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Marine Drugs
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Marine Drugs Research in Brazil
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Marine Drugs Research in Brazil

A special issue of Marine Drugs (ISSN 1660-3397). This special issue belongs to the section "Marine Biotechnology Related to Drug Discovery or Production".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (31 December 2023) | Viewed by 10747

Special Issue Editor

Dr. Hugo Alexandre Oliveira Rocha

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Biochemistry Department, Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte, Natal, Brazil
Interests: marine glycoscience; marine natural products; bioactive polysaccharides; fucoidan; alginate; chitosan; antioxidant activity
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The Brazilian coastline extends 7,367 kilometers (4,578 mi), adjacent to more than 800,000 km2 of continental shelf, extending from 4° N at Cape Orange to 34° S at Chuí. It is smaller only than the coast of Australia. In addition, the Brazilian coastline’s climate varies considerably from the mostly tropical north to temperate zones below the Tropic of Capricorn. These variations make this coastline a promising marine source of new bioactive compounds for the development of various human industrial activities such as pharmaceutical, nutraceutical, and biotechnological, making it both attractive and challenging. However, Brazil’s marine sources remain practically unexplored in the search for new biologically active natural products.

This Special Issue presents unpublished studies on natural products obtained from organisms that inhabit the Brazilian coast, as well as review articles on this topic.

As guest editors for this Special Issue, we would like to invite you to present your data regarding the study of molecules obtained from organisms found along the Brazilian coast. Studies from the isolation and purification of these molecules and their structural characterization; the evaluation of biological, pharmacological, nutraceutical, biotechnological properties; and propositions of mechanisms of action, including in silico studies, are welcome.

Dr. Hugo Alexandre Oliveira Rocha
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Marine Drugs is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2900 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • marine natural products chemistry
  • bioactivity metabolites
  • bioinformatics
  • biotechnological application

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Published Papers (5 papers)

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Research

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13 pages, 3601 KiB  
Article
Anti-Protozoan Activities of Polar Fish-Derived Polyalanine Synthetic Peptides
by Ellynes Amancio Correia Nunes, Maria Cláudia da Silva, Marlon Henrique Cardoso, Sergio Leandro Espíndola Preza, Lucas Silva de Oliveira, Breno Emanuel Farias Frihling, Sébastien Olivier Charneau, Philippe Grellier, Octávio Luiz Franco and Ludovico Migliolo
Mar. Drugs 2023, 21(8), 434; https://doi.org/10.3390/md21080434 - 31 Jul 2023
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1711
Abstract
Chagas disease, sleeping sickness and malaria are infectious diseases caused by protozoan parasites that kill millions of people worldwide. Here, we performed in vitro assays of Pa-MAP, Pa-MAP1.9, and Pa-MAP2 synthetic polyalanine peptides derived from the polar fish Pleuronectes americanus toward [...] Read more.
Chagas disease, sleeping sickness and malaria are infectious diseases caused by protozoan parasites that kill millions of people worldwide. Here, we performed in vitro assays of Pa-MAP, Pa-MAP1.9, and Pa-MAP2 synthetic polyalanine peptides derived from the polar fish Pleuronectes americanus toward Trypanosoma cruzi, T. brucei gambiense and Plasmodium falciparum activities. We demonstrated that the peptides Pa-MAP1.9 and Pa-MAP2 were effective to inhibit T. brucei growth. In addition, structural analyses using molecular dynamics (MD) studies showed that Pa-MAP2 penetrates deeper into the membrane and interacts more with phospholipids than Pa-MAP1.9, corroborating the previous in vitro results showing that Pa-MAP1.9 acts within the cell, while Pa-MAP2 acts via membrane lysis. In conclusion, polyalanine Pa-MAP1.9 and Pa-MAP2 presented activity against bloodstream forms of T. b. gambiense, thus encouraging further studies on the application of these peptides as a treatment for sleeping sickness. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Marine Drugs Research in Brazil)
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22 pages, 2907 KiB  
Article
A Blend Consisting of Agaran from Seaweed Gracilaria birdiae and Chromium Picolinate Is a Better Antioxidant Agent than These Two Compounds Alone
by Yara Campanelli-Morais, Cynthia Haynara Ferreira Silva, Marina Rocha do Nascimento Dantas, Diego Araujo Sabry, Guilherme Lanzi Sassaki, Susana Margarida Gomes Moreira and Hugo Alexandre Oliveira Rocha
Mar. Drugs 2023, 21(7), 388; https://doi.org/10.3390/md21070388 - 29 Jun 2023
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1528
Abstract
A blend refers to the combination of two or more components to achieve properties that are superior to those found in the individual products used for their production. Gracilaria birdiae agaran (SPGb) and chromium picolinate (ChrPic) are both antioxidant agents. However, there is [...] Read more.
A blend refers to the combination of two or more components to achieve properties that are superior to those found in the individual products used for their production. Gracilaria birdiae agaran (SPGb) and chromium picolinate (ChrPic) are both antioxidant agents. However, there is no documentation of blends that incorporate agarans and ChrPic. Hence, the objective of this study was to generate blends containing SPGb and ChrPic that exhibit enhanced antioxidant activity compared to SPGb or ChrPic alone. ChrPic was commercially acquired, while SPGb was extracted from the seaweed. Five blends (B1; B2; B3; B4; B5) were produced, and tests indicated B5 as the best antioxidant blend. B5 was not cytotoxic or genotoxic. H2O2 (0.6 mM) induced toxicity in fibroblasts (3T3), and this effect was abolished by B5 (0.05 mg·mL−1); neither ChrPic nor SPGb showed this effect. The cells also showed no signs of toxicity when exposed to H2O2 after being incubated with B5 and ChrPic for 24 h. In another experiment, cells were incubated with H2O2 and later exposed to SPGb, ChrPic, or B5. Again, SPGb was not effective, while cells exposed to ChrPic and B5 reduced MTT by 100%. The data demonstrated that B5 has activity superior to SPGb and ChrPic and points to B5 as a product to be used in future in vivo tests to confirm its antioxidant action. It may also be indicated as a possible nutraceutical agent. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Marine Drugs Research in Brazil)
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14 pages, 2059 KiB  
Article
Red Marine Algae Lithothamnion calcareum Supports Dental Enamel Mineralization
by Marcela R. Carrilho and Walter Bretz
Mar. Drugs 2023, 21(2), 109; https://doi.org/10.3390/md21020109 - 2 Feb 2023
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 2907
Abstract
The current management of oral conditions such as dental caries and erosion mostly relies on fluoride-based formulations. Herein, we proposed the use of the remaining skeleton of Lithothamnion calcareum (LC) as an alternative to fluorides. LC is a red macroalgae of the Corallinales [...] Read more.
The current management of oral conditions such as dental caries and erosion mostly relies on fluoride-based formulations. Herein, we proposed the use of the remaining skeleton of Lithothamnion calcareum (LC) as an alternative to fluorides. LC is a red macroalgae of the Corallinales order, occurring in the northeast coast of Brazil, whose unique feature is the abundant presence of calcium carbonates in its cell walls. Two experimental approaches tested the general hypothesis that LC could mediate enamel de-remineralization dynamics as efficiently as fluorides. Firstly, the effect of LC on enamel de-mineralization was determined in vitro by microhardness and gravimetric measurements to test the hypothesis that LC could either prevent calcium/phosphate release from intact enamel or facilitate calcium/phosphate reprecipitation on an artificially demineralized enamel surface. Subsequently, an in situ/ex vivo co-twin control study measured the effect of LC on the remineralization of chemical-demineralized enamel using microhardness and quantitative light-induced fluorescence. With this second experiment, we wanted to test whether outcomes obtained in experiment 1 would be confirmed by an in situ/ex vivo co-twin control model. Both experiments showed that LC exhibited equivalent or superior ability to modulate enamel de-remineralization when compared to fluoride solution. LC should be explored as an alternative to manage oral conditions involving the enamel demineralization. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Marine Drugs Research in Brazil)
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14 pages, 2668 KiB  
Article
Continuous Production of Biogenic Magnetite Nanoparticles by the Marine Bacterium Magnetovibrio blakemorei Strain MV-1T with a Nitrous Oxide Injection Strategy
by Tarcisio Correa, Mateus G. Godoy, Dennis A. Bazylinski and Fernanda Abreu
Mar. Drugs 2022, 20(11), 724; https://doi.org/10.3390/md20110724 - 18 Nov 2022
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1895
Abstract
Magnetotactic bacteria (MTB) produce magnetosomes, which are membrane-embedded magnetic nanoparticles. Despite their technological applicability, the production of magnetite magnetosomes depends on the cultivation of MTB, which results in low yields. Thus, strategies for the large-scale cultivation of MTB need to be improved. Here, [...] Read more.
Magnetotactic bacteria (MTB) produce magnetosomes, which are membrane-embedded magnetic nanoparticles. Despite their technological applicability, the production of magnetite magnetosomes depends on the cultivation of MTB, which results in low yields. Thus, strategies for the large-scale cultivation of MTB need to be improved. Here, we describe a new approach for bioreactor cultivation of Magnetovibrio blakemorei strain MV-1T. Firstly, a fed-batch with a supplementation of iron source and N2O injection in 24-h pulses was established. After 120 h of cultivation, the production of magnetite reached 24.5 mg∙L−1. The maximum productivity (16.8 mg∙L−1∙day−1) was reached between 48 and 72 h. However, the productivity and mean number of magnetosomes per cell decreased after 72 h. Therefore, continuous culture in the chemostat was established. In the continuous process, magnetite production and productivity were 27.1 mg∙L−1 and 22.7 mg∙L−1∙day−1, respectively, at 120 h. This new approach prevented a decrease in magnetite production in comparison to the fed-batch strategy. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Marine Drugs Research in Brazil)
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Review

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14 pages, 2199 KiB  
Review
Dictyota and Canistrocarpus Brazilian Brown Algae and Their Bioactive Diterpenes—A Review
by Ana Débora Nunes Pinheiro Georgii and Valéria Laneuville Teixeira
Mar. Drugs 2023, 21(9), 484; https://doi.org/10.3390/md21090484 - 4 Sep 2023
Viewed by 1686
Abstract
Dictyotaceae algae have gained recognition as prolific producers of diterpenes, which are molecules with significant biotechnological potential. These diterpenes hold immense promise as potential active drug components, making the algae a compelling area of study. The present review aims to present the latest [...] Read more.
Dictyotaceae algae have gained recognition as prolific producers of diterpenes, which are molecules with significant biotechnological potential. These diterpenes hold immense promise as potential active drug components, making the algae a compelling area of study. The present review aims to present the latest advancements in understanding the biopotential of Brazilian Dictyota and Canistrocarpus brown algae, shedding light on the remarkable diversity and the biological and pharmacological potential of the secondary metabolites they produce. A total of 78 articles featuring 26 distinct diterpenes are reported in this review, with their antiviral potential being the most
highlighted biological activity. Despite considerable research on these algae and their diterpenes, significant knowledge gaps persist. Consequently, the present review is poised to serve as a pivotal resource for researchers who are actively engaged in the pursuit of active diterpenes beyond the immediate purview. Furthermore, it holds the potential to catalyze an increase in research endeavors centered around these algal species within the geographical confines of the Brazilian coastline. Also, it assumes a critical role in directing future scientific explorations toward a better comprehension of these compounds and their ecological implications. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Marine Drugs Research in Brazil)
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