Ochridaspongia rotunda

Ochridaspongia rotunda is freshwater sponge endemic to Lake Ohrid. This sponge is found mostly at depths of 30–50 m and water temperatures of 6–8 °C. Its circular shape indicates the animal lives under conditions of relatively calm water.

Ochridaspongia rotunda
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Porifera
Class: Demospongiae
Order: Spongillida
Family: Malawispongiidae
Genus: Ochridaspongia
Species:
O. rotunda
Binomial name
Ochridaspongia rotunda
Arndt, 1937[1]

Possible medicinal uses edit

Following comparative tests with positive controls of its extracts against 8 bacterial and 8 fungal strains, Ohridaspongia rotunda has been described as a potential "gold mine of new antimicrobial substances with significant and broad-range activity".[2] Current research is investigating its acetone extracts for application in the treatment of Alzheimer's disease, for which it has demonstrated promising inhibitory activity.[3] These may originate with symbiotic bacteria hosted by the sponge and further research is required.[3]

References edit

  1. ^ "Ochridaspongia rotunda". World Register of Marine Species. Retrieved 18 September 2012.
  2. ^ Pejin, B.; Talevski, A.; Ciric, A.; Glamoclija, J.; Nikolic, M.; Talevski, T. & Sokovic, M. (2014). "In vitro evaluation of antimicrobial activity of the freshwater sponge Ochridaspongia rotunda (Arndt, 1937)". Natural Product Research. 28 (18): 1489–1494. doi:10.1080/14786419.2014.911297. PMID 24804931.
  3. ^ a b Talevska, A.; Pejin, B.; Beric, T. & Stankovic, S. (2017). "Further insight into the bioactivity of the freshwater sponge Ochridaspongia rotunda". Pharmaceutical Biology. 55:1: 1313–1316. doi:10.1080/13880209.2017.1297468. PMC 6130583.

External links edit