Natural product biosynthesis in bacteria associated with marine organisms

Abstract

Because antibiotics are becoming less effective and there is an increase in the number of cases of cancer, it is critical that researchers continue their search for novel natural antimicrobials and anti-cancer medicines. Screening marine organisms for the purpose of developing new medications is still in its infant stages especially from nudibranchs. Many Polyketides, non-ribosomal peptides, terpenes, and post-ribosomal peptides are synthesized by marine organisms’ symbiotic bacteria. In this review, we summarized the sum of the previous works done on bacteria associated with marine organisms for identifying bioactive metabolites. We discussed whether the host is responsible for the production of these metabolites or its symbiotic bacteria. Also, factors that may affect the abundance of symbiotic bacteria and bioactive compounds such as different habitats and environmental circumstances like food and location have been shown and discussed. We also discussed why nudibranchs deserve more studies for mining secondary metabolites in their symbiotic bacteria.