Amman, Sept. 10 (Petra) -- A research team at the University of Jordan has identified natural bioactive compounds from rare marine sponges collected in the deep waters of the Gulf of Aqaba that showed antibacterial activity, including against antibiotic-resistant strains.

According to a university statement, the findings could support further drug-discovery research based on Jordan’s marine biodiversity at a time of growing global concern over antimicrobial resistance.

The research was led by head of the Laboratory of Microbial and Molecular Ecology (LaMME) and professor of microbial and molecular ecology at the School of Science’s Department of Biological Sciences Mamoun Rshaidat, and professor of molecular pharmacology at the School of Medicine Malek Zihlif.

The work was based on research conducted as part of the doctoral dissertations of Razan Abu Assaf and Fatima Jamal.

Marine sponge samples were collected in July 2022 during an expedition aboard the OceanXplorer vessel, in cooperation with the university’s Molecular Pharmacology Research in Personalized Medicine group and national and international partners.

Researchers used crewed submersibles equipped with robotic arms to collect samples at depths ranging from 140 to 362 meters below sea level, where water temperatures ranged between 21.1 and 22.5 degrees Celsius. The Aqaba Special Economic Zone Authority provided logistical support for the fieldwork.

The samples were preserved at low temperatures in ethanol before undergoing genetic analysis using DNA barcoding and comparison with international databases. The process identified three main sponge types: Stelletta sp., Dactylospongia sp., and Haliclona sp.

Laboratory tests showed that extracts from Dactylospongia sp. had strong inhibitory activity against Gram-positive bacteria, particularly methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), with inhibition zones ranging from 6 to 21 millimeters.

Liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) analysis detected around 40 bioactive compounds, including gallic acid, caffeic acid, quinone compounds, and the marine alkaloid Manzamine A.

Researchers are also examining sustainable methods for producing these compounds using genetic and chemical techniques to reduce the need for large-scale harvesting of marine sponges and limit pressure on marine biodiversity.

The university indicated that further research could help assess the compounds’ potential for biotechnology and medical applications and determine whether they could be developed into viable therapeutic candidates.

//Petra// AO