Electronic Journal of Biotechnology issues call for papers for Special Issue on Marine Biotechnology

Posted On: February 3, 2012
Electronic Journal of Biotechnology Preparing Special Issue on Marine Biotechnology on September 15, 2012.

Call for Papers: invitation to submit a research article, review article, short communication or a technical note in the field of Marine Biotechnology or related areas.

Submission Guidelines

Original and unpublished contributions that are not currently under review by another journal are solicited. All manuscripts must be prepared in English and should be submitted through the online submission system available at

http://www.ejbiotechnology.info/index.php/ejbiotechnology/about/submissions#onlineSubmissions

 

AURORA ALGAE SET TO RAISE $100M

Posted On: January 31, 2012

The company’s  Western Australia operation in Karratha is planned to be increased from the initial 100 hectares of commercial operation to 400 hectares in the next stage, and then 1000 hectares.

Aurora Algae began operations in Karratha mid last year and now has its sights on raising $100 million after hitting the $22 million mark a few months ago.

The $22 million has left the company fully funded until its next expansion phase of harvesting algae-based biomass for products in the nutraceutical, pharmaceutical, aquaculture and renewable energy markets.

The company is looking to raise $100 million from existing and new private investors by mid-year, and is aligning at an IPO later in the year.

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Scots and Nordic scientists set to explore sustainable skincare utilizing marine natural ingredients

Posted On: January 30, 2012

Scottish company Aquapharm has joined forces with Norwegian firm Aqua Bio Technology (ABT) to create a new generation of sustainable ingredients for the skincare market.

Together the companies hope to identify natural marine ingredients that could replace the petroleum-based components used extensively within the skincare market.

Scientists at Aquapharm believe marine microbes are the key to finding the bio-active ingredients of the future, and have developed specialist fermentation processes to source and produce such extracts.

Now they will undertake a development program in conjunction with ABT, sharing their expertise in a bid to prove these extracts can be produced with minimal environmental impact – and successfully commercialized for the personal care market.

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Algae Biodiesel Company World Health Energy Holdings Inc. Announces Letter of Intent to Develop Up to 250 Acre Algae Farm With Prime Inc. India

Posted On: December 27, 2011

$100 Million Project Envisioned for Production of Biodiesel and Commercial Fish Food

World Health Energy Holdings, Inc. , a public holding company developing joint venture partnerships for algae production for biodiesel and commercial fish food, announced today the signing of Letter of Intent with Prime Inc., an India Industrial and transport Company, to develop a biodiesel production facility ramping up to 250 acres with a budget of up to 100 million dollars.

The proposed sites for development are in Tamil Nadu and Karnataka, India and will utilize an Algae Enhancement Technology, known as the GB3000 system, used for growing algae for the production of Fish Feed, Proteins and Bio-fuel in the Territory of India. Prime Inc. India’s current clients include: Exon, Shell, General Electric (GE) and Siemens.

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Marine biotech in Norway continues to make waves

Posted On: December 6, 2011

Some 30 million NOK are to be made available for new initiatives alongside continuing support for established programmes such as MABIT and Marbank.

The Norwegian government acknowledged awareness of the importance of marine biotech to the economy by allocating dedicated funds within the new budget in October. Some 30 million NOK (3,84 million EUR) are to be made available for new initiatives alongside continuing support for established programmes such as MABIT and Marbank.

“We will have the first call for proposals from the new biotech program (BIOTEK2021) in February says special adviser Steinar Bergseth, who has long championed the sector.” Also I am pleased to say that internationally Norway is taking a lead in this area – perhaps only naturally considering our marine traditions and the length of our coastline.

 

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

Posted On: December 4, 2011

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/

Table of Contents:

Leda Giannuzzi, Daniela Sedan, Ricardo Echenique and Dario Andrinolo
Case Report: An Acute Case of Intoxication with Cyanobacteria and Cyanotoxins in Recreational Water in Salto Grande Dam, Argentina
Mar. Drugs 2011, 9(11), 2164-2175; doi:10.3390/md9112164
http://www.mdpi.com/1660-3397/9/11/2164/

Gi-Young Kim, Wun-Jae Kim and Yung Hyun Choi
Review: Pectenotoxin-2 from Marine Sponges: A Potential Anti-Cancer Agent—A Review
Mar. Drugs 2011, 9(11), 2176-2187; doi:10.3390/md9112176
http://www.mdpi.com/1660-3397/9/11/2176/

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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Norwegian Prawns to Spice Up Chinese Noodles

Posted On: October 14, 2011

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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Mar. Drugs, Volume 9, Issue 8 (August 2011), Pages 1307-1439: New Issue

Posted On: September 4, 2011

MDPI AG is pleased to announce the publication of the following issue:Mar. Drugs, Volume 9, Issue 8 (August 2011), Pages 1307-1439 at http://www.mdpi.com/1660-3397/9/8/

Table of Contents:

Shi-Yie Cheng, Pei-Wen Chen, Hwa-Pyng Chen, Shang-Kwei Wang and Chang-Yih Duh
Article: New Cembranolides from the Dongsha Atoll Soft Coral Lobophytum durum
Mar. Drugs 2011, 9(8), 1307-1318; doi:10.3390/md9081307
http://www.mdpi.com/1660-3397/9/81307/

Chia-Ying Kao, Jui-Hsin Su, Mei-Chin Lu, Tsong-Long Hwang, Wei-Hsien Wang, Jih-Jung Chen, Jyh-Horng Sheu, Yueh-Hsiung Kuo, Ching-Feng Weng, Lee-Shing Fang, Zhi-Hong Wen and Ping-Jyun Sung
Article: Lobocrassins A–E: New Cembrane-Type Diterpenoids from the Soft Coral Lobophytum crassum
Mar. Drugs 2011, 9(8), 1319-1331; doi:10.3390/md9081319
http://www.mdpi.com/1660-3397/9/81319/

Mariana Angelica Oliveira Bitencourt, Gracielle Rodrigues Dantas, Daysianne Pereira Lira, Jose Maria Barbosa-Filho, George Emmanuel Cavalcanti de Miranda, Barbara Viviana de Oliveira Santos and Janeusa Trindade Souto
Article: Aqueous and Methanolic Extracts of Caulerpa mexicana Suppress Cell Migration and Ear Edema Induced by Inflammatory Agents
Mar. Drugs 2011, 9(8), 1332-1345; doi:10.3390/md9081332
http://www.mdpi.com/1660-3397/9/81332/

Laura de Andrade Moura, Fredy Ortiz-Ramirez, Diana Negrao Cavalcanti, Suzi Meneses Ribeiro, Guilherme Muricy, Valeria Laneuville Teixeira and Andre Lopes Fuly
Article: Evaluation of Marine Brown Algae and Sponges from Brazil as Anticoagulant and Antiplatelet Products
Mar. Drugs 2011, 9(8), 1346-1358; doi:10.3390/md9081346
http://www.mdpi.com/1660-3397/9/81346/

Min-Kyoung Park, Uhee Jung and Changhyun Roh
Article: Fucoidan from Marine Brown Algae Inhibits Lipid Accumulation
Mar. Drugs 2011, 9(8), 1359-1367; doi:10.3390/md9081359
http://www.mdpi.com/1660-3397/9/81359/

Yi Wang, Jinkai Zheng, Peipei Liu, Wei Wang and Weiming Zhu
Communication: Three New Compounds from Aspergillus terreus PT06-2 Grown in a High Salt Medium
Mar. Drugs 2011, 9(8), 1368-1378; doi:10.3390/md9081368
http://www.mdpi.com/1660-3397/9/81368/

Ya-Nan Wang, Chang-Lun Shao, Cai-Juan Zheng, Yi-Yan Chen and Chang-Yun Wang
Article: Diversity and Antibacterial Activities of Fungi Derived from the Gorgonian Echinogorgia rebekka from the South China Sea
Mar. Drugs 2011, 9(8), 1379-1390; doi:10.3390/md9081379
http://www.mdpi.com/1660-3397/9/81379/

Anahit Penesyan, Jan Tebben, Matthew Lee, Torsten Thomas, Staffan Kjelleberg, Tilmann Harder and Suhelen Egan
Article: Identification of the Antibacterial Compound Produced by the Marine Epiphytic Bacterium Pseudovibrio sp. D323 and Related Sponge-Associated Bacteria
Mar. Drugs 2011, 9(8), 1391-1402; doi:10.3390/md9081391
http://www.mdpi.com/1660-3397/9/81391/

Cui Li, Ming-Ping La, Peng Sun, Tibor Kurtan, Attila Mandi, Hua Tang, Bao-Shu Liu, Yang-Hua Yi, Ling Li and Wen Zhang
Article: Bioactive (3Z,5E)-11,20-Epoxybriara-3,5-dien-7,18-olide Diterpenoids from the South China Sea Gorgonian Dichotella gemmacea
Mar. Drugs 2011, 9(8), 1403-1418; doi:10.3390/md9081403
http://www.mdpi.com/1660-3397/9/81403/

Takashi Maoka, Naoshige Akimoto, Miyuki Tsushima, Sadao Komemushi, Takuma Mezaki, Fumihito Iwase, Yoshimitsu Takahashi, Naomi Sameshima, Miho Mori and Yoshikazu Sakagami
Article: Carotenoids in Marine Invertebrates Living along the Kuroshio Current Coast
Mar. Drugs 2011, 9(8), 1419-1427; doi:10.3390/md9081419
http://www.mdpi.com/1660-3397/9/81419/

Sumei Li, Xinpeng Tian, Siwen Niu, Wenjun Zhang, Yuchan Chen, Haibo Zhang, Xianwen Yang, Weimin Zhang, Wenjun Li, Si Zhang, Jianhua Ju and Changsheng Zhang
Article: Pseudonocardians A–C, New Diazaanthraquinone Derivatives from a Deap-Sea Actinomycete Pseudonocardia sp. SCSIO 01299
Mar. Drugs 2011, 9(8), 1428-1439; doi:10.3390/md9081428
http://www.mdpi.com/1660-3397/9/81428/

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Solazyme Expands Algenist Distribution Channels to Include Sephora Canada and The Shopping Channel

Posted On: July 7, 2011

Solazyme, Inc. a renewable oil and bioproducts company, has signed agreements with Sephora Canada and the leading Canadian multimedia retailer, The Shopping Channel®, to launch Algenist™, Solazyme’s microalgae-based prestige anti-aging skincare line throughout the country. In an unprecedented beauty launch that couples world-class biotechnology with Canada’s most prominent beauty retailers, the Algenist product line will begin selling in all 26 Canadian Sephora stores and on The Shopping Channel’s highest rated beauty programming starting in July 2011.

Algenist is a product line of advanced anti-aging skincare products formulated with Solazyme’s breakthrough ingredient, alguronic acid, an unexpected discovery which was found by the company’s leading biotechnology scientists while researching microalgae for renewable energy solutions. When studied for potential anti-aging benefits, alguronic acid demonstrated significant results and outperformed some of the most well known anti-aging ingredients on the market including hyaluronic acid, retinol and vitamins C and E.

“Algenist comes from a lineage of biotechnology expertise that is not only pioneering the future of skincare, but reinvigorated the luxury skin and personal care space,” said Frederic Stoeckel, Senior Vice President & General Manager, Solazyme Health Sciences. “Sephora and The Shopping Channel provide incredible support and access to some of the largest markets in the world and we look forward to a successful launch with their respective audiences in Canada.”

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Fish enzymes show potential to boost dairy flavors: Study

Posted On: June 14, 2011

Enzymes from salmon and hoki may enhance the flavor profile of dairy products, like specialty cheeses, suggests a study from Canada and New Zealand.

Digestive enzymes are used to speed up the ripening of dairy products such as cheeses, and play an important role in the development of the finished products flavor. Many such enzymes – called pregastric esterase (PGE) or pregastric lipase – are obtained from ruminants, like calves or lambs.

According to new data published in Food Chemistry, digestive enzymes from fish such as salmon and hoki may also be used to produce desirable flavor profiles in dairy products.

The enzymes from these fish may also offer technological benefits, by being able to function at considerably lower temperatures than enzymes obtained from other fish or mammals, explained researchers from McGill University and The New Zealand Institute for Plant and Food Research Limited.

Such a characteristic, suggested the researchers, “could make the enzymes suitable for applications such as the hydrolysis of milk fat, release of FAs and flavor volatiles, desired in specialty cheeses and other ‘ripened’ dairy products”.

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