Marine microbes have been a storehouse of bioactive metabolites with tremendous potential
as drug candidates. Marine microorganism derived secondary metabolites (chemical compounds/
peptides) are considered to be a burning area of research since recent past. Many
of such compounds have been proven to be anti-bacterial, anti-fungal, anti-algal, anti-HIV,
anti-helminthic, anti-protozoan, anti-tumor and anti-allergic agents. Marine bacteria and
fungi have been reported to be the producers of such compounds owing to their defense
mechanisms and metabolic by products. Although the number of natural products isolated
from these classes of marine microbial flora is large, a limited number of such compounds
reach the clinical trial and even less number of them get approved as a drug. Here we discuss
the recent studies on the isolation, characterization and the pharmacological significances
of anti-bacterial, anti-fungal and anti-infective agents of marine microbial origin. Further,
the clinical status of such compounds has also been discussed in comparison with those
derived from their terrestrial counterparts.