Antimicrobial Peptides from Marine Invertebrates

This chapter centers on the novel marine metabolites from marine organisms, especially peptides and other therapeutic agents. The major component of the innate immune defense system, also regarded as the first line of defense, is the antimicrobial peptide, which not only boosts resistance but also displays promising curative properties. The isolation, potential antimicrobial activity, various properties, mechanism and sources of diversified antimicrobial peptides distributed in various phyla of marine invertebrates, along with their potential role in the therapeutic arena, are explored. The most popular conotoxin peptide Zincnotide was available as a drug (Prialt®) and entered the market as a potent analgesic agent. Ethionamide (Trecator®), a nicotinamide derivative, isolated from porifera possessing antibacterial activity, is used to treat tuberculosis. Similarly, a number of peptides have been reported for exhibiting antimicrobial activities in marine organisms. Hence, the present chapter is mainly focusing on the list of marine invertebrates’ antimicrobial peptides and their therapeutic applications. 

Keywords: Amino acid, Anti-microbial, Arenicin, Bioactive molecule, Didemnin, Ecteinasicidin, Marine drugs, Marine invertebrates, Mytilin, Peptide, Perinerin, Plicatamide, Thionalamide, Zincnotide.