Chemical ecology of marine microbial defense

Because marine animals and plants are continuously exposed to a large diversity of potentially harmful microorganisms, it seems reasonable to hypothesize that potential hosts might produce bioactive compounds to deter microbial attack. However, little is known about how host metabolites may defend against harmful microbes or facilitate the growth or colonization of helpful symbionts. While there is a large body of literature describing the antimicrobial activities of marine secondary metabolites, we are only now beginning to understand how these compounds function in an ecological context. For example, there is mounting evidence that nontoxic concentrations of secondary metabolites can have significant effects on microbial behavior, suggesting that certain host-microbe interactions are chemically mediated. Herein, we discuss the importance of employing ecologically relevant assays to elucidate microbiological effects and the need to develop a better understanding of host-microbe associations within an ecologically realistic context. Continued research in this field along with improved techniques will certainly provide further insight into how microbes have influenced the evolution of secondary metabolite production in marine organisms.