Antileishmanial Agent
Mar. Drugs 2011, 9(11), 2369-2383; doi:10.3390/md9112369
http://www.mdpi.com/1660-3397/9/11/2369/

Vincent Chung-Him Yu, Peter Hoi-Fu Yu, Kin-Chung Ho and Fred Wang-Fat Lee
Article: Isolation and Identification of a New Tetrodotoxin-Producing Bacterial Species, Raoultella terrigena, from Hong Kong Marine Puffer Fish Takifugu niphobles
Mar. Drugs 2011, 9(11), 2384-2396; doi:10.3390/md9112384
http://www.mdpi.com/1660-3397/9/11/2384/

Jessica Ponder, Byong Hoon Yoo, Adedoyin D. Abraham, Qun Li, Amanda K. Ashley, Courtney L. Amerin, Qiong Zhou, Brian G. Reid, Philip Reigan, Robert Hromas, Jac A. Nickoloff and Daniel V. LaBarbera
Article: Neoamphimedine Circumvents Metnase-Enhanced DNA Topoisomerase IIα Activity Through ATP-Competitive Inhibition
Mar. Drugs 2011, 9(11), 2397-2408; doi:10.3390/md9112397
http://www.mdpi.com/1660-3397/9/11/2397/

Matti Vornanen, Minna Hassinen and Jaakko Haverinen
Article: Tetrodotoxin Sensitivity of the Vertebrate Cardiac Na⁺ Current
Mar. Drugs 2011, 9(11), 2409-2422; doi:10.3390/md9112409
http://www.mdpi.com/1660-3397/9/11/2409/

Samuel Abbas, Michelle Kelly, John Bowling, James Sims, Amanda Waters and Mark Hamann
Review: Advancement into the Arctic Region for Bioactive Sponge Secondary Metabolites
Mar. Drugs 2011, 9(11), 2423-2437; doi:10.3390/md9112423
http://www.mdpi.com/1660-3397/9/11/2423/

Dioli Ann Payo, Joannamel Colo, Hilconida Calumpong and Olivier de Clerck
Article: Variability of Non-Polar Secondary Metabolites in the Red Alga Portieria
Mar. Drugs 2011, 9(11), 2438-2468; doi:10.3390/md9112438
http://www.mdpi.com/1660-3397/9/11/2438/

Simon P. B. Ovenden, Jonathan L. Nielson, Catherine H. Liptrot, Richard H. Willis, Dianne M. Tapiolas, Anthony D. Wright and Cherie A. Motti
Short Note: A New Diketopiperazine, Cyclo-(4-S-hydroxy-R-proline-R-isoleucine), from an Australian Specimen of the Sponge Stelletta sp.
Mar. Drugs 2011, 9(11), 2469-2478; doi:10.3390/md9112469
http://www.mdpi.com/1660-3397/9/11/2469/

Cheng-Hai Gao, Yi-Fei Wang, Shen Li, Pei-Yuan Qian and Shu-Hua Qi
Article: Alkaloids and Sesquiterpenes from the South China Sea Gorgonian Echinogorgia pseudossapo
Mar. Drugs 2011, 9(11), 2479-2487; doi:10.3390/md9112479
http://www.mdpi.com/1660-3397/9/11/2479/

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Health Enhancement Products, Inc. expands scientific inquiry at Battelle as algae-derived molecules are tested for bioactivity

Admin — Sun, 27 Nov 2011 19:08:41 +0000

The board directors of Health Enhancement Products, Inc. (OTCBB: HEPI), a Scottsdale, AZ-based food ingredients and nutraceutical enterprise, has authorized an expanded study of its algae extracts. Since May of 2011, the Company has been working with Battelle, the world’s largest independent research and development organization, to isolate the active molecules in its proprietary algae extract, specifically those natural compounds responsible for supporting a healthy cholesterol balance. Over the intervening months, Battelle research scientists have conducted a series of experiments to separate bioactive fractions of the algae extract in order to isolate and further characterize the bioactive components.

That program has resulted in a number of isolates that can now be tested in vivo. The in vivo portion of this expanded research project will be carried out in several steps. The in vivo study is expected to commence in several days. The isolated samples will be administered to test subjects over the course of 30 days, after which an evaluation process would identify those samples with bioactivity. Battelle scientists would subject those samples to further refinement and validation, or proceed directly to a final analysis.

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Norwegian Prawns to Spice Up Chinese Noodles

Admin — Fri, 14 Oct 2011 03:23:22 +0000

Bioprospecting is opening up international markets for Norwegian seafood companies. Essences extracted from a prawn or octopus off the west coast of Norway could end up as flavouring in noodle packages in China.

This type of bioprospecting involves investigating marine organisms to find components or compounds that have commercial use. The potential results are particularly promising in relation to foodstuffs as well as for applications in medicine and the energy industry.

In the initial phase, researchers will be investigating various species and raw materials, including species already common in fisheries, untapped resources such as woodlice, and by-products such as leftovers from processing in the fishing industry, to cater for Chinese preferences.

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Aquapharm and CABI sign collaborative agreement

Admin — Thu, 06 Oct 2011 13:57:37 +0000

Scottish marine biotechnology firm Aquapharm has signed an agreement with the Centre for Agricultural Bioscience International (CABI) which will allow the organisations to access and co-promote one another’s unique microbe collections.

Aquapharm specialises in the discovery, isolation and development of novel functional active ingredients, sustainably harvested from marine micro-organisms for potential use in a wide range of commercial sectors.

Meanwhile not-for-profit organisation CABI – which is highly respected for its cutting-edge research – applies scientific expertise to solve problems in agriculture and the environment, with a focus on scientific publishing, development and research, and microbial services.

The agreement sets out how Aquapharm and CABI will share know-how and resources, paving the way for the future commercialisation of a variety of microbial strains/extracts.

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UK University Research Group seeks SME partners to explore the development of three specific marine bio-resources to produce high value products: anti-cancer drugs, oxygenase biocatalysts, anti-microbials

Admin — Sun, 04 Sep 2011 21:50:23 +0000

The marine environment is a very rich source of bio-molecules with therapeutic applications. Blue biotechnology specifically seeks to harness the biodiversity of the marine environment for access to high-value and relatively low-volume biological products. Recent advances in molecular biology (including metagenomic methods) mean that there is now remarkable potential to harness genetic biodiversity from specific marine environments for bio-product preparation. For example, when studying marine bacteria they are no longer limited to experimental approaches that focus on the <1% of organisms that can be easily cultivated as pure cultures in the laboratory.

The valorization of marine biodiversity for the EU economy using such approaches therefore offers much promise. In this project they will aim to explore the development of three specific marine bio-resources to produce high value products:
i) Anti-cancer drugs from sponges
ii) Oxygenase biocatalysts from marine bacteria
iii) Anti-microbials based on bacterial viruses

Technical Specifications / Specific technical requirements:
Call Details: KBBE.2012.3.2-01 Innovative marine biodiscovery pipelines for novel industrial products, call deadline 15th November 2011.
Expected proposal budget around ¬5m. Funding for SMEs at 75%
Proposal under prepartion, consotrium academic members in place, SMEs being recruited.

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Marine Biotechnology Center of North Carolina breaks ground this week

Admin — Sun, 04 Sep 2011 21:43:28 +0000

UNCW’s MARBIONC Center, or the Marine Biotechnology Center of North Carolina, will break ground the first week of September at the Center for Marine Science.

For students in the marine biotechnology program, this could mean big opportunities.

“Students will have the chance to do research that could result in permanent future employment,” said Dr. Jeffery Wright of the Marine Science department.

The center will also help set UNCW’s marine biotechnology students on a path for success.

“The MARBIONC will prepare students for careers in biotechnology and transform how we traditionally approach educating future marine scientists,” said Kevin Zelnio, an independent scientist and assistant editor of Deep Sea News. “It recognizes there is an industry for students that combines very useful research with a marine science education.”

Other hopes for the center include job creation and spinoff companies.

But the main goal of the center is to develop new products and commercialize them.

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The 3rd “Rendez-vous de Concarneau”: “Where Industry meets Science in Marine Biotechnology” 30-31 August 2011, France

Admin — Thu, 07 Jul 2011 22:27:19 +0000

The ‘Rendez-vous de Concarneau’ constitutes a series of workshops aiming at promoting relationships and strengthening bridges between Industry and academic research, and further at providing technology and knowledge transfer among stakeholders within European marine biotechnologies.

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Aquapreneur » marine bioprospecting

GlycoMar awarded grant for collaboration with MicroA of Norway

Mar. Drugs, Volume 9, Issue 12 (December 2011), Pages 2488-2817 Release issue

Table of Contents:

Norway: Researcher in marine bioprospecting sought

Researcher in marine bioprospecting at the University of Tromsø, Faculty of Biosciences, Fishery and Economics, Norwegian College of Fishery Science – temporary position for 3 years.

Mar. Drugs, Volume 9, Issue 11 (November 2011), Pages 2164-2487 released

Table of Contents:

Health Enhancement Products, Inc. expands scientific inquiry at Battelle as algae-derived molecules are tested for bioactivity

Norwegian Prawns to Spice Up Chinese Noodles

Aquapharm and CABI sign collaborative agreement

UK University Research Group seeks SME partners to explore the development of three specific marine bio-resources to produce high value products: anti-cancer drugs, oxygenase biocatalysts, anti-microbials

Marine Biotechnology Center of North Carolina breaks ground this week

The 3rd “Rendez-vous de Concarneau”: “Where Industry meets Science in Marine Biotechnology” 30-31 August 2011, France