Ten years of marine natural products research at Rhodes University

Marine invertebrates, algae and microorganisms produce a plethora of structurally unique and biologically active secondary metabolites. The ecological roles of these natural products, although not completely understood, range from chemical defence against predation to intra-specific cues for larval settlement. Surprisingly, a number of these metabolites have also shown potential as new medicines for the treatment of a variety of diseases including cancer. The natural products chemistry of southern Africa’s unique marine flora and fauna is relatively unknown and this review provides an overview of the contribution made by the marine natural products research group at Rhodes University to the isolation, identification and synthesis of biologically active natural products from southern African marine microorganisms, algae, sponges, ascidians, soft corals and molluscs

The myriad positive impacts of the Virtual Learning Environment, from LabSims to Smart Worksheets (a 17 year journey)

PROBLEM Introducing a virtual learning environment (VLE) in support of practical teaching in Chemistry is not trivial. In this study we identify keys areas which are essential for successful implementation based on 17 years of experience. PLAN We have analysed a range of metrics from first initiating a VLE in the Centre for Excellence in Teaching and Learning (CETL) called Bristol CemLabS in 2006 and compare and contrast a similar implementation in the Faculty of Natural Sciences at The University of the Western Cape in South Africa in 2020. ACTION There are strong similarities in both environments following implementation of a VLE. Raising of confidence of students in using instruments and carrying out techniques found in an undergraduate chemistry laboratory is clear, increasing students understanding of the theory behind techniques and their real appreciation of health and safety. For demonstrators, their role changes from one where they are giving instruction to one where they are discussing the development of the practical investigation with the students. For academics, the transformation in ability of students, and long-term impacts on practical ability and final year projects that can be undertaken are noted. REFLECTION The transformation in both case studies was pretty much instant and irreversible for the students. Key elements required are strong IT support, strong collaboration between staff, demonstrators and technical staff. The main question to ask is why did we take so long to do this

Antibacterial activities of bacteria isolated from the marine sponges Isodictya compressa and Higginsia bidentifera collected from Algoa Bay, South Africa

Due to the rise inmulti-drug resistant pathogens and other diseases, there is renewed interest in marine sponge endosymbionts as a rich source of natural products (NPs). The South African marine environment is rich in marine biota that remains largely unexplored and may represent an important source for the discovery of novel NPs.We first investigated the bacterial diversity associated with five South African marine sponges, whose microbial populations had not previously been investigated, and select the two sponges (Isodictya compressa and Higginsia bidentifera) with highest species richness to culture bacteria. By employing 33 different growth conditions 415 sponge-associated bacterial isolates were cultured and screened for antibacterial activity. Thirty-five isolates showed antibacterial activity, twelve of which exhibited activity against the multi-drug resistant Escherichia coli 1699, implying that some of the bioactive compounds could be novel. Genome sequencing of two of these isolates confirmed that they harbour uncharacterized biosynthetic pathways that may encode novel chemical structures.IS

Anti-oesophageal cancer activity in extracts of deep-water Marion Island sponges

OESOPHAGEAL CANCER IS ONE OF THE most common causes of cancer-related deaths in South African black males. The limited efficacy of chemotherapeutic agents to treat this disease has prompted a search for potential new chemical entities with anticancer properties. We report here on the evidence for anti-oesophageal cancer activity in the methanolic extracts of five species of sponges dredged from a depth of approximately 100 m in the vicinity of Marion Island in the Southern Ocean during the autumn of 2004

Hyphenated LC-ICP-MS/ESI-MS identification of halogenated metabolites in South African marine ascidian extracts

Extracts of 13 species of marine ascidian collected in Algoa Bay were analyzed by LC-ICP-MS/ESI-MS. This technique allows parallel analysis of the molecular species and the presence of certain elements. The LC-ICP-MS/ESI-MS technique was used to target iodinated metabolites in this study. Three ascidian species afforded the known 3,5–diiodo-4-methoxyphenethylamine (12), which was confirmedby the isolation of this metabolite fromAplidium monile.MS also suggested the presence of theknown 3,5–dibromo-4-methoxyphenethylamine (10) and the new 3-bromo-5–iodo-4-methoxyphenethylamine (11) in the A. monile extract. The presence of the known 3,5-dibromotetramethyltyrosine (21) and the new 3-iodotetramethyltyrosine (23) in extracts of an unidentified Didemnum species was similarly proposed from MS evidence. This is the first report of the occurrence of iodinated metabolites in South African marine invertebrates.IS

A quarter century of marine biodiscovery in Algoa bay, South Africa

Algoa Bay, the largest crenulate bay on the south-eastern coast of South Africa, is currently one of the most well-studied marine ecosystems in southern Africa. A plethora of endemic marine invertebrates inhabits the benthic reefs on the western edge of the Bay in close proximity to South Africa’s sixth largest city. Over the past 25 years, South African marine natural products chemists, together with international collaborators from the US National Cancer Institute and other US institutions, have focused their attention on Algoa Bay’s benthic marine invertebrates as a potential source of new anticancer compounds. This review commemorates a quarter of a century of marine biodiscovery in Algoa Bay and presents the structures and bioactivities of 49 new and 36 known specialized metabolites isolated from two molluscs, eight ascidians, and six sponges. Thirty-nine of these compounds were cytotoxic to cancer cells in vitro with 20 exhibiting moderate to potent cytotoxicity. Six other compounds exhibited antimicrobial activity. Foremost among the potential anticancer compounds is mandelalide A (38) from the Algoa Bay ascidian Lissoclinum species

Flipping the thinking on equality, diversity, and inclusion. why EDI is essential for the development and progression of the chemical sciences: A case study approach

All learners have a contribution to make to the development of the Chemical Sciences, be that in novel ways to teach, and their perspectives and contexts, but also in research, both in chemical education and the wider Chemical Sciences. Through four case studies, this paper explores interactions with diverse groups and how this has altered perspectives on both teaching and research. The case studies include work with visually impaired adults, a project bringing together First Peoples in Australia with academics to explore old ways (traditional science) and new ways (modern approaches), primary (elementary) school perspectives on teaching science, and a project in South Africa to connect university and township communities. Not only do these case studies demonstrate the immense value these diverse groups bring to our understanding about how to learn, but they also bring new perspectives on how to view and solve chemical problems