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Identification of Sponge-Associated Bacteria From the Coast of Kuwait and Their Potential Biotechnological Applications.

ABSTRACT: Sponges are among the most ancient animals harboring complex microbial communities with potential applications in biotechnology. The Arabian Gulf is a thermally stressed enclosed body of water located in an arid region where sponges and their halobionts are understudied. This study combined 16S rRNA next-generation gene amplicon sequencing and cultivation techniques to explore the abundance and diversity of sponge-associated bacteria. Culture-independent techniques showed the associations of more than 25 bacterial phyla with Amphimedon sp., Chondrilla australiensis, Haliclona sp., and Niphates spp. Regarding cultivable bacteria, 315 bacterial isolates associated with the sponge Haliclona sp. were cultivated; these isolates were affiliated with the phyla Proteobacteria and Firmicutes and were distributed among six bacterial genera. Selected strains of Bacillus, Ferrimonas, Pseudovibrio, Shewanella, Spongiobacter, and Vibrio were tested for antimicrobial activity against indicator microorganisms and protease enzyme production. Seven Bacillus strains exhibited weak to moderate growth inhibition against Bacillus subtilis, Staphylococcus aureus, and Candida albicans. Furthermore, 29 different strains of Bacillus, Ferrimonas, Shewanella, and Vibrio exhibited different degrees of positive protease activity. In addition, cultivated strains of Bacillus, Shewanella, Pseudovibrio, and Vibrio were tested for their biomineralization abilities. Herein we report for the first time the isolation of biomineralizing bacteria from sponge tissue where eleven bacterial isolates produced different shapes of calcium carbonate crystals on agar. Our observations shed light on the diversity and biotechnological potentials of sponges-associated bacteria inhabiting one of the world's hottest seas.

SUBMITTER: Abbas S

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9289682 | biostudies-literature |

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Project description:Four sponge-associated Antarctic bacteria (i.e., Winogradskyella sp. strains CAL384 and CAL396, Colwellia sp. strain GW185, and Shewanella sp. strain CAL606) were selected for the highly mucous appearance of their colonies on agar plates. The production of extracellular polymeric substances (EPSs) was enhanced by a step-by-step approach, varying the carbon source, substrate and NaCl concentrations, temperature, and pH. The EPSs produced under optimal conditions were chemically characterized, resulting in a moderate carbohydrate content (range, 15 to 28%) and the presence of proteins (range, 3 to 24%) and uronic acids (range, 3.2 to 11.9%). Chemical hydrolysis of the carbohydrate portion revealed galactose, glucose, galactosamine, and mannose as the principal constituents. The potential biotechnological applications of the EPSs were also investigated. The high protein content in the EPSs from Winogradskyella sp. CAL384 was probably responsible for the excellent emulsifying activity toward tested hydrocarbons, with a stable emulsification index (E24) higher than those recorded for synthetic surfactants. All the EPSs tested in this work improved the freeze-thaw survival ratio of the isolates, suggesting that they may be exploited as cryoprotection agents. The addition of a sugar in the culture medium, by stimulating EPS production, also allowed isolates to grow in the presence of higher concentrations of mercury and cadmium. This finding was probably dependent on the presence of uronic acids and sulfate groups, which can act as ligands for cations, in the extracted EPSs.IMPORTANCE To date, biological matrices have never been employed for the investigation of EPS production by Antarctic psychrotolerant marine bacteria. The biotechnological potential of extracellular polymeric substances produced by Antarctic bacteria is very broad and comprises many advantages, due to their biodegradability, high selectivity, and specific action compared to synthetic molecules. Here, several interesting EPS properties have been highlighted, such as emulsifying activity, cryoprotection, biofilm formation, and heavy metal chelation, suggesting their potential applications in cosmetic, environmental, and food biotechnological fields as valid alternatives to the commercial polymers currently used.

Project description:The wide rocky coastline of the Antofagasta hosts an intertidal ecosystem in which the species that inhabit it are routinely exposed to a wide range of physical and chemical conditions and have therefore evolved to tolerate extremes. In the search for new species of potential biotechnological interest with adaptations to a wide range of environmental conditions, the isolation and characterization of microalgae from these ecosystems is of great interest. Here, a new microalgal strain, Tetraselmis marina AC16-MESO, is described, which was isolated from a biofilm collected on the intertidal rocks of the Antofagasta coast (23°36'57.2″ S, 70°23'33.8″ W). In addition to the morphological characterization, 18S and ITS sequence as well as ITS-2 secondary structure analysis revealed an identity of 99.76% and 100% with the species Tetraselmis marina, respectively. The analyses of the culture characteristics and biochemical content showed similarities with other strains that are frequently used in aquaculture, such as the species Tetraselmis suecica. In addition, it is tolerant of a wide range of salinities, thus allowing its culture in water of varying quality. On the other hand, added to these characteristics, the results of the improvement of the lipid content in stressful situations of salinity observed in this study, together with other antecedents such as the potential in bioremediation already published for this strain by the same research group, present a clear example of its biotechnological plasticity. It is noteworthy that this strain, due to its characteristics, allows easy collection of its biomass by decantation and, therefore, a more cost-efficient harvesting than for other microalgal strains. Therefore, this new strain of Tetraselmis marina, first report of this species in Chile, and its morphologically, molecularly and biochemically description, presents promising characteristics for its use in biotechnology and as feed for aquaculture.

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Identification of Sponge-Associated Bacteria From the Coast of Kuwait and Their Potential Biotechnological Applications.

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