Marine sponges (phylum Porifera) are a diverse, phylogenetically deep-branching clade known for forming intimate partnerships with complex communities of microorganisms. To date, 16S rRNA gene sequencing studies have largely utilised different extraction and amplification methodologies to target the microbial communities of a limited number of sponge species, severely limiting comparative analy...

L-asparaginase is an anti-neoplastic agent used in the chemotherapy of lymphoblastic leukaemia. The present work deals with production of extra-cellular Lasparaginase from marine actinomycetes, using submerged fermentation. Marine actinomycete Streptomyces associated with marine spongeCallyspongia diffusa was isolated using specific ISP medium. Sponge-associated Streptomyces was character...

There is continuing international interest in exploring and developing the therapeutic potential of marine-derived small molecules. Balancing the strategies for ocean based sampling of source organisms versus the potential to endanger fragile ecosystems poses a substantial challenge. In order to mitigate such environmental impacts, we have developed a deployable artificial sponge. This report p...

Repair of osteochondral defects created in rabbit femoral trochlea were studied using a water-soluble sulfated p-GlcNAc formulation, (Marine Polymer Technologies, Danvers, MA, USA). After 12 weeks of healing empty defects were compared to defects filled with sulfated p-GlcNAc sponge alone and sulfated p-GlcNAc sponge seeded with autologous chondrocytes. The chondrocyte seeded sponge provided th...

A new stereoisomer of an araguspongine/xestospongin alkaloid, named araguspongine M (1), has been isolated together with 12 known compounds, araguspongines B (2) and D (3), dopamine, three galactosyl diacylglycerols, 24-methyl cholesterol, 5,6-dihydrocholesterol, β-sitosterol, and three 5α,8α-epidioxy sterols (11–13), from the marine sponge Neopetrosia exigua (formerly Xestospongia exigua) coll...

Marine sponges are major habitat-forming organisms in coastal benthic communities and have an ancient origin in evolution history. Here, we report significant accumulation of polyphosphate (polyP) granules in three common sponge species of the Caribbean coral reef. The identity of the polyP granules was confirmed by energy-dispersive spectroscopy (EDS) and by the fluorescence properties of the ...

BACKGROUND Marine sponge species are of significant interest to many scientific fields including marine ecology, conservation biology, genetics, host-microbe symbiosis and pharmacology. One of the most intriguing aspects of the sponge "holobiont" system is the unique physiology, interaction with microbes from the marine environment and the development of a complex commensal microbial community....

Title of Dissertation: ROLES OF THE SYMBIOTIC MICROBIAL COMMUNITIES ASSOCIATED WITH SPONGE HOSTS IN THE NITROGEN AND PHOSPHORUS CYCLES Fan Zhang, Doctor of Philosophy, 2015 Directed By: Dr. Russell T. Hill, Professor, Institute of Marine and Environmental Technology, University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science Marine sponges are habitat-forming organisms in coral reefs. Many sponge ...

Bone tissue engineering may provide an alternative to autograft, however scaffold optimisation is required to maximize bone ingrowth. In designing scaffolds, pore architecture is important and there is evidence that cells prefer a degree of non-uniformity. The aim of this study was to compare scaffolds derived from a natural porous marine sponge (Spongia agaricina) with unique architecture to t...

BACKGROUND Natural products are considered a rich source of new chemical structures that may lead to the therapeutic agents in all major disease areas. About 50% of the drugs introduced in the market in the last 20 years were natural products/derivatives or natural products mimics, which clearly shows the influence of natural products in drug discovery. RESULTS In an effort to further support...