Two new sponge species (Demospongiae: Chalinidae and Suberitidae) isolated from hyperarid mangroves of Qatar with notes on their potential antibacterial bioactivity

<p dir="ltr">This study presents the taxonomic description of two new sponge species that are intimately associated with the hyperarid mangrove ecosystem of Qatar. The study includes a preliminary evaluation of the sponges’ potential bioactivity against pathogens. <i>Chalinula qatari</i> <b>sp. nov</b>. is a fragile thinly encrusting sponge with a vivid maroon colour in life, often with oscular chimneys and commonly recorded on pneumatophores in the intertidal and shallow subtidal zone. <i>Suberites luna</i> <b>sp. nov</b>. is a massive globular-lobate sponge with a greenish-black colour externally and a yellowish orange colour internally, recorded on pneumatophores in the shallow subtidal zone, with large specimens near the seagrass ecosystem that surrounds the mangrove. For both species, a drug extraction protocol and an antibacterial experiment was performed. The extract of <i>Suberites luna</i> <b>sp. nov.</b> was found to be bioactive against recognized pathogens such as <i>Staphylococcus epidermidis</i>, <i>Staphylococcus aureus</i> and <i>Enterococcus faecalis</i>, but no bioactive activity was recorded for <i>Chalinula qatari</i> <b>sp. nov.</b> This study highlights the importance of increasing bioprospecting effort in hyperarid conditions and the importance of combining bioprospecting with taxonomic studies for the identification of novel marine drugs.</p><h2>Other Information</h2><p dir="ltr">Published in: PLOS ONE<br>License: <a href="http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/" target="_blank">http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/</a><br>See article on publisher's website: <a href="https://dx.doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0232205" target="_blank">https://dx.doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0232205</a></p>