ABSTRACT
Since ancient times, there have been several instances of epidemics that have often been mentioned in biblical as well as medieval literature. Drug tolerance and resistance in bacteria, protozoa, fungi and viruses have been observed to occur more frequently in recent times. It has been seen that this pattern holds true for all living organisms, including humans, animals, fishes and plants. The marine ecosystem is one of the most under-utilized ecosystems in the world. This is largely due to the fact that most of it is still unexplored. Coastal communities worldwide rely on marine flora and fauna for their dietary requirements. Diverse sources such as marine bacteria, fungi, algae, sponges and cnidarians have been explored for their potential use in discovering bioactive compounds. Microbes and lower marine animals are known to lack an active means of defense such as a well-developed immune system.
