[Coral-List] RE: Coral-List Digest, Vol 2, Issue 1, Message 4, AZT Derivation
Jack Sobel
jsobel at oceanconservancy.org
Fri Aug 1 12:52:19 EDT 2003
The author of message 4 below (Goldberg) provided additional good and useful
(and maybe even better) examples of
coral-derived pharmacuticals than AZT, but I don't understand the expressed
concern about AZT and the need to be careful about facts provided to the
public. I don't know the ins and outs of AZT or the referenced quote about
it's derivation, but the author of the message seems knowledgeable on this
subject and his/her description of AZT's history seems consistent with
dictionary definitions of it being "derived" from sponges/coral reefs.
Sponges need not make AZT or even products from which it is made to
substantiate claims that AZT is derived from sponges or coral reefs. If
"nucleoside analogs in sponges evenually led to the design of AZT", I
believe it is legitimate to state that AZT was "derived" from sponges, at
least for a general public audience. However, I don't think that makes it a
"natural product". Am I wrong or missing something on this?
Message: 4
Date: Thu, 31 Jul 2003 21:44:43 -0400
From: <goldberg at fiu.edu>
Subject: [Coral-List] demise of coral reef natural products
To: coral-list at coral.aoml.noaa.gov
Message-ID: <20030801014443.RMWL23728.spn25c0 at spn25c0>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1
With all the attention being given to the Science article on the
Caribbean coral reef decline (e.g., 80% decline in cover in 30
years is widespread, unexpected, scientists say By David Kohn
Sun Staff July 18, 2003) we should be careful of facts given to the
public concerning the benefits of coral reefs. One of the authors
appears to be quoted that AZT is derived from a Caribbean
sponge. I've seen this misinformation before. Nucleoside analogs
in sponges eventually led to the design of AZT. Sponges do not
make AZT to the best of my knowledge. There are of course many
natural products derived from reef organisms. For better examples
one can cite Prialt (analgesic from cone snail venom),
Discodermalide (anti-cancer agent from sponges) and
Pseudopterosin (an anti-inflammatory agent from a gorgonian),
among others.
-----Original Message-----
From: coral-list-request at coral.aoml.noaa.gov
[mailto:coral-list-request at coral.aoml.noaa.gov]
Sent: Friday, August 01, 2003 12:00 PM
To: coral-list at coral.aoml.noaa.gov
Subject: Coral-List Digest, Vol 2, Issue 1
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When replying, please edit your Subject line so it is more specific
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Today's Topics:
1. FW: Reef coral in Caribbean is dying off, study finds
(Robbart, Martha)
2. PhD opportunity (Grottoli) (Andrea Grottoli)
3. Science paper (Toby Gardner)
4. demise of coral reef natural products (goldberg at fiu.edu)
5. Information (msepulveda at javeriana.edu.co)
6. Conference update: Climate Change and Aquatic Ecosystems
(Martin Attrill)
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Message: 1
Date: Thu, 31 Jul 2003 15:39:30 -0500
From: "Robbart, Martha" <mrobbart at pbsj.com>
Subject: [Coral-List] FW: Reef coral in Caribbean is dying off, study
finds
To: coral-list at coral.aoml.noaa.gov
Message-ID: <426B2019BCDED611BF6200047583E89D02092935 at MIAMIMX>
Content-Type: text/plain
Coral list,
Thought you might find this interesting.
Martha Lane Robbart
--------------------
Reef coral in Caribbean is dying off, study finds
--------------------
80% decline in cover in 30 years is widespread, unexpected, scientists say
By David Kohn
Sun Staff
July 18, 2003
Coral reefs across the Caribbean have suffered an 80 percent decline in
cover during the past three decades, a far more devastating loss than
scientists had expected, according to a study released yesterday.
"It's depressing," said marine biologist Isabelle Cote, one of the authors
of the study, which appeared in this week's Science. "We all knew that we
had a bad situation on our hands. But nobody expected it to be this bad."
The researchers gathered information from 65 previous studies of 263 sites
and analyzed it to construct a regional picture.
They discovered a sharp drop in the coral almost everywhere in the
Caribbean, from Florida to South America. Coral covered about 50 percent of
the average reef in the early 1970s but only 10 percent now.
Other researchers were surprised by the findings.
"Everybody sees a bit of the problem in their area. For someone to say the
whole Caribbean is in a downward slide, that's a shock," said Clive
Wilkinson, who runs the Global Coral Reef Monitoring Network. Caribbean
reefs cover almost 10,000 square miles, about 10 percent of the world's reef
total.
He said 10 percent coverage indicates a reef that's not healthy. Reefs
consist of dead coral, which serves as a foundation for living coral, algae
and other organisms. On healthy reefs, living coral covers 60 percent or
more of the surface.
Like their counterparts around the world, Caribbean coral reefs are subject
to a variety of threats, most of which stem from humans.
For example, overfishing in Jamaica has sharply decreased the number of
parrotfish and surgeonfish, which feed on seaweed. In turn, that leaves more
seaweed to compete with coral for space on the reefs. On many Caribbean
reefs, seaweed has largely choked off coral.
Increased water temperatures due to El Nino and global warming have also
killed coral, scientists say. Coral exists in a symbiotic relationship with
microscopic algae, which produce energy for their hosts. But when the water
temperature rises too high for more than a week or so, the algae produce
free radicals that damage the coral.
In response, the coral expels the algae. But without algae, the coral
starves. This is known as "bleaching" because, without the colorful algae,
the coral turns white. In 1998, warm water killed about 10 percent of the
world's coral, the report said.
Over the past 20 years, several diseases have killed Caribbean coral
species. Pollution has taken its toll, too, including agricultural runoff,
mud and silt from cleared forests and raw sewage that can smother coral,
according to Cote, a professor at the University of East Anglia in Britain.
Because of the Caribbean's geography, its coral is particularly sensitive to
pollution.
"The problem with the Caribbean is it's a big lake," said Wilkinson. "So
everything that comes into there from the Mississippi, from Mexico, Central
America, South America and even as far as the Amazon, all this runoff and
pollution doesn't drain out quickly."
Another problem: Compared with other reef regions, the Caribbean has a large
human population, which catches more fish and produces more pollution.
The disappearance of coral could have wide-ranging implications. Reefs
provide habitat for millions of species, some of which might prove useful to
humans, Cote said.
The anti-AIDS drug AZT, for example, is derived from a Caribbean sponge that
lives on reefs. But there are other more immediate concerns, including drops
in tourism and fish harvests. Healthy reefs also serve as a wave break,
protecting shores from tropical storms.
The current decline is "unprecedented," according to Caribbean coral
researcher Bill Precht, who has studied the region for 25 years in Belize,
Jamaica, Florida and the Bahamas. Precht has done historical research,
drilling cores of ancient reefs going back 3,000 years. "What is going on
with Caribbean reefs, this is the first time this has happened," he said.
The key now is to pinpoint which problems are causing the worst harm, Precht
said: "Humans are clearly the vector. The question is how are we the
vector."
Although Wilkinson said extinction was unlikely, some researchers do not
rule out the possibility. Without help, some of the Caribbean's 70 to 100
coral species could easily disappear altogether, said University of Kansas
coral researcher Bob Buddemeier.
"It's grim. The people aren't going to go away. The climate is going to get
worse. A lot of these countries don't have the wherewithal to protect the
reefs. If we're lucky, we can stabilize things where they are now."
Copyright (c) 2003, The Baltimore Sun
Link to the article:
http://www.sunspot.net/news/nationworld/bal-te.coral18jul18,0,3312660.story
------------------------------
Message: 2
Date: Thu, 31 Jul 2003 18:35:03 -0400
From: Andrea Grottoli <grottoli at sas.upenn.edu>
Subject: [Coral-List] PhD opportunity (Grottoli)
To: coral-list at coral.aoml.noaa.gov
Message-ID: <5.2.0.9.2.20030731182908.00a4d7b0 at pop.sas.upenn.edu>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"; format=flowed
Please post and distribute
PhD GRADUATE STUDENT OPPORTUNITY IN CORAL AND SCLEROSPONGE BIOGEOCHEMISTRY
AND PALEOCLIMATOLOGY
PhD student sought for the study of stable isotopes or trace elements in
coral reef skeletons or sclerosponges in a broad range of ongoing projects
in Dr. Andrea Grottoli's research group in the Department of Earth and
Environmental Science at the University of Pennsylvania (see
<http://www.sas.upenn.edu/~grottoli>www.sas.upenn.edu/~grottoli for
details, contact
<mailto:grottoli at sas.upenn.edu>grottoli at sas.upenn.edu). Research involves
a combination of tropical fieldwork and laboratory analyses. Four years of
support will be offered. Desired qualifications: MSc in Biology or Geology
or any other physical science, experience in biogeochemistry, fieldwork
experience, and scuba certified.
The position starts September 2004. Please complete applications online by
December 15, 2003 at
<http://www.sas.upenn.edu/earth/group.html>www.sas.upenn.edu/earth/group.htm
l
and indicate that you are interested in studying with Dr. Grottoli. The
successful candidate must be accepted into the graduate program in the
Department of Earth and Environmental Science at the University of
Pennsylvania. The University of Pennsylvania is an equal
opportunity/affirmative action employer.
------------------------------
Message: 3
Date: Fri, 1 Aug 2003 00:42:29 +0100
From: Toby Gardner <T.Gardner at uea.ac.uk>
Subject: [Coral-List] Science paper
To: coral-list at coral.aoml.noaa.gov
Message-ID: <3F2998E8 at itcslanlic001.cpc.uea.ac.uk>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="ISO-8859-1"
Dear all,
Thanks to Martha for this posting. If anyone is searching for the original
article it is presently out online (ScienceExpress) but will not be in the
hard copy on the shelves for a week or two. If anyone is working from a
location where they cannot get hold of this journal but would like a copy
please let me know and once available I could send an electronic version.
Best wishes
Toby Gardner
>===== Original Message From "Robbart, Martha" <mrobbart at pbsj.com> =====
>Coral list,
>
>Thought you might find this interesting.
>
>Martha Lane Robbart
>
>--------------------
>Reef coral in Caribbean is dying off, study finds
>--------------------
>
>80% decline in cover in 30 years is widespread, unexpected, scientists say
>
>By David Kohn
>Sun Staff
>
>July 18, 2003
>
>Coral reefs across the Caribbean have suffered an 80 percent decline in
>cover during the past three decades, a far more devastating loss than
>scientists had expected, according to a study released yesterday.
>
>"It's depressing," said marine biologist Isabelle Cote, one of the authors
>of the study, which appeared in this week's Science. "We all knew that we
>had a bad situation on our hands. But nobody expected it to be this bad."
>
>The researchers gathered information from 65 previous studies of 263 sites
>and analyzed it to construct a regional picture.
>
>They discovered a sharp drop in the coral almost everywhere in the
>Caribbean, from Florida to South America. Coral covered about 50 percent of
>the average reef in the early 1970s but only 10 percent now.
>
>Other researchers were surprised by the findings.
>
>"Everybody sees a bit of the problem in their area. For someone to say the
>whole Caribbean is in a downward slide, that's a shock," said Clive
>Wilkinson, who runs the Global Coral Reef Monitoring Network. Caribbean
>reefs cover almost 10,000 square miles, about 10 percent of the world's
reef
>total.
>
>He said 10 percent coverage indicates a reef that's not healthy. Reefs
>consist of dead coral, which serves as a foundation for living coral, algae
>and other organisms. On healthy reefs, living coral covers 60 percent or
>more of the surface.
>
>Like their counterparts around the world, Caribbean coral reefs are subject
>to a variety of threats, most of which stem from humans.
>
>For example, overfishing in Jamaica has sharply decreased the number of
>parrotfish and surgeonfish, which feed on seaweed. In turn, that leaves
more
>seaweed to compete with coral for space on the reefs. On many Caribbean
>reefs, seaweed has largely choked off coral.
>
>Increased water temperatures due to El Nino and global warming have also
>killed coral, scientists say. Coral exists in a symbiotic relationship with
>microscopic algae, which produce energy for their hosts. But when the water
>temperature rises too high for more than a week or so, the algae produce
>free radicals that damage the coral.
>
>In response, the coral expels the algae. But without algae, the coral
>starves. This is known as "bleaching" because, without the colorful algae,
>the coral turns white. In 1998, warm water killed about 10 percent of the
>world's coral, the report said.
>
>Over the past 20 years, several diseases have killed Caribbean coral
>species. Pollution has taken its toll, too, including agricultural runoff,
>mud and silt from cleared forests and raw sewage that can smother coral,
>according to Cote, a professor at the University of East Anglia in Britain.
>
>Because of the Caribbean's geography, its coral is particularly sensitive
to
>pollution.
>
>"The problem with the Caribbean is it's a big lake," said Wilkinson. "So
>everything that comes into there from the Mississippi, from Mexico, Central
>America, South America and even as far as the Amazon, all this runoff and
>pollution doesn't drain out quickly."
>
>Another problem: Compared with other reef regions, the Caribbean has a
large
>human population, which catches more fish and produces more pollution.
>
>The disappearance of coral could have wide-ranging implications. Reefs
>provide habitat for millions of species, some of which might prove useful
to
>humans, Cote said.
>
>The anti-AIDS drug AZT, for example, is derived from a Caribbean sponge
that
>lives on reefs. But there are other more immediate concerns, including
drops
>in tourism and fish harvests. Healthy reefs also serve as a wave break,
>protecting shores from tropical storms.
>
>The current decline is "unprecedented," according to Caribbean coral
>researcher Bill Precht, who has studied the region for 25 years in Belize,
>Jamaica, Florida and the Bahamas. Precht has done historical research,
>drilling cores of ancient reefs going back 3,000 years. "What is going on
>with Caribbean reefs, this is the first time this has happened," he said.
>
>The key now is to pinpoint which problems are causing the worst harm,
Precht
>said: "Humans are clearly the vector. The question is how are we the
>vector."
>
>Although Wilkinson said extinction was unlikely, some researchers do not
>rule out the possibility. Without help, some of the Caribbean's 70 to 100
>coral species could easily disappear altogether, said University of Kansas
>coral researcher Bob Buddemeier.
>
>
>"It's grim. The people aren't going to go away. The climate is going to get
>worse. A lot of these countries don't have the wherewithal to protect the
>reefs. If we're lucky, we can stabilize things where they are now."
>
>Copyright (c) 2003, The Baltimore Sun
>
>Link to the article:
>http://www.sunspot.net/news/nationworld/bal-te.coral18jul18,0,3312660.story
>
>_______________________________________________
>Coral-List mailing list
>Coral-List at coral.aoml.noaa.gov
>http://coral.aoml.noaa.gov/mailman/listinfo/coral-list
Toby Gardner
Postgraduate Researcher
Centre for Ecology, Evolution and Conservation
University of East Anglia
NR4 7TJ
Norwich, UK
------------------------------
Message: 4
Date: Thu, 31 Jul 2003 21:44:43 -0400
From: <goldberg at fiu.edu>
Subject: [Coral-List] demise of coral reef natural products
To: coral-list at coral.aoml.noaa.gov
Message-ID: <20030801014443.RMWL23728.spn25c0 at spn25c0>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1
With all the attention being given to the Science article on the
Caribbean coral reef decline (e.g., 80% decline in cover in 30
years is widespread, unexpected, scientists say By David Kohn
Sun Staff July 18, 2003) we should be careful of facts given to the
public concerning the benefits of coral reefs. One of the authors
appears to be quoted that AZT is derived from a Caribbean
sponge. I've seen this misinformation before. Nucleoside analogs
in sponges eventually led to the design of AZT. Sponges do not
make AZT to the best of my knowledge. There are of course many
natural products derived from reef organisms. For better examples
one can cite Prialt (analgesic from cone snail venom),
Discodermalide (anti-cancer agent from sponges) and
Pseudopterosin (an anti-inflammatory agent from a gorgonian),
among others.
------------------------------
Message: 5
Date: Thu, 31 Jul 2003 22:43:31 -0500
From: msepulveda at javeriana.edu.co
Subject: [Coral-List] Information
To: coral-list at coral.aoml.noaa.gov
Message-ID: <8cd9f86be3.86be38cd9f at javeriana.edu.co>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii
Some one has or knows about "Keys for recognize coral recruits" please
is very important.
Monica
------------------------------
Message: 6
Date: Fri, 1 Aug 2003 14:25:05 +0100
From: "Martin Attrill" <M.Attrill at plymouth.ac.uk>
Subject: [Coral-List] Conference update: Climate Change and Aquatic
Ecosystems
To: <BENTHOS at JISCMAIL.AC.UK>, <CLIMATE-CHANGE-IMPACTS at JISCMAIL.AC.UK>,
<BES-ECOL-AQUATIC at JISCMAIL.AC.UK>,
<seagrass_forum at essun1.murdoch.edu.au>,
<coral-list at coral.aoml.noaa.gov>
Message-ID:
<EC077CE7327C664BB5756FA819DAE42301010853 at 02-CSEXCH.uopnet.plymouth.ac.uk>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1"
> Dear all,
>
Climate Change and Aquatic Systems
Past, Present & Future
21st-23rd July 2004
University of Plymouth, U.K.
We now have an exciting preliminary list of 19 key speakers for our
conference next year, covering all aquatic systems. This can be found
following the link from our conference website:
http://www.biology.plymouth.ac.uk/climate/climate.htm
We are currently completing costings for the 3 day conference, and are
attempting to keep the conference cost as reasonable as possible. For your
information (and preliminary budgeting if you hope to attend), the
registration fee (which includes attendance at the conference, all
conference literature, lunches, coffee/tea, poster session with
wine/nibbles, boat trip around Plymouth Sound and Tamar estuary + Buffet)
will be less than 150 pounds. For full time students this will be less than
100 pounds. Accommodation in University halls will be 25-30 pounds per night
bed & breakfast (other hotels, etc. also available). Full details, with
registration form, will appear on the website within the next 3 months. The
timetable for the conference from now is:
Call for abstracts: September 2003
Deadline for abstracts: 28th February 2004
Programme details online: 31st March 2004
Early registration deadline: 31st May 2004
Conference dates: 21st-23rd July 2004
For your information, the Freshwater Biological Association will be holding
their 1-day annual meeting at the same venue on the Tuesday prior to the
Climate conference (20th July 2004). If you are also interested in attending
this meeting, details will appear on the FBA website:
http://www.fba.org.uk/
I hope you also find the list of plenary speakers exciting and we look
forward to seeing many of you here in Plymouth next year.
Yours
Martin
> _________________________________________
>
> Dr Martin J Attrill
> Reader in Marine Ecology
>
> Marine Biology and Ecology Research Group
> School of Biological Sciences
> University of Plymouth
> Drake Circus, Plymouth
> PL4 8AA, U.K.
>
> Tel: +44 (0)1752 232916
> Fax: +44 (0)1752 232970
> http://www.biology.plymouth.ac.uk/staff/Attrill/Mattrill.htm
>
>
------------------------------
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