Reef Algae

June 17, 2010

As BP officials scramble to contain the oil spill and save the Gulf coast from further contamination, University of Florida researchers are working on a save of their own. Researchers are collecting cyanobacteria or blue-green algae from sensitive coral reefs just offshore in the Florida Keys. The reefs suffered extensive damage from the cold winter and now could face further damage from the oil that is spreading around the Gulf of Mexico. UF researchers are working to collect as many different samples of the algae as possible because of recent findings that the algae may help cure diseases.

Dr. Hendrik Luesch/UF drug discovery researcher: “These organisms over grow corals and we and others have shown that they produce interesting compounds that have drug like properties that may be exploited by biomedical purposes such as anti-cancer drugs and others.”

Experts consider the ocean an untapped resource for drug discovery. Damage from the oil contamination could lead to the loss of potential cures for many diseases.

Dr. Hendrik Luesch/UF drug discovery researcher: “All the marine biodiversity that is affected ultimately or can be affected by this oil spill and it endangers a number of species here in the Florida Keys and consequently the marine drug discovery efforts that are going on by our groups and other groups in this area of the United States.”

Currently only two drugs are available that were developed from marine research with another fourteen drugs that are in clinical trials. UF researchers hope to add to that number when they start testing their latest finds.