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Microbial Ecology Nov 2023The amount of available light plays a key role in the growth and development of microbial communities. In the present study, we tested to what extent sponge-associated...
The amount of available light plays a key role in the growth and development of microbial communities. In the present study, we tested to what extent sponge-associated prokaryotic communities differed between specimens of the sponge species Cinachyrella kuekenthali and Xestospongia muta collected in dimly lit (caves and at greater depths) versus illuminated (shallow water) habitats. In addition to this, we also collected samples of water, sediment, and another species of Cinachyrella, C. alloclada. Overall, the biotope (sponge host species, sediment, and seawater) proved the major driver of variation in prokaryotic community composition. The light habitat, however, also proved a predictor of compositional variation in prokaryotic communities of both C. kuekenthali and X. muta. We used an exploratory technique based on machine learning to identify features (classes, orders, and OTUs), which distinguished X. muta specimens sampled in dimly lit versus illuminated habitat. We found that the classes Alphaproteobacteria and Rhodothermia and orders Puniceispirillales, Rhodospirillales, Rhodobacterales, and Thalassobaculales were associated with specimens from illuminated, i.e., shallow water habitat, while the classes Dehalococcoidia, Spirochaetia, Entotheonellia, Nitrospiria, Schekmanbacteria, and Poribacteria, and orders Sneathiellales and Actinomarinales were associated with specimens sampled from dimly lit habitat. There was, however, considerable variation within the different light habitats highlighting the importance of other factors in structuring sponge-associated bacterial communities.
Topics: Animals; Biodiversity; Phylogeny; Bacteria; Seawater; Microbiota; Water; Porifera; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S
PubMed: 37597041
DOI: 10.1007/s00248-023-02267-x -
Marine Drugs Aug 2023Petrosamine ()-a colored pyridoacridine alkaloid from the Belizean sponge, sp., that is also a potent inhibitor of acetylcholine esterase (AChE)-was investigated by...
Petrosamine ()-a colored pyridoacridine alkaloid from the Belizean sponge, sp., that is also a potent inhibitor of acetylcholine esterase (AChE)-was investigated by spectroscopic and computational methods. Analysis of the petrosamine-free energy landscapes, p and tautomerism, revealed an accurate electronic depiction of the molecular structure of as the di-keto form, with a net charge of = +1, rather than a dication ( = +2) under ambient conditions of isolation-purification. The pronounced solvatochromism (UV-vis) reported for , and related analogs were investigated in detail and is best explained by charge delocalization and stabilization of the ground state (HOMO) of rather than an equilibrium of competing tautomers. Refinement of the molecular structure by QM methods complements published computational docking studies to define the contact points in the enzyme active site that may improve the design of new AChE inhibitors based on the pyridoacridine alkaloid molecular skeleton.
Topics: Animals; Sodium Chloride; Acetylcholinesterase; Bandages; Cholinesterase Inhibitors; Petrosia
PubMed: 37623727
DOI: 10.3390/md21080446 -
Heliyon Jun 2024Plastic pollution is a worldwide problem especially in the marine environment. Plastic items once fragmented into microplastics (MPs), can be captured by different...
Plastic pollution is a worldwide problem especially in the marine environment. Plastic items once fragmented into microplastics (MPs), can be captured by different marine species. Benthic filter feeders like sponges and polychaetas, due to their trophic strategy, are highly exposed to MPs pollution. Herein a simple but effective method to digest the fan worm and the calcareous sponge is presented: a solution with KOH and HO was able to remove quantitatively (more than 98 %) the organic matter in 3 h while an acid treatment dissolved most of spicules and chaetes in less than 30 min. MPs were easily identified both microscopically and spectroscopically on filters. Quantification in animals collected from the same environment showed that, on average, sponges accumulate fewer MPs than polychaetes (66 ± 31 and 117 ± 46 particles/g dry weight, respectively). The plastic recovery of the method was validated using three different approaches (spiking of standard PS microspheres, of common-use plastic objects, and of microplastics already weathered in marine environment). This procedure can make it easier and cost-effective to process biota in monitoring studies, providing information about bioindicator/bioremediation species.
PubMed: 38845917
DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2024.e31796 -
The Science of the Total Environment Nov 2023Biofouling of different artificial substrates was studied to determine the differences in biofouling assemblages among different substrates. However, studies on...
Biofouling of different artificial substrates was studied to determine the differences in biofouling assemblages among different substrates. However, studies on biofouling on natural substrates like electrolytic carbonated ones are lacking. These substrates have a great potential for coral reef restoration in tropical areas and for biofilter construction. Thus, this study was developed to examine the colonization of sessile macrofouling in the port of Alicante (SE Spain, Western Mediterranean) on two types of substrates: electrolytic carbonated and bare steel (as control) over three months of immersion (October 2019-January 2020). The community diversity was studied through different biotic parameters and abundance of assemblages, and preference of organisms according to their status and functional group (active filter feeders). Univariate and multivariate analyses (PERMANOVA and SIMPER) were also applied to examine the differences between carbonate and control substrates. The carbonated substrate had a more structured community and higher abundance, recruitment, and diversity indexes than the bare steel. Moreover, filter feeders (Porifera, Bivalvia, and Ascidiacea) were more abundant, and most of them only appeared in the carbonated substrate. These results show the potential of carbonated structures as biofilters.
Topics: Animals; Coral Reefs; Biofouling; Bivalvia; Carbonates; Steel
PubMed: 37495123
DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.165796 -
The ISME Journal Sep 2023Sponges thrive in the deep, dark and nutrient-depleted ocean and may rely on microbial symbionts for carbon acquisition and energy generation. However, these symbiotic...
Sponges thrive in the deep, dark and nutrient-depleted ocean and may rely on microbial symbionts for carbon acquisition and energy generation. However, these symbiotic relationships remain largely unexplored. In this study, we analyze the microbiome of deep-sea sponges and show that ammonia-oxidizing archaea (AOA) of the family Nitrosopumilaceae make up at least 75% of the microbial communities of the sponges Aphrocallistes sp., Farrea sp. and Paratimea sp.. Given the known autotrophic metabolism of AOAs, this implies that these sponge holobionts can have the capacity for primary production in the deep-sea. We also show that specific AOA lineages are highly specific towards their hosts, hinting towards an unprecedent vertical transmission of these symbionts in deep-sea sponges. Our results show that the ecology and evolution of symbiotic relationships in deep-sea sponge is distinct from that of their shallow-water counterparts.
Topics: Animals; Phylogeny; Archaea; Microbiota; Ecology; Porifera
PubMed: 37258653
DOI: 10.1038/s41396-023-01439-4 -
The Science of the Total Environment Dec 2023Different marine sponge species from Tethys Bay, Antarctica, were analyzed for contamination by polyester and polyamide microplastics (MPs). The PISA (Polymer...
Different marine sponge species from Tethys Bay, Antarctica, were analyzed for contamination by polyester and polyamide microplastics (MPs). The PISA (Polymer Identification and Specific Analysis) procedure was adopted as it provides, through depolymerization and HPLC analysis, highly sensitive mass-based quantitative data. The study focused on three analytes resulting from the hydrolytic depolymerization of polyesters and polyamides: terephthalic acid (TPA), 6-aminohexanoic acid (AHA), and 1-6-hexanediamine (HMDA). TPA is a comonomer found in the polyesters poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET) and poly(butylene adipate co terephthalate) (PBAT), and in polyamides such as poly(1,4-p-phenylene terephthalamide) (Kevlar™ and Twaron™ fibers) and poly(hexamethylene terephthalamide) (nylon 6 T). AHA is the monomer of nylon 6. HMDA is a comonomer of the aliphatic nylon 6,6 (HMDA-co-adipic acid) and of semi-aromatic polyamides such as, again, nylon 6 T (HMDA-co-TPA). Except for the biodegradable PBAT, these polymers exhibit high to extreme mechanical, thermal and chemical resistance. Indeed, they are used as technofibers in protective clothing able to withstand extreme conditions as those typical of Antarctica. Of the two amine monomers, only HMDA was found above the limit of quantification, and only in specimens of Haliclona (Rhizoniera) scotti, at a concentration equivalent to 27 μg/kg of nylon 6,6 in the fresh sponge. Comparatively higher concentrations, corresponding to 2.5-4.1 mg/kg of either PBAT or PPTA, were calculated from the concentration of TPA detected in all sponge species. Unexpectedly, TPA did not originate from PET (the most common textile fiber) as it was detected in the acid hydrolysate, whereas the PISA procedure results in effective PET depolymerization only under alkaline conditions. The obtained results showed that sponges, by capturing and concentrating MPs from large volumes of filtered marine waters, may be considered as effective indicators of the level and type of pollution by MPs and provide early warnings of increasing levels of pollution even in remote areas.
Topics: Animals; Plastics; Environmental Biomarkers; Nylons; Antarctic Regions; Polyesters; Microplastics; Porifera
PubMed: 37544451
DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.166043 -
Methods in Molecular Biology (Clifton,... 2024Transcription factors (TFs) play a pivotal role as regulators of gene expression, orchestrating the formation and maintenance of diverse animal body plans and...
Transcription factors (TFs) play a pivotal role as regulators of gene expression, orchestrating the formation and maintenance of diverse animal body plans and innovations. However, the precise contributions of TFs and the underlying mechanisms driving the origin of basal metazoan body plans, particularly in ctenophores, remain elusive. Here, we present a comprehensive catalog of TFs in 2 ctenophore species, Pleurobrachia bachei and Mnemiopsis leidyi, revealing 428 and 418 TFs in their respective genomes. In contrast, morphologically simpler metazoans have a reduced TF representation compared to ctenophores, cnidarians, and bilaterians: the sponge Amphimedon encodes 277 TFs, and the placozoan Trichoplax adhaerens encodes 274 TFs. The emergence of complex ctenophore tissues and organs coincides with significant lineage-specific diversification of the zinc finger C2H2 (ZF-C2H2) and homeobox superfamilies of TFs. Notable, the lineages leading to Amphimedon and Trichoplax exhibit independent expansions of leucine zipper (BZIP) TFs. Some lineage-specific TFs may have evolved through the domestication of mobile elements, thereby supporting alternative mechanisms of parallel TF evolution and body plan diversification across the Metazoa.
Topics: Animals; Transcription Factors; Evolution, Molecular; Phylogeny; Ctenophora; Genome; Placozoa
PubMed: 38668980
DOI: 10.1007/978-1-0716-3642-8_20 -
Marine Drugs Sep 2023Eight new scalarane sesterterpenes, phyllofenones F-M (-), together with two known analogues, carteriofenones B and A (-), were isolated from the marine sponge...
Eight new scalarane sesterterpenes, phyllofenones F-M (-), together with two known analogues, carteriofenones B and A (-), were isolated from the marine sponge collected from the South China Sea. The structures of these compounds were determined based on extensive spectroscopic and quantum chemical calculation analysis. The antibacterial and cytotoxic activity of these compounds was evaluated. Among them, only compounds and displayed weak inhibitory activity against and , with MIC values of 16 μg/mL and 8 μg/mL, respectively. Compounds - exhibited cytotoxic activity against the HeLa, HCT-116, H460, and SW1990 cancer cell lines, with IC values ranging from 3.4 to 19.8 μM.
Topics: Animals; Humans; Sesterterpenes; Porifera; Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy; Antineoplastic Agents; HeLa Cells; Escherichia coli; Molecular Structure
PubMed: 37888442
DOI: 10.3390/md21100507 -
Nature Communications Aug 2023Microorganisms play essential roles in the health and resilience of cnidarians. Understanding the factors influencing cnidarian microbiomes requires cross study...
Microorganisms play essential roles in the health and resilience of cnidarians. Understanding the factors influencing cnidarian microbiomes requires cross study comparisons, yet the plethora of protocols used hampers dataset integration. We unify 16S rRNA gene sequences from cnidarian microbiome studies under a single analysis pipeline. We reprocess 12,010 cnidarian microbiome samples from 186 studies, alongside 3,388 poriferan, 370 seawater samples, and 245 cultured Symbiodiniaceae, unifying ~6.5 billion sequence reads. Samples are partitioned by hypervariable region and sequencing platform to reduce sequencing variability. This systematic review uncovers an incredible diversity of 86 archaeal and bacterial phyla associated with Cnidaria, and highlights key bacteria hosted across host sub-phylum, depth, and microhabitat. Shallow (< 30 m) water Alcyonacea and Actinaria are characterized by highly shared and relatively abundant microbial communities, unlike Scleractinia and most deeper cnidarians. Utilizing the V4 region, we find that cnidarian microbial composition, richness, diversity, and structure are primarily influenced by host phylogeny, sampling depth, and ocean body, followed by microhabitat and sampling date. We identify host and geographical generalist and specific Endozoicomonas clades within Cnidaria and Porifera. This systematic review forms a framework for understanding factors governing cnidarian microbiomes and creates a baseline for assessing stress associated dysbiosis.
Topics: Animals; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S; Microbiota; Bacteria; Archaea; Anthozoa; Phylogeny
PubMed: 37580316
DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-39876-6 -
PloS One 2023Deciphering the behavioural ecology of adult (sessile) sponges is challenging. However, their motile larval stages afford opportunities to investigate how behaviour...
Deciphering the behavioural ecology of adult (sessile) sponges is challenging. However, their motile larval stages afford opportunities to investigate how behaviour contributes to dispersal and selection of habitat. Light is a fundamental cue contributing to larval sponge dispersal where photoreceptive cells contribute to this process. But how universal is light as a cue to sponge larval dispersal and settlement? Behavioural choice experiments were used to test the effect of light on dispersal and settlement behaviours. Larvae of the tropical sponge species Coscinoderma mathewsi, Luffariella variabilis, Ircinia microconnulosa, and Haliclona sp., from deep (12-15 m) and shallower-water habitats (2-5 m), were used in experiments. Dispersal experiments provided a light-gradient-choice where light represented light attenuation with depth. Light treatments included white light and the spectral components of red and blue light. Settlement experiments comprised a choice between illuminated and shaded treatments. Fluorescence microscopy was used to establish the presence of fluorescent proteins associated with posterior locomotory cilia. Deeper-water species, C. mathewsi and I. microconnulosa discriminate light spectral signatures. Both species changed dispersal behaviour to light spectra as larvae aged. For C. mathewsi positive phototaxis to blue light changed to photophobic responses (all light treatments) after six hours and behaviours in I. microconnulosa changed from positive to negative phototaxis (white light) after six hours. L. variabilis, also a deeper-water species, was negatively phototactic to all light treatments. Larvae from the shallow-water species, Haliclona sp., moved towards all light wavelengths tested. There was no effect of light on settlement of the shallow-water Haliclona sp., but larvae in all three deeper-water species showed significantly higher settlement in shaded treatments. Fluorescence microscopy showed discrete fluorescent bands contiguous to posterior tufted cilia in all four species. These fluorescent bands may play a contributory role in larval photobehaviour.
Topics: Animals; Larva; Ecosystem; Ecology; Behavior, Animal; Porifera
PubMed: 37428784
DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0287989