Marine Sponges: Potential Sources of New Antimicrobial Drugs

Abstract

Sponges (phylum Porifera) are sessile marine filter feeders that have developed efficient defense mechanisms against foreign attackers such as viruses, bacteria, or eukaryotic organisms. Marine sponges are among the richest sources of pharmacologically-active chemicals from marine organisms. It is suggested that (at least) some of the bioactive secondary metabolites isolated from sponges are produced by functional enzyme clusters, which originated from the sponges and their associated microorganisms. More than 5,300 different products are known from sponges and their associated microorganisms, and more than 200 new metabolites from sponges are reported each year. As infectious microorganisms evolve and develop resistance to existing pharmaceuticals, the marine sponge provides novel leads against bacterial, viral, fungal and parasitic diseases. Many marine natural products have successfully advanced to the late stages of clinical trials, as for example ara-A (vidarabine), an anti-viral drug used against the herpes simplex encephalitis virus. This substance is in clinical use for many years. Moreover, a growing number of candidates have been selected as promising leads for extended preclinical assessment, including manzamine A (activity against malaria, tuberculosis, HIV, and others), lasonolides (antifungal activity) and psammaplin A (antibacterial activity). In this review we have surveyed the discoveries of products derived from marine sponges and associated bacteria that have shown in vivo efficacy or potent in vitro activity against infectious and parasitic diseases, including bacterial, viral, fungal and protozoan infections. Our objective was to highlight the substances that have the greatest potential to lead to clinically useful treatments.

Antibacterial Properties of Marine Sponges from Mauritius Waters

“…Bioactive substances from sponges or associated microorganisms have shown broad spectrum properties such as anticancer, antibacterial, antifungal, antiviral, antiprotozoal, anthelmintic, anti-inflammatory including manoalide (Luffariella variabilis) which is commercially available, immunosuppressive, neurosuppressive and antifouling [2]. The chemical diversity of sponge substances is remarkable, comprising Halichondrin B (Halichondria okadai) which is a new preclinical anticancer agent, Spongistatin 1 (Hyrtios erecta) and Aurantosides (Siliquariaspongia japonica and Homophymia conferta) [3].…”

“…Mauritius is a small island found in the Indian Ocean with an area of 1865 km 2 , possessing an Exclusive Economic Zone of about 1.9 km 2 , which has not been fully exploited [6]. Except for the work of Wah et al [6], reports on the antimicrobial activities of sponges from Mauritius seawaters are scanty.…”

Cultivation of Marine Sponges with Pharmaceutical Value: Status and Future Prospects in India

“…Sponges have potential as anti-cancer and anti-mitotic (Munro et al, 1999), antiprotozoal activity (Laport et al, 2009), antiviral and Ara-C (Arabinosysl Cytosine) -an anti-tumour compound marketed by Pharmacia & Upjohn Company in the brand name Cytosar-UR (Thakur and Muller, 2004). They also have potential anti-malarial, antimicrobial and cytotoxic properties (Pedpradab et al, 2010).…”

“…Clearly the world's oceans will play an important part in the future control of the global infectious disease burden (Laport et al, 2009). Sponges are one of the most important invertebrates considering its pharmaceutical and drug development prospective, as they are known to produce bioactive secondary metabolites (Koopmans et al, 2011).…”

Antibiotic-resistant bacteria inhibited by extracts and fractions from Brazilian marine sponges

“…Despite the high number of marine natural products discovered, none of them has yet led to an antibacterial product, but many are currently under investigation. Recently, some examples of substances with antibacterial activity, as manzamine A and psammaplin A, isolated from marine sponges were reviewed for our group (Laport et al, 2009).…”