Marine sponge compounds with antiplasmodial properties: Focus on in vitro study against Plasmodium falciparum

Malaria continues to be a major cause of morbidity and mortality in many tropical countries. The lack of progressin drug discovery and the spread of drug resistance become the reason behind this. Porifera (sponges) is a potentialsource of novel bioactive compounds to provide future drugs against malaria. In this review, we summarized 243isolated molecules belonging to 35 different genera that active against Plasmodium falciparum from published paperuntil March 2019. The molecules were classified into potent, good, moderate, low, and inactive based on their IC50, andamong observed bioactive metabolites, there were 57 marine sponge molecules reported to act as potent antiplasmodiumagainst various strains of P. falciparum including drug resistance and nondrug resistance. Table 2 represents the listof isolated compounds with “potent” antimalarial activity. The class of the listed compounds includes manzaminealkaloid, guanidine alkaloids, bispyrroloiminoquinone alkaloids, pyrroloiminoquinone alkaloids, ingamine alkaloids,bromotyrosine alkaloids, sesquiterpenoids, diterpene formamides, aminoimidazole, β-galactosylceramides, β-lactam,meroterpene, trisoxazole macrolides, peroxides, thiazine alkaloids, and sterols. With this up-to-date review, we attemptto present new perspectives for the rational discovery of novel sponge metabolites that can be used as lead compoundsin antimalarial drug development.

Clathriamide, an hexapeptide isolated from the marine sponge Clathria (Clathria) nicoleae

ABSTRACT Chemical investigation of the aqueous fraction of the ethanol extract from the Brazilian endemic marine sponge Clathria (Clathria) nicoleae Vieira de Barros, Santos & Pinheiro, 2013, Microcionidae, sampled from a 55 m deep rhodolith bed at the Amazon River mouth, led to the isolation of a new hexapeptide, clathriamide (1). HP-20 resin was used to capture compound 1 from the aqueous fraction, which was purified by additional chromatographic steps. The absolute configuration of the amino acids of 1 was determined by advanced Marfey's analysis using 5-fluoro-2,4-dinitrophenyl-Nα-L-tryptophanamide. The amino acid derivatives analyzed by ultra-performance liquid chromatography coupled to a mass spectrometry using a C8 column enabled a good chromatographic resolution of L-Ile and L-allo-Ile, previously unfeasible using C18 column.

Antibiotic resistance genes detected in the marine sponge Petromica citrina from Brazilian coast

ABSTRACT Although antibiotic-resistant pathogens pose a significant threat to human health, the environmental reservoirs of the resistance determinants are still poorly understood. This study reports the detection of resistance genes (ermB, mecA, mupA, qnrA, qnrB and tetL) to antibiotics among certain culturable and unculturable bacteria associated with the marine sponge Petromica citrina. The antimicrobial activities elicited by P. citrina and its associated bacteria are also described. The results indicate that the marine environment could play an important role in the development of antibiotic resistance and the dissemination of resistance genes among bacteria.

Antifouling activity of twelve demosponges from Brazil / Atividade anti-incrustante de doze demosponjas do Brasil

Benthic marine organisms are constantly exposed to fouling, which is harmful to most host species. Thus, the production of secondary metabolites containing antifouling properties is an important ecological advantage for sessile organisms and may also provide leading compounds for the development of antifouling paints. High antifouling potential of sponges has been demonstrated in the Indian and Pacific oceans and in the Caribbean and Mediterranean seas. Brazilian sponges remain understudied concerning antifouling activities. Only two scientific articles reported this activity in sponges of Brazil. The objective of this study was to test crude extracts of twelve species of sponges from Brazil against the attachment of the mussel Perna perna through laboratorial assays, and highlight promising species for future studies. The species Petromica citrina, Amphimedon viridis, Desmapsamma anchorata, Chondrosia sp., Polymastia janeirensis, Tedania ignis, Aplysina fulva, Mycale angulosa, Hymeniacidon heliophila, Dysidea etheria, Tethya rubra, and Tethya maza were frozen and freeze-dried before extraction with acetone or dichloromethane. The crude extract of four species significantly inhibited the attachment of byssus: Tethya rubra (p = 0.0009), Tethya maza (p = 0.0039), Petromica citrina (p = 0.0277), and Hymeniacidon heliophila (p = 0.00003). These species, specially, should be the target of future studies to detail the substances involved in the ability antifouling well as to define its amplitude of action.

Organismos bentônicos marinhos estão expostos constantemente à incrustação, que pode ser danosa para a maioria das espécies. Assim, a produção de metabólitos secundários com propriedades anti-incrustantes é uma vantagem ecológica importante para organismos sésseis e pode também orientar o estudo de substâncias para o desenvolvimento de tintas anti-incrustantes. O alto potencial anti-incrustante de esponjas tem sido demonstrado nos oceanos Índico e Pacífico, nos mares Mediterrâneo e Caribenho. Esponjas brasileiras permanecem pouco estudadas em relação à atividade anti-incrustante. Apenas dois artigos científicos registraram essa atividade em esponjas do Brasil. O objetivo desse estudo foi testar os extratos brutos de doze espécies de esponjas do Brasil contra a fixação do molusco Perna perna através de ensaios laboratoriais e também destacar espécies promissoras para estudos futuros. As espécies Petromica citrina, Amphimedon viridis, Desmapsamma anchorata, Chondrosia sp., Polymastia janeirensis, Tedania ignis, Aplysina fulva, Mycale angulosa, Hymeniacidon heliophila, Dysidea etheria, Tethya rubra e Tethya maza foram congeladas e liofilizadas logo após a coleta e posteriormente procedeu-se a extração com acetona ou diclorometano. O extrato bruto de quatro espécies inibiu significativamente a fixação de bissos: Tethya rubra (p = 0.0009), Tethya maza (p = 0.0039), Petromica citrina (p = 0.0277), e Hymeniacidon heliophila (p = 0.00003). Essas espécies, especialmente, devem ser priorizadas em estudos futuros para detalhamento das substâncias envolvidas na capacidade anti-incrustante, bem como para definir sua amplitude de ação.

Checklist de Porifera do Estado de São Paulo, Brasil / Checklist of Porifera from São Paulo State, Brazil

As esponjas (Filo Porifera) são um dos metazoários mais antigos existentes, mas ainda facilmente encontradas em uma grande variedade de ambientes aquáticos. São um componente fundamental em diversos ecossistemas, influenciando diretamente a qualidade da água em seus habitats. Em tempos recentes são um dos grupos que mais fornece novas moléculas bioativas ou com estruturas incomuns. No entanto, são historicamente considerados um grupo de taxonomia complexa e ainda são comuns discussões acerca da sistemática ao nível de ordens ou mesmo da monofilia do grupo. Este cenário começou a ser alterado de forma marcante na última década, a partir de iniciativas multinacionais voltadas a fornecer uma base taxonômica mais sólida. No Brasil, este processo foi acompanhado pela publicação de guias de identificação para as esponjas do nosso litoral. Partindo dos dados esporádicos disponíveis em períodos anteriores, diversas iniciativas foram feitas especificamente voltadas para o levantamento das espécies de Porifera, principalmente nas regiões costeiras. Tais ações fornecem atualmente aos pesquisadores iniciantes uma base de conhecimento bem mais abrangente do que a disponível na década anterior. Nos dez anos passados desde as últimas listagens feitas para o Estado de São Paulo, houve uma alteração significativa no quadro apresentado. Conforme pôde ser verificado neste trabalho, o período foi sem sombra de dúvida o mais prolífico no que se refere ao conhecimento da espongiofauna local.

The sponges (Porifera) are one of the oldest extant metazoans, but still easily found in a wide variety of aquatic environments. They are key components in several ecosystems, directly influencing the quality of water in their habitat. In recent times, these organisms have become one of the most productive groups in providing new compounds with bioactivity or unusual structures. However, sponges are historically considered a group of complex taxonomy, and systematic discussions at order level or even about the monophyly of the group are still common. This situation began to change markedly in the last decade, with multinational initiatives aimed at providing a more solid taxonomic basis. In Brazil, this process was accompanied by the publication of identification guides of the native species. Starting from the sporadic data available in earlier periods, several initiatives were specifically targeted at the survey of Porifera species, particularly in coastal regions. Such actions now provide the researchers with a knowledge base far more comprehensive than that available a decade earlier. In the ten years since the last checklists for the São Paulo State were published, there was a significant change in the scenario. As verified by this study, the period was undoubtedly the most prolific regarding the knowledge of the local spongiofauna.

Distribución de esponjas (Porifera) a lo largo de un gradiente de profundidad en un arrecife coralino, Parque Nacional San Esteban, Carabobo, Venezuela

Sponges (Porifera) distribution along a depth gradient in a coral reef, Parque Nacional San Esteban, Carabobo, Venezuela. Sponges constitute one of the most diverse and abundant animal groups in the marine tropical benthos especially in coral reefs, though poorly studied to species level. The aim of this study is to characterize the sponge community along a depth gradient at Isla Larga (Parque Nacional San Esteban, Venezuela) fringe reef. Net and total sedimentation, roughness index, sponge species richness, density and proportion of the bottom covered by sponges, were evaluated at seven depths (1, 3, 6, 9, 12, 15, 18m), 17 species were identified grouped in 10 demosponges families. The highest densities and coverage corresponded to 6m of depth (6.03ind/m2; 11%), that coincides with the lowest net sedimentation and highest substrate heterogeneity. Most abundant species were Desmapsamma anchorata, Amphimedon erina and Scopalina rueztleri. Principal component analysis divided this community in three zones according to depth. The shallow zone of the reef (1 and 3m), where wave force and high irradiance exert a constant "stress sponges, shows the lowest density and coverage by sponges. In contrast, medium depth (6, 9 y 12m) and deep zone (15 y 18m) with lower light and sedimentation levels seem to enhance sponge growth and survival that are reflected on the higher densities and coverage of sponges. Rev. Biol. Trop. 58 (Suppl. 3): 175-187. Epub 2010 October 01.

Las esponjas son uno de los grupos de animales sésiles más abundantes y diversos de los fondos marinos tropicales, siendo un componente importante en los arrecifes coralinos, aunque poco estudiado a nivel de especies. El objetivo de este estudio fue caracterizar la comunidad de esponjas en el gradiente de profundidad de un arrecife coralino en Isla Larga, Parque Nacional San Esteban, Venezuela. Se trabajaron siete profundidades (1, 3, 6, 9, 12, 15 y 18m) donde se midió la sedimentación neta y bruta, el índice de rugosidad, y se evaluó la riqueza, densidad y cobertura de las esponjas. Se identificaron 17 especies en 10 familias. La mayor densidad y cobertura se encontró a los 6m (6.03ind/m2, 11%), coincidiendo con la mínima sedimentación neta y la máxima rugosidad del sustrato. Las especies más abundantes fueron Desmapsamma anchorata, Amphimedon erina y Scopalina rueztleri. El análisis de componentes principales arrojó una separación de esta comunidad en 3 zonas, la somera (1 y 3m), donde las esponjas están sometidas a una tensión producida por el oleaje y alta iluminación, y las zonas media (6, 9 y 12m) y profunda (15 y 18m), con características más favorables, dada una menor iluminación y sedimentación.

New records of the genus Agelas Duchassaing & Michelotti, 1864 (Porifera, Agelasida) off the Amazon River mouth, Brazil, Southwestern Atlantic / Novos registros do gênero Agelas Duchassaing & Michelotti, 1864 (Porifera, Agelasida) ao largo da desembocadura do Rio Amazonas, Brasil, Atlântico Sudoeste

This work provides new information on agelasid sponges found on the continental shelf off northern Brazil. Agelas sceptrum (Lamarck, 1815) and Agelas wiedenmayeri Alcolado, 1984 have their first record for the Brazilian coast. Agelas dispar Duchassaing & Michelotti, 1864 and Agelas schmidti Wilson, 1902, previously recorded from Brazil, are cited for the first time off the mouth of the Amazon River.

Este trabalho fornece novas informações sobre esponjas agelasidas encontradas na costa norte da plataforma continental brasileira. Agelas sceptrum (Lamarck, 1815) e Agelas wiedenmayeri Alcolado, 1984 têm seu primeiro registro para a costa brasileira. Agelas dispar Duchassaing & Michelotti, 1864 e Agelas schmidti Wilson, 1902, registradas anteriormente na costa brasileira, são citadas pela primeira vez ao largo da desembocadura do Rio Amazonas.

Progress in the development of antineoplastic activity substance from marine sponge / 国外医学(肿瘤学分册)

Marine organism is important source of antineoplastic active substance,sponge is the secondly larger amount of organism source besides coral in the ocean. In recent decade, several high antineoplastic active substances with novel structure are abstracted and identified from different kinds of sponges. These discovers reveal bright prospect of research and development. This article summarized antineoplastic active sponge abstracts and their synthesis derivative which still in the clinical trials,their origins and the research development of their chemical composition and pharmacological action.