The culture of marine molluscs became, in the last ten years, an important source of income for communities living along the coast of Santa Catarina State, Brazil. The scallop Nodipecten nodosus is a species with high potential for aquaculture, and cultivation at pilot/experimental scale has been carried out in the state with excellent prospects. The present study aimed to identify and characterize the fouling organisms on N. nodosus and also assess scallop growth and survival. Samples were collected from N. nodosus shells cultured at Canto Grande Beach, Santa Catarina State, from June 2006 to July 2007. Thirty-one taxa of eight groups were collected from scallop valves, but only 10 taxa represented more than 98% of the total abundance. Despite increased richness of species and differences in abundance and diversity, no evidence of ecological succession was found. Even after 467 days of study without cleaning the valves, scallops presented high growth (5.58 mm month-1) and survival rates (~90%).

El cultivo de moluscos marinos se ha convertido en los últimos años en una importante fuente de ingresos para comunidades del litoral del estado de Santa Catarina, Brasil. La vieira Nodipecten nodosus es una especie con alto potencial para la acuicultura, y su cultivo a escala experimental/piloto ya se desarrolla con excelentes perspectivas. El presente trabajo tuvo como objetivo identificar y caracterizar los organismos incrustantes sobre las valvas de N. nodosus y evaluar el crecimiento y la supervivencia de las vieiras. Se recolectaron muestras de conchas de N. nodosus cultivada en la playa de Canto Grande, Santa Catarina, entre junio de 2006 y julio de 2007. Se recolectaron 31 taxones de ocho grupos de las valvas de las vieiras, pero sólo 10 taxones representaron mas del 98% de la abundancia total. A pesar de la alta riqueza de especies y diferencias en la abundancia y diversidad, no se encontró evidencia de sucesión ecológica. Luego de 467 días de cultivo sin limpiar las valvas, las vieiras presentaron altas tasas de crecimiento (5.58 mm mes-1) y supervivencia (~90%).

We report the antibiofilm activity by the sponge-associated bacterium Cobetia marina upon Staphylococcus epidermidis clinical isolates obtained from central venous catheters. Antibiofilm activity/antimicrobial susceptibility correlation might predict the action of the metabolite(s) upon Staphylococcus epidermidis in the clinic, making it a possible adjuvant in therapies against biofilm-associated infections.

Extratos aquosos de vinte espécies de esponjas da costa Atlântica brasileira foram testados para verificação da presença de atividade lectínica e atividade hemolítica. Hemaglutinação para eritrócitos humanos e de distintos animais foi evidenciada em 12 dos 20 extratos testados. Os extratos das espécies Axinella corrugata, Chondrilla nucula, Chondrosia collectrix, Cinachyrella alloclada e Guitarra sp1. foram os que apresentaram maior atividade hemaglutinante. Dos doze extratos com atividade hemaglutinante dez tiveram a atividade inibida por um ou mais açúcares e/ou glicoproteínas. A lectina do extrato de Chondrilla nucula foi resistente à desnaturação térmica quando aquecida a 100 ºC por 60 minutos. Atividade hemolítica foi encontrada apenas nos extratos de Petromica citrina e Acervochalina sp. As espécies que apresentaram maior potencial para futuros estudos de suas lectinas foram Axinella corrugata, Chondrilla nucula e Chondrosia collectrix, em vista da maior atividade hemaglutinante apresentada por seus extratos, aliada à maior atividade específica.

Aqueous extracts of twenty species of sea sponges of the Brazilian Atlantic coast were tested with the aim of searching the presence of lectinic and hemolytic activity. Hemagglutinating activity for human erythrocytes and for distinct animals were found in 12 of the 20 tested extracts. The extracts of Axinella corrugata, Chondrilla nucula, Chondrosia collectrix, Cinachyrella alloclada and Guitarra sp1. were the ones that presented highest hemagglutinating activity. Ten of the 12 hemagglutinating extracts had the activity inhibited by one or more sugars or glycoproteins. The lectin from Chondrilla nucula was resistant to thermal denaturation when heated up to 100 ºC for 60 minutes. Hemolytic activity was only found in the extracts from Petromica citrina and Acervochalina sp. The species of sea sponges that showed major potential for futures studies of their lectins were Axinella corrugata, Chondrilla nucula and Chondrosia collectrix, due to the highest hemagglutinating activity presented by their extracts, allied to the highest specific activity.