Sponge holobionts shift their prokaryotic communities and antimicrobial activity from shallow to lower mesophotic depths

In this study, we used 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing to investigate prokaryotic community composition of the Caribbean sponges Xestospongia muta and Agelas sventres from three depth ranges: < 30 m (shallow), 30–60 m (upper mesophotic), and 60–90 m (lower mesophotic). The prokaryotic community in shallow samples of X. muta was enriched in Cyanobacteria, Chloroflexota, and Crenarchaeota compared to samples from mesophotic depths, while mesophotic samples of X. muta were enriched in Acidobacteriota. For A. sventres, relative abundance of Acidobacteriota, Chloroflexota, and Gammaproteobacteria was higher in shallow samples, while Proteobacteria and Crenarchaeota were enriched in mesophotic A. sventres samples. Antimicrobial activity was evaluated by screening crude extracts of sponges against a set of Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria, a yeast, and an oomycete. Antibacterial activities from crude extracts of shallow sponge individuals were generally higher than observed from mesophotic individuals, that showed limited or no antibacterial activities. Conversely, the highest anti-oomycete activity was found from crude extracts of X. muta individuals from lower mesophotic depth, but without a clear pattern across the depth gradient. These results indicate that sponge-associated prokaryotic communities and the antimicrobial activity of sponges change within species across a depth gradient from shallow to mesophotic depth.

Pelatihan Pembuatan Yoghurt dan Pemasaran Online Pada Kelompok PKK Banjar Tohpati Desa Kesiman Kertalangu Denpasar

Kelompok ibu PKK Banjar Tohpati merupakan organisasi wanita yang menjadi bagian Desa Kesiman Kertalangu. Terjadinya pandemi COVID-19 telah memberikan dampak yang signifikan bagi masyarakat Bali termasuk bagi kelompok ibu PKK Banjar Tohpati khususnya dari segi kesehatan dan ekonomi. Berdasarkan hasil diskusi, mitra ingin memiliki pengetahuan tentang cara pembuatan makanan sehat yang murah dan mudah serta memiliki kandungan gizi yang tinggi untuk menjaga imunitas selama masa pandemi COVID-19. Mitra juga mengharapkan makanan yang dibuat dapat memberikan manfaat ekonomi bagi mitra. Berdasarkan permasalahan mitra ini dan hasil diskusi disepakati untuk melakukan pemberdayaan kelompok ibu PKK Banjar Tohpati untuk membuat yoghurt sebagai panganan sehat karena telah terbukti secara ilmiah memberikan manfaat kesehatan dan cukup mudah dibuat. Selain itu, yoghurt dapat menjadi produk yang dapat dipasarkan dan memberikan manfaat ekonomi bagi mitra. Metode yang digunakan dalam PKM ini adalah focus group discussion melalui pemaparan tentang konsep gizi sehat disertai dengan pelatihan pembuatan yoghurt. Mitra mendapatkan penyuluhan dari sisi ekonomi tentang cara membuat memasarkan produk dengan metode promosi online. Pengusul telah memfasilitasi mitra dengan alat dan bahan pembuatan yoghurt sebagai modal awal untuk memulai usaha dan bantuan hidup dasar untuk meringankan dampak pandemi COVID-19. Hasil evaluasi pre dan post test menunjukkan peningkatan nilai sebesar 38 point atau 44.2%. Hal ini mengindikasikan bahwa mitra paham akan konsep gizi sehat dan pemasaran online. Hasil monitoring dan evaluasi menunjukkan mitra sudah mampu secara mandiri membuat prodiuk yoghurtnya sendiri dan sudah memasarkan dilingkungan tempat tinggal mereka. Mitra juga mampu memasarkan yoghurt menggunakan media sosial seperti WhatsApp dan Facebook.

Bioprospecting Sponge-Associated Microbes for Antimicrobial Compounds

Sponges are the most prolific marine organisms with respect to their arsenal of bioactive compounds including antimicrobials. However, the majority of these substances are probably not produced by the sponge itself, but rather by bacteria or fungi that are associated with their host. This review for the first time provides a comprehensive overview of antimicrobial compounds that are known to be produced by sponge-associated microbes. We discuss the current state-of-the-art by grouping the bioactive compounds produced by sponge-associated microorganisms in four categories: antiviral, antibacterial, antifungal and antiprotozoal compounds. Based on in vitro activity tests, identified targets of potent antimicrobial substances derived from sponge-associated microbes include: human immunodeficiency virus 1 (HIV-1) (2-undecyl-4-quinolone, sorbicillactone A and chartarutine B); influenza A (H1N1) virus (truncateol M); nosocomial Gram positive bacteria (thiopeptide YM-266183, YM-266184, mayamycin and kocurin); Escherichia coli (sydonic acid), Chlamydia trachomatis (naphthacene glycoside SF2446A2); Plasmodium spp. (manzamine A and quinolone 1); Leishmania donovani (manzamine A and valinomycin); Trypanosoma brucei (valinomycin and staurosporine); Candida albicans and dermatophytic fungi (saadamycin, 5,7-dimethoxy-4-p-methoxylphenylcoumarin and YM-202204). Thirty-five bacterial and 12 fungal genera associated with sponges that produce antimicrobials were identified, with Streptomyces, Pseudovibrio, Bacillus, Aspergillus and Penicillium as the prominent producers of antimicrobial compounds. Furthemore culture-independent approaches to more comprehensively exploit the genetic richness of antimicrobial compound-producing pathways from sponge-associated bacteria are addressed.