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Isolation and Analysis of Bacteria with Antimicrobial Activities from the Marine Sponge Haliclona simulans Collected from Irish Waters

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Abstract

Samples of the marine sponge Haliclona simulans were collected from Irish coastal waters, and bacteria were isolated from these samples. Phylogenetic analyses of the cultured isolates showed that four different bacterial phyla were represented; Bacteriodetes, Actinobacteria, Proteobacteria, and Firmicutes. The sponge bacterial isolates were assayed for the production of antimicrobial substances, and biological activities against Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria and fungi were demonstrated, with 50% of isolates showing antimicrobial activity against at least one of the test strains. Further testing showed that the antimicrobial activities extended to the important pathogens Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Clostridium difficile, multi-drug-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, and pathogenic yeast strains. The Actinomycetes were numerically the most abundant producers of antimicrobial activities, although activities were also noted from Bacilli and Pseudovibrio isolates. Surveys for the presence of potential antibiotic encoding polyketide synthase and nonribosomal peptide synthetase genes also revealed that genes for the biosynthesis of these secondary metabolites were present in most bacterial phyla but were particularly prevalent among the Actinobacteria and Proteobacteria. This study demonstrates that the culturable fraction of bacteria from the sponge H. simulans is diverse and appears to possess much potential as a source for the discovery of new medically relevant biological active agents.

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Acknowledgments

JK, PB, and MJM are in receipt of Marie Curie Transfer of Knowledge Host Fellowships; [grant no. MTKD-CT-2006-042062]. This project was funded by the Irish Marine Institute under the Strategic Marine Biodiscovery RTDI Programme and by the Marine Biodiscovery Research Award funded by the Irish Government under the National Development Plan (2007–2013). We thank Dr Grace McCormack from the National University of Ireland, Galway, for the H. simulans sponge samples.

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Author notes

  1. Julian R. Marchesi

    Present address: School of Biosciences, Cardiff University, Museum Avenue, Cardiff, UK

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Environmental Research Institute, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland

    Jonathan Kennedy, Paul Baker & Alan D. W. Dobson

  2. Department of Microbiology, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland

    Clare Piper, Paul D. Cotter, Marcella Walsh, Colin Hill, Fergal O’Gara, Julian R. Marchesi & Alan D. W. Dobson

  3. BIOMERIT Research Centre, Department of Microbiology, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland

    Marlies J. Mooij, Marie B. Bourke & Fergal O’Gara

  4. Teagasc, Moorepark Food Research Centre, Fermoy Co, Cork, Ireland

    Mary C. Rea, Paula M. O’Connor & R. Paul Ross

  5. Alimentary Pharmabiotic Centre, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland

    Mary C. Rea, Paula M. O’Connor, R. Paul Ross, Colin Hill & Julian R. Marchesi

  6. Environmental Research Institute and Microbiology Department, University College Cork, National University of Ireland Cork, Lee Road, Cork, Ireland

    Alan D. W. Dobson

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Correspondence to Alan D. W. Dobson.

Additional information

DNA sequences have been deposited at GenBank and have been given the following accession numbers EU768811–EU768843.

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Kennedy, J., Baker, P., Piper, C. et al. Isolation and Analysis of Bacteria with Antimicrobial Activities from the Marine Sponge Haliclona simulans Collected from Irish Waters. Mar Biotechnol 11, 384–396 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10126-008-9154-1

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