Actinobacteria Associated with Marine Invertebrates: Diversity and Biological Significance

Abstract

The ocean harbors a wide diversity of beneficial fauna offering an enormous resource for novel compounds, and it is classified as the largest remaining reservoir of natural molecules to be evaluated for biological activity. The metabolites obtained from marine invertebrate-associated actinobacteria have different characteristics compared to terrestrial actinobacteria as marine environments are exigent and competitive. Actinobacteria produce a wide range of secondary metabolites, such as enzymes, antibiotics, antioxidative, and cytotoxic compounds. These allelochemicals not only protect the host from other surrounding pelagic microorganisms but also ensure their association with the host. The harnessing of such metabolites from marine actinobacteria assures biotechnological, agricultural, and pharmaceutical applications.