Marine peptides and their anti-infective activities

• Published in: Marine Drugs Vol. 13; no. 1; pp. 618 - 654
• Main Authors: Kang, Hee Kyoung, Seo, Chang Ho, Park, Yoonkyung
• Format: Journal Article Book Review
• Language: English
• Published: Switzerland MDPI AG 16.01.2015; MDPI
• Subjects: Animals; Anti-Bacterial Agents - isolation & purification; Anti-Bacterial Agents - pharmacology; Anti-Infective Agents - isolation & purification; Anti-Infective Agents - pharmacology; anti-infective peptides; antifungal; Antifungal Agents - isolation & purification; Antifungal Agents - pharmacology; Antimalarials - isolation & purification; Antimalarials - pharmacology; antimicrobial; Antimicrobial Cationic Peptides - isolation & purification; Antimicrobial Cationic Peptides - pharmacology; Antiprotozoal Agents - isolation & purification; Antiprotozoal Agents - pharmacology; antiviral; Antiviral Agents - isolation & purification; Antiviral Agents - pharmacology; Aquatic Organisms - chemistry; Marine; marine organisms; Porifera - chemistry; Review
• ISSN: 1660-3397; 1660-3397
• DOI: 10.3390/md13010618

Marine bioresources are a valuable source of bioactive compounds with industrial and nutraceutical potential. Numerous clinical trials evaluating novel chemotherapeutic agents derived from marine sources have revealed novel mechanisms of action. Recently, marine-derived bioactive peptides have attracted attention owing to their numerous beneficial effects. Moreover, several studies have reported that marine peptides exhibit various anti-infective activities, such as antimicrobial, antifungal, antimalarial, antiprotozoal, anti-tuberculosis, and antiviral activities. In the last several decades, studies of marine plants, animals, and microbes have revealed tremendous number of structurally diverse and bioactive secondary metabolites. However, the treatments available for many infectious diseases caused by bacteria, fungi, and viruses are limited. Thus, the identification of novel antimicrobial peptides should be continued, and all possible strategies should be explored. In this review, we will present the structures and anti-infective activity of peptides isolated from marine sources (sponges, algae, bacteria, fungi and fish) from 2006 to the present.