Document Type
Review
Rights
Available under a Creative Commons Attribution Non-Commercial Share Alike 4.0 International Licence
Disciplines
1. NATURAL SCIENCES, Marine biology
Abstract
The marine environment is home to a taxonomically diverse ecosystem. Organisms such as algae, molluscs, sponges, corals, and tunicates have evolved to survive the high concentrations of infectious and surface-fouling bacteria that are indigenous to ocean waters. Both macroalgae (seaweeds) and microalgae (diatoms) contain pharmacologically active compounds such as phlorotannins, fatty acids, polysaccharides, peptides, and terpenes which combat bacterial invasion. The resistance of pathogenic bacteria to existing antibiotics has become a global epidemic. Marine algae derivatives have shown promise as candidates in novel, antibacterial drug discovery. The efficacy of these compounds, their mechanism of action, applications as antibiotics, disinfectants, and inhibitors of foodborne pathogenic and spoilage bacteria are reviewed in this article.
DOI
https://doi.org/10.3390/md14040081
Recommended Citation
Shannon, E.; Abu-Ghannam, N. (2016) Antibacterial Derivatives of Marine Algae: An Overview of Pharmacological Mechanisms and Applications. Marine Drugs 2016, 14, 81. doi:10.3390/md14040081
Included in
Algae Commons, Bacteria Commons, Natural Products Chemistry and Pharmacognosy Commons, Pathogenic Microbiology Commons
Publication Details
Marine Drugs 2016, 14(4), 81; doi:10.3390/md14040081
Available here