MicroRNAs (miRNAs) post‐transcriptionally repress complementary target gene expression and can contribute to cell differentiation. The coordinate expression of miRNA‐183 family members (miR‐183, miR‐96, and miR‐182) has been demonstrated in sensory cells of the mouse inner ear and other vertebrate sensory organs. To further examine hair cell miRNA expression in the mouse inner ear, we have analyzed miR‐183 family expression in wild type animals and various mutants with defects in neurosensory development. miR‐183 family member expression follows neurosensory cell specification, exhibits longitudinal (basal‐apical) gradients in maturating cochlear hair cells, and is maintained in sensory neurons and most hair cells into adulthood. Depletion of hair cell miRNAs resulting from Dicer1 conditional knockout (CKO) in Atoh1‐Cre transgenic mice leads to more disparate basal‐apical gene expression profiles and eventual hair cell loss. Results suggest that hair cell miRNAs subdue cochlear gradient gene expression and are required for hair cell maintenance and survival. Developmental Dynamics 240:808–819, 2011.

The current 2019–2021 marine pharmacology literature review provides a continuation of previous reviews covering the period 1998 to 2018. Preclinical marine pharmacology research during 2019–2021 was published by researchers in 42 countries and contributed novel mechanism-of-action pharmacology for 171 structurally characterized marine compounds. The peer-reviewed marine natural product pharmacology literature reported antibacterial, antifungal, antiprotozoal, antituberculosis, and antiviral mechanism-of-action studies for 49 compounds, 87 compounds with antidiabetic and anti-inflammatory activities that also affected the immune and nervous system, while another group of 51 compounds demonstrated novel miscellaneous mechanisms of action, which upon further investigation, may contribute to several pharmacological classes. Thus, in 2019–2021, a very active preclinical marine natural product pharmacology pipeline provided novel mechanisms of action as well as new lead chemistry for the clinical marine pharmaceutical pipeline targeting the therapy of several disease categories.

The 2018 marine pharmacology literature review represents a continuation of the previous 11 reviews of a series initiated in 1998. Preclinical marine pharmacology research during 2018 was performed by investigators in 44 countries and contributed novel pharmacology for 195 marine compounds. The peer-reviewed marine natural products pharmacology literature reported antibacterial, antifungal, antiprotozoal, antituberculosis, and antiviral activities for 53 compounds, 73 compounds which presented antidiabetic and anti-inflammatory activities as well as affecting the immune and nervous system, while in contrast 69 compounds were reported to show miscellaneous mechanisms of action which may contribute upon further investigation to several pharmacological classes. Thus, in 2018, the preclinical marine natural product pharmacology pipeline continued to report novel pharmacology as well as new lead compounds for the clinical marine pharmaceutical pipeline, which currently contributes to therapeutic strategies for several disease categories.