Exploring the interaction between symbiotic bacteria from seagrass-associated sponges and biofilm-forming bacteria

Marine sponges rely on their intricate and varied bacterial communities to sustain their ecological balance and health. The structure and role of bacterial communities are affected by environmental factors and sponge species. One ecological function of symbiotic bacteria is to prevent the formation of biofilms by pathogenic bacteria that could potentially compromise sponges' health. This study investigates the antibiofilm activities of symbiotic bacteria isolated from seagrass associated sponges residing under dynamic conditions. Bacteria were isolated from various sponge species from seagrass ecosystem and assessed for their capacity to inhibit biofilm-forming bacteria discovered on submerged wood and fiber panels in contaminated marine habitats. A double-layer experiment was conducted utilizing Zobell 2216E media to evaluate antagonism among 44 bacterial isolates derived from nine sponge species. Twenty-five isolates exhibited inhibitory activity against five biofilm-forming bacteria, with FP2 being the most substantially inhibited strain. Eight symbiotic bacteria exhibited high to very high antibiofilm activity. Statistical analysis revealed groupings of bacteria with similar inhibition patterns, indicating a potential association with specific inhibitory mechanisms. The 16 S rRNA sequencing research revealed that the symbiotic bacteria are categorized into the Firmicutes and α- and γ-Proteobacteria groups, with potential unique strains identified. The findings suggest that bacteria from seagrass-associated sponges and their secondary metabolites could aid in the development of compounds for biofilm prevention and management.