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FEBS Open Bio Apr 2021The amount of plastic waste and microplastics released into marine environments has increased rapidly in recent decades. The durability of plastic materials results in... (Review)
Review
The amount of plastic waste and microplastics released into marine environments has increased rapidly in recent decades. The durability of plastic materials results in major problems following their release into the environment. This study provides an overview of recent findings on issues related to plastic degradation, the accumulation of microplastics in mussels and fishes, and the toxicological effects associated with the ingestion of microplastics. These findings confirm the serious problem of slowly degrading plastics (which rarely degrade fully) in natural marine environments. Microplastics have become widespread pollutants and have been detected in mussels and fish around the world. Microplastic particles, whether virgin or with adsorbed pollutants on their surfaces, pose a health problem after being ingested by marine organisms. This paper ends by highlighting the need for certain improvements in studies of these phenomena.
Topics: Aquatic Organisms; Biodegradation, Environmental; Ecology; Environmental Pollutants; Environmental Pollution; Microplastics; Plastics; Waste Management; Water Pollutants, Chemical
PubMed: 33595903
DOI: 10.1002/2211-5463.13120 -
Marine Drugs Dec 2022The field of marine bioactive compounds (marine drugs) has evolved significantly in recent years [...].
The field of marine bioactive compounds (marine drugs) has evolved significantly in recent years [...].
Topics: Humans; Aquatic Organisms; Neoplasms; Biological Products
PubMed: 36547906
DOI: 10.3390/md20120759 -
Marine Drugs Feb 2020Glycoconjugates play significant roles in biological systems and are used in medicine, for example as vaccines [...].
Glycoconjugates play significant roles in biological systems and are used in medicine, for example as vaccines [...].
Topics: Glycoconjugates; Marine Biology
PubMed: 32085418
DOI: 10.3390/md18020120 -
Marine Drugs Dec 2020By the end of the year 2020, there are nine marine-derived anticancer drugs available on the market, and the field is currently growing exponentially [...].
By the end of the year 2020, there are nine marine-derived anticancer drugs available on the market, and the field is currently growing exponentially [...].
Topics: Animals; Antineoplastic Agents; Biological Products; Humans; Marine Biology; Marine Toxins; Neoplasms
PubMed: 33333876
DOI: 10.3390/md18120643 -
Current Biology : CB Apr 2023In this Quick guide, Holly Moeller and Matthew Johnson introduce Mesodinium, a genus of algae with a propensity for 'stealing' photosynthetic machinery from its prey.
In this Quick guide, Holly Moeller and Matthew Johnson introduce Mesodinium, a genus of algae with a propensity for 'stealing' photosynthetic machinery from its prey.
Topics: Phylogeny; Photosynthesis; Ciliophora
PubMed: 37040701
DOI: 10.1016/j.cub.2023.02.015 -
Foods (Basel, Switzerland) Nov 2023The ocean covers 71% of the surface of our planet and comprises a diverse variety of biological resources-a combination of marine animals, marine plants, and marine...
The ocean covers 71% of the surface of our planet and comprises a diverse variety of biological resources-a combination of marine animals, marine plants, and marine microorganisms that have economic value for human beings [...].
PubMed: 38002112
DOI: 10.3390/foods12224054 -
Annual Review of Marine Science Jan 2023The regular movements of waves and tides are obvious representations of the oceans' rhythmicity. But the rhythms of marine life span across ecological niches and... (Review)
Review
The regular movements of waves and tides are obvious representations of the oceans' rhythmicity. But the rhythms of marine life span across ecological niches and timescales, including short (in the range of hours) and long (in the range of days and months) periods. These rhythms regulate the physiology and behavior of individuals, as well as their interactions with each other and with the environment. This review highlights examples of rhythmicity in marine animals and algae that represent important groups of marine life across different habitats. The examples cover ecologically highly relevant species and a growing number of laboratory model systems that are used to disentangle key mechanistic principles. The review introduces fundamental concepts of chronobiology, such as the distinction between rhythmic and endogenous oscillator-driven processes. It also addresses the relevance of studying diverse rhythms and oscillators, as well as their interconnection, for making better predictions of how species will respond to environmental perturbations, including climate change. As the review aims to address scientists from the diverse fields of marine biology, ecology, and molecular chronobiology, all of which have their own scientific terms, we provide definitions of key terms throughout the article.
Topics: Animals; Aquatic Organisms; Biological Clocks; Marine Biology; Oceans and Seas; Ecosystem
PubMed: 36028229
DOI: 10.1146/annurev-marine-030422-113038 -
Marine Drugs Dec 2020
Topics: Biological Products; Biotechnology; Drug Discovery; Genome; Marine Biology; Synthetic Biology
PubMed: 33287181
DOI: 10.3390/md18120615 -
Marine Drugs Dec 2020Marine organisms inhabiting extreme habitats are a promising reservoir of bioactive compounds for drug discovery. Extreme environments, i.e., polar and hot regions, deep...
Marine organisms inhabiting extreme habitats are a promising reservoir of bioactive compounds for drug discovery. Extreme environments, i.e., polar and hot regions, deep sea, hydrothermal vents, marine areas of high pressure or high salinity, experience conditions close to the limit of life. In these marine ecosystems, "hot spots" of biodiversity, organisms have adopted a huge variety of strategies to cope with such harsh conditions, such as the production of bioactive molecules potentially valuable for biotechnological applications and for pharmaceutical, nutraceutical and cosmeceutical sectors. Many enzymes isolated from extreme environments may be of great interest in the detergent, textile, paper and food industries. Marine natural products produced by organisms evolved under hostile conditions exhibit a wide structural diversity and biological activities. In fact, they exert antimicrobial, anticancer, antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities. The aim of this Special Issue "Bioactive Molecules from Extreme Environments" was to provide the most recent findings on bioactive molecules as well as enzymes isolated from extreme environments, to be used in biotechnological discovery pipelines and pharmaceutical applications, in an effort to encourage further research in these extreme habitats.
Topics: Animals; Aquatic Organisms; Biological Products; Extreme Environments; Marine Biology; Water Microbiology
PubMed: 33327603
DOI: 10.3390/md18120640 -
Current Biology : CB Dec 2020Jeremy Goldbogen introduces blue whales, the largest animals to ever inhabit earth.
Jeremy Goldbogen introduces blue whales, the largest animals to ever inhabit earth.
Topics: Acoustics; Animals; Balaenoptera; Body Size; Ecosystem; Feeding Behavior; Marine Biology
PubMed: 33290699
DOI: 10.1016/j.cub.2020.10.068