Haloferax sulfurifontis GUMFAZ2 producing xylanase-free cellulase retrieved from Haliclona sp. inhabiting rocky shore of Anjuna, Goa-India.

Salt stable cellulases are implicated in detritic food webs of marine invertebrates for their role in the degradation of cellulosic material. A haloarchaeon, Haloferax sulfurifontis GUMFAZ2 producing cellulase was successfully isolated from marine Haliclona sp., a sponge inhabiting the rocky intertidal region of Anjuna, Goa. The culture produced extracellular xylanase-free cellulase with a maximum activity of 11.7 U/ml, using carboxymethylcellulose-Na (CMC-Na), as a sole source of carbon in 3.5 M NaCl containing medium, pH 7 at 40°C and produced cellobiose and glucose, detectable by thin-layer chromatography. Nondenaturing polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis of the crude enzyme, revealed a single protein band of 19.6 kDa which on zymographic analysis exhibited cellulase activity while corresponding sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis revealed a molecular weight of 46 kDa. Unlike conventional cellulases, this enzyme is active in presence of 5 M NaCl and does not have accompanying xylanase activity, hence can be considered as xylanase-free cellulase. Such enzymes from haloarchaea offer great potential for biotechnological application because of their stability at high salinity and is therefore worth pursuing.

Sponge epizoism in the Caribbean and the discovery of new Plakortis and Haliclona species, and polymorphism of Xestospongia deweerdtae (Porifera).

The new discovery by Vicente et al. (2014) of specialized epizoic symbioses between sponges of the genera Plakortis and Xestospongia revealed the obligate interaction of two new Plakortis spp. associating with Xestospongia deweerdtae and a new Xestospongia sp. In this study we formally describe the two new Plakortis spp. as Plakortis deweerdtaephila sp. nov. (previously reported as Plakortis sp. 1), Plakortis symbiotica sp. nov. (previously reported as Plakortis sp. 2) and describe the new Xestospongia sp. epibiont as Haliclona (Halichoclona) plakophila sp. nov.  Plakortis deweerdtaephila associates only with X. deweerdtae, and has very small to large straight diods (24.2-233.7 µm long) and triods (26.4-102.6 µm long) that form large ectosomal circular meshes (114-329 µm diameter). P. symbiotica associates with both X. deweerdtae and H. plakophila, has larger curved diods (71.9-141.8 µm long) and triods (20.4-70.6 µm long) that form smaller ectosomal circular meshes (43-121 µm diameter) than P. deweerdtaephila. Phylogenetic analysis of cox1 and cob gene fragments revealed a strongly supported clade that grouped both Plakortis spp. nov. distantly from any other known Plakortis spp. H. plakophila is described as a thin encrusting veneer of tissue with occasional papillae, so far only found associated with P. symbiotica in La Parguera, Puerto Rico. Phylogenetic analysis of 18S rRNA and cox1 gene fragments place it distantly from any known clade of Haplosclerida. We found a new associated morphotype of X. deweerdtae from Bocas del Toro Panama, which completely overgrew P. deweerdtaephila. In addition, free-living morphotypes from Panama produce larger S-shaped and round bracket shaped strongyles never before observed for this species, leading us to redescribe X. deweerdtae. All X. deweerdtae morphotypes shared >99% sequence homology of cox1, 18S rRNA and 28S rRNA genes with the holotype of X. deweerdtae. This study highlights the highly variable morphological characters of X. deweerdtae influenced by lifestyle and environmental factors. This is also the first time that an obligate symbiosis with a heterospecific sponge is used as a key taxonomic character.

New records of five sponge species (Porifera) for the Black Sea.

The present study deals with five sponge species [Chalinula renieroides, Haliclona (Halichoclona) fulva, H. (Rhizoniera) rosea, Hymedesmia (Hymedesmia) pansa and Ircinia variabilis] belonging to 3 families (Chalinidae, Hymedesmiidae, and Irciniidae) found at one locality (near the opening of Kizilirmak River) on the Black Sea coast of Turkey. All these species are new records for the Black Sea. Three species (Chalinula renieroides, H. (R.) rosea and H. (H.) pansa] are also new records for the marine fauna of Turkey. All these species were previously reported from Mediterranean Sea and the eastern Atlantic Ocean. The morphological and distributional features of these species are presented.

A new species of Haliclona (Demospongiae: Haplosclerida: Chalinidae) from southeastern Brazil and the first record of Haliclona vansoesti from the Brazilian coast.

In this paper we describe two species of the cosmopolitan sponge genus Haliclona from Rio de Janeiro State, SE Brazil, one of which is new to science and the other a new record to Brazil. Haliclona (Rhizoniera) fugidia sp. nov. is brownish-pink, salmon or cream, thickly encrusting, without oscular tubes and tangential ectosomal reticulation. Choanosomal skeleton is a mostly unispicular ladder-like reticulation of oxeas, very organized near the sponge surface and denser and more disorganized in the interior of the sponge. Haliclona (Halichoclona) vansoesti de Weerdt et al., 1999 was originally described from the Caribbean. It has a very loose connection between ectosome and choanosome, a whitish translucent ectosome combined with a purplish choanosome, a cavernous structure and a friable or crispy consistency. The conspecificity of SE Brazilian and Caribbean populations of H. (Halich.) vansoesti was verified through phylogenetic analysis of small subunit 18S rRNA (18S) and mitochondrial cytochrome oxidase subunit I (COI) gene sequences. A maximum likelihood phylogenetic tree constructed with 18S sequences indicates that specimens of H. (Halich.) vansoesti from Rio de Janeiro were phylogenetically closer to the same species from the Caribbean than to other species of Haliclona. Although not available for H. (Halich.) vansoesti from the Caribbean, COI sequences of our specimens were also quite distinct from those of other Haliclona species. Molecular identification based on DNA sequences is a useful complement to traditional morphology-based taxonomy, especially in highly plastic sponges such as Haliclona spp. and other haplosclerids.

New species of Haliclona (Demospongiae: Haplosclerida: Chalinidae) from Western Australia.

Two new sponge species, Haliclona durdong sp. nov. and Haliclona djeedara sp. nov. from the south west of Western Australia are described. Morphologically distinct from each other, both species are assigned to the genus Haliclona subgenus Haliclona. Haliclona djeedara sp. nov. individuals are ficiform to lobate,  brown to beige in colour and have numerous apical oscules. Haliclona durdong sp. nov. individuals have a massive morphology, green colour, and  large funnel-like oscules. The description of these two new species brings the species of Haliclona (Haliclona) in Australia to 25.

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.