Deep Water Polymastiidae (Porifera, Polymastiida) from the South West Pacific

This study reports on some deep water sponges in the family Polymastiidae collected during the 2017 Abyss Cruise off the East Coast of Australia and the 2003 NORFANZ Expedition to the Lord Howe and Norfolk Ridges in the Tasman Sea, Southwest Pacific Ocean. Species of Radiella, Spinularia, Ridleia, Tentorium and Polymastia were collected from abyssal and bathyal depths. From these collections, seven new species were discovered: Radiella nidula sp. nov., Radiella pumix sp. nov., Radiella sclera sp. nov., Spinularia flagellata sp. nov., Tentorium labium sp. nov., Ridleia echidna sp. nov. and Polymastia norfanzii sp. nov. In addition, two species previously known are redescribed based on the new collections: viz. Polymastia zitteli and Polymastia invaginata.

Revision of the genus Fascaplysinopsis, the type species Fascaplysinopsis reticulata (Hentschel, 1912) (Porifera, Dictyoceratida, Thorectidae) and descriptions of two new genera and seven new species

The present study examines the taxonomy of sponge specimens with unique chemistry collectively known as Fascaplysinopsis reticulata (Hentschel, 1912). Examination of Hentschels original species upon which the genus Fascaplysinopsis Bergquist, 1980 was based in conjunction with a comparison with recent Indo-west Pacific collections, using morphological and molecular analyses (ITS and 28S rDNA), revealed extensive variation. Fascaplysinopsis reticulata was found to be a species complex comprising the genus Fascaplysinopsis, as well as two new genera: Skolosachlys gen. nov. and Rubrafasciculus gen. nov. The new species of Fascaplysinopsis described are F. palauensis sp. nov., F. klobos sp. nov. and F. ronquinni sp. nov. The new species of Skolosachlys gen. nov. described herein are: S. enlutea sp. nov. and S. nidus sp. nov. The new species described of Rubrafasciculus gen. nov. includes: R. cerasus sp. nov. and R. fijiensis sp. nov..

First records of Hamacantha species from seamounts off eastern Australia (Porifera, Demospongiae, Merliida), with description of four new species

Four new species of encrusting Hamacantha (Vomerula) are described from bathyal depths of seamounts off Queensland and Tasmania in southeast Australia (H. (V.) novacula sp. nov., H. (V.) melliflura sp. nov., H. (V.) ridleyi sp. nov., H. (V.) levii sp. nov.). A previously described species known only from New Caledonia (H. (V.) acerata Lévi, 1993) has also been redescribed. A tabular comparison of all known species of H. (Vomerula) is provided, bringing the number of known species in the subgenus to 26. This is also the first record of the genus Hamacantha from the Australian Exclusive Economic Zone.

New carnivorous sponges from the Great Barrier Reef, Queensland, Australia collected by ROV from the RV FALKOR

This research presents three new species of carnivorous sponges from the family Cladorhizidae from the Great Barrier Reef, in Queensland, Australia: Abyssocladia falkor sp. nov., Abyssocladia jeanvaceleti sp. nov. and Axoniderma wanda sp. nov. They were collected by ROV during the expedition FK200802-Seamounts, Canyons & Reefs of the Coral Sea Cruise on the RV Falkor from the Schmidt Ocean Institute. In addition, the ROV collection of two complete specimens enabled the redescription of two other Australian species of carnivorous sponge (Chondrocladia (Chondrocladia) zygainadentonis Ekins et al., 2020a and Asbestopluma (Asbestopluma) maxisigma Ekins et al., 2020a), previously known from the East coast of Australia based on incomplete specimens.

α-Synuclein Aggregation Inhibitory Prunolides and a Dibrominated β-Carboline Sulfamate from the Ascidian Synoicum prunum

Seven new polyaromatic bis-spiroketal-containing butenolides, the prunolides D-I (4-9) and cis-prunolide C (10), a new dibrominated β-carboline sulfamate named pityriacitrin C (11), alongside the known prunolides A-C (1-3) were isolated from the Australian colonial ascidian Synoicum prunum. The prunolides D-G (4-7) represent the first asymmetrically brominated prunolides, while cis-prunolide C (10) is the first reported with a cis-configuration about the prunolide's bis-spiroketal core. The prunolides displayed binding activities with the Parkinson's disease-implicated amyloid protein α-synuclein in a mass spectrometry binding assay, while the prunolides (1-5 and 10) were found to significantly inhibit the aggregation (>89.0%) of α-synuclein in a ThT amyloid dye assay. The prunolides A-C (1-3) were also tested for inhibition of pSyn aggregate formation in a primary embryonic mouse midbrain dopamine neuron model with prunolide B (2) displaying statistically significant inhibitory activity at 0.5 μM. The antiplasmodial and antibacterial activities of the isolates were also examined with prunolide C (3) displaying only weak activity against the 3D7 parasite strain of Plasmodium falciparum. Our findings reported herein suggest that the prunolides could provide a novel scaffold for the exploration of future therapeutics aimed at inhibiting amyloid protein aggregation and the treatment of numerous neurodegenerative diseases.

Zootaxa 20 years: Phylum Porifera

The peer-reviewed journal Zootaxa has accelerated the rate of sponge (Porifera) species discoveries in 289 peer-reviewed papers published between 2002 up until the end of 2020, describing 725 new species, six new subspecies, 27 new genera, four new subgenera, and 123 new species and genus names needed to resolve existing homonyms. Zootaxa has been the most prolific of all taxonomic journals in its contributions to describing new taxa of Porifera in modern times. This present article analyses these taxonomic contributions over the past 20 years of Zootaxa, including their trends and highlights pertaining to sponge publications.

Tedaniophorbasins A and B-Novel Fluorescent Pteridine Alkaloids Incorporating a Thiomorpholine from the Sponge Tedaniophorbas ceratosis

Two new fluorescent pteridine alkaloids, tedaniophorbasins A (1) and B (2), together with the known alkaloid N-methyltryptamine, were isolated, through application of mass directed purification, from the sponge Tedaniophorbas ceratosis collected from northern New South Wales, Australia. The structures of tedaniophorbasins A and B were deduced from the analysis of 1D/2D NMR and MS data and through application of ¹³C NMR DFT calculations. Tedaniophorbasin A possesses a novel 2-imino-1,3-dimethyl-2,3,7,8-tetrahydro-1H-[1,4]thiazino[3,2-g]pteridin-4(6H)-one skeleton, while tedaniophorbasin B is its 2-oxo derivative. The compounds show significant Stokes shifts (~14,000 cm⁻¹) between excitation and emission wavelengths in their fluorescence spectra. The new compounds were tested for bioactivity against chloroquine-sensitive and chloroquine-resistant strains of the malaria parasite Plasmodium falciparum, breast and pancreatic cancer cell lines, and the protozoan parasite Trypanosoma brucei brucei but were inactive against all targets at 40 µM.

New carnivorous sponges and allied species from the Great Australian Bight

This research presents three new species of carnivorous sponges from the family Cladorhizidae from the Great Australian Bight, South Australia. This research also shows a clear separation within the species currently known as Cladorhiza into those with an arbuscular or tree-like morphology from the Atlantic, to those of differing morphologies and propose three new genera, i.e. Bathytentacular gen. nov., Abyssosdiskos gen. nov. and Nullarbora gen. nov. and the resurrection of an old genus Axoniderma. nov. The three new species described in this paper are Nullarbora heptaxia sp. nov., Abyssocladia oxyasters sp. nov. and Lycopodina hystrix sp. nov. A new species in the family Guitarridae, Guitarra davidconryi sp. nov., a family closely related to the carnivorous sponges is also described in this paper. These new species are the first recorded carnivorous species from South Australia and increase the number of species recorded from around Australia to 25.

Quorum Sensing Inhibitory and Antifouling Activities of New Bromotyrosine Metabolites from the Polynesian Sponge Pseudoceratina n. sp

Four new brominated tyrosine metabolites, aplyzanzines C-F (1-4), were isolated from the French Polynesian sponge Pseudoceratina n. sp., along with the two known 2-aminoimidazolic derivatives, purealidin A (5) and 6, previously isolated, respectively, from the sponges Psammaplysilla purpurea and Verongula sp. Their structures were assigned based on the interpretation of their NMR and HRMS data. The compounds exhibited quorum sensing inhibition (QSi) and antifouling activities against several strains of bacteria and microalgae. To our knowledge, the QSi activity of this type of bromotyrosine metabolite is described here for the first time.

Carnivorous sponges from the Australian Bathyal and Abyssal zones collected during the RV Investigator 2017 Expedition

This research presents 17 new species of carnivorous sponges from the family Cladorhizidae sampled at bathyal and abyssal depths off the east coast of Australia during the RV Investigator 2017 Abyss Expedition. The species are comprised of six genera: Abyssocladia escheri sp. nov., A. annae sp. nov., A. gliscofila sp. nov., Asbestopluma (Asbestopluma) maxisigma sp. nov., Cladorhiza australis nov. sp., C. poritea sp. nov., C. investigator sp. nov., C. moniqueae sp. nov., C. pentaeiros sp. nov., Chondrocladia (Chondrocladia) freycinetensis sp. nov., Ch. (Ch.) callistemonex sp. nov., Ch. (Ch.) zygainadentonis sp. nov., Lycopodina nikitawimandi sp. nov., L. helios sp. nov., L. cassida sp. nov., L. brochidodroma sp. nov. and Euchelipluma claudochela sp. nov. Only three carnivorous species, A. desmophora, As. (As.) desmophora and C. (Meliiderma) tasmaniensis, have been recorded from Australia previously. This expedition also recovered two described species commonly recorded from the Southern Hemisphere Ch. (Ch.) clavata and L. calyx. This paper also redescribes two species from the South Pacific i.e. C. mirabilis and C. similis.

Every sponge its own name: removing Porifera homonyms

The occurrence of different sponge species bearing the same Linnean binomial name combination, i.e. homonyms, is to be avoided for obvious reasons. In a review of sponge taxon names of the World Porifera Database, we detected 121 homonymic cases (115 species-group names, 6 genus-group names), involving a total of 272 nominal taxa. It is the object of the present study to remove their occurrence by proposing new names for the junior homonyms following the rules of the International Commission of Zoological Nomenclature as laid down in the Code (ICZN, 1999) and the on-line edition http://iczn.org/iczn/index.jsp . Homonym cases are discussed and, where applicable, junior homonyms are either replaced by nomina nova or reassigned to their earliest available synonyms. The order in which the homonyms are treated is alphabetical on original species name, with genus names separately treated at the end. A summary table with all proposed name changes is also presented to allow quick access to the junior homonyms and their proposed new names. A total of 116 nomina nova are proposed, including five new genus names.

Identification of Fromiamycalin and Halaminol A from Australian Marine Sponge Extracts with Anthelmintic Activity against Haemonchus contortus

There is an urgent need to discover and develop new anthelmintics for the treatment of parasitic nematodes of veterinary importance to circumvent challenges linked to drug resistant parasites. Being one of the most diverse natural ecosystems, the marine environment represents a rich resource of novel chemical entities. This study investigated 2000 extracts from marine invertebrates, collected from Australian waters, for anthelmintic activity. Using a well-established in vitro bioassay, these extracts were screened for nematocidal activity against Haemonchus contortus — a socioeconomically important parasitic nematode of livestock animals. Extracts (designated Mu-1, Ha-1 and Ha-2) from two marine sponges (Monanchora unguiculata and Haliclona sp.) each significantly affected larvae of H. contortus. Individual extracts displayed a dose-dependent inhibition of both the motility of exsheathed third-stage larvae (xL3s) and the development of xL3s to fourth-stage larvae (L4s). Active fractions in each of the three extracts were identified using bioassay-guided fractionation. From the active fractions from Monanchora unguiculata, a known pentacyclic guanidine alkaloid, fromiamycalin (1), was purified. This alkaloid was shown to be a moderately potent inhibitor of L4 development (half-maximum inhibitory concentration (IC₅₀) = 26.6 ± 0.74 µM) and L4 motility (IC₅₀ = 39.4 ± 4.83 µM), although it had a relatively low potency at inhibiting of xL3 motility (IC₅₀ ≥ 100 µM). Investigation of the active fractions from the two Haliclona collections led to identification of a mixture of amino alcohol lipids, and, subsequently, a known natural product halaminol A (5). Anthelmintic profiling showed that 5 had limited potency at inhibiting larval development and motility. These data indicate that fromiamycalin, other related pentacyclic guanidine alkaloids and/or halaminols could have potential as anthelmintics following future medicinal chemistry efforts.

Chemical Diversity and Biological Activities of Marine Sponges of the Genus Suberea: A Systematic Review

Marine natural products (MNPs) continue to be in the spotlight in the global drug discovery endeavor. Currently, more than 30,000 structurally diverse secondary metabolites from marine sources have been isolated, making MNPs a profound, renewable source to investigate novel drug compounds. Marine sponges of the genus Suberea (family: Aplysinellidae) are recognized as producers of bromotyrosine derivatives, which are considered distinct chemotaxonomic markers for the marine sponges belonging to the order Verongida. This class of compounds exhibits structural diversity, ranging from simple monomeric molecules to more complex molecular scaffolds, displaying a myriad of biological and pharmacological potentialities. In this review, a comprehensive literature survey covering the period of 1998–2018, focusing on the chemistry and biological/pharmacological activities of marine natural products from marine sponges of the genus Suberea, with special attention to the biogenesis of the different skeletons of halogenated compounds, is presented.

Identification of an aquaculture poriferan "Pest with Potential" and its phylogenetic implications

Correct identification and classification of sponges is challenging due to ambiguous or misleading morphological features. A particular case is a blue keratose sponge occasionally referred to as the “Blue Photo Sponge” among aquarists, which appears frequently (and in several cases unintended) in private aquaria. This spicule-less species, occasionally specified as Collospongia auris Bergquist, Cambie & Kernan 1990, not only displays a high phenotypic plasticity in growth form and colour, it also proliferates in aquacultures under standard conditions unlike most other sponges. Therefore, this species is regarded as a pest for most aquarists. In turn, the ease of cultivation and propagation in aquacultures qualifies this species as a model organism for a wide array of scientific applications. For these purposes, correct identification and classification are indispensable. We reconstructed ribosomal gene trees and determined this species as Lendenfeldia chondrodes (De Laubenfels, 1954) (Phyllospongiinae), distant to Collospongia auris, and corroborated by skeletal features. Additionally, the resulting phylogeny corroborated major shortcomings of the current Phyllospongiinae classification—its consequences are discussed.

Chemistry and Biological Activities of the Marine Sponges of the Genera Mycale (Arenochalina), Biemna and Clathria

Over the past seven decades, particularly since the discovery of the first marine-derived nucleosides, spongothymidine and spongouridine, from the Caribbean sponge Cryptotethya crypta in the early 1950s, marine natural products have emerged as unique, renewable and yet under-investigated pools for discovery of new drug leads with distinct structural features, and myriad interesting biological activities. Marine sponges are the most primitive and simplest multicellular animals, with approximately 8900 known described species, although more than 15,000 species are thought to exist worldwide today. These marine organisms potentially represent the richest pipeline for novel drug leads. Mycale (Arenochalina) and Clathria are recognized marine sponge genera belonging to the order Poecilosclerida, whereas Biemna was more recently reclassified, based on molecular genetics, as a new order Biemnida. Together, these sponge genera contribute to the production of physiologically active molecular entities with diverse structural features and a wide range of medicinal and therapeutic potentialities. In this review, we provide a comprehensive insight and up-to-date literature survey over the period of 1976⁻2018, focusing on the chemistry of the isolated compounds from members of these three genera, as well as their biological and pharmacological activities, whenever available.

Batzella, Crambe and Monanchora: Highly Prolific Marine Sponge Genera Yielding Compounds with Potential Applications for Cancer and Other Therapeutic Areas

Pyrroloquinoline and guanidine-derived alkaloids present distinct groups of marine secondary metabolites with structural diversity that displayed potentialities in biological research. A considerable number of these molecular architectures had been recorded from marine sponges belonging to different marine genera, including Batzella, Crambe, Monanchora, Clathria, Ptilocaulis and New Caledonian starfishes Fromia monilis and Celerina heffernani. In this review, we aim to comprehensively cover the chemodiversity and the bioactivities landmarks centered around the chemical constituents exclusively isolated from these three marine genera including Batzella, Crambe and Monanchora over the period 1981-2017, paying a special attention to the polycyclic guanidinic compounds and their proposed biomimetic landmarks. It is concluded that these marine sponge genera represent a rich source of novel compounds with potential applications for cancer and other therapeutic areas.

Merosesquiterpene Congeners from the Australian Sponge Hyrtios digitatus as Potential Drug Leads for Atherosclerosis Disease

A study of the chemical constituents from the Australian Sponge Hyrtios digitatus has provided a perspective on the connection between the chemistry and biology of the puupehenones, a unique and unusual class of merosesquiterpenes. In this study, a new tetracyclic merosesquiterpene, 19-methoxy-9,15-ene-puupehenol (1) was isolated from the marine sponge Hyrtios digitatus along with the known 20-methoxy-9,15-ene-puupehenol (2). Their structures were elucidated on the basis of spectroscopic data (¹H and ¹³C NMR) in combination with experimental electronic circular dichroism (ECD) data. Compounds 1 and 2 are active at 1.78 μM and 3.05 μM, respectively, on Scavenger Receptor-Class B Type 1 HepG2 (SR-B1 HepG2) stable cell lines, targeting atherosclerosis disease.

Cytotoxic Guanidine Alkaloids from a French Polynesian Monanchora n. sp. Sponge

Four bicyclic and three pentacyclic guanidine alkaloids (1-7) were isolated from a French Polynesian Monanchora n. sp. sponge, along with the known alkaloids monalidine A (8), enantiomers 9-11 of known natural product crambescins, and the known crambescidins 12-15. Structures were assigned by spectroscopic data interpretation. The relative and absolute configurations of the alkaloids were established by analysis of (1)H NMR and NOESY spectra and by circular dichroism analysis. The new norcrambescidic acid (7) corresponds to interesting biosynthetic variation within the pentacyclic core. All compounds exhibited antiproliferative and cytotoxic efficacy against KB, HCT116, HL60, MRC5, and B16F10 cancer cells, with IC50 values ranging from 4 nM to 10 μM.

A new species of lithistid sponge hiding within the Isabella mirabilis species complex (Porifera: Demospongiae: Tetractinellida) from seamounts of the Norfolk Ridge

A population level study of the lithistid ('rock') sponge, Isabella mirabilis, revealed a new species, Isabella tanoa sp. nov., living on five seamounts on the Norfolk Ridge, SW Pacific, and representing the third species to be discovered since the genus was first described in 2005. Comparisons between the three species showed significant differences in morphological characters that corresponded to differences in their respective CO1 barcoding sequences. Conversely, three of the four genotypes of Isabella mirabilis remain unresolved using morphological markers.

Chemical and Biological Aspects of Marine Sponges from the Family Mycalidae

Sponges are a useful source of bioactive natural products. Members of the family Mycalidae, in particular, have provided a variety of chemical structures including alkaloids, polyketides, terpene endoperoxides, peptides, and lipids. This review highlights the compounds isolated from Mycalid sponges and their associated biological activities. A diverse group of 190 compounds have been reported from over 40 specimens contained in 49 references. Over half of the studies have reported on the biological activities for the compounds isolated. The polyketides, in particular the macrolides, displayed potent cytotoxic activities (< 1 µM), and the alkaloids, in particular the 2,5-disubstituted pyrrole derivatives, were associated with moderate cytotoxic activities (1-20 µM). The pyrrole alkaloids and the cyclic peroxides appear to be phylogenetically restricted to sponges and thus might prove useful when applied to sponge taxonomy. The observed diversity of chemical structures suggests this family makes a good target for targeted biodiscovery projects.

Rhodocomatulin-Type Anthraquinones from the Australian Marine Invertebrates Clathria hirsuta and Comatula rotalaria

Chemical investigations of an Australian sponge, Clathria hirsuta, from the Great Barrier Reef, have resulted in the isolation of two known anthraquinones, rhodocomatulin 5,7-dimethyl ether (1) and rhodocomatulin 7-methyl ether (2). Additionally, four new anthraquinone metabolites, 6-methoxyrhodocomatulin 7-methyl ether, 3-bromo-6-methoxy-12-desethylrhodocomatulin 7-methyl ether, 3-bromo-6-methoxyrhodocomatulin 7-methyl ether, and 3-bromorhodocomatulin 7-methyl ether (3-6), were also isolated and characterized. This is the first report of the rhodocomatulin-type anthraquinones from a marine sponge, as 1 and 2 were previously isolated from the marine crinoid genus Comatula. An additional chemical investigation of the marine crinoid Comatula rotalaria enabled the isolation of further quantities of 1 and 2, as well as two additional new crinoid metabolites, 12-desethylrhodocomatulin 5,7-dimethyl ether and 12-desethylrhodocomatulin 7-methyl ether (7 and 8). An NMR spectroscopic analysis of compounds 7 and 8 provided further insight into the rhodocomatulin planar structure and, together with the successful implementation of DFT-NMR calculations, confirmed that the rhodocomatulin metabolites existed as para rather than ortho quinones.

A Grand Challenge: Unbiased Phenotypic Function of Metabolites from Jaspis splendens against Parkinson's Disease

A grand challenge in natural product chemistry is to determine the biological effects of all natural products. A phenotypic approach is frequently used for determining the activity of a compound and its potential impact on a disease state. Chemical investigation of a specimen of Jaspis splendens collected from the Great Barrier Reef resulted in the isolation of a new pterin derivative, jaspterin (1), a new bisindole alkaloid, splendamide (2), and a new imidazole alkaloid, jaspnin A (3) TFA salt. Jaspamycin (8) and 6-bromo-1H-indole-3-carboximidamide (16) are reported for the first time as naturally occurring metabolites. Known nucleosides (4-7, 9, 10), aglycones (11-13), indole alkaloids (14, 15, 17), and jaspamide peptides (18-22) were also isolated. The structures of the three new compounds 1-3 were unambiguously elucidated based on NMR and mass spectroscopic data. Jaspnin A (3) contained a rare thiomethylated imidazolinium unit. Coupling an unbiased phenotypic assay using a human olfactory neurosphere-derived cell model of Parkinson's disease to all of the natural products from the species J. splendens allowed the phenotypic profiles of the metabolites to be investigated.

Clathria (Thalysias) (Poecilosclerida: Demospongiae: Porifera) from Brazil: <br />New species and redescription of Clathria (Thalysias) basiarenacea (Boury-Esnault, 1973)

The subgenus Clathria (Thalysias) Duchassaing & Michelotti, 1864 has 97 valid species, of which 27 are recorded in the Atlantic Ocean. However, only three species are known from Brazil so far. Here we provide the redescription of Clathria (Thalysias) basiarenacea (Boury- Esnault, 1973), based on the discovery of new characters (additional category of auxiliary styles, and details of spicules), and describe a new species of Clathria (Thalysias) repens sp. nov., that differs from sister species in having a live orange color, a massively encrusting repent growth form with lamellate folds and anastomosed projections, and three categories of structural styles, of which the two auxiliary styles have microspined heads. We also invalidate the record of Clathria (Thalysias) procera (Ridley, 1884) for Brazil. 

Two new desma-less species of Theonella Gray, 1868 (Demospongiae: Astrophorida: Theonellidae), from the Great Barrier Reef, Australia,and a re-evaluation of one species assigned previously to Dercitus Gray, 1867

Extensive surveys of the biodiversity on the seafloor of the inter-reef regions of the Great Barrier Reef, Australia, have resulted in the collection of large numbers of sponges, many of which are likely new to science. Identification of these sponges, however, was made difficult by the absence in some specimens of key diagnostic characters, such as megascleres. We used an integrated approach to the taxonomy of these sponges, incorporating morphological examination by SEM, analysis of DNA sequence data (using the COI barcoding fragment of mtDNA) and preliminary studies of the chemistry of the sponges, to describe the new species, which were found to contain no native spicules other than acanthose microrhabds. Here, we propose two new species of Theonella Gray, 1868: Theonella deliqua n. sp. (found in association with a single unidentified species of siliquariid mollusc) and Theonella maricae n. sp. from the Great Barrier Reef. Further, we propose the new combination of Theonella xantha (Sutcliffe, Hooper and Pitcher 2010) n. comb. for another microrhabd-only-bearing species. On the basis of our gene trees, we recognise Theonella (and Theonellidae Lendenfeld, 1903) within Astrophorida Sollas, 1887. We discuss the potential for chemotaxonomic and DNA-based insights into the origins and radiation of species of Theonella and explore the evolutionary significance of the reduced morphology of the three additional species recognised here.

Potent cytotoxic peptides from the Australian marine sponge Pipestela candelabra

Two consecutive prefractionated fractions of the Australian marine sponge extract, Pipestela candelabra, were identified to be selectively active on the human prostate cancer cells (PC3) compared to the human neonatal foreskin fibroblast non-cancer cells (NFF). Twelve secondary metabolites were isolated in which four compounds are new small peptides. Their structures were characterized by spectroscopic and chemical analysis. These compounds inhibited selectively the growth of prostate cancer cells with IC50 values in the picomolar to sub-micromolar range. Structure-activity relationship of these compounds is discussed.

Aplysinellamides A-C, bromotyrosine-derived metabolites from an Australian Aplysinella sp. marine sponge

Mass-directed fractionation of an extract from the Australian marine sponge Aplysinella sp., from the Great Barrier Reef, resulted in the isolation of four new bromotyrosine derivatives, aplysinellamides A-C (1-3) and aplysamine-1-N-oxide (4), along with six known compounds (5-10). The structure elucidation of compounds 1-4 was based on their 1D and 2D NMR and MS spectroscopic data. Aplysamine-1 (6) increased the apolipoprotein E secretion from human CCF-STTG1 astrocytoma cells by 2-fold at the concentration of 30 μM.

NMR fingerprints of the drug-like natural-product space identify iotrochotazine A: a chemical probe to study Parkinson's disease

The NMR spectrum of a mixture of small molecules is a fingerprint of all of its components. Herein, we present an NMR fingerprint method that takes advantage of the fact that fractions contain simplified NMR profiles, with minimal signal overlap, to allow the identification of unique spectral patterns. The approach is exemplified in the identification of a novel natural product, iotrochotazine A (1), sourced from an Australian marine sponge Iotrochota sp. Compound 1 was used as a chemical probe in a phenotypic assay panel based on human olfactory neurosphere-derived cells (hONS) from idiopathic Parkinson’s disease patients. Compound 1 at 1 μm was not cytotoxic but specifically affected the morphology and cellular distribution of lysosomes and early endosomes.

Trikentramides A-D, indole alkaloids from the Australian sponge Trikentrion flabelliforme

Chemical investigations of two specimens of Trikentrion flabelliforme collected from Australian waters have resulted in the identification of four new indole alkaloids, trikentramides A-D (9-12). The planar chemical structures for 9-12 were established following analysis of 1D/2D NMR and MS data. The relative configurations for 9-12 were determined following the comparison of (1)H NMR data with data previously reported for related natural products. The application of a quantum mechanical modeling method, density functional theory, confirmed the relative configurations and also validated the downfield carbon chemical shift observed for one of the quaternary carbons (C-5a) in the cyclopenta[g]indole series. The indole-2,3-dione motif present in trikentramides A-C is rare in nature, and this is the first report of these oxidized indole derivatives from a marine sponge.

Cyclic Peroxides from a Two-Sponge Association of Plakortis communis-Agelas mauritiana

A cyclic peroxide 1 with an unusual phenethenyl side chain, together with the known peroxide 2 with a C4-sidechain have been isolated from a two-sponge association of Plakortis communis – Agelas mauritiana (Carter, 1883) collected near Mooloolaba, South-East Queensland, Australia. Metabolite purification was complicated by the presence of the free carboxylic acid groups in 1 and 2; therefore, diazomethane treatment was undertaken to afford methyl ester 3. Following RP-HPLC purification, the ring-opened analogues 4 and 5 were also obtained. The structures of the new compounds were elucidated on the basis of their 1D and 2D NMR and MS data, and by comparison with literature data. The relative configuration of the isolated peroxides was determined by the interpretation of JH-H values and comparison of the 13C chemical shift data with literature data for related compounds. The bromopyrrole alkaloid longamide (6) was also isolated.

Managing and sharing the escalating number of sponge "unknowns": the SpongeMaps project

Contemporary collections of sponges in the Indo-west Pacific have escalated substantially due to pharmaceutical discovery, national bioregional planning, and compliance with international conventions on the seabed and its marine genetic resources beyond national jurisdictions. These partially processed operational taxonomic unit (OTU) collections now vastly outweigh the expertise available to make them better "known" via complete taxonomy, yet for many bioregions they represent the most significant body of currently available knowledge. Increasing numbers of cryptic species, previously undetected morphologically, are now being discovered by molecular and chemical analyses. The uncoordinated and fragmented nature of many previous collections, however, means that knowledge and expertise gained from a particular project are often lost to future projects without a biodiversity informatics legacy. Integrating these diverse data (GIS; OTUs; images; molecular, chemical, and other datasets) required a two-way iterative process so far unavailable for sponges with existing biodiversity informatics tools. SpongeMaps arose from the initial need for online collaboration to integrate morphometric data with molecular barcodes, including the Porifera Tree of Life (PorTol) project. It provides interrogation of existing data to better process new collections; capacity to create new OTUs; publication of online pages for individual species, so as to interpret GIS and other data for online biodiversity databases and services; and automatic links to external datasets for taxonomic hierarchy, specimen GIS and mapping, DNA sequence data, chemical structures, and images.

Bromotyrosine alkaloids from the Australian marine sponge Pseudoceratina verrucosa

Two new bromotyrosine alkaloids, pseudoceralidinone A (1) and aplysamine 7 (2), along with three known compounds were isolated from the Australian sponge Pseudoceratina verrucosa. Their structures were characterized by NMR and MS data and the synthetic route. Their cytotoxicity was evaluated against cancer cell lines (HeLa and PC3) and a noncancer cell line (NFF).

Isolation and structures of axistatins 1-3 from the Republic of Palau marine sponge Agelas axifera Hentschel

An investigation begun in 1979 directed at the Republic of Palau marine sponge Agelas axifera Hentschel for cancer cell growth inhibitory constituents subsequently led to the isolation of three new pyrimidine diterpenes designated axistatins 1 (1), 2 (2), and 3 (3), together with the previously reported formamides 4, 5, and agelasine F (6). The structures were elucidated by analysis of 2D-NMR spectra and by HRMS. All of the isolated compounds were found to be moderate inhibitors of cancer cell growth. Axistatins 1-3 (1-3), formamide 4, and agelasine F (6) also exhibited antimicrobial activity.

New antiplasmodial bromotyrosine derivatives from Suberea ianthelliformis Lendenfeld, 1888

Four samples of Suberea ianthelliformis were investigated and furnished five new and 13 known brominated tyrosine-derived compounds. Two of the new compounds were identified as araplysillin N20-formamide and its N-oxide derivative. Three other new compounds, araplysillins IV, V, and VI, were isolated and identified as analogs of araplysillin II. Most of these compounds exhibit moderate inhibitory activities against chloroquine-resistant and -sensitive strains of Plasmodium falciparum, and were investigated for their PFTase inhibitory properties. The chemical content of the investigated sponges is correlated with their molecular phylogeny.

Note of clarification about: Oxygenated Terpenoids from the Australian Sponges Coscinoderma matthewsi and Dysidea sp., and the Nudibranch Chromodoris albopunctata [vol. 65, pp. 531–538]

The isolation and structure elucidation of seven new oxygenated terpenoids and eight known terpene metabolites from marine invertebrates collected at the Inner Gneerings Reef, South East Queensland, is discussed. Investigation of the sponge Coscinoderma matthewsi yielded an epoxylactone derivative (1) of the known furanoterpene tetradehydrofurospongin-1 (2). A chemical investigation of the dissected nudibranch Chromodoris albopunctata provided the new oxygenated diterpenes 12?-acetoxyspongian-16-one (10), 20-acetoxyspongian-16-one (12), 20-oxyspongian-16-one propionate (13) and 12?,20-dioxyspongian-16-one dipropionate (14) in conjunction with three other known diterpene metabolites, while two new chromodorolides, D (17) and E (18), in addition to four known diterpenes were isolated from a Dysidea sp.

Cytotoxic cyclic depsipeptides from the Australian marine sponge Neamphius huxleyi

Three new cyclic depsipeptides, neamphamides B (2), C (3), and D (4), were isolated from the Australian sponge Neamphius huxleyi. The planar structural characterization of these molecules was elucidated using 2D NMR experiments and ESI-FTICR-MS(n). Their configurations were determined by Marfey's method and J-based NMR analysis. These new metabolites inhibited the growth of human cell lines (A549, HeLa, LNCaP, PC3, and NFF) with IC(50) values ranging from 88 to 370 nM. However, neamphamide D causes A549 cell proliferation at subcytotoxic doses and should be treated cautiously as a cytotoxic compound.

Barcoding sponges: an overview based on comprehensive sampling

Background

Phylum Porifera includes ∼8,500 valid species distributed world-wide in aquatic ecosystems ranging from ephemeral fresh-water bodies to coastal environments and the deep-sea. The taxonomy and systematics of sponges is complicated, and morphological identification can be both time consuming and erroneous due to phenotypic convergence and secondary losses, etc. DNA barcoding can provide sponge biologists with a simple and rapid method for the identification of samples of unknown taxonomic membership. The Sponge Barcoding Project (www.spongebarcoding.org), the first initiative to barcode a non-bilaterian metazoan phylum, aims to provide a comprehensive DNA barcode database for Phylum Porifera.

Methodology/Principal Findings

∼7,400 sponge specimens have been extracted, and amplification of the standard COI barcoding fragment has been attempted for approximately 3,300 museum samples with ∼25% mean amplification success. Based on this comprehensive sampling, we present the first report on the workflow and progress of the sponge barcoding project, and discuss some common pitfalls inherent to the barcoding of sponges.

Conclusion

A DNA-barcoding workflow capable of processing potentially large sponge collections has been developed and is routinely used for the Sponge Barcoding Project with success. Sponge specific problems such as the frequent co-amplification of non-target organisms have been detected and potential solutions are currently under development. The initial success of this innovative project have already demonstrated considerable refinement of sponge systematics, evaluating morphometric character importance, geographic phenotypic variability, and the utility of the standard barcoding fragment for Porifera (despite its conserved evolution within this basal metazoan phylum).

Global diversity of sponges (Porifera)

With the completion of a single unified classification, the Systema Porifera (SP) and subsequent development of an online species database, the World Porifera Database (WPD), we are now equipped to provide a first comprehensive picture of the global biodiversity of the Porifera. An introductory overview of the four classes of the Porifera is followed by a description of the structure of our main source of data for this paper, the WPD. From this we extracted numbers of all 'known' sponges to date: the number of valid Recent sponges is established at 8,553, with the vast majority, 83%, belonging to the class Demospongiae. We also mapped for the first time the species richness of a comprehensive set of marine ecoregions of the world, data also extracted from the WPD. Perhaps not surprisingly, these distributions appear to show a strong bias towards collection and taxonomy efforts. Only when species richness is accumulated into large marine realms does a pattern emerge that is also recognized in many other marine animal groups: high numbers in tropical regions, lesser numbers in the colder parts of the world oceans. Preliminary similarity analysis of a matrix of species and marine ecoregions extracted from the WPD failed to yield a consistent hierarchical pattern of ecoregions into marine provinces. Global sponge diversity information is mostly generated in regional projects and resources: results obtained demonstrate that regional approaches to analytical biogeography are at present more likely to achieve insights into the biogeographic history of sponges than a global perspective, which appears currently too ambitious. We also review information on invasive sponges that might well have some influence on distribution patterns of the future.

Oxygenated Terpenoids from the Australian Sponges Coscinoderma matthewsi and Dysidea sp., and the Nudibranch Chromodoris albopunctata

The isolation and structure elucidation of seven new oxygenated terpenoids and eight known terpene metabolites from marine invertebrates collected at the Inner Gneerings Reef, South East Queensland, is discussed. Investigation of the sponge Coscinoderma matthewsi yielded an epoxylactone derivative (1) of the known furanoterpene tetradehydrofurospongin-1 (2). A chemical investigation of the dissected nudibranch Chromodoris albopunctata provided the new oxygenated diterpenes 12α-acetoxyspongian-16-one (10), 20-acetoxyspongian-16-one (12), 20-oxyspongian-16-one propionate (13) and 12α,20-dioxyspongian-16-one dipropionate (14) in conjunction with three other known diterpene metabolites, while two new chromodorolides, D (17) and E (18), in addition to four known diterpenes were isolated from a Dysidea sp.

Diversity and distribution of the bioactive actinobacterial genus Salinispora from sponges along the Great Barrier Reef

Isolates from the marine actinobacterial genus Salinispora were cultured from marine sponges collected from along the length of the Great Barrier Reef (GBR), Queensland, Australia. Strains of two species of Salinispora, Salinispora arenicola and "Salinispora pacifica", were isolated from GBR sponges Dercitus xanthus, Cinachyrella australiensis and Hyattella intestinalis. Phylogenetic analysis of the 16S rRNA gene sequences of representative strains, selected via BOX-PCR screening, identified previously unreported phylotypes of the species "S. pacifica". The classification of these microdiverse 16S rRNA groups was further confirmed by analysis of the ribonuclease P RNA (RNase P RNA) gene through both phylogenetic and secondary structure analysis. The use of RNase P RNA sequences combined with 16S rRNA sequences allowed distinction of six new intraspecies phylotypes of "S. pacifica" within the geographical area of the GBR alone. One of these new phylotypes possessed a localised regional distribution within the GBR.

Configurational assignment of cyclic peroxy metabolites provides an insight into their biosynthesis: isolation of plakortolides, seco-plakortolides, and plakortones from the Australian marine sponge Plakinastrella clathrata

Sixteen new compounds, comprising nine new plakortolides K-S (1-9), four seco-plakortolides (10-13), and three plakortones (14-16), were isolated from the Australian sponge Plakinastrella clathrata. Structural elucidation, including relative configurational assignment, was based on extensive spectroscopic analysis, while the absolute configurations of 1-4 were deduced from (1)H NMR analyses on MPA esters derived from Zn/AcOH reduction products. Diastereomeric sets of plakortolides, e.g., K and L, or M and N, differed in configuration at C-3/C-4 rather than at C-6, a stereochemical result that compromises a biosynthetic pathway involving Diels-Alder cycloaddition of molecular oxygen to a Δ(3,5)-diunsaturated fatty acid precursor. The biosynthesis may plausibly involve cyclization of a 6-hydroperoxydienoic acid intermediate following stereospecific introduction of the hydroperoxy group into a polyketide-derived precursor. Isolated seco-plakortolides converted under mild conditions into plakortones with full retention of configuration, suggesting C-6 hydroxy attack on an α,β-unsaturated lactone intermediate. The NMR data reported for the compound named plakortolide E are inconsistent with the current literature structure and are those of the corresponding seco-plakortolide (19). The reported conversion of the metabolite into a plakortone ether on storage is consistent with this structural revision.

Mirabamides E-H, HIV-inhibitory depsipeptides from the sponge Stelletta clavosa

Four new depsipeptides, mirabamides E-H (1-4), and the known depsipeptide mirabamide C (5) have been isolated from the sponge Stelletta clavosa, collected from the Torres Strait. The planar structures were determined on the basis of extensive 1D and 2D NMR and HRESIMS. The absolute configurations were established by the advanced Marfey's method, NMR, and GC-MS. The four new compounds all showed strong inhibition of HIV-1 in a neutralization assay with IC(50) values of 121, 62, 68, and 41 nM, respectively.

Two Ring-A-Aromatized Bile Acids from the Marine SpongeSollasella Moretonensis

Two ring-A-aromatized bile acids, 1 and 2, were isolated from the sponge Sollasella moretonensis, collected from the seabed of northern Queensland. Structures were assigned on the basis of extensive 1D and 2D NMR studies, as well as analysis by HRESIMS. Compound 2 has previously been produced synthetically, though this marks its first isolation from a natural source.

Two ring-A-aromatized bile acids from the marine sponge Sollasella moretonensis

Two ring-A-aromatized bile acids, 1 and 2, were isolated from the sponge Sollasella moretonensis, collected from the seabed of northern Queensland. Structures were assigned on the basis of extensive 1D and 2D NMR studies, as well as analysis by HRESIMS. Compound 2 has previously been produced synthetically, though this marks its first isolation from a natural source.

Mutremdamide A and koshikamides C-H, peptide inhibitors of HIV-1 entry from different Theonella species

A new sulfated cyclic depsipeptide, termed mutremdamide A, and six new highly N-methylated peptides, termed koshikamides C-H, were isolated from different deep-water specimens of Theonella swinhoei and Theonella cupola. Their structures were determined using extensive 2D NMR, ESI, or CDESI and QTOF-MS/MS experiments and absolute configurations established by quantum mechanical calculations, advanced Marfey's method, and chiral HPLC. Mutremdamide A displays a rare 2-amino-3-(2-hydroxyphenyl)propanoic acid and a new N(delta)-carbamoyl-beta-sulfated asparagine. Koshikamides C-E are linear undecapeptides, and koshikamides F-H are 17-residue depsipeptides containing a 10-residue macrolactone. Koshikamides F and G differ from B and H in part by the presence of the conjugated unit 2-(3-amino-5-oxopyrrolidin-2-ylidene)propanoic acid. Cyclic koshikamides F and H inhibited HIV-1 entry at low micromolar concentrations while their linear counterparts were inactive. The Theonella collections studied here are distinguished by co-occurrence of mutremdamide A, koshikamides, and theonellamides, the combination of which appears to define a new Theonella chemotype that can be found in deeper waters.