2024-03-28T17:14:19Zhttp://digital.csic.es/dspace-oai/requestoai:digital.csic.es:10261/562852021-12-28T16:48:11Zcom_10261_88com_10261_8col_10261_341
00925njm 22002777a 4500
dc
De Caralt, S.
author
Sánchez-Fontenla, J.
author
Uriz, María Jesús
author
Uriz, María Jesús
author
Wijffels, R. H.
author
2010
Marine sponges produce secondary metabolites that can be used as a natural source for the design of new drugs and cosmetics. There is, however, a supply problem with these natural substances for research and eventual commercialisation of the products. In situ sponge aquaculture is nowadays one of the most reliable methods to supply pharmaceutical companies with sufficient quantities of the target compound. In this study, we focus on the aquaculture of the sponge Dysidea avara (Schmidt, 1862), which produces avarol, a sterol with interesting pharmaceutical attributes. The soft consistency of this species makes the traditional culture method based on holding explants on ropes unsuitable. We have tested alternative culture methods for D. avara and optimized the underwater structures to hold the sponges to be used in aquaculture. Explants of this sponge were mounted on horizontal ropes, inside small cages or glued to substrates. Culture efficiency was evaluated by determination of sponge survival, growth rates, and bioactivity (as an indication of production of the target metabolite). While the cage method was the best method for explant survival, the glue method was the best one for explant growth and the rope method for bioactivity.
Marine Drugs 8 (6) : 1731-1742 (2010)
1660-3397
http://hdl.handle.net/10261/56285
10.3390/md8061731
1660-3397
20631865
Bioactivity
Secondary metabolites
Sponge culture
Growth
Survival
In situ aquaculture methods for Dysidea avara (demospongiae, porifera) in the Northwestern Mediterranean