Microbial Bioactives

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Microbial Bioactives

Volume 4 Number 1 2021

Article Contents

REVIEWS   (Open Access)
Contents Vol 4 (1)

Marine Sponge Microbiomes in Drug Discovery: Bioactive Secondary Metabolites, Symbiosis, Biosynthetic Gene Clusters, and Biotechnological Opportunities

Abstract 1. Introduction 2. Materials and Methods 3. Results 4. Discussion 5. Limitations 6. Conclusion References

V Vasanthabharathi 1 *, S Jayalakshmi 1

+ Author Affiliations

Microbial Bioactives 4 (1) 1-8 https://doi.org/10.25163/microbbioacts.4110712

Submitted: 22 March 2021 Revised: 18 May 2021  Accepted: 25 May 2021  Published: 27 May 2021 

Abstract

Marine sponges are among the oldest multicellular organisms on Earth and have evolved intimate, stable associations with diverse microbial communities that profoundly shape their biology and ecological success. These sponge–microbe consortia represent highly integrated holobionts in which microbial symbionts contribute to nutrient cycling, host defense, and chemical signaling. Over the past several decades, systematic reviews and meta-analyses of marine natural product research have consistently identified sponges and their associated microbiota as the most prolific sources of structurally novel and biologically potent secondary metabolites in the marine environment. Advances in molecular ecology, metagenomics, and comparative genomics have revealed that many compounds originally attributed to sponge metabolism are, in fact, synthesized by symbiotic bacteria and fungi harboring diverse biosynthetic gene clusters. These metabolites display a broad range of pharmacological activities, including anticancer, antibacterial, antiviral, and antiparasitic effects, underscoring their importance for biomedical discovery. However, challenges such as limited compound supply, difficulties in cultivating symbionts, and ecological constraints on sponge harvesting have historically restricted translational progress. Recent methodological developments—including culture-independent genome mining, heterologous expression, and synthetic biology—have begun to overcome these barriers, enabling sustainable access to bioactive molecules. This systematic synthesis of existing literature integrates ecological, microbiological, and biochemical perspectives to clarify how sponge–microbe symbioses drive secondary metabolite diversity and drug discovery potential. By consolidating evidence across studies, this review highlights emerging patterns, unresolved knowledge gaps, and future directions necessary to fully harness sponge-associated microbiomes as renewable reservoirs of life-saving natural products.

Keywords: Marine sponges; microbial symbiosis; sponge microbiome; secondary metabolites; natural products; drug discovery; biosynthetic gene clusters; marine biotechnology

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