Biol gicas, Universidade Federal do Paran , Brazil.
Marine organisms are an interesting source of natural products with potent biological activities.
Batzella sp., which inhibits the binding of the gp102 domain of HIV-envelope gp160 glycoprotein to the CD4 receptor on the surface of the human T cell. Recently, we have initiated a program based on the biological evaluation of organic extracts arising from several species of marine sponges and tunicates collected at the north coast of S o Paulo State. Extracts obtained from these species were tested in hemolytic and antimitotic bioassays. At the present stage, the mixture of polypeptides are being separated and purified. Other sponges are also being chemically studied, in order to isolate biologically active compounds in pure state in view to establish their structure and to perform biological and pharmacological evaluation.