New lectin isolated from the tropical sponge Haliclona (Reniera) implexiformis (Hechtel, 1965) shows antibiofilm effect.

A lectin from the marine sponge Haliclona (Reniera) implexiformis (HiL) was isolated by affinity chromatography on Sepharose™ matrix. HiL showed specificity for galactose and its derivatives. The glycoproteins porcine stomach mucin (PSM) and bovine stomach mucin (BSM) were potent inhibitors. Hemagglutinating activity of the lectin was maximal between pH 5.0 and 9.0. The lectin remained active until 60°C. The presence of CaCl2 and EDTA did not affect the hemagglutinating activity. In SDS-PAGE, HiL showed a single band of 20 kDa under reduced conditions, whereas in the non-reducing conditions, it showed a band of 20 kDa and one additional band of 36 kDa. The average molecular mass determined by Electrospray Ionization Mass Spectrometry (ESI-MS) was 35.874 ± 2 Da in native and non-reducing conditions, whereas carboxyamidomethylated-lectin showed 18,111 Da. These data indicated that HiL consists in a dimer formed by identical subunits linked by disulfide bonds. Partial amino acid sequence of HiL was determined by mass spectrometry, and revealed that it is a new type of lectin, which showed no similarity with any protein. Secondary structure consisted of 6% α-helice, 31% ß-sheet, 18% ß-turn and 45% random coil. HiL showed significant reduction in the number of viable cells of Staphylococcus biofilms.

Purification, biochemical characterization of a lectin from marine sponge Ircinia strobilina and its effect on the inhibition of bacterial biofilms.

A new lectin from marine sponge Ircinia strobilina, denominated IsL, was isolated by combination of affinity chromatography in Guar gum matrix followed by size exclusion chromatography. IsL was able to agglutinate native and enzymatically treated rabbit erythrocytes, being inhibited by galactosides, such as α-methyl-D-galactopyranoside, ß-methyl-D-galactopyranoside and α-lactose. IsL hemagglutinating activity was stable at neutral to alkaline pH, however the lectin loses its activity at 40° C. The molecular mass determinated by mass spectrometry was 13.655 ± 5 Da. Approximately 40% of the primary structure of IsL was determined by mass spectrometry, but no similarity was observed with any protein. The secondary structure of IsL consists of 28% α-helix, 26% ß-sheet, and 46% random region, as determined by dichroism circular. IsL was a calcium-dependent lectin, but no significant variations were observed by circular dichroism when IsL was incubated in presence of calcium and EDTA. IsL was not toxic against Artemia nauplii and did not have antimicrobial activity against bacterial cells. However, the IsL was able to significantly inhibit the biofilm formation of Staphylococcus aureus and Staphylococcus epidermidis.

A new mucin-binding lectin from the marine sponge Aplysina fulva (AFL) exhibits antibiofilm effects.

A new mucin-binding lectin (AFL) was isolated from the marine sponge Aplysina fulva. AFL was purified by affinity chromatography on Sepharose™ matrix. Its hemagglutinating activity was independent of divalent ions, and it was weakly inhibited by simple sugars. However, porcine stomach mucin was a powerful inhibitor. In SDS PAGE, piridylethylated AFL showed one band of approximately 16 kDa, whereas in the non-reducing conditions, AFL showed at least two bands of 30 and 70 kDa. Mass spectrometry MALDI-ToF analysis showed one major ion of 31,652 ±â€¯5 Da, which corresponded to a dimer formed by subunits linked by disulfide bonds. The first fifteen amino acids of AFL were determined, and no sequence similarity was observed with any known protein. Internal sequences were obtained by mass spectrometry analysis of tryptic digestion of AFL spots. These peptides showed similarity with a lectin from marine sponge Aplysina lactuca. Secondary structure of AFL was predominantly formed by ß-conformations, which were stable at variations of pH and temperature. AFL did not inhibit planktonic growth of Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria tested. However, the lectin did significantly reduce the biomass biofilm of the bacteria Staphylococcus aureus, S. epidermidis, and Escherichia coli.

Biodiversity of freshwater sponges (Porifera: Spongillina) from northeast Brazil: new species and notes on systematics.

Systematics and distribution of freshwater sponges is still poorly understood worldwide. This may be due to the scarcity of records, and the limited information about morphological traits used for taxonomy. Brazil has reportedly high species richness in the Neotropical Region; however, this diversity is likely to be significantly underestimated given that there are still many unexplored and poorly sampled areas, mainly in the north and northeast regions. We present here new locality records and taxonomic notes on three families and ten species of freshwater Porifera from northeast Brazil: Metaniidae (1), Potamolepidae (2) and Spongillidae (7). A new species of freshwater sponge is described here (Ephydatia caatingae sp.nov.). Additional notes on the systematics and biogeography of most of these species are also presented.

An example of the importance of labels and fieldbooks in scientific collections: A freshwater sponge misunderstood for a marine new genus and species.

The demosponge genus Crelloxea Hechtel, 1983 was created to allocate a single species, Crelloxea spinosa Hechtel, 1983, described based on specimens collected by Jacques Laborel in northeastern Brazil in 1964 and deposited at the Porifera Collection of the Yale Peabody Museum. The genus Crelloxea was originally defined as "Crellidae with dermal and interstitial acanthoxeas and acanthostrongyles, with skeletal oxea and without microscleres or echinators" (Hechtel, 1983). Crelloxea was allocated in the marine sponge family Crellidae (Order Poecilosclerida), which is characterized by a tangential crust of spined ectosomal spicules (oxeas, anisoxeas or styles), a choanosomal plumose skeleton of smooth tornotes, sometimes a basal skeleton of acanthostyles erect on the substrate, microscleres usually arcuate chelae or absent, and surface with areolated pore fields (van Soest, 2002). Nowadays, Crelloxea is considered a junior synonym of Crella (Grayella) Carter, 1869 (van Soest, 2002; van Soest et al., 2015).

Two new species of Haliclona Grant, 1836 (Haplosclerida: Chalinidae) from Sergipe State, Brazil.

Haliclona is one of the most species-rich genera among Demospongiae, but with only 11 species recorded for the Brazilian coast. Here we describe two new species of Haliclona collected by trawling at Sergipe State (Northeastern Brazil). Haliclona (Halichoclona) dura sp. nov. is distinguished by the combination of confused choanosome with dense reticulation, oxeas with stepped and mucronate points, color dark brown externally and light beige internally, consistency firm and incompressible. Haliclona (Soestella) brassica sp. nov. is set apart by the combination of a choanosomal skeleton with rounded meshes, strongyles, raphides, color beige and consistency soft.

Two new species of the family Niphatidae van Soest, 1980 from Northeastern Brazil (Haplosclerida: Demospongiae: Porifera).

This paper deals with niphatid sponges from the coast of the Bahia State, northeastern coast of the Brazilian shelf (southwestern Atlantic). Two new species are described, Amphimedon estelae sp. nov. and Niphates luizae sp. nov. A taxonomic study of those samples is given, including description and illustrations. Both species were compared with their congeners present in the Atlantic Ocean.

A new species of Miroculis Edmunds, 1963 (Ephemeroptera: Leptophlebiidae) from northeastern Brazil.

Miroculis stenopterus, sp. nov., is described based on material from State of Pernambuco, Northeastern Brazil. The imago of the new species can be distinguished, among other characteristics, by an uncommon forewing shape, long and narrow, similar to species of genus Microphlebia. The tentatively associated nymph can be distinguished from other species of the genus mainly by the abdominal color pattern and the ratio of labial palp segment 2 to segment 1 (1.01-1.04 x).

Two-winged Cloeodes in Brazil: new species, stage description, and key to South American species.

The present work, based on material from northern, central-western, and northeastern Brazil, contributes to the knowledge of the two-winged Cloeodes Traver (Ephemeroptera: Baetidae) in South America. Two new species, C. maracatu, sp. nov. and C. spaceki, sp. nov., are described, the former based on nymphs and reared adults and the latter only on nymphs; the male and female imago of C. auwe and the female imago of C. redactus are described. Based on these findings, an updated key for South American nymphs and male adults of the two-winged Cloeodes is provided.

New species of Myrmekioderma (Demospongiae: Halichondrida: Heteroxyidae) from Brazil.

The genus Myrmekioderma comprises eight species widely distributed, two of which occur in the Western Atlantic. We describe here a new species of Myrmekioderma from Northeastern Brazil with a discussion on the taxonomy of the Brazilian species. Samples were collected by trawling in the continental shelf of Sergipe and Alagoas States. Myrmekioderma intrastrongyla sp. nov. has strongyles in the choanosome, a single category of acanthoxea and two categories of trichodragmata. Regarding the external morphology, the closest species of M intrastrongyla sp. nov. are Myrmekioderma rea and M granulatum. However, the former differs from the new species by possessing oxeas and styles and the last by its unique category of trichodragmata. Myrmekioderma rea was the only species that was recorded for Brazil, occurring in Maranhão and Rio Grande do Sul States, but both records need to be reassessed.

Clathria (Clathria) Schmidt, 1862 from Brazil with description of a new species and a review of records (Poecilosclerida: Demospongiae: Porifera).

We report and describe material of Clathria (Clathria) (Poecilosclerida: Microcionina: Microcionidae) collected from the coast of Brazil: Clathria (C.) nicoleae sp. nov., Clathria (C.) calypso and Clathria (C.) prolifera. Clathria (C.) calypso is also redescribed. Specimens previously recorded from Brazil as Clathria (C.) prolifera were considered to fit better in the taxon Clathria (Wilsonella). The new species was compared with all other (twenty-five) Clathria (C.) species occurring in the Atlantic. The new species differs from the other species by overall morphology and presence of auxiliary tylostrongyle megascleres.

New species for Thraulodes Ulmer, 1920 (Ephemeroptera: Leptophlebiidae: Atalophlebiinae) and the first key to adults from Brazil.

Four new species of the mayfly genus Thraulodes Ulmer are described based on imagos from Northeastern and Southern Brazil: Thraulodes luizgonzagai sp. nov., Thraulodes sternimaculatus sp. nov., Thraulodes alapictus sp. nov., and Thraulodes pinhoi sp. nov. The new species can be easily differentiated by the abdominal color pattern and genitalia morphology. The first key to adults from Brazil is provided.

Two new species of Aaptos (Demospongiae, Hadromerida) from Brazil (western Atlantic).

Twenty-one species of Aaptos Gray, 1867 are known world-wide, of which only three were reported from Brazil. Two new species of this genus are here described from the Brazilian coast (Potiguar Basin, Northeastern Brazil): A. hajdui sp. nov. and A. potiguarensis sp. nov. Both possess only one category of strongyloxeas and one of styles, although both with wide size variation, suggesting that the diagnosis of the genus should be revised. Previous Brazilian records of A. aaptos have their status re-evaluated here, and only three species of the genus can be considered valid in Brazil: A. glutinans, A. hajdui sp. nov. and A. potiguarensis sp. nov.

A new species and new records of microcaddisflies (Trichoptera: Hydroptilidae) from northeastern Brazil.

The Hydroptilidae constitute the most diverse and widespread family of Trichoptera in the world. About 90 species of microcaddisflies have been recorded from Brazil, but the northeastern region is one of the least-sampled. In this work we describe a new species of Metrichia from Pernambuco State. Furthermore, we present the first records of Flintiella andreae Angrisano 1995 and Oxyethira bettyae Thomson & Holzenthal 2012 from Brazil, and four other new records from the northeastern region.

A new species of Acarnus Gray, 1867 (Porifera, Demospongiae, Acarnidae) from NE Brazil.

The synapomorphic character of the genus Acarnus Gray, 1867 is the presence of the cladotylote spicule. Acarnus has 27 valid species worldwide, including five species reported from the Brazilian coast: A. innominatus Gray, 1867, A. nicoleae van Soest, Hooper & Hiemstra, 1991, A. souriei (Lévi, 1952), A. radovani (Boury-Esnault, 1973) and A. toxeata Boury-Esnault, 1973. Here we will describe A. microxeatus sp. nov., whose diagnosis is the presence of smooth microxeas and acanthoxeas, new characters for the genus. We also provide a complete characterization of the skeletal architecture and spicule morphology of A. toxeata, with scanning electron microscopy image (SEM) of the spicule set.

Two news species of Corallistidae (Porifera; Demospongiae; Tetractinellida) with a first record of Awhiowhio from the Atlantic.

In the present study, we describe two new species of Corallistidae from Brazil, comparing them to all valid species of the respective genera. Both are notable Porifera records, with the first specimen of Neophrissospongia Pisera and Lévi, 2002 registered for the Brazilian coast and the first specimen of Awhiowhio Kelly, 2007 registered for the Atlantic Ocean. The specimens were preserved in 80% ethanol and analyzed following classical procedure for Demospongiae, with dissociated spicule mounts, skeletal sections and Scanning Electron Microscopy. Neophrissospongia jorgeorum sp. nov. is differentiated from its congeners by the categories of spicules present, especially the lack of streptasters/amphiasters. Awhiowhio saci sp. nov. is characterized especially by the presence of spiraster-shaped microrhabds and microxeas.

New records of Neopetrosia carbonaria (Lamarck, 1814) from the Brazilian coast reveal new morphological features and spicule types.

Sponges of the family Petrosiidae have usually a stony and brittle texture due the high silica content of the mineral skeleton that is formed by a more-or-less regular isotropic reticulation of undefined primary and secondary tracts. Neopetrosia species are distributed worldwide and twelve species are found in the Tropical Western Atlantic Ocean, of which four are recorded from the Brazilian coast. Here, we describe new Neopetrosia carbonaria specimens from several localities along the NE Brazilian coast, analyze the Neopetrosia carbonaria holotype and review the previous record of N. carbonaria from the Brazilian coast. Our study reveals new morphological features and spicule types in the Brazilian populations of N. carbonaria. Now, Neopetrosia carbonaria is defined by a thick encrusting to repent or ramose sponge, with reddish brown to brown color or dark green to black color in vivo, two categories of oxeas as megascleres and raphidiform toxas as microscleres. These toxas are quite rare and occur in both black and brown sponges. Due the absence and rarity of raphidiform toxas in some specimens, unrelated to its color, we assume that these differences are intraspecific. However, we suggest that all records of Neopetrosia carbonaria should be reevaluated, since toxas can be easily overlooked, added to the use of molecular methods to investigate the relationship between the Caribbean and Brazilian populations.

Lissodendoryx Topsent, 1892 (Poecilosclerida: Coelosphaeridae) from Brazil: a new species and transfer of Strongylacidon oxychaetum Menegola, Santos, Moraes & Muricy, 2012 to the genus Lissodendoryx.

The genus Lissodendoryx Topsent, 1892 has 118 valid species for the world, with five species records for Brazil. Here, we provide a description of Lissodendoryx (Waldoschmittia) almeidai sp. nov., distinguished from the other species of the subgenus by its spicular dimensions and spicular set, composed of oxeas as choanosomal megascleres, tylotes and arcuate isochelae. Also, we transfer Strongylacidon oxychaetum to Lissodendoryx (Anomodoryx), and record, for the first time, Lissodendoryx (Lissodendoryx) carolinensis from Brazil in addition to Lissodendoryx (Anomodoryx) vulcanus from Pernambuco State.

Checklist, diversity descriptors and selected descriptions of a highly diverse intertidal sponge (Porifera) assemblage at Costa do Descobrimento (Bahia, Brazil).

Costa do Descobrimento is located in southern Bahia, Brazil, and only 22 species of sponges (Porifera) were known from the area until now, despite its important reef formations. In the present study, we report a checklist of the sponges of Costa do Descobrimento and their distribution in the studied reefs, with several species illustrated in life. We also describe nine new sponge records for this region, some of which are new records for Brazil, or new records of species previously only poorly known. We present alpha and beta diversity indices and compare the sponge assemblage of the sampled locations. Four reefs were considered: two fringing reefs (Arraial D'Ajuda-AA and Coroa Vermelha / Mutá-CVM) and two offshore Municipal Marine Park "Parque Municipal Marinho- (P.M.M. Coroa Alta-CA and P.M.M. Recife de Fora-RF). A total of 229 specimens were collected (224 Demospongiae, 2 Homoscleromorpha and 3 Calcarea). These were classified in 101 morphotypes. Studied materials included representatives of 15 orders, 34 families and 48 genera. The richest orders are Haplosclerida (29 spp.), Poecilosclerida (15 spp.) and Tetractinellida (11 spp.). The richest families were Chalinidae (24 spp.), Clionaidae (7 spp.) and Mycalidae and Suberitidae (6 spp. each). The richest genus is, by far, Haliclona (20 spp.). Only 13 species were shared among all four reefs surveyed, namely Amphimedon viridis, Cinachyrella alloclada, C. apion, Cladocroce caelum, Cliona varians, Dysidea robusta, Mycale (Naviculina) diversisigmata, Niphates erecta, Spirastrella hartmani, Tedania (Tedania) ignis, Terpios fugax, Tethya bitylastra and T. maza. The reefs with the highest richness were CA and CVM, and the lowest richness was observed in RF. The most similar reefs in terms of species composition were CA and CVM, while AA and RF were more dissimilar to the previous reefs, but also from each other. While the difference among CA, CVM and AA was mainly explained by species turnover, RF differed from the previous based on its lower richness (nestedness component). Even though CA and CVM were the richest reefs, AA presented the highest number of exclusive species, highlighting the uniqueness of this reef, and urging the inclusion of local beachrock fringing reefs in a more holistic conservation strategy at Costa do Descobrimento.

A new species of Desmacella Schmidt, 1870 (Porifera, Demospongiae, Desmacellidae) from the Northeast region of Brazil.

Desmacella is a Desmacellidae characterized by monactinal megascleres, arranged in plumose bundles; microscleres are sigmas and raphides; the latter may be absent (Hajud & Van Soest 2002). Thirty species are known worldwide, of which 19 occur in the Atlantic Ocean and three on the Brazilian coast: Desmacella annexa Schmidt, 1870; D. microsigmata, Cavalcanti, Santos & Pinheiro, 2015; D. tylovariabilis, Cavalcanti, Santos & Pinheiro, 2015 (de Voogd et al. 2022; Muricy 2022). In this paper, a new species of Desmacella from the Northeast region of Brazil is described. The material examined was compared with the descriptions and/or characterizations of all Desmacella species that occur in the Atlantic Ocean (Cavaltanti et al. 2015: 367-368). The specimen was preserved in ethanol 80% and is deposited in the Porifera Collection of the Natural History Museum of the Universidade Federal da Bahia.