The genus Salinospora with an excess of 2500 strains has been discovered in five different oceanic systems around the world. These strains have the 16s rRNA gene sequences and posses antibiotic and anticancer behaviors.1 These bacteria were found in mud samples and depths more than 1,000 meters: in which case their surroundings offers no light, low temperatures and very high pressures.2 Salinospora are anaerobic obligate marine actinomycete bacteria that are part of the single largest source for naturally occurring antibiotics: sediment dwelling actinomycetes.1
The specific Salinospora strain in the headlines is CNB-392. It was isolated from a sediment sample collected at a one meter depth off the coast of Chub Cay in the Bahamas in June 1989.1 The strain was cultured for nine days in a seawater medium (0.2% chitosan, 0.2% kelp powder, 0.2% menhaden meal, 0,2% fish solubles, 0.5% starch) shaken at 230 rpm at 27oC.1 Amberlite WAD-16 resin was added to the culture and then recollected by filtration 24 hours later, washed with deionized water and eluted with acetone.1 Salinosporamide A, a colorless crystalline solid, was isolated from the CNB-392 strain of salinospora after removal of the solvent under pressure.1 This fermentation product was tested with various cancers to determine its restriction effects. It significantly affected human colon carcinoma, breast cancer, and non-small cell lung cancer.3
Tumor cells develop by mutation in the cell. This mutation causes excessive proliferation, also referred to as a tumor, and then these tumors invade and kill the surrounding cells. Salinosporamide A affects tumor cells by preventing them from functioning. It prevents their protosomes from destroying old proteins, so these proteins pile up in the cell and hinder its performance.
Many different bacterial strains have been tested for their performance against tumors and 80 percent out of the 100 tested produced chemicals that obstruct cancer growth.2 Approximately 35 percent of discovered Salinospora strains demonstrate an ability to kill pathogenic bacteria and fungi. 2 Experts say that there are still thousands of strains out there waiting to be identified.
Feling, Robert H., et al. “Salinosporamide A: A Highly Cytotoxic Proteasome Inhibitor from a novel Microbial Source, a Marine Bacterium of the New Genus Salinospora.” Angewandte Chemie International 42.3 (2003): 355-357.
2 Kingsley, Danny. “News in Science 21/1/2003 Cancer-Busting Drugs Found in Deep Sea Bacteria.” 21 Jan. 2003. 27 Jan. 2003 <http://www.abc.net.au/cgi-bin/common/printfriendly.pl?/
science/news/stories/s766396.htm>
3 “Ocean Sediments are New Microbial Resource.” 27 Jan. 2003 <http://www.rapidmicrobiology.
com/news/0301200.php?s=salinospora>
*Disclaimer - This report was written by a student participaring in a microbiology course at the Missouri University of Science and Technology. The accuracy of the contents of this report is not guaranteed and it is recommended that you seek additional sources of information to verify the contents.
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