Cytotoxic Activity in Freshwater Sponges

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Authors
Bania, Buck
Advisor
John Addis
Sam Alvey
Ron Wilde
Editor
Date of Issue
2007-04-01
Subject Keywords
freshwater sponge, Ephydatia muelleri, Spongilla lacustris
Publisher
Citation
Series/Report No.
item.page.identifier
Title
Cytotoxic Activity in Freshwater Sponges
Other Titles
Type
thesis
Description
Abstract
Cytotoxic compounds, presumably functioning in defense against predators, parasites, and infectious organisms, are produced or sequestered by a variety of invertebrate animals. Marine sponges, in particular, have proven to be a rich source of these compounds, and many of the compounds or derivatives of them are valuable pharmaceutically. Preliminary work suggested that freshwater sponges may also harbor cytotoxic/ such compounds. In order to examine this possibility, I extracted specimens two species of freshwater sponges, Ephydatia muelleri and Spongilla lacustris, with a range of solvents and tested for cytotoxic activity using a brine shrimp survival assay. I confirmed that freshwater sponges contain cytotoxic activity and also began a characterization of the molecule (or molecules) responsible for this activity using partitioning, silica gel chromatography, and ultrafiltration. My results suggest that the active molecules are relatively polar and have molecular masses of 3000 - 30,000 Da.
Sponsors
Degree Awarded
Bachelor's
Semester
Spring
Department
Life & Environmental Sciences