Novel cytotoxins and fungicides from blue-green algae and marine animals possessing algal symbionts

A status report of a program initiated in early 1981 to evaluate extracts of cultured blue-green algae for pharmacological activity and to isolate and identify active agents is presented. Novel macrolides and nucleosides, for example, have been shown to be responsible for the cytotoxic and fungicidal activities of many blue-green algae belonging to the Scytonemataceae. In the last two years this program has been expanded to include studies on marine animals that harbor symbiotic algae. Macrolides, for example, have been found to account for the potent cytotoxicity of an Indonesian sponge Hyattella sp. and a Guamanian tunicate Lissoclinum patella.