The Essentials of Marine Biotechnology

Coastal countries have traditionally relied on the existing marine resources (e.g., fishing, food, transport, recreation, and tourism) as well as tried to support new economic endeavors (ocean energy, desalination for water supply, and seabed mining). Modern societies and lifestyle resulted in an increased demand for dietary diversity, better health and well-being, new biomedicines, natural cosmeceuticals, environmental conservation, and sustainable energy sources. These societal needs stimulated the interest of researchers on the diverse and underexplored marine environments as promising and sustainable sources of biomolecules and biomass, and they are addressed by the emerging field of marine (blue) biotechnology. Blue biotechnology provides opportunities for a wide range of initiatives of commercial interest for the pharmaceutical, biomedical, cosmetic, nutraceutical, food, feed, agricultural, and related industries. This article synthesizes the essence, opportunities, responsibilities, and challenges encountered in marine biotechnology and outlines the attainment and valorization of directly derived or bio-inspired products from marine organisms. First, the concept of bioeconomy is introduced. Then, the diversity of marine bioresources including an overview of the most prominent marine organisms and their potential for biotechnological uses are described. This is followed by introducing methodologies for exploration of these resources and the main use case scenarios in energy, food and feed, agronomy, bioremediation and climate change, cosmeceuticals, bio-inspired materials, healthcare, and well-being sectors. The key aspects in the fields of legislation and funding are provided, with the emphasis on the importance of communication and stakeholder engagement at all levels of biotechnology development. Finally, vital overarching concepts, such as the quadruple helix and Responsible Research and Innovation principle are highlighted as important to follow within the marine biotechnology field. The authors of this review are collaborating under the European Commission-funded Cooperation in Science and Technology (COST) Action Ocean4Biotech – European transdisciplinary networking platform for marine biotechnology and focus the study on the European state of affairs.

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Biotechnological Applications of Scyphomedusae

Marine Drugs ◽

10.3390/md17110604 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 17 (11) ◽

pp. 604 ◽

Cited By ~ 4

Author(s):

Merquiol ◽

Romano ◽

Ianora ◽

D’Ambra

Keyword(s):

Bioactive Compounds ◽

Well Being ◽

Marine Organisms ◽

Global Public Health ◽

Biotechnological Applications ◽

Marine Biotechnology ◽

Crude Venom ◽

Know How ◽

Public Health Challenges ◽

Health And Well Being

As people across the world live longer, chronic illness and diminished well-being are becoming major global public health challenges. Marine biotechnology may help overcome some of these challenges by developing new products and know-how derived from marine organisms. While some products from marine organisms such as microalgae, sponges, and fish have already found biotechnological applications, jellyfish have received little attention as a potential source of bioactive compounds. Nevertheless, recent studies have highlighted that scyphomedusae (Cnidaria, Scyphozoa) synthesise at least three main categories of compounds that may find biotechnological applications: collagen, fatty acids and components of crude venom. We review what is known about these compounds in scyphomedusae and their current biotechnological applications, which falls mainly into four categories of products: nutraceuticals, cosmeceuticals, biomedicals, and biomaterials. By defining the state of the art of biotechnological applications in scyphomedusae, we intend to promote the use of these bioactive compounds to increase the health and well-being of future societies.

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Could Thyroid Disorders Be Better Understood and Dealt as a Thyroid Syndrome

International Journal of Innovative Research in Medical Science ◽

10.23958/ijirms/vol05-i08/900 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 5 (08) ◽

pp. 326-328

Author(s):

Dr. Sushma Patil ◽

Dr. Vikrant Patil

Keyword(s):

Reference Range ◽

Well Being ◽

Thyroid Disorders ◽

Thyroid Function Tests ◽

Thyroid Disorder ◽

Serum Concentrations ◽

Comorbid Conditions ◽

Free T4 ◽

Research Perspective ◽

Wide Range

Thyroid disorders are common worldwide. Thyroid dysfunction, both hypo- and hyperthyroidism may increase the risk of cardiovascular disorders. Current thyroid function tests may have limitations since they only measure the total or free T4 and/or T3 and TSH serum concentrations in peripheral blood and not the effect of T4 or T3 serum on different specific target tissues. Several comorbid conditions can interfere with the absorption or increase the clearance of levothyroxine. Among patients treated with thyroid replacement, under or overmedicated may-be at risk for adverse health consequences. A wide range of drugs may interfere with levothyroxine absorption, metabolism, and action. Patients report a lack of well-being, despite reaching euthyroid reference range of TSH, with psychological distress. If we will consider Thyroid related conditions as a syndrome then research perspective at the pathophysiology, interrelation between symptoms and comorbidities will be much broader that can lead researchers to get insights of different pathways in which thyroid gland functioning can be perceived and dealt therapeutically. The deliberation of thyroid disorder as a syndrome can affluence our knowledge of correlating cofounders, action of thyroid hormones on target tissues, underlying cause and thyroid health.

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Design Intervention Assessment of Urban Public Park for Physical Activity Promotion in Bangkok, Thailand

11th GLOBAL CONFERENCE ON BUSINESS AND SOCIAL SCIENCES - Global Conference on Business and Social Sciences Proceeding ◽

10.35609/gcbssproceeding.2020.11(4) ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 11 (1) ◽

pp. 4-4

Author(s):

Sigit Arifwidodo ◽

Orana Chandrasiri

Keyword(s):

Physical Activity ◽

Urban Areas ◽

Urban Landscape ◽

Physical Activity Promotion ◽

Well Being ◽

Pilot Project ◽

Public Park ◽

Activity Promotion ◽

Wide Range ◽

Design Intervention

Public Park is considered one of the essential settings for physical activity, especially in urban areas. Parks support physical activity through their accessibility, their provision to facilitate active pursuits; their capacity to provide opportunities to a wide range of users; and their semi-permanent nature. The paper explores the design intervention assessment of Benchakitti Park, which serves as the pilot project for active park and showcase during the past ISPAH 2016 conference. The objective of the paper is to understand the health and well-being benefits of an urban park in increasing PA levels of urban population and promoting a healthy and active lifestyle. Keywords: Public park; physical activity; urban landscape design; public health; SOPARC

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Investigating the Efficacy and Cost-Effectiveness of a Web-based Self-help Program for People With Adjustment Problems After an Accident (SelFIT): Protocol for a Randomized Controlled Trial (Preprint)

10.2196/preprints.21200 ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

Julia Hegy ◽

Noemi Anja Brog ◽

Thomas Berger ◽

Hansjoerg Znoj

Keyword(s):

Health Care ◽

Psychological Distress ◽

Cost Effectiveness ◽

Well Being ◽

User Friendliness ◽

Adjustment Problems ◽

Health Care Consumption ◽

Web Based ◽

Self Help ◽

Wide Range

BACKGROUND Accidents and the resulting injuries are one of the world’s biggest health care issues often causing long-term effects on psychological and physical health. With regard to psychological consequences, accidents can cause a wide range of burdens including adjustment problems. Although adjustment problems are among the most frequent mental health problems, there are few specific interventions available. The newly developed program SelFIT aims to remedy this situation by offering a low-threshold web-based self-help intervention for psychological distress after an accident. OBJECTIVE The overall aim is to evaluate the efficacy and cost-effectiveness of the SelFIT program plus care as usual (CAU) compared to only care as usual. Furthermore, the program’s user friendliness, acceptance and adherence are assessed. We expect that the use of SelFIT is associated with a greater reduction in psychological distress, greater improvement in mental and physical well-being, and greater cost-effectiveness compared to CAU. METHODS Adults (n=240) showing adjustment problems due to an accident they experienced between 2 weeks and 2 years before entering the study will be randomized. Participants in the intervention group receive direct access to SelFIT. The control group receives access to the program after 12 weeks. There are 6 measurement points for both groups (baseline as well as after 4, 8, 12, 24 and 36 weeks). The main outcome is a reduction in anxiety, depression and stress symptoms that indicate adjustment problems. Secondary outcomes include well-being, optimism, embitterment, self-esteem, self-efficacy, emotion regulation, pain, costs of health care consumption and productivity loss as well as the program’s adherence, acceptance and user-friendliness. RESULTS Recruitment started in December 2019 and is ongoing. CONCLUSIONS To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study examining a web-based self-help program designed to treat adjustment problems resulting from an accident. If effective, the program could complement the still limited offer of secondary and tertiary psychological prevention after an accident. CLINICALTRIAL ClinicalTrials.gov NCT03785912; https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT03785912?cond=NCT03785912&draw=2&rank=1

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Religion and Medicine

10.1093/oso/9780190867355.001.0001 ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

Jeff Levin ◽

Stephen G. Post

Keyword(s):

Clinical Decision Making ◽

Well Being ◽

Clinical Decision ◽

Religion And Medicine ◽

Physical And Mental Health ◽

Faith Based ◽

Baylor University ◽

Wide Range ◽

History Of ◽

The Impact

In Religion and Medicine, Dr. Jeff Levin, distinguished Baylor University epidemiologist, outlines the longstanding history of multifaceted interconnections between the institutions of religion and medicine. He traces the history of the encounter between these two institutions from antiquity through to the present day, highlighting a myriad of contemporary alliances between the faith-based and medical sectors. Religion and Medicine tells the story of: religious healers and religiously branded hospitals and healthcare institutions; pastoral professionals involved in medical missions, healthcare chaplaincy, and psychological counseling; congregational health promotion and disease prevention programs and global health initiatives; research studies on the impact of religious and spiritual beliefs and practices on physical and mental health, well-being, and healing; programs and centers for medical research and education within major universities and academic institutions; religiously informed bioethics and clinical decision-making; and faith-based health policy initiatives and advocacy for healthcare reform. Religion and Medicine is the first book to cover the full breadth of this subject. It documents religion-medicine alliances across religious traditions, throughout the world, and over the course of history. It summarizes a wide range of material of relevance to historians, medical professionals, pastors and theologians, bioethicists, scientists, public health educators, and policymakers. The product of decades of rigorous and focused research, Dr. Levin has produced the most comprehensive history of these developments and the finest introduction to this emerging field of scholarship.

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Microalgal Cell Biofactory—Therapeutic, Nutraceutical and Functional Food Applications

Plants ◽

10.3390/plants10050836 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 10 (5) ◽

pp. 836

Author(s):

Boda Ravi Kiran ◽

S. Venkata Mohan

Keyword(s):

Bioactive Compounds ◽

Well Being ◽

Human Pathogens ◽

Microalgal Biomass ◽

Aquaculture Feed ◽

Biological Extracts ◽

Food And Feed ◽

Food Applications ◽

Environmental Requirements ◽

Health And Well Being

Microalgae are multifaceted photosynthetic microorganisms with emerging business potential. They are present ubiquitously in terrestrial and aquatic environments with rich species diversity and are capable of producing significant biomass. Traditionally, microalgal biomass is being used as food and feed in many countries around the globe. The production of microalgal-based bioactive compounds at an industrial scale through biotechnological interventions is gaining interest more recently. The present review provides a detailed overview of the key algal metabolites, which plays a crucial role in nutraceutical, functional foods, and animal/aquaculture feed industries. Bioactive compounds of microalgae known to exhibit antioxidant, antimicrobial, antitumor, and immunomodulatory effects were comprehensively reviewed. The potential microalgal species and biological extracts against human pathogens were also discussed. Further, current technologies involved in upstream and downstream bioprocessing including cultivation, harvesting, and cell disruption were documented. Establishing microalgae as an alternative supplement would complement the sustainable and environmental requirements in the framework of human health and well-being.

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Marine Organisms for the Sustainable Management of Plant Parasitic Nematodes

Plants ◽

10.3390/plants10020369 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 10 (2) ◽

pp. 369

Author(s):

Pasqua Veronico ◽

Maria Teresa Melillo

Keyword(s):

Crop Production ◽

Control Strategies ◽

Marine Organisms ◽

New Drugs ◽

Effective Control ◽

Parasitic Nematodes ◽

Plant Parasitic Nematodes ◽

Wide Range ◽

Plant Growth Stimulants ◽

Plant Parasitic

Plant parasitic nematodes are annually responsible for the loss of 10%–25% of worldwide crop production, most of which is attributable to root-knot nematodes (RKNs) that infest a wide range of agricultural crops throughout the world. Current nematode control tools are not enough to ensure the effective management of these parasites, mainly due to the severe restrictions imposed on the use of chemical pesticides. Therefore, it is important to discover new potential nematicidal sources that are suitable for the development of additional safe and effective control strategies. In the last few decades, there has been an explosion of information about the use of seaweeds as plant growth stimulants and potential nematicides. Novel bioactive compounds have been isolated from marine cyanobacteria and sponges in an effort to find their application outside marine ecosystems and in the discovery of new drugs. Their potential as antihelmintics could also be exploited to find applicability against plant parasitic nematodes. The present review focuses on the activity of marine organisms on RKNs and their potential application as safe nematicidal agents.

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Xylanolytic Bacillus species for xylooligosaccharides production: a critical review

Bioresources and Bioprocessing ◽

10.1186/s40643-021-00369-3 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 8 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Rozina Rashid ◽

Muhammad Sohail

Keyword(s):

Large Scale ◽

Extracellular Enzymes ◽

Membrane Separation ◽

Well Being ◽

Bacillus Species ◽

Scale Production ◽

Food Ingredients ◽

Large Scale Production ◽

Wide Range ◽

Biological Impacts

AbstractThe capacity of different Bacillus species to produce large amounts of extracellular enzymes and ability to ferment various substrates at a wide range of pH and temperature has placed them among the most promising hosts for the industrial production of many improved and novel products. The global interest in prebiotics, for example, xylooligosaccharides (XOs) is ever increasing, rousing the quest for various forms with expanded productivity. This article provides an overview of xylanase producing bacilli, with more emphasis on their capacity to be used in the production of the XOs, followed by the purification strategies, characteristics and application of XOs from bacilli. The large-scale production of XOs is carried out from a number of xylan-rich lignocellulosic materials by chemical or enzymatic hydrolysis followed by purification through chromatography, vacuum evaporation, solvent extraction or membrane separation methods. Utilization of XOs in the production of functional products as food ingredients brings well-being to individuals by improving defense system and eliminating pathogens. In addition to the effects related to health, a variety of other biological impacts have also been discussed.

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Developments in mycotoxin analysis: an update for 2012-2013

World Mycotoxin Journal ◽

10.3920/wmj2013.1637 ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 7 (1) ◽

pp. 3-33 ◽

Cited By ~ 52

Author(s):

F. Berthiller ◽

P.A. Burdaspal ◽

C. Crews ◽

M.H. Iha ◽

R. Krska ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Mass Spectrometry ◽

Liquid Chromatography ◽

Sample Preparation ◽

Ergot Alkaloids ◽

Tandem Mass ◽

Wide Range ◽

Rapid Spread ◽

Food And Feed ◽

Mycotoxin Analysis ◽

The Individual

This review highlights developments in mycotoxin analysis and sampling over a period between mid-2012 and mid-2013. It covers the major mycotoxins: aflatoxins, Alternaria toxins, ergot alkaloids, fumonisins, ochratoxins, patulin, trichothecenes and zearalenone. A wide range of analytical methods for mycotoxin determination in food and feed were developed last year, in particular immunochemical methods and liquid chromatography coupled to tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS)-based methods. After a section on sampling and sample preparation, due to the rapid spread and developments in the field of LC-MS/MS multimycotoxin methods, a separate section has been devoted to this area of research. It is followed by a section on mycotoxins in botanicals and spices, before continuing with the format of previous reviews in this series with dedicated sections on method developments for the individual mycotoxins.

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Biodiversity of Secondary Metabolites Compounds Isolated from Phylum Actinobacteria and Its Therapeutic Applications

Molecules ◽

10.3390/molecules26154504 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 26 (15) ◽

pp. 4504

Author(s):

Muhanna Al-shaibani ◽

Radin Maya Saphira Radin Mohamed ◽

Nik Sidik ◽

Hesham Enshasy ◽

Adel Al-Gheethi ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Secondary Metabolites ◽

Bioactive Compounds ◽

Extreme Environments ◽

Software Tool ◽

Gene Clusters ◽

Well Being ◽

Bioactive Substances ◽

Diverse Range ◽

Wide Range ◽

Potential Applications

The current review aims to summarise the biodiversity and biosynthesis of novel secondary metabolites compounds, of the phylum Actinobacteria and the diverse range of secondary metabolites produced that vary depending on its ecological environments they inhabit. Actinobacteria creates a wide range of bioactive substances that can be of great value to public health and the pharmaceutical industry. The literature analysis process for this review was conducted using the VOSviewer software tool to visualise the bibliometric networks of the most relevant databases from the Scopus database in the period between 2010 and 22 March 2021. Screening and exploring the available literature relating to the extreme environments and ecosystems that Actinobacteria inhabit aims to identify new strains of this major microorganism class, producing unique novel bioactive compounds. The knowledge gained from these studies is intended to encourage scientists in the natural product discovery field to identify and characterise novel strains containing various bioactive gene clusters with potential clinical applications. It is evident that Actinobacteria adapted to survive in extreme environments represent an important source of a wide range of bioactive compounds. Actinobacteria have a large number of secondary metabolite biosynthetic gene clusters. They can synthesise thousands of subordinate metabolites with different biological actions such as anti-bacterial, anti-parasitic, anti-fungal, anti-virus, anti-cancer and growth-promoting compounds. These are highly significant economically due to their potential applications in the food, nutrition and health industries and thus support our communities’ well-being.

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