Antibacterial activity in Strongylocentrotus droebachiensis (Echinoidea), Cucumaria frondosa (Holothuroidea), and Asterias rubens (Asteroidea)

• Published in: Journal of invertebrate pathology Vol. 81; no. 2; pp. 94 - 102
• Main Authors: Haug, Tor, Kjuul, Anita K, Styrvold, Olaf B, Sandsdalen, Erling, Olsen, Ørjan M, Stensvåg, Klara
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Amsterdam Elsevier Inc 01.10.2002; Elsevier
• Subjects: Animals; Anti-Bacterial Agents - isolation & purification; Anti-Bacterial Agents - pharmacology; Antibacterial activity; Asterias rubens; Biological and medical sciences; Cucumaria frondosa; Echinoderm extracts; Echinodermata; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; General pharmacology; Hemolysin Proteins - isolation & purification; Hemolysin Proteins - pharmacology; Invertebrate immunology; Invertebrates; Lysozyme; Marine; Marine bioprospecting; Medical sciences; Muramidase - isolation & purification; Muramidase - pharmacology; Pharmacognosy. Homeopathy. Health food; Pharmacology. Drug treatments; Sea Cucumbers - chemistry; Sea Urchins - chemistry; Starfish - chemistry; Strongylocentrotus droebachiensis; Vibrio - drug effects; Vibrio - growth & development; Echinoderm extracts; Marine bioprospecting; Strongylocentrotus droebachiensis; Cucumaria frondosa; Asterias rubens; Antibacterial activity; Invertebrate immunology; Lysozyme; Marine animal; Echinodermata; Marine environment; Tissue extract; Echinoidea; Asteroidea; Hemolysis; Enzyme; Pharmacognosy; Interspecific comparison; Biological activity; Holothuroidea; Glycosidases; Hydrolases; Invertebrata; Antibacterial agent; O-Glycosidases
• ISSN: 0022-2011; 1096-0805
• DOI: 10.1016/S0022-2011(02)00153-2

A search for antibacterial activity in different body parts of the green sea urchin Strongylocentrotus droebachiensis, the common starfish Asterias rubens, and the sea cucumber Cucumaria frondosa was conducted. Antibacterial activity was detected in extracts from several tissues in all species tested, but mainly in the coelomocyte and body wall extracts. Relatively high antibacterial activity could also be detected in gastrointestinal organs and eggs from A. rubens and in eggs from C. frondosa. Differences between active extracts regarding hydrophobicity and sensitivity to heat and proteinase K treatment indicated that several different compounds were responsible for the antibacterial activities detected. Lysozyme-like activity could be detected in several tissues from A. rubens. Haemolytic activity could be detected in all species tested, especially in the body wall extracts. Results from the current study suggest that marine echinoderms are a potential source for the discovery of novel antibiotics.