In Situ Mariculture for Cultivating Bioactive Compound Producing Sponges
Walter Balansa, Stevy Imelda Wodi, Frans G. Ijong, Deidy Azhari, Aprelia Tomasoa, Frets J. Rieuwpassa
Politeknik Negeri Nusa Utara
Abstract
Marine sponges represent an important source of bioactive molecules with antibiotic, anticancer, antimalarial, antiaging and anti-HIV activities, to name but a few. However the scarcity of bioactive compounds found in sponges remains a bottleneck in marine drug discovery program, hampering research and development as well as posing a serious threat to marine environment due to an excessive harvest of marine sponges. To tackle the supply and environmental issues, we focus our study on in situ cultivation of 15 sponges from Enepahembang Tahuna, North Sulawesi, Indonesia. The sponges were individually placed on a concrete substrate installed on a PVC (Polyvinyl chloride) module and monitored periodically for 12 months. Cultivation efficiency was evaluated by growth rate, survival rate and antibiotic activity particularly for antimicrobially active sponges. While the total survival rate was 67%, growth rate varied between 18% and 97% with Clathria reinwardti, Acanthostrongylophora ingens, Asteropus sarassinorum showing the highest growth rate. Although they were inactive against our test bacteria, C.renewardti has been known for its ability to biocumulate heavy metal, A. Sarassinorum as the source of the glycosides with antitumor, antifungal and/or antiprotozoan activities dan A. ingens as the antimalarial manzamine producer. In addition, antimicrobial evaluation revealed a striking similarity of antimicrobial profiles between the cultivated and wild sponges. Together, they suggest the importance of in situ mariculture for supplying bioactive compounds and for implementing enviromentally friendly drug discovery program.
Keywords: Antibiotics, sponges, bioactive compounds, growth rate, survival rate, in situ mariculture
Topic: Agriculture Engineering and Biotechnology