Microbial diversity associated with South African marine Latrunculid sponges

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.