S. Blackburn, M. Brown, D. Frampton, P. Mansour, P. Nichols, S. Rowland, J. Volkman
It has been acknowledged for some time that although Australia is surrounded by a rich marine resource, we are not taking advantage of the potential benefits from the abundant biodiversity. Marine biota contain an array of bioactive molecules that may be used as new pharmaceuticals or as lead compounds. A new Bioactive Molecule Initiative has recently commenced across CSIRO that aims to co-ordinate activities in chemical synthesis and analysis, pharmaceutical, nutritional and clinical assessment, as well as aquaculture and agrichemical research. Marine microalgae are a relatively untapped, yet potentially rich, source of bioactive compounds. World-wide only a few species of microalgae are exploited commercially for high value or nutritionally important compounds, leaving a vast unexplored biodiversity. As part of the Bioactive Molecules Initiative we are screening the biodiversity of the CSIRO Collection of Living Microalgae for a range of bioactive compounds including antimicrobials and cytotoxics, as well as novel and nutritionally important fatty acids. In addition we are developing known targets: both organisms and specific bioactive compounds.
Examples include the cytostatic polyunsaturated highly branched isoprenoids (HBIs) produced by the diatoms Haslea ostrearia and Rhizosolenia spp., and PUFA of known nutritional value e.g. docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), eicosapentacnoic acid (EPA), and arachidonic acid (AA) produced by microalgae and a group of unusual microheterotrophs, the thraustochytrids. Our research on strain selection and typing, physiological studies, biomass optimisation, as well as biochemical and molecular manipulation of these targets is the precurser of a future biotechnology industry using a wide range of marine microalgal products and applications.
(CSIRO Marine Research, GPO Box 1538, Hobart, Tasmania, 7001, Australia)