MOLECULAR IDENTIFICATION OF SPONGES OBTAINED FROM SERIBU ISLANDS NATIONAL PARK AND THEIR ASSOCIATED BACTERIA

Abstract

Sponges are simple multicellular animals that produced many pharmaceutical secondary metabolites. Some sponge-associated bacteria are proven to produce the same metabolites as their host, giving an opportunity to mass produce the potential metabolites. The aim of this research was to analyze the diversity of sponge-associated bacteria and to identify  the host sponge. Samples were collected from Seribu Islands National Park. Partial identification of sponges were conducted by molecular technique with the mitochondrial cytochrome oxidase subunit 1 (CO1) as the target area. The diversity of sponge-associated bacteria was determined by Terminal Restriction Fragment Length Polymorphism (T-RFLP) method. Result showed that sponges PS-17-12 has similarity with Petrosia sp., while PS-26-12 and PS-38-12 has similarity with Xestospongia muta. From the 3 sponge samples, 85 species of bacteria was obtained which can be classified into 9 phylums and 1 uncultured bacteria/environment sample. Some of  the sponge-associated bacteria identified were known as a potential producer of metabolites with antibiotic activity.