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The purpose of this application, under Articles 23.9.3 and 81.1 of the Code, is to conserve the usage of the name Sycon Risso, 1827 (Porifera) for a genus of sponges by reversal of precedence with respect to its senior subjective synonym Scypha Gray, 1821 (Porifera). This is justified by the refusal of the wider community of sponge researchers to accept the adoption of Scypha as the valid name for this large and ubiquitous genus of calcareous sponges and by the current prevailing usage of the junior synonym. With reversal of precedence, stability of the nomenclature will be maintained, and confusion avoided.

This study reinforces and extends the findings of previous molecular studies showing that there is a close relationship between species assigned to the sponge genera Halicnemia, Higginsia, Paratimea and Stelligera and that the family Heteroxyidae is polyphyletic. The present study has led to the description of one new species of Halicnemia and six new species of Paratimea, the resurrection of Halicnemia gallica and a better understanding of the characters uniting Stelligeridae. A new species of Heteroxya is also described. We demonstrate that many of the taxa assigned to Heteroxyidae are more closely related to other families, and we propose several changes to the classification of Heteroscleromorpha. Desmoxyidae is resurrected from synonymy and transferred to Poecilosclerida; Higginsia anfractuosa is transferred to Hymedesmiidae, and a new genus, Hooperia, is erected for its reception; Higginsia durissima is returned to Bubaris (Bubaridae); Higginsia fragilis is transferred to Spanioplon (Hymedesmiidae); Hemiasterella camelus is transferred to Paratimea; and Raspailia (Parasyringella) australiensis and Ceratopsion axiferum are transferred to Adreus (Hemiasterellidae).

In the 10th edition of the Systema Naturae (Linnaeus, 1758), which is the starting point of the Code for Zoological Nomenclature (ICZN Art. 3), Linnaeus named three species of the genus Alcyonium, A. arboreum, A. digitatum, and A. bursa. The genus name Alcyonium was based on the 16th and 17th century pre-Linnaean use for a diversity of marine organisms, including cnidarians, sponges, bryozoans, and algae. In the first valid presentation of the genus name, Linnaeus narrowed this down to comprise two clear cnidarians (A. arboreum, currently Paragorgia arborea, and A. digitatum, still accepted under this name and subsequently assigned as type species), but the pre-Linnaean diversity perhaps explains why the third species, A. bursa, was not recognized as a cnidarian. Linnaeus defined it as ‘Alcyonium acaule pulposum subglobosum. Habitat in O. Europaea.’ (translated as: Alcyonium without stalk, fleshy, semiglobular. From the European Ocean).’ Attempts to fix its identity among contemporary authors at the end of the 18th and beginning of the 19th century followed a checkered course, with opinions varying from algae to tunicates and sponges.

In the 10th edition of the Systema Naturae (Linnaeus, 1758), which is the starting point of the Code for Zoological Nomenclature (ICZN Art. 3), Linnaeus named three species of the genus Alcyonium, A. arboreum, A. digitatum, and A. bursa. The genus name Alcyonium was based on the 16th and 17th century pre-Linnaean use for a diversity of marine organisms, including cnidarians, sponges, bryozoans, and algae. In the first valid presentation of the genus name, Linnaeus narrowed this down to comprise two clear cnidarians (A. arboreum, currently Paragorgia arborea, and A. digitatum, still accepted under this name and subsequently assigned as type species), but the pre-Linnaean diversity perhaps explains why the third species, A. bursa, was not recognized as a cnidarian. Linnaeus defined it as 'Alcyonium acaule pulposum subglobosum. Habitat in O. Europaea.' (translated as: Alcyonium without stalk, fleshy, semiglobular. From the European Ocean).' Attempts to fix its identity among contemporary authors at the end of the 18th and beginning of the 19th century followed a checkered course, with opinions varying from algae to tunicates and sponges.

An inventory of sponges from the shallow subtidal reefs of the west and east coasts of southern India is presented. The specimens offered in this paper were based on in-situ collections unlike the previous records of dry and net-entangled collections. A total of 101 species belonging to 12 orders, 22 families, 5 subfamilies and 44 genera from 4 subclasses of Class Demospongiae and one species from Class Calcarea are recorded. We recorded 18 new records to India, six new species combinations, 37 potential new records, and 40 species for the first time from the southwest coast.

The occurrence of different sponge species bearing the same Linnean binomial name combination, i.e. homonyms, is to be avoided for obvious reasons. In a review of sponge taxon names of the World Porifera Database, we detected 121 homonymic cases (115 species-group names, 6 genus-group names), involving a total of 272 nominal taxa. It is the object of the present study to remove their occurrence by proposing new names for the junior homonyms following the rules of the International Commission of Zoological Nomenclature as laid down in the Code (ICZN, 1999) and the on-line edition http://iczn.org/iczn/index.jsp . Homonym cases are discussed and, where applicable, junior homonyms are either replaced by nomina nova or reassigned to their earliest available synonyms. The order in which the homonyms are treated is alphabetical on original species name, with genus names separately treated at the end. A summary table with all proposed name changes is also presented to allow quick access to the junior homonyms and their proposed new names. A total of 116 nomina nova are proposed, including five new genus names.

Thirteen nitrogen-containing molecules (1a/1b and 2&ndash, 12) were isolated from the Indonesian sponge Acanthostrongylophora ingens, highlighting the richness of this organism as a source of alkaloids. Their structures were elucidated using one- and two-dimensional NMR spectroscopy and HR-ESI-MS, while the stereochemistry of the diketopiperazines was established using Marfey&rsquo, s method. All compounds were screened in our standard bioactivity assays, including antibacterial, antikinases, and amyloid &beta, 42 assays. The most interesting bioactivity result was obtained with the known acanthocyclamine A (3), which revealed for the first time a specific Escherichia coli antimicrobial activity and an inhibitory effect on amyloid &beta, 42 production induced by aftin-5 and no cytotoxicity at the dose of 26 &micro, M. These results highlight the potentiality of a bipiperidine scaffold as a promising skeleton for preventing or reducing the production of amyloid &beta, 42, a key player in the initiation of Alzheimer&rsquo, s disease.

African sponges, particularly freshwater sponges, are understudied relative to demosponges in most other geographical regions. Freshwater sponges (Spongillida) likely share a common ancestor; however, their evolutionary history, particularly during their radiation into endemic and allegedly cosmopolitan groups, is unclear. Freshwater sponges of at least 58 species of 17 genera and four families are described from Central and Eastern Africa, but the diversity is underestimated due to limited distinguishable morphological features. The discovery of additional cryptic species is very likely with the use of molecular techniques such as DNA barcoding. The Royal Museum of Central Africa (MRAC, Tervuren, Belgium) hosts one of the largest collections of (Central) African freshwater sponge type material. Type specimens in theory constitute ideal targets for molecular taxonomy; however, the success is frequently hampered by DNA degradation and deamination, which are a consequence of suboptimal preservation techniques. Therefore, we genotyped African demosponge holotype material of the MRAC with specific short primers suitable for degenerated tissue and compare the results with the current, morphology-based classification. Our results demonstrate the utility of minimalistic barcodes for identification of sponges, potentially enabling efficient identification of individuals in taxonomic or metabarcoding studies, and highlight inconsistencies in the current freshwater sponge classification.

The halogenated alkaloid chloromethylhalicyclamine B (1), together with the known natural compound halicyclamine B (2), was isolated from the extract of the sponge Acanthostrongylophora ingens. The structure of compound 1 was determined by spectroscopic means, and it was shown that 1 is produced by reaction of 2 with CH2Cl2 used for extraction. Compound 1 was a selective CK1δ/ε inhibitor with an IC50 of 6 μM, while the natural compound 2 was inactive. The absolute configuration of 1 was determined by quantum mechanical calculation of its ECD spectrum, and this also determined the previously unknown absolute configuration of the parent halicyclamine B (2). Computational studies, validated by NOESY data, showed that compound 1 can efficiently interact with the ATP-binding site of CK1δ in spite of its globular structure, very different from the planar structure of known inhibitors of CK1δ. This opens the way to the design of a new structural type of CK1δ/ε inhibitors.

A new species of the large genus Mycale Gray, 1867 is described, dredged from approximately 300 m depth in the Flores Sea region between the islands of Salayar and Bahuluang, Central Indonesia, during cruises of the Indonesian-Dutch Snellius II Expedition in 1984. Because its megascleres include oxeas the new species is classified as a member of the subgenus Oxymycale Hentschel, 1929, proposed to be named M. (O.) klausjanusorum sp. nov. to honour renowned colleagues Klaus Rützler and Jean (‘Janus’) Vacelet. It is characterized by an ectosomal skeleton consisting of bouquets of subtylostyle megascleres protruding beyond an ectosomal tangential confused layer of oxeas, which in turn rests on robust choanosomal bundles of mixed oxea and subtylostyle megascleres. The combination of two categories of megascleres, differentiated not only in size but also in morphology, the larger one of which is arranged in ectosomal bouquets, is a unique feature in the genus Mycale. A high diversity of the microscleres and large upper size of the anisochelae (up to 189 µm) are additional features of the new species. The subgenus Oxymycale is reviewed and its status as a monophyletic group of Mycale is discussed.

Sponge species are infamously difficult to identify for non-experts due to their high morphological plasticity and the paucity of informative morphological characters. The use of molecular techniques certainly helps with species identification, but unfortunately it requires prior reference sequences. Holotypes constitute the best reference material for species identification, however their usage in molecular systematics and taxonomy is scarce and frequently not even attempted, mostly due to their antiquity and preservation history. Here we provide case studies in which we demonstrate the importance of using holotype material to answer phylogenetic and taxonomic questions. We also demonstrate the possibility of sequencing DNA fragments out of century-old holotypes. Furthermore we propose the deposition of DNA sequences in conjunction with new species descriptions.

Jia De Laubenfels, 1930 was erected to accommodate Californian Jia jia, a microcionid sponge possessing a unique J-shaped microsclere, subsequently named croca (crook, shepherd's staff). In later revisions, the genus was assigned to the synonymy of Antho Gray, 1867 because of similarity in skeletal and spicular characters with that large worldwide genus. Over the years, two additional species, one Atlantic, one from the Tropical East Pacific, were found to possess the crocae, and here four additional species with these intriguing spicules are described from Indo-West and East Pacific localities. It appears that now seven species, all Antho-like, are known to possess crocae, together distributed over all three oceans. This leads us to hypothesize that crocae are a shared character of a monophyletic group of Antho species and accordingly we propose to revive Jia as a subgenus of Antho. The four new species are Antho (Jia) galapagosensis sp. nov., Antho (Jia) lithisticola sp. nov., Antho (Jia) wunschorum sp. nov. and Antho (Jia) ramosa sp. nov.

Haplosclerid sponges possessing a unique asymmetric flagelliform type of sigmoid microsclere have been reported from all global oceans. This peculiar spicule, characterized by a circular or elliptical shape, with a longer and sharper curved ending at one side and a shorter and more gradually curved ending at the opposing side, is proposed to be termed ‘flagellosigma’. These sponges invariably also possess smaller normal sigmas while their skeletal structure of oxea megascleres is markedly confused. They are assigned to the large genus Haliclona Grant, 1841 (family Chalinidae) in a new subgenus, Haliclona (Flagellia) subgen. nov. The species belonging to the new subgenus are reviewed and four species new to science are described, Haliclona (Flagellia) indonesiae subgen. et sp. nov., H. (F.) amirantensis subgen. et sp. nov., H. (F.) hiberniae subgen. et sp. nov. and H. (F.) hajdui subgen. et sp. nov. One species, H. (F.) hentscheli nom. nov., is given a new name on account of secondary homonymy caused by its transfer to the genus Haliclona . One species remains unnamed because of paucity of material. Already known species, reassigned to the new subgenus are H. (F.) hamata subgen. et comb. nov., H. (F.) flagellifera subgen. et comb. nov., H. (F.) porosa subgen. et comb. nov., H. (F.) edaphus subgen. et comb. nov. and H. (F.) anataria subgen. et comb. nov. Additional species are likely hiding among many erroneous records of ‘ Gellius flagellifer ’ from wide ranging parts of the global oceans.

An optically inactive C-20 bisacetylenic alcohol, (4E,16E)-icosa-4,16-diene-1,19-diyne-3,18-diol, was isolated from a marine sponge Callyspongia sp. as a result of screening of antilymphangiogenic agents from marine invertebrates. An optical resolution using chiral-phase HPLC gave each enantiomer, (-)-1 and (+)-2. Because the natural and synthetic enantiomers 1 and 2 showed different biological properties, we investigated the structure-activity relationships of bisacetylenic alcohols using 11 synthetic derivatives, and it is clarified that the essential structural unit for antiproliferative activity is the "1-yn-3-ol" on both termini and that there is a minimum chain length that connects the "1-yn-3-ol" moieties.

Patients diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease (AD) show a characteristic neurochemical deficit of acetylcholine, especially in the basal forebrains. The use of acetylcholinesterase (AChE) inhibitors to retard the hydrolysis of acetylcholine has been suggested as a promising strategy for AD treatment. In this study, we evaluated the acetylcholinesterase inhibitory (AChEI) activities of 134 extracts obtained from 45 species of marine sponges. Thin-layer chromatography (TLC) and microplate assays reveal potent acetylcholinsterase inhibitory activities of two AcOEt extracts from the sponges Pericharax heteroraphis and Amphimedon navalis PULITZER-FINALI. We further investigated the inhibitory kinetics of the extracts and found them to display mixed competitive/noncompetitive inhibition and associated their inhibitory activity partly to terpenoids. Acetylcholinesterase inhibitors from marine organisms have been rarely studied, and this study demonstrated the potential of marine sponges as a source of pharmaceutical leads against neurodegenerative diseases.

Appeltans, Ward ... et al., Background: The question of how many marine species exist is important because it provides a metric for how much we do and do not know about life in the oceans. We have compiled the first register of the marine species of the world and used this baseline to estimate how many more species, partitioned among all major eukaryotic groups, may be discovered. Results: There are ∿226,000 eukaryotic marine species described. More species were described in the past decade (∿20,000) than in any previous one. The number of authors describing new species has been increasing at a faster rate than the number of new species described in the past six decades. We report that there are ∿170,000 synonyms, that 58,000-72,000 species are collected but not yet described, and that 482,000-741,000 more species have yet to be sampled. Molecular methods may add tens of thousands of cryptic species. Thus, there may be 0.7-1.0 million marine species. Past rates of description of new species indicate there may be 0.5 ± 0.2 million marine species. On average 37% (median 31%) of species in over 100 recent field studies around the world might be new to science. Conclusions: Currently, between one-third and two-thirds of marine species may be undescribed, and previous estimates of there being well over one million marine species appear highly unlikely. More species than ever before are being described annually by an increasing number of authors. If the current trend continues, most species will be discovered this century. © 2012 Elsevier Ltd., WoRMS has benefited from funding as part of several EU projects: Network of Excellence in Marine Biodiversity and Ecosystem Functioning (MarBEF), Pan-European Species directories Infrastructure (PESI), Distributed Dynamic Diversity Databases for Life (4D4Life), the Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF), and the Census of Marine Life (CoML). It originated in the European Register of Marine Species (ERMS) that was funded by the EU Marine Science and Technology (MAST) research program

Alveospongia sinuosclera gen. nov. sp. nov. is described from shallow-waters off Canavieiras (Bahia, Brazil). The species bears an unusual morphology, combining saccular or alveolar, evenly perforated habit, and sinuous spiny microrhabdose microscleres. This sponge is tentatively classified within the Heteroxyidae Dendy (1905), on the basis of its confused choanosomal architecture of styles, and possession of spiny microrhabdose microscleres. Assays to generate DNA sequences from this material were unsuccessful. We emended the diagnosis of the family to include species bearing saccular/alveolar shape, microrhabdose acanthomicrostrongyles and styles/strongyles with modifications at the ends. The proposed new genus is compared to the remaining heteroxyid genera, as well as Crella (Crellidae), Batzella (Chondropsidae), Goreauiella (Astroscleridae) and Sceptrintus (Podospongiidae). A revised key for identification of Heteroxyidae genera is provided.

8 páginas, 1 figura., The demosponge orders Dictyoceratida and Dendroceratida are historically assigned to the keratose (or “horny”) sponges, which are mostly devoid of primary skeletal elements, but possess an elaborate skeleton of organic fibres instead. This paucity of complex mineral skeletal elements makes their unambiguous classification and phylogenetic reconstruction based on morphological features difficult. Here we present the most comprehensive molecular phylogeny to date for the Dendroceratida, Dictyoceratida, and also other sponge orders that largely lack a mineral skeleton or skeletal elements at all (i.e. Verongida, Halisarcida, Chondrosida), based on independent mitochondrial and nuclear markers. We used molecular data to validate the coherence of all recognised orders, families and subfamilies that are currently defined using morphological characteristics. We discussed the significance of morphological and chemotaxonomic characters for keratosesponges, and suggested adapted definitions for the classification of dendroceratid, dictyoceratid, and verongid higher taxa. Also, we found that chondrosid sponges are non-monophyletic with respect to Halisarcida. Verongida and Dendroceratida were monophyletic, however most of their classically recognised families were not recovered. This indicated that the current distinction between dendritic and mesh-like fibre skeletons is not significant at this level of classification. Dysideidae were found to be the sister-group to the remaining Dictyoceratida. Irciniidae formed a distinct clade, however Thorectidae and Spongiidae could not be separated with the molecular markers used. Finally, we are establishing the name Verongimorpha for the clade combining verongid, chondrosid and halisarcid taxa and readjust the content of its sister-clade Keratosa., DE acknowledges financial support of the European Union under a Marie-Curie outgoing fellowship (MOIF-CT-2004 Contract No. 2882). GW acknowledges funding from the German Science Foundation (DFG, project Wo896/6 in the SPP1174 ‘‘Deep Metazoan Phylogeny’’).

Most of marine sponges harbor dense and diverse microbial communities of bioactivity importance. Four Gram positive bacterial cultures (HA-21, HA-68, HA- MS-105 and HA-MS-119) were isolated from the sponge Amphimedon ochracea, collected from the Red Sea coast of Egypt. Bacterial species were identified based on the phylogenetic analysis of the nucleotide sequences of their 16S rDNA genes. The Sequences similarity values of 98% - 100% to other strains in the NCBI database showed strong similarities with the 16S rDNA genes of firmicutes (Bacillus sp.). The four bacterial species were submitted to the GenBank database and had accession numbers of: HA-21 [JQ-768238]; HA-68 [JQ751264]; HA-MS-105 [JQ768239]; HAMS-119 [JQ768240]. The cytotoxic activities of the bacterial isolates were tested against three established human cancer cell lines; HepG2 (hepatocellular carcinoma), HCT (colon carcinoma) and MCF-7 (breast carcinoma). The inhibitory effect on these cell lines, measured by MTT cell assay protocol, revealed promising cytotoxic activity of the four isolates (IC50 values (μg/mL) were: HA-21: 13.2, 9.3 and 12.2; HA-68: 10.42, 4.3 and 5.5; HA-MS-105: 46.9, 28.6 and 21.3; HAMS-119: 10.42, 6.3 and 22.1; respectively). The recovery of bacterial strains with cytotoxic activity suggests that marine invertebrates remain a rich source for the isolation of culturable isolates capable of producing novel bioactive secondary metabolites.

Mutations and single-nucleotide polymorphisms affecting RAD51 gene function have been identified in several tumors, suggesting that the inappropriate expression of RAD51 activity may cause tumorigenesis. RAD51 is an essential enzyme for the homologous recombinational repair (HRR) of DNA double-strand breaks. In the HRR pathway, RAD51 catalyzes the homologous pairing between single-stranded DNA (ssDNA) and double-stranded DNA (dsDNA), which is the central step of the HRR pathway. To identify a chemical compound that regulates the homologous-pairing activity of RAD51, in the present study, we screened crude extract fractions from marine sponges by the RAD51-mediated homologous-pairing assay. Halenaquinone was identified as an inhibitor of the RAD51 homologous-pairing activity. A surface plasmon resonance analysis indicated that halenaquinone directly bound to RAD51. Intriguingly, halenaquinone specifically inhibited dsDNA binding by RAD51 alone or the RAD51-ssDNA complex, but only weakly affected the RAD51-ssDNA binding. In vivo, halenaquinone significantly inhibited the retention of RAD51 at double-strand break sites. Therefore, halenaquinone is a novel type of RAD51 inhibitor that specifically inhibits the RAD51-dsDNA binding.

Botanical and zoological collections may serve as archives for historical ecological research on the effects of global change and human impact on coral reef biota. Museum collections may harbour old specimens of reef-dwelling species that have become locally extinct. Such collections also help to determine whether early records of invasive species can be obtained from times when they were not yet recognized as such. A case study (2006) involving Saba Bank, Caribbean Netherlands (former Netherlands Antilles), suggests that the coral reef fauna here may have become impoverished when compared with data obtained during an earlier expedition in 1972. However, the 1972 sampling may have been incomplete, as it was performed by professional divers who were not trained taxonomists, whereas the collecting in 2006 was done by experienced marine biologists who knew the taxa they were sampling. As Saba Bank has been under stress due to the anchoring of large vessels, and invasive species have been a potential threat as well, future studies are needed to obtain more insights into the changing reef biota of Saba Bank. Using this Saba Bank example, we want to address the importance of natural history collections as reservoirs of valuable data relevant to coral reef biodiversity studies in a time of global change. As such, these collections are still underexplored and underexploited.

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The diet of cavity sponges on the narrow fringing reefs of Cura double dagger ao, Caribbean was studied. The origin and resources of the bulk food of these sponges, i.e., dissolved organic matter (DOM), were identified using stable carbon and nitrogen isotopes and fatty acid biomarkers. We found that phytoplankton and its derived DOM from the adjacent open sea and from reef overlying water is not the main source of food for most of the sponges examined nor is bacterioplankton. Interestingly, dual stable isotope signatures (delta(13)C(org), delta(15)N(org)) and fatty acid biomarkers appoint coral mucus and organic matter derived from crustose coralline algae (CCA) as probable food sources for encrusting sponges. Mucus-derived DOM may contribute up to 66% to the diet of examined sponges based on results of dual isotope mixing model analysis. The contribution of CCA (as purported representative for benthic algae) was smaller with values up to 31%. Together, mucus- and CCA-derived substrates contributed for 48-73% to the diet of sponges. The presence of the exogenous fatty acid 20:4 omega 6 in sponges, which is abundant in coral mucus of Madracis mirabilis and in CCA, highlights these reef-derived resources as sources of nutrition for DOM feeding cavity sponges. The relatively high concentrations of exogenous 20:4 omega 6 in all sponges examined supports our hypothesis that the bulk of the food of the cavity sponge community is reef-derived. Our results imply that cavity sponges play an important role in conserving food and energy produced within the reef.

A new shallow-water representative of the carnviorous sponge genus Asbestopluma is described from the southernmost Antarctic region of McMurdo Sound. Asbestopluma (Asbestopluma) vaceleti n.sp. is a white, thin, sparingly branched sponge fringed by filaments along its entire length, with a slight thickening at the top of the branches. It was collected at 30 m depth by SCUBA divers from under densely populated overhangs of rocky substrata. The new species stands out among Antarctic Asbestopluma by the possession of forceps microscleres, a feature shared with several species from Arctic-Boreal waters (bathyal to deep-sea) and one from the Kermadec Trench (deep sea), but not previously reported from Antarctic species. A unique trait of the new species distinguishing it from all forceps-bearing Asbestopluma is a second category of reduced anisochelae. The new species is most similar to A. hypogea, a shallow-water cave species from the Mediterranean, which differs in having a smooth stalk and a filament-bearing ovoid body. A comparison is made with descriptions of Antarctic Asbestopluma species and all species possessing forceps microscleres.

We present a review of astrophorid species possessing calthrops megascleres as structural megascleres (including species with dichotriaene modifications, but excluding mesotriaene and trichotriaene bearing species). Radiating oxeas characteristic of most astrophorids are lacking in such sponges, but auxiliary oxeas are apparently present in some species. These sponges are currently assigned to two families, Pachastrellidae with four nominal genera Dercitus, Stoeba, Dercitancorina, Halinastra (the latter two generally considered junior synonyms of Stoeba), and Calthropellidae with nominal genera Calthropella, Corticellopsis (usually considered a junior synonym), Pachataxa and Pachastrissa. Our review of many original specimens and extensive new material demonstrates the existence of considerable morphological similarity in megasclere shape and arrangement, and possible overlap of some microscleres of these sponges: pseudasters in Dercitus resembling euasters in Calthropella, ataxasters and other modified types in Calthropellidae resembling rhabds in a species of Dercitus. Pachastrellid representatives are proposed to be united in a single genus Dercitus, recognizable as (dicho–)calthrops bearing sponges with sanidaster–like microrhabds. Three subgenera, Dercitus s.s., Stoeba and the revived Halinastra are distinguished to accommodate species groups sharing additional characters. Dercitancorina is merged with Dercitus (Stoeba), because the type species, D. lesinensis was found to be barely distinct from D. (S.) plicatus. Similarly, the calthropellid representatives are proposed to be united in a single genus Calthropella recognizable as calthrops bearing sponges with oxyasters. Three subgenera, Calthropella s.s., Pachataxa and Corticellopsis are distinguished to accommodate species groups sharing additional characters. The calthropellid genus Pachastrissa is considered a junior synonym of Calthropella s.s. because its type species, Pachastrella geodioides, is barely distinct from the type species of Calthropella, C. simplex. Two species previously assigned to Dercitus or Stoeba (Dercitus loricatus and Stoeba natalensis) are excluded from the genus Dercitus as they do not fit with the emended and improved definition of the genus. One species assigned to Calthropella, C. digitata, is excluded from that genus and assigned to the ancorinid genus Stelletta. Based on the similarity of the megascleres and their structure-less arrangement, we predict that the two reviewed genera will be found to be closely related and eventually will need to be accomodated in a single family, but independent molecular evidence is awaited before changes in the family classification, including a verdict on the validity of the family Calthropellidae, will be proposed. Our review included 38 valid species among which fourteen species and one subspecies appear to be new to science. Four of these were represented by insufficient material for a proper description, but the remaining ten are described as new species: Dercitus (Stoeba) senegalensis sp. n., Dercitus (Stoeba) verdensis sp. n., Dercitus (Stoeba) fijiensis sp. n., Dercitus (Stoeba) bahamensis sp. n., Dercitus (Halinastra) berau sp. n., Dercitus (Halinastra) japonensis sp. n., Dercitus (Halinastra) arubensis sp. n., Dercitus (Halinastra) sibogae sp. n., Calthropella (Calthropella) xavierae sp. n., and Calthropella (Pachataxa) pyrifera sp. n. The new subspecies, Dercitus (Dercitus) bucklandi lusitanicus ssp. n. is described for southern East Atlantic populations of the nominal species. Several specimens assigned to existing species were found to be deviating to the extent that they are likely members of further undescribed species. These are briefly discussed to facilitate further studies of the diversity of the two genera. Species of both genera and the six subgenera, including deviating or insufficiently characterized specimens belonging to species not yet properly described, are keyed out. Distribution patterns are discussed.

Five sphingoid bases, penasin A (1), penasin B (2), and a mixture of penasins C-E (3-5), were identified from a marine sponge Penares sp. as cytotoxic constituents. The structure of the common polar head part was assigned by analysis of the NMR data, whereas the structures of the long aliphatic chains including the locations of double bond(s) and a branched methyl group were determined by analysis of tandem FABMS and (13)C NMR data together with the GC-MS analysis of ozonolysis products. The absolute configuration of the headgroup was defined for the mixture of 3-5 by the modified Mosher method. Penasins exhibit moderate cytotoxicity against HeLa and P388 cells.

Two new uncommon epoxy-substituted nitrogenous bisabolene-type sesquiterpenes, 3-formamido-7,8-epoxy-α-bisabolane (4), 3-isocyano-7,8-epoxy-α-bisabolane (5), together with three known related sesquiterpenes, 1-3, were isolated from the Hainan sponge Axinyssa sp. Their structures were determined on the basis of extensive spectroscopic analyses and by comparison of their NMR data with those of structurally related compounds.

Chemical investigation of Indonesian marine sponges Agelas linnaei and A. nakamurai afforded 24 alkaloid derivatives representing either bromopyrrole or diterpene alkaloids. A. linnaei yielded 16 bromopyrrole alkaloids including 11 new natural products with the latter exhibiting unusual functionalities. The new compounds include the first iodinated tyramine-unit bearing pyrrole alkaloids, agelanesins A-D. These compounds exhibited cytotoxic activity against L5178Y mouse lymphoma cells with IC(50) values between 9.25 and 16.76 muM. Further new compounds include taurine acid substituted bromopyrrole alkaloids and a new dibromophakellin derivative. A. nakamurai yielded eight alkaloids among them are three new natural products. The latter include the diterpene alkaloids (-)-agelasine D and its oxime derivative and the new bromopyrrole alkaloid longamide C. (-)-Agelasine D and its oxime derivative exhibited cytotoxicity against L5178Y mouse lymphoma cells (IC(50) 4.03 and 12.5 microM, respectively). Furthermore, both agelasine derivatives inhibited settling of larvae of Balanus improvisus in an anti-fouling bioassay and proved to be toxic to the larvae. (-)-Agelasine D inhibited the growth of planktonic forms of biofilm forming bacteria S. epidermidis (MIC

11 páginas, 5 figuras, 2 tablas., Coral reefs constitute the most diverse ecosystem of the marine realm and an increasing number of studies are focusing on coralspeciesboundaries, distribution, and on processes that control species ranges. However, less attention has been paid to coralassociatedspecies. Deep-sea sponges dominate cold-watercoral ecosystems, but virtually nothing is known about their molecular diversity. Moreover, speciesboundaries based on morphology may sometimes be inadequate, since sponges have few diagnostic characters. In this study, we investigated the molecular diversity within the genus Hexadella (Porifera, Demospongiae, Verongida, Ianthellidae) from the European shallow-water environment to the deep-seacoral ecosystems. Three molecular markers were used: one mitochondrial (COI) and two nuclear gene fragments (28S rDNA and the ATPS intron). Phylogenetic analyses revealed deeply divergent deep-sea clades congruent across the mitochondrial and nuclear markers. One clade contained specimens from the Irish, the Scottish, and the Norwegian margins and the Greenland Sea (Hexadella dedritifera) while another clade contained specimens from the Ionian Sea, the Bay of Biscay, and the Irish margin (H. cf. dedritifera). Moreover, these deeply divergent deep-sea clades showed a wide distribution suggesting a connection between the reefs. The results also point to the existence of a new deep-seaspecies (Hexadella sp.) in the MediterraneanSea and of a cryptic shallow-waterspecies (Hexadella cf. pruvoti) in the Gorringe Bank. In contrast, low genetic differentiation between H. cf. dedritifera and H. pruvoti from the MediterraneanSea was observed. All Hexadella racovitzai specimens from the MediterraneanSea (shallow and deep) to the Atlantic formed a monophyletic group., The research leading to these results has received funding from the European Community’s Seventh Framework Programme (FP7/2007–2013) under the HERMIONE project, grant agreement No. 226354. J.R. had a Special Research Fund (BOF) from Ghent University. Lab work and visit to the Department of Biology (University of Bergen) was funded by Bergens Forskningsstiftelse.

Thirteen new species of sponges are described from coral reefs of the Netherlands Antilles and the Colombian Caribbean. Species were collected during quantitative investigations of reef sponges performed by students of the University of Amsterdam in the period between 1984 and 1991. Most of the reported specimens were taken from undersides of coral rubble, crevices or reef caves (sciophilous habitats) and without exception are small encrusting or fistular sponges. The material reported in this paper includes a new genus and species of Placospongiidae, Placospherastra antillensis n. g. n. sp. , the first Caribbean representatives of the genera Triptolemma (Pachastrellidae) and Megaciella (Acarnidae), viz. Triptolemma endolithicum n. sp. and Megaciella incrustans n. sp., a new species of Timeidae, Timea curacaoensis n. sp., a new species of Microcionidae with peculiar colloscleres, Clathria (Thalysias) collosclera n. sp., two new species of Chondropsidae, viz. Batzella fusca n. sp., and Strongylacidon unguiferum n. sp., three new species of Coelosphaeridae, viz. Forcepia (Forcepia) minima n. sp., Forcepia (Forcepia) fistulosa n. sp., and Forcepia (Leptolabis) microlabis n. sp., a new species of Crellidae, Crella (Grayella) beglingerae n. sp., a new species of Hymedesmiidae, Hymedesmia (Hymedesmia) bonairensis n. sp., and a new species of Mycalidae, Mycale (Paresperella) vitellina n. sp. Most species are represented by only small fragments removed from the substrate by scalpel or diving knife, leaving little and often crumbled preserved type material. This study is intended to demonstrate that the small crusts dominating easily accessible shallow water coral rubble habitats in the Caribbean remain understudied.

The present study surveyed the palatability of all sponge species that could be collected in sufficient quantities in a shallow-water area along the western Antarctic Peninsula. Of 27 species assayed, 78% had outermost tissues that were significantly unpalatable to the sympatric, omnivorous sea star Odontaster validus. Of those species with unpalatable outer tissues, 62% had inner tissues that were also unpalatable to the sea stars. Sea stars have often been considered as the primary predators of sponges in other regions of Antarctica, and their extra-oral mode of feeding threatens only the outermost sponge tissues. The observation that many of the sponges allocate defenses to inner tissues suggests the possibility that biting predators such as mesograzers, which could access inner sponge layers, may also be important in communities along the Antarctic Peninsula. In feeding bioassays with extracts from 12 of the unpalatable species in artificial foods, either lipophilic or hydrophilic extracts were deterrent in each species. These data indicate an overall level of chemical defenses in these Antarctic sponges that is comparable to, and slightly greater than, that found in a previous survey of tropical species.

The relatively shallow coldwater coral reefs growing off the eastern coast of Mingulay, north-west Scotland, are excavated by five sponge species, three of which, Alectona millari, Pione vastifica and Cliona lobata, were known previously from Scottish waters. The other two species are new to Scotland and Great Britain. One species is here described as new to science: Cliona caledoniae sp. nov. The species shows a superficial resemblance in colour (orange) and spiculation (possession of tylostyles and knobby microscleres) to Cliothosa hancocki described disjunctly from the Pacific Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea, but it differs clearly in lacking the characteristic Cliothosa amphiasters with branching rays. The Scottish species only possesses peculiar thick-rayed streptasters, which at first glance appear rather similar to the second microsclere type reported for Cliothosa hancocki, knobby-rayed amphiasters. However, the majority of the microscleres in the Mingulay species appear to be genuine spirasters (not amphiasters), and exhaustive search for true amphiasters, branching or otherwise, was in vain. The new species is extensively illustrated. Furthermore, we also report the first occurrence in British waters of Spiroxya levispira, originally described from Azorean deep waters, and subsequently reported from Madeira and several Mediterranean localities. It was found to occur not uncommonly in the Mingulay reefs, and additionally also in reefs of the Rockall Bank, west of Ireland. The spicular characters generally match those of the southern locations. The newly recorded species is described and amply illustrated.

The Red Sea sponge Hemimycale arabica afforded the known (Z)-5-(4-hydroxybenzylidene)-hydantoin (1), (R)-5-(4-hydroxybenzyl)hydantoin (2), and (Z)-5-((6-bromo-1H-indol-3-yl)methylene)-hydantoin (3). The natural phenylmethylene hydantoin (PMH) 1 and the synthetic (Z)-5-(4-(ethylthio)benzylidene)-hydantoin (4) showed potent in vitro anti-growth and anti-invasive properties against PC-3M prostate cancer cells in MTT and spheroid disaggregation assays. PMHs 1 and 4 also showed significant anti-invasive activities in orthotopic xenograft and transgenic mice models. To study the effect of electronic and lipophilic parameters on the activity, a wide array of several substituted aldehydes possessing electron-withdrawing (+sigma), lipophilic (+pi), electron-donating (-sigma), and less lipophilic substituents (-pi) were used to synthesize several PMHs. Few des-phenylmethylenehydantoins and 2-thiohydanoins were also synthesized and the anti-invasive activities of all compounds were evaluated. Comparative molecular field analysis (CoMFA) was then used to study the 3D QSAR. Predictive 3D QSAR model with conventional r(2) and cross validated coefficient (q(2)) values up to 0.910 and 0.651 were established. In conclusion, PMH is a novel antimetastatic lead class with potential to control metastatic prostate cancer.

A new acetylenic fatty acid, 1, has been isolated from the title sponge. The structure of the molecule was elucidated to contain an enyne and a thiophene by spectroscopic methods. Compound 1 showed a weak cytotoxic effect against NBT-72 rat bladder epithelial cells (IC50 > 20 mu g/ml), and antimicrobial activity with minimal-inhibitory concentrations (MIC) of 64 and 128 mu g/ml against Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli, respectively.

Two manzamine-class alkaloids, manzamine A (1) and 8-hydroxymanzamine (2) were isolated from a Japanese marine sponge Acanthostrongylophora aff. ingens, together with three known alkaloids manzamine E (3), manzamine F (4), and manzamine X (5). The spectral features of 1 and 2 were different from the reported data. Detailed structure analysis using 2D NMR revealed the structure of 1 and 2 as a free base form of hydrochloric salt. These manzamine-class alkaloids showed neuritogenic activity against Neuro 2a cells.

Chemical examination of the marine sponge Pseudoceratina sp. resulted in the isolation and characterization of two new dibromotyrosine-derived metabolites (1-2), and a new histamine-derived alkaloid (3), along with eight known dibromotyrosine based products. Their structures were elucidated on the basis of IR, 1D and 2D NMR, and MS spectral data analyses.

Two new polyacetylene carboxylic acids, petroformynic acids B (3) and C (4), were isolated from a marine sponge Pertrosia sp. as cytotoxic constituents. Their structures were determined by interpretation of 2D NMR data and tandem FABMS data. Absolute stereochemistry of 3 was assigned by application of the modified Mosher analysis. Petroformynic acids exhibit moderate cytotoxic activity against P388 cells.

Three unprecedented diastereoisomeric dimers, cis-dimer A (1), cis-dimer B (2) and trans-dimer C (3), exhibiting a bis-bisabolene skeleton, and a new sesquiterpene, dehydrotheonelline (4), their potential precursor, have been isolated from the South China Sea sponges Axinyssa variabilis and Lipastrotethya ana, along with known related sesquiterpenes. The structure of the novel molecules has been determined by extensive NMR spectral analysis.

Nineteen triterpenoids, possessing four different skeletons, have been reported so far from the Red Sea sponge Siphonochalina siphonella. However, no biological activity of these compounds was ever reported. This study describes the isolation of two new triterpenoids, siphonellinol C (3) and sipholenol I (4), along with several known sipholane triterpenoids from the Red Sea sponge Callyspongia ()Siphonochalina) siphonella. Allylic oxidation of the majorsipholane triterpenoids, sipholenol A (1) and sipholenone A (2), by selenium dioxide afforded four C-28-oxidized derivatives. Sipholane triterpenoids along with their semisynthetic derivatives were evaluated for their cytotoxicity and effect on reversing P-glycoprotein-mediated MDR to colchicine. Sipholenol A was found to be the most potent, and it increased the sensitivity of resistant KB-C2 cells by 16 times toward colchicine. This is the first report related to reversalof cancer chemotherapy resistance using these triterpenoids

A new meroditerpene, (+)-isojaspic acid (1), along with two known meroditerpenes, cacospongin D (2) and jaspaquinol (3), have been isolated from a marine sponge Cacospongia. Comprehensive taxonomic identification distinguished this Cacospongia apart from morphologically similar Psammocinia. The absolute stereochemistry of 1 was elucidated on the basis of extensive 1D and 2D NMR techniques and analysis of the optical rotation versus (+)-zonarol (8), (+)- isozonarol (9), (-)-dactylosponol (10), and (+)-hyatellaquinone (11). Furthermore, bioactivity evaluation showed that the meroditerpenes isolated significantly inhibited Staphylococcus epidermidis.

Pseudoceratins A (1) and B (2) have been isolated from the marine sponge Pseudoceratina purpurea. Pseudoceratins are unique among the large class of bromotyrosine-derived sponge metabolites with respect to the substitution pattern of aromatic rings and the presence of spiroacetal and oxime ether functional groups as well as an 1,5-diamino-1,5-dideoxy-D-arabitol tether. Pseudoceratins A (1) and B (2) are epimeric differing in the orientation of the tether. Their structures were determined by analysis of spectral data. The rigidity of the compounds arising from their bridged structure gave ROESY/NOESY spectra with many transannular cross-peaks, which allowed the assignment of the relative stereochemistry of 1 and 2 to be established. The d-configuration of the 1,5-diamino-1,5-dideoxyarabitol unit was determined by converting the fragment isolated from the acid hydrolysate to the Mosher's ester and compared the 1H NMR spectrum with those of standard samples. Pseudoceratins exhibited significant antifungal activity against Candida albicans.

Two new uncommon nitrogenous sesquiterpenes, 11-ethoxy-3-formamidotheonellin (1) and 7-ethoxy-3-formamidobisabolane-8,10-diene (2), together with two known related sesquiterpenes, 3-formamidotheonellin (=theonellin formamide; 3) and theonellin isothiocyanate (4), were isolated from the Hainan sponge Axinyssa aff. variabilis. Their structures were determined on the basis of extensive spectroscopic analysis and by comparison of their NMR data with those of known compounds.

This is the second part of a revision and re-classification of the demosponge family Sollasellidae, and an example of a successful use of combined morphological and molecular data. Sollasella had been a poorly known, long forgotten taxon, placed incertae sedis in the order Hadromerida in the last major revision of the demosponges. It has recently been suggested to belong to Raspailiidae in the order Poecilosclerida due to striking morphological similarities. The present analysis verified this re-classification using molecular markers. Comparing 28S rDNA fragments of Sollasella cervicornis, a newly described species S. moretonensis and a representative set of raspailiid and hadromerid samples. In our analyses Sollasella clearly clusters inside the Raspailiidae clade, and distantly from hadromerid taxa. Supporting morphological hypothesis of Van Soest et al. (2006), that Sollasella is a raspailiid sponge.