Microbial diversity associated with South African marine Latrunculid sponges. sponge metagenome

This study investigates the microbial communities associated with indigenous Latrunculid sponges found in South African coastal waters. The study aims to identify dominant bacteria associated with the Latrunculid sponges in order to assess the possible interactions between sponge hosts and their harboured symbionts. Latrunculid sponges are well known producers of secondary metabolites including discorhabdins, makaluvamines and tsitsikammamines which have anti-cancer, anti-microbial and anti-malarial activity. Associated microbial symbionts may aid in, or be responsible for the production of these secondary metabolites.

本研究聚焦南非沿海水域中本土分布的拉顿海绵（Latrunculid）相关微生物群落，旨在明确与该类海绵共生的优势细菌类群，进而评估海绵宿主与其携带的共生菌之间潜在的相互作用。拉顿海绵作为一类知名的次级代谢产物生产者，可合成discorhabdins、makaluvamines与tsitsikammamines等物质，这些产物均具备抗肿瘤、抗微生物及抗疟活性。与之共生的微生物类群可能参与甚至主导这些次级代谢产物的生物合成过程。