Effects of Caribbean sponge extracts on bacterial attachment

Abstract

Attachment is one of the first steps in bacterial colonization. By inhibiting bacterial attachment on surface cells, sponges may not only prevent infection, but also the process of biofouling. Crude organic extracts from 26 species of Caribbean sponges were assayed for their ability to inhibit bacterial attachment. Bacterial attachment was tested using Vibrio harveyi, a motile marine bacterium, isolated from seawater collected above one of the reefs from which sponges were sampled. Extracts were incorporated into agar blocks at concentrations volumetrically equivalent to whole sponge tissue. Extracts from 21 of 26 species (81%) resulted in bacterial attachment on treated blocks that was < 40% of attachment on controls. Of these extracts, 9 were particularly active, with mean levels of attachment < 8% of controls (Agelas conifera, Ailochroia crassa, Aka coralliphagum, Amphimedon compressa, Aplysina fulva, Erylus formosus, Plakortis halichondroides, Ptilocaulis spiculifera, Verongula gigantea). Extracts from 4 species (Ailochroia crassa, Chondrilla nucula, Ectyoplasia ferox, and Iotrochota birotulata) inhibited bacterial attachment in this assay but were not found to inhibit bacterial growth in a previous study. Purified compounds that deterred feeding of predatory fishes in a prior study were also tested for their effects on bacterial attachment; they were: oroidin, 4, 5-dibromopyrrole-2-carboxylic acid and sceptrin from Agelas species, amphitoxin from A. compressa, aeroplysinin-1 and dibromocyclohexadienone from Aplysina species, steroidal glycosides from E. ferox, and formoside from E. formosus. Of these, all but the steroidal glycosides from E. ferox deterred bacterial attachment at natural concentrations, providing evidence that sponge secondary metabolites may have multiple ecological functions.

Antibiotic, cytotoxic and enzyme inhibitory activity of crude extracts from Brazilian marine invertebrates

“…The storage of biologically active secondary metabolites by marine invertebrates is frequently related to their ecological success, in spite of their exposition to predation, infestation by microbial pathogens, overgrowth, fouling and competition for space and nutrients (reviewed in Amsler et al, 2001;Blunt et al, 2007;Faulkner et al, 2004;Lindquist, 2002;Paul, 1992;Pawlik, 1993;Stachowicz, 2001). Marine sponges, ascidians, soft-bodied cnidaria and bryozoans are representative groups of marine invertebrates which are chemically defended against predators (for selected examples, see Aceret et al, 2001;Becerro et al, 1998;Burns et al, 2003;Chanas et al, 1996;Epifanio et al, 1999a;Epifanio et al, 1999b;Kubanek et al, 2002;Lindel et al, 2000;Lindquist, 1996;Marin et al, 1998;McClintock and Baker, 1997;O'Neal and Pawlik, 2002;Pawlik et al, 1995;Pisut and Pawlik, 2002;Stachowicz and Lindquist, 1997;Van Alstyne et al, 1994;Vervoort et al, 1998;Waddell and Pawlik, 2000), fouling (Becerro et al, 1997;Bhosale et al, 2002;Hattori et al, 2001;Henrikson and Pawlik, 1995;Kelly et al, 2003;Wahl et al, 1994), larval settlement (reviewed in Davis et al, 1989;Fusetani, 1997;Martín and Uriz, 1993;Pawlik, 1992) and solar UV radiation (Bandaranayake et...…”

Desorption electrospray ionization mass spectrometry reveals surface-mediated antifungal chemical defense of a tropical seaweed

“…In the marine realm, numerous taxa have been suggested to use surface-associated defenses against competitors, foulers, and pathogens (5)(6)(7)(8)(9)(10). However, such defenses were often proposed based on inhibitory effects detected in experiments, using whole organism extracts (5,7), and it is unclear whether target species actually encountered these chemicals in nature.…”

“…In the marine realm, numerous taxa have been suggested to use surface-associated defenses against competitors, foulers, and pathogens (5)(6)(7)(8)(9)(10). However, such defenses were often proposed based on inhibitory effects detected in experiments, using whole organism extracts (5,7), and it is unclear whether target species actually encountered these chemicals in nature. In more ecologically realistic studies, roles of surface-associated molecules were proposed based on experiments employing surface extracts or pure compounds tested at their approximate surface concentration (6,(9)(10)(11)(12)(13).…”

Chemical Mediation of Interactions Among Marine Organisms

“…Nine extracts almost completely inhibited bacterial attachment. 209 Four species, which did not show antibiotic activity in a previous study, 216 inhibited bacterial attachment. Several other studies have examined antimicrobial activities of sponge extracts and the relationship to bacterial films on the sponge surfaces.…”