Marine tunicates or sea squirts have symbiotic relationships with microbes, using microbial compounds for defensive purposes. Tunicates have been identified as a potential source of marine natural products (MNPs), exhibiting a range of biological properties, including antimicrobial and anticancer activities. The symbiotic relationship between tunicates and specific microbial groups has shown that tunicates use microbial compounds for defensive purposes. Ramesh et al. (2021) provides a comprehensive literature review on MNPs produced by tunicates and their symbiotic microbes.

Ramesh, C., Tulasi, B. R., Raju, M., Thakur, N. and Dufossé, L. (2021). Marine Natural Products from Tunicates and Their Associated Microbes. Marine Drugs, 19(6), 308. DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/md19060308