Search Results (5)

The Bacillus horneckiae-like strain 2011SOCCUF3 was isolated from the marine sponge Spongia officinalis and its metabolome was studied for secondary metabolites with antimicrobial activity. Culturing in the presence of Diaion HP-20 resin and purifying the culture extract identified cyclo-phenylalanine-proline (cyclo-(Phe-Pro)), a 2,5-diketopiperazine (2,5-DKP), isolated as a major metabolite. Further, LCMS analysis of the extract showed the presence of two isomers of the molecule in the culture broth. To confirm the stereochemistry of the isomers observed in the natural extract, all four stereoisomers of cyclo-(Phe-Pro) were synthesised. NMR and LCMS studies identified the presence of both cis- and trans-cyclo-(Phe-Pro) isomers. Stability and epimerisation studies on synthetic isomers and the effect of culturing conditions suggested that the less stable cis isomer was naturally produced, which epimerised in culture broth. Full article

The occurrence and abundance of Astrospartus mediterraneus (Risso, 1826) have significantly increased in the last three decades in several areas of the Mediterranean Sea. In the Tavolara–Punta Coda Cavallo Marine Protected Area (NE Sardinia, Tyrrhenian Sea, Mediterranean Sea), 60 specimens were observed mainly on the granitic shoals of the Tavolara Channel, an area characterized by very intense currents and high sedimentation. The basket stars were mainly found living as epibionts of gorgonians (Eunicella verrucosa, Paramuricea clavata and Leptogorgia sarmentosa) and massive sponges (Spongia officinalis, S. lamella, Sarcotragus foetidus). We also documented 21 small specimens (3–20 mm in diameter of the oral disc) observed in June 2024 between 27 and 52 m depth on E. verrucosa and P. clavata colonies. The bimodal size-frequency distribution of these specimens suggested that, probably, specimens belong to two different reproductive events occurring in spring 2023 and 2024. Full article

Coralligenous bioconstructions are one of the Mediterranean’s most distinctive and biodiverse marine habitats. This research aimed to provide a preliminary characterization of macrobenthic coralligenous assemblages at four sites located in the Marine National Park of Karaburun-Sazan in Albania. We analyzed images obtained from videos recorded along underwater transects at two different depths. Over a total of 61 taxa (3 Rhodophyta, 2 Ochrophyta, 6 Chlorophyta, 30 Porifera, 5 Cnidaria, 3 Mollusca, 2 Annelida, 1 Arthropoda, 4 Bryozoa, 4 Echinodermata, and 1 Chordata), 53 were identified at the species level using taxonomic and semi-quantitative video image analysis, thus allowing an update to the Albanian coralligenous species list with 34 new species. This study revealed differences in species richness and composition among the investigated sites and between depths, with a high number of taxa exclusive to one site and a few taxa common to all sites. Seven taxa are protected by law, among which are the echinoderm Centrostephanus longispinus, included in the Bern (Annex II) and Barcelona (Annex II) Conventions and Habitat Directive (92/43 EEC) (Annex IV), and the sponges Spongia (Spongia) officinalis and S. (S.) lamella, included in Annex III of the Bern Convention. Only the alga Caulerpa cylindracea can be considered an alien species. Although preliminary, the present research indicated the occurrence of rich and diversified macrobenthic assemblages in the study area. Moreover, it has been demonstrated that video analysis can provide a biodiversity baseline within MPAs, where traditional methods involving invasive sampling cannot be applied, particularly in areas such as the Albanian coasts, where anthropogenic impacts have been historically significant. Finally, this work provides a first estimate of the structural biodiversity in a recently established marine protected area, thus representing the basis for subsequent monitoring. Full article

Uncontrolled bleeding is the main cause of mortality from trauma. Collagen has been developed as an important hemostatic material due to its platelet affinity function. A bath sponge skeleton is rich in collagen, also known as spongin. To understand the hemostatic effect of spongin, spongin materials, SX, SFM and SR were prepared from the bath sponge Spongia officinalis, and hemostatic experiments were performed. The SX, SFM and SR were significantly better than the positive control, type I collagen, in shortening the whole blood clotting time in vitro and hemostasis upon rat tail amputation. In a hemostatic experiment of rabbit common carotid artery injury, the hemostatic time and 3 h survival rate of the SFM group were 3.00 ± 1.53 min and 100%, respectively, which are significantly better than those of the commercial hemostat CELOX-A (10.33 ± 1.37 min and 67%, respectively). Additionally, the SFM showed good coagulation effects in platelet-deficient blood and defibrinated blood, while also showing good biocompatibility. Through a variety of tests, we speculated that the hemostatic activity of the SFM is mainly caused by its hyperabsorbency, high affinity to platelets and high effective concentration. Overall, the SFM and spongin derivates could be potential hemostatic agents for uncontrolled bleeding and hemorrhagic diseases caused by deficiency or dysfunction of coagulation factors. Full article

The Mediterranean marine sponge Spongia officinalis has been reported as a rich source of secondary metabolites and also as a bioindicator of water quality given its capacity to concentrate trace metals. In this study, we evaluated the chemical diversity within 30 S. officinalis samples collected over three years at two sites differentially impacted by anthropogenic pollutants located near Marseille (South of France). Untargeted liquid chromatography—mass spectrometry (LC–MS) metabolomic profiling (C18 LC, ESI-Q-TOF MS) combined with XCMS Online data processing and multivariate statistical analysis revealed 297 peaks assigned to at least 86 compounds. The spatio-temporal metabolite variability was mainly attributed to variations in relative content of furanoterpene derivatives. This family was further characterized through LC–MS/MS analyses in positive and negative ion modes combined with molecular networking, together with a comprehensive NMR study of isolated representatives such as demethylfurospongin-4 and furospongin-1. The MS/MS and NMR spectroscopic data led to the identification of a new furanosesterterpene, furofficin (2), as well as two derivatives with a glycinyl lactam moiety, spongialactam A (12a) and B (12b). This study illustrates the potential of untargeted LC–MS metabolomics and molecular networking to discover new natural compounds even in an extensively studied organism such as S. officinalis. It also highlights the effect of anthropogenic pollution on the chemical profiles within the sponge. Full article