Article
Environmental Sciences
Sasha D. Giametti, Christopher M. Finelli
Summary: Plastic waste is a common form of marine pollution that poses threats to wildlife. A method to detect plastic-associated compounds in sponge tissue was developed and applied to samples from the Florida Keys.
MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN
(2022)
Review
Biology
Osama Mostafa, Mohammed Al-Shehri, Mahmoud Moustafa
Summary: Research has shown that compounds extracted from marine sponges contain a variety of active ingredients that are effective against parasites, including alkaloids, peroxides, and terpenoids, which have the potential to become antiparasitic drugs.
SAUDI JOURNAL OF BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES
(2022)
Review
Chemistry, Medicinal
Disha Varijakzhan, Jiun-Yan Loh, Wai-Sum Yap, Khatijah Yusoff, Rabiha Seboussi, Swee-Hua Erin Lim, Kok-Song Lai, Chou-Min Chong
Summary: Marine sponges are valuable sources of bioactive compounds with antimicrobial and antiviral properties. These compounds can be used as antibacterial, antiviral, anti-malarial, and antifungal agents against human pathogens and fish pathogens. Their application as antimicrobial agents in veterinary commodities is also discussed.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
James J. Bell, Robert O. Smith, Valerio Micaroni, Francesca Strano, Celia A. Balemi, Paul E. Caiger, Kelsey I. Miller, Arie J. P. Spyksma, Nick T. Shears
Summary: Marine heat waves pose a greater threat to marine ecosystems than gradual increases in sea surface temperature. Unprecedented heat waves in New Zealand have severely impacted millions of sponges, leading to tissue necrosis and bleaching, with potential ecosystem-level consequences.
Review
Biology
Tyler J. Carrier, Manuel Maldonado, Lara Schmittmann, Lucia Pita, Thomas C. G. Bosch, Ute Hentschel
Summary: This article integrates embryology and microbiology to review the transmission of symbiotic microorganisms in marine sponges. The study finds that vertical transmission is common but not universal, and that transmission occurs during specific developmental stages. Additionally, the microbial abundance in sponges influences the properties of the developmental microbiome.
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Ahmed M. Elissawy, Ebrahim Soleiman Dehkordi, Negin Mehdinezhad, Mohamed L. Ashour, Pardis Mohammadi Pour
Summary: Marine sponges are a rich source of unique bioactive secondary metabolites, with alkaloids standing out for their unprecedented structures and outstanding biological activities. A comprehensive survey of demospongian bioactive alkaloids from 1987 to 2020 revealed that sponges from different genera within the phylum porifera are prolific sources of alkaloidal molecules. The production of alkaloids from sponges is a promising approach that merits more attention in future studies to address constraints related to drug supply from marine organisms.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Andrea Corti, Giulia Pagano, Angelina Lo Giudice, Maria Papale, Carmen Rizzo, Maurizio Azzaro, Virginia Vinciguerra, Valter Castelvetro, Stefania Giannarelli
Summary: This study analyzed the contamination of polyester and polyamide microplastics in different marine sponge species from Tethys Bay, Antarctica. The PISA procedure was used to provide highly sensitive quantitative data. The results showed that sponges can effectively capture and concentrate microplastics from marine waters, making them useful indicators of pollution levels and providing early warnings in remote areas.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Medicinal
Despoina Varamogianni-Mamatsi, Thekla I. Anastasiou, Emmanouela Vernadou, Nikos Papandroulakis, Nicolas Kalogerakis, Thanos Dailianis, Manolis Mandalakis
Summary: This study investigated the clearance capacity of four common Mediterranean sponges against three microalgal substrates with different size and motility characteristics. The results showed significant differences in retention efficiencies among sponge species and preferences for microalgal substrates with distinct size and motility traits.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Tatiane A. De Menezes, Mayanne A. M. De Freitas, Michele S. Lima, Ana Carolina Soares, Camille Leal, Mileane De S. Busch, Diogo A. Tschoeke, Luciana De O. Vidal, Georgia C. Atella, Ricardo H. Kruger, Joao Setubal, Agnaldo A. Vasconcelos, Michel M. De Mahiques, Eduardo Siegle, Nils Edvin Asp, Carlos Cosenza, Eduardo Hajdu, Carlos E. De Rezende, Cristiane C. Thompson, Fabiano L. Thompson
Summary: This study investigates the microbial composition of sponges in the Great Amazon Reef System and reveals that different types of sponges rely on different microbes for nutrition. LMA sponges depend on water column microbes, while HMA sponges rely on symbiotic fermentative and autotrophic microbes.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Azraj S. Dahihande, Narsinh L. Thakur
Summary: This study found that the proportions of structural components in sponges are closely related to sponge morphology, anatomy, and pumping capacity.
FRONTIERS IN MARINE SCIENCE
(2021)
Review
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Asmaa Abo Elgoud Said, Basma Khalaf Mahmoud, Eman Zekry Attia, Usama Ramadan Abdelmohsen, Mostafa Ahmed Fouad
Summary: Natural products from marine sources have diverse biological activities, with marine sponges being a major source of bioactive metabolites with potential pharmaceutical applications. Among them, the genus Phorbas has received significant attention due to its various compounds and broad biological activities.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Emile A. Kraus, Lauren E. Mellenthin, Sara A. Siwiecki, Dawei Song, Jing Yan, Paul A. Janmey, Alison M. Sweeney
Summary: Research suggests that the mechanical response of sponge tissue to hydrodynamic flow affects cell proliferation and sponge morphology. Erect sponges have higher stiffness and aligned fiber structures, while shorter sponges are more sensitive to flow.
JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL SOCIETY INTERFACE
(2022)
Article
Spectroscopy
Lenize F. Maia, Tatiani A. Gonzaga, Mariana T. C. Campos, Gisele Lobo-Hajdu, Howell G. M. Edwards, Luiz F. C. de Oliveira
Summary: Sponges are colorful filter feeding animals that host a large number of microorganisms in a symbiotic relationship, with colors derived from biosynthesis or symbionts. Vibrational spectroscopy identified coloration patterns in nine sponge species, showing carotenoids responsible for red-orange, green, and blue colors, and melanin for black species. The study suggests carotenoid-based pigmentation in sponges provided by symbionts plays a role in their evolutionary and ecological success, with vibrational spectroscopy as a valuable tool for identifying structural differentiation of carotenoids in sponge microbiomes from different environments.
JOURNAL OF RAMAN SPECTROSCOPY
(2021)
Article
Chemistry, Medicinal
Meng-Juan Xu, Lin-Jing Zhong, Jun-Kun Chen, Qing Bu, Lin-Fu Liang
Summary: In this review, the distribution, isolation, and biological activities of chemically investigated Oceanapia sponges are summarized. A total of 110 compounds have been reported, showing diverse bioactivities. The complex structures and promising biological properties of these compounds have attracted significant attention from chemists and pharmaceutical researchers for potential applications in disease treatment.
Article
Microbiology
Ipsita Mohanty, Subhasish Tapadar, Samuel G. Moore, Jason S. Biggs, Christopher J. Freeman, David A. Gaul, Neha Garg, Vinayak Agarwal
Summary: The study investigates the presence of bromotyrosine alkaloids in marine sponges from different geographical locations, revealing significant correlations between microbiomes and metabolomes. It also demonstrates a conservation of biosynthetic logic between different classes of sponge-derived natural products. Overall, the study highlights the interconnectedness between microbiomes and metabolomes in marine sponges.
