The usefulness of a biosensor controlled perfusion cell culture for the investigation of new drugs demonstrated with the marine fungus Kirschsteiniothelia maritima.

The investigation of new biological active substances from limited sources for example from marine organisms needs sensitive and evident test systems. Such a system is the glucose biosensor controlled perfusion cell culture. The glucose consumption of cells is a very sensitive parameter which allows the continuous measurement of external effects of test substances on the cells under in vivo-like conditions. Cytotoxic concentrations of active substances as well as a virus infection lowers the glucose consumption of continuously perfused cells. This effect can be monitored using a glucose biosensor. The influence of drugs and the virus infection can be observed simultaneously in the same system continuously over several days. With two substances isolated from the marine fungus Kirschsteiniothelia maritima investigations for cytotoxic and for antiviral effects are demonstrated.