As esponjas (Filo Porifera) são um dos metazoários mais antigos existentes, mas ainda facilmente encontradas em uma grande variedade de ambientes aquáticos. São um componente fundamental em diversos ecossistemas, influenciando diretamente a qualidade da água em seus habitats. Em tempos recentes são um dos grupos que mais fornece novas moléculas bioativas ou com estruturas incomuns. No entanto, são historicamente considerados um grupo de taxonomia complexa e ainda são comuns discussões acerca da sistemática ao nível de ordens ou mesmo da monofilia do grupo. Este cenário começou a ser alterado de forma marcante na última década, a partir de iniciativas multinacionais voltadas a fornecer uma base taxonômica mais sólida. No Brasil, este processo foi acompanhado pela publicação de guias de identificação para as esponjas do nosso litoral. Partindo dos dados esporádicos disponíveis em períodos anteriores, diversas iniciativas foram feitas especificamente voltadas para o levantamento das espécies de Porifera, principalmente nas regiões costeiras. Tais ações fornecem atualmente aos pesquisadores iniciantes uma base de conhecimento bem mais abrangente do que a disponível na década anterior. Nos dez anos passados desde as últimas listagens feitas para o Estado de São Paulo, houve uma alteração significativa no quadro apresentado. Conforme pôde ser verificado neste trabalho, o período foi sem sombra de dúvida o mais prolífico no que se refere ao conhecimento da espongiofauna local.

The sponges (Porifera) are one of the oldest extant metazoans, but still easily found in a wide variety of aquatic environments. They are key components in several ecosystems, directly influencing the quality of water in their habitat. In recent times, these organisms have become one of the most productive groups in providing new compounds with bioactivity or unusual structures. However, sponges are historically considered a group of complex taxonomy, and systematic discussions at order level or even about the monophyly of the group are still common. This situation began to change markedly in the last decade, with multinational initiatives aimed at providing a more solid taxonomic basis. In Brazil, this process was accompanied by the publication of identification guides of the native species. Starting from the sporadic data available in earlier periods, several initiatives were specifically targeted at the survey of Porifera species, particularly in coastal regions. Such actions now provide the researchers with a knowledge base far more comprehensive than that available a decade earlier. In the ten years since the last checklists for the São Paulo State were published, there was a significant change in the scenario. As verified by this study, the period was undoubtedly the most prolific regarding the knowledge of the local spongiofauna.

Phorbas capixaba sp. nov. is described from 54 m depth off Guarapari, diagnosed by its two clear-cut categories of isochelae from Phorbas spp. known from the Western Tropical Atlantic. Four nomina nova are proposed for homonyms in Phorbas spp.: P. bergmontae nom. nov. for P. areolatus Bergquist & Fromont, 1988, preoccupied by P. areolatus (Thiele, 1905); P. burtoni nom. nov. for P. arborescens sensu (Burton, 1956), preoccupied by P. arborescens (Ridley, 1884); P. hechteli nom. nov. for P. ramosus (Hechtel, 1983), preoccupied by P. ramosus (Lendenfeld, 1888; in part - composite species); P. tanitai nom. nov. for P. purpureus (Tanita, 1961), preoccupied by P. purpureus (Carter, 1886). Three little known species are redescribed: Aplysina alcicornis Pinheiro et al., 2007; Mycale (Aegogropila) escarlatei Hajdu et al., 1995 and Yucatania sphaeroidocladus (Hartman & Hubbard, 1999). All three are new records for Espírito Santo. The first and the last of these are range extensions, while the other fills a distribution gap. A list of sponges hitherto recorded from off Espírito Santo state, with indication of the bibliographic source of the record is given in appendix. In total, 118 species were compiled from 23 publications.

Os poríferos dos recifes do Estado de Alagoas (nordeste do Brasil) são ainda pouco conhecidos, com poucas espécies formalmente descritas. Dentre as 48 espécies de Demospongiae registradas para o estado, apenas oito pertencem à Ordem Poecilosclerida, incluindo o material (re)descrito aqui. No presente estudo se descreve uma espécie nova Mycale (Mycale) alagoana sp.nov., e duas espécies são redescritas: Lissodendoryx (Lissodendoryx) isodictyalis (Carter, 1882) e Mycale (Naviculina) diversisigmata Van Soest, 1984, ambas, primeiras redescrições formais para para o Sudoeste do Atlântico. Adicionalmente, Mycale (Aegogropila) escarlatei Hajdu et al., 1995 é registrada aqui para Alagoas pela primeira vez, na discussão das dificuldades inerentes ao reconhecimento em campo de pequenos Mycalídeos incrustantes com superfícies claramente reticuladas.

The Porifera occurring at Alagoas State reefs (north-eastern Brazil) are still little-known, with few species listed and even fewer formally described. From a total of 48 species recorded from the state, only eight belong to the Poecilosclerida, including those (re)described in this study. Here we describe a new species, Mycale (Mycale) alagoana sp.nov., and redescribe two species: Lissodendoryx (Lissodendoryx) isodictyalis (Carter, 1882) and Mycale (Naviculina) diversisigmata Van Soest, 1984, both first formal redescriptions from the Southwestern Atlantic. Additionally, Mycale (Aegogropila) escarlatei Hajdu et al., 1995 is here reported from Alagoas for the first time, in discussing the difficulties inherent to recognition in the field of small crustose Mycalids with neatly reticulated surfaces.

The present investigation reports the isolation of aeroplysinin-2, 2-(3,5-dibromo-4-methoxyphenyl)-N,N,N-trimethyletanamonium, 7,9-dibromo-10-hydroxy-8-methoxy-1-oxa-2-azaspiro[4.5]deca-2,6,8-trien-3-carboxylic acid and its methyl ester, 11-oxoaerothionin, aerothionin, 11-keto-12-hydroxyaerothionin, 11-ketofistularin-3 and fistularin-3 from Aplysina fistularis, as well as of furodysinin lactone and 9α,11α-epoxicholest-7-en-3β,5α,6α,10-tetrol-6-acetate from Dysidea sp. Although the extracts of both sponges displayed antituberculosis activity, only 11-ketofistularin-3 isolated from A. fistularis displayed antimycobacterial activity against Mycobacterium tuberculosis H34Rv, with MIC at 16 μg/mL and SI of 40, a result that reinforce that fistularin-3 derivatives are interesting leads for the development of antituberculosis drugs.

The investigation of extracts from six species of marine invertebrates yielded one new and several known natural products. Isoptilocaulin from the sponge Monanchora aff. arbuscula displayed antimicrobial activity at 1.3 mg/mL against an oxacillin-resistant strain of Staphylococcus aureus. Five inactive known dibromotyrosine derivatives, 2 6, were isolated from a new species of marine sponge, Aplysina sp. The sponges Petromica ciocalyptoides and Topsentia ophiraphidites yielded the known halistanol sulfate A (7) as an inhibitor of the antileishmanial target adenosine phosphoribosyl transferase. The ascidian Didemnum ligulum yielded asterubin (10) and the new N,N-dimethyl-O-methylethanolamine (11). The octocoral Carijoa riisei yielded the known 18-acetoxypregna-1,4,20-trien-3-one (12), which displayed cytotoxic activity against the cancer cell lines SF295, MDA-MB435, HCT8 and HL60.

No presente estudo apresentamos resultados da triagem biológica realizada com 349 extratos obtidos de esponjas marinhas, ascídias, briozoários e octocorais do Brasil, em testes contra 16 linhagens de bactérias comuns e resistentes à antibióticos, uma levedura (Candida albicans), Mycobacterium tuberculosis H37Rv, três linhagens de células tumorais MCF-7 (mama), B16 (melanoma murínico) e HCT8 (cólon), e de inibição da enzima adenina fosforribosil transferase de Leishmania tarentolae (L-APRT). Menos de 15% dos extratos de esponja marinhas apresentaram atividade antibacteriana, contra linhagens resistentes ou não a antibióticos. Quase 40% dos extratos de esponjas marinhas apresentaram atividade antimicobacteriana contra Mycobacterium tuberculosis H37Rv. Foi observada citotoxicidade para 18% dos extratos de esponjas marinhas. Finalmente, menos de 3% dos extratos de esponjas apresentaram atividade inibitória da enzima L-APRT. Menos de 10% dos extratos de ascídias apresentaram atividade antibacteriana. Mais de 25% dos extratos de ascídias apresentaram atividade contra M. tuberculosis e as três linhagens de células tumorais. Somente dois extratos obtidos da ascídia Polysyncraton sp. coletada em duas diferentes épocas (1995 e 1997) apresentaram atividade contra L-APRT. Menos de 2% dos extratos de briozoários e octocorais apresentaram atividade antibacteriana, mas uma alta percentagem de extratos destes animais apresentaram atividades citotóxica (11% e 30%, respectivamente) e antimicobacteriana (60%). O extrato de somente uma espécie de briozoário, Bugula sp., apresentou atividade inibitória da enzima L-APRT. A análise taxonômica de algumas espécies de invertebrados que forneceram alguns dos extratos mais ativos, indicou a ocorrência de atividade biológica em espécies pertencentes a grupos taxonômicos que já foram anteriormente investigados do ponto de vista químico. Estes incluem esponjas marinhas pertencentes aos gêneros Aaptos, Aplysina, Callyspongia, Haliclona, Niphates, Cliona, Darwinella, Dysidea, Ircinia, Monanchora e Mycale, ascídias dos gêneros Didemnum, Aplidium, Botrylloides, Clavelina, Polysyncraton e Symplegma, o briozoário Bugula sp. e octocorais dos gêneros Carijoa e Lophogorgia. A subseqüente investigação química de alguns dos extratos ativos levou ao isolamento de vários metabólitos secundários biologicamente ativos. Os resultados obtidos estão de acordo com resultados obtidos em programas de triagem de atividade biológica de extratos brutos de invertebrados marinhos anteriormente reportados, que apresentaram altas percentagens de extratos bioativos oriundos de Porifera, Ascidiacea, Cnidária e Bryozoa.

Herein we present the results of a screening with 349 crude extracts of Brazilian marine sponges, ascidians, bryozoans and octocorals, against 16 strains of susceptible and antibiotic-resistant bacteria, one yeast (Candida albicans), Mycobacterium tuberculosis H37Rv, three cancer cell lines MCF-7 (breast), B16 (murine melanoma ) and HCT8 (colon), and Leishmania tarentolae adenine phosphoribosyl transferase (L-APRT) enzyme. Less than 15% of marine sponge crude extracts displayed antibacterial activity, both against susceptible and antibiotic-resistant bacteria. Up to 40% of marine sponge crude extracts displayed antimycobacterial activity against M. tuberculosis H37Rv. Cytotoxicity was observed for 18% of marine sponge crude extracts. Finally, less than 3% of sponge extracts inhibited L-APRT. Less than 10% of ascidian crude extracts displayed antibacterial activity. More than 25% of ascidian crude extracts were active against M. tuberculosis and the three cancer cell lines. Only two crude extracts from the ascidian Polysyncraton sp. collected in different seasons (1995 and 1997) displayed activity against L-APRT. Less than 2% of bryozoan and octocoral crude extracts presented antibacterial activity, but a high percentage of crude extracts from bryozoan and octororal displayed cytotoxic (11% and 30%, respectively) and antimycobacterial (60%) activities. The extract of only one species of bryozoan, Bugula sp., presented inhibitory activity against L-APRT. Overall, the crude extracts of marine invertebrates herein investigated presented a high level of cytotoxic and antimycobacterial activities, a lower level of antibacterial activity and only a small number of crude extracts inhibited L-APRT. Taxonomic analysis of some of the more potently active crude extracts showed the occurrence of biological activity in taxa that have been previously chemically investigated. These include marine sponges belonging to genera Aaptos, Aplysina, Callyspongia, Haliclona, Niphates, Cliona, Darwinella, Dysidea, Ircinia, Monanchora and Mycale, ascidians of the genera Didemnum, Aplidium, Botrylloides, Clavelina, Polysyncraton and Symplegma, the bryozoan Bugula sp. and octocorals of the genera Carijoa and Lophogorgia. The subsequent chemical investigation of some of the active extracts led to the isolation of several new biologically active secondary metabolites. Our results are in agreement with previous screening programs carried out abroad, that showed a high percentage of bioactive extracts from Porifera, Ascidiacea, Cnidaria and Bryozoa.

Dois derivados cumarínicos, o ester metílico do ácido 4-esculetinocarboxílico (1) e o éster etílico do ácido 4-esculetinocarboxílico (2), foram isolados da esponja marinha Axinella cf. corrugata. A determinação estrutural dos compostos isolados foi realizada pela análise de seus dados espectroscópicos e pela síntese do composto 2. Estes são os primeiros derivados cumarínicos isolados de uma esponja marinha. O éster etílico 2 apresentou atividade in vitro contra a SARS 3Cl-protease e de inibição de células Vero infectadas com o SARS coronavírus, em concentrações que não provocaram citotoxicidade.

Two coumarin derivatives, esculetin-4-carboxylic acid methyl ester (1) and esculetin-4-carboxylic acid ethyl ester (2), have been isolated from the marine sponge Axinella cf. corrugata. Structure determination included analysis of spectroscopic data and total synthesis of compound 2. These are the first coumarin derivatives isolated from a marine sponge. The ethyl ester 2 was found to be an in vitro inhibitor of SARS 3CL-protease and an effective inhibitor of SARS-CoV replication in Vero cells at non-cytotoxic concentrations.

A re-investigação química do extrato bruto da esponja Aplysina caissara levou ao isolamento de cinco novos derivados da dibromotirosina, denominados agelocaissarinas A1, A2, B1, B2 e caissarina C, além dos já conhecidos fistularina-3 e 11-hidroxiaerotionina. Os compostos isolados tiveram suas estruturas determinadas pela análise de seus espectros de RMN mono- e bidimensionais, espectro de massas de alta resolução, infravermelho e ultravioleta. A configuração relativa das agelocaissarinas pôde ser estabelecida por análise dos espectros de RMN-¹H e modelagem molecular, enquanto que a configuração absoluta do sistema espiroxazolidínico da fistularina-3, da caissarina C e da 11-hidroxiaerotionina pôde ser estabelecida pela análise de seus espectros de dicroísmo circular. A fistularina-3 e a 11-hidroxiaerotionina apresentaram atividade antibiótica moderada contra várias linhagens de bactérias patogênicas.

The re-investigation of the crude extract obtained from the sponge Aplysina caissara led to the isolation of five new dibromotyrosine derivatives, named agelocaissarines A1, A2, B1, B2 and caissarine C, along with the already known fistularin-3 and 11-hydroxyaerothionin. All compounds were identified by analysis of mono- and bidimensional NMR spectra, high resolution mass spectra, infrared and ultraviolet spectra. The relative stereochemistry of agelocaissarines could be established by analysis of ¹H NMR spectra and molecular modeling, while the absolute configuration of the spiroxazolidine moieties of fistularin-3, caissarine C and 11-hydroxyaerothionin was established by analysis of ¹H NMR and circular dichroism spectra. Fistularin-3 and 11-hydroxyaerothionin displayed moderate antibiotic activity against several pathogenic bacteria.

Two new marine metabolites, 3Z, 6Z, 9Z-dodecatrien-1-ol (1) from the ascidian Botrylloides giganteum and 4H-pyran-2ol acetate from the sponge Ircinia felix (4) are herein reported. The known bromotyrosine compounds, 2-(3,5-dibromo-4-methoxyphenyl)-N,N,N-dimethylethanammonium (2) and 2,6-dibromo-4-(2-(trimethylammonium)ethyl)phenol (3), have been isolated from the sponge Verongula gigantea. Serotonin (5) is reported for the first time from the sponge Cliona delitrix, and tambjamines A (15) and D (16) isolated as their respective salts from the nudibranch Tambja eliora. Only tambjamine D presented cytotoxicity against CEM (IC50 12.2 µg/mL) and HL60 (IC50 13.2 µg/mL) human leukemya cells, MCF-7 breast cancer cells (IC50 13.2 µg/mL), colon HCT-8 cancer cells (IC50 10.1 µg/mL) and murine melanoma B16 cancer cells (IC50 6.7 µg/mL).

The first redescription of T. radiata Selenka, 1879 based on study of a live population and material other than the type is presented. A neotype is proposed for the species, from a locality some 400 km to the southwest as it has not been found in its original type locality, Guanabara Bay (Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro State).

Two new Mycale (Naviculiiia) Gray, 1867 are described, M. (N.) arcuiris sp. n. and M. (N.)purpurata sp. n., from the Paulista Biogeographic Province (Southwestern Atlantic). They both occur in the São Sebastião Channel area (São Paulo stale coast), the former extending its known distribution to "Arvoredo Marine Biological Reserve" (Santa Catarina state coast). The new species are sibling and differ from each other by a series of very small traits, the most notorious being live-color: yellow, orange, green, white, grey and beige, always light, in M. (N.) arcuiris sp. n. and bordeaux in M. (N.) purpúrala sp. n. Both species are compared with other known M. (Naviculiiia). Mycale (Aegogropila) henlscheli Sim & Lee, 2001 is transferred to subgenus Naviculiiia and given a new name, viz. M. (N.) chungue nom. n., as the specific name was preoccupied by M. (Curmia) henlscheli Bergquist & Fromont, 1988. An identification key for all the species hitherto assigned to the subgenus is provided.

Two species of Aplysina Nardo, 1834 are described in this article, Aplysina caissara sp. n. and A. fulva (Pallas, 1766). Additionally, a possible third species was identified as A. aff. cauliformis. Collections were done in the São Sebastião Channel area as an ongoing effort to assess the poriferan biodiversity of the northern sector of the São Paulo State coastline. Specimens were collected by scuba diving, and descriptions of external morphology are based on the observation of populations alive, and on extensive underwater photography. A literature review of other brazilian records of Aplysina was undertaken, and an ammended species list is offered.

Over 70 species of Halichondria Fleming, 1828 are known world-wide, but only five from the Brazilian Coast. Brazilian records have their status re-evaluated here, and four new species are described for the São Sebastião Channel area, in the Tropical Southwestern Atlantic, viz. H. cebimarensis sp. n., H. sulfurea sp. n., H. migottea sp. n. and H. tenebrica sp. n.

A new species of Mycale Gray, 1867 bearing raphidotoxas is described from the Namibian coast (SE Atlantic). Mycale (Aegogropila) kolletae sp. n. is characterized by having raphidotoxas up to 590 µm long, three distinct categories of anisochelae, two categories of sigmas, very small raphides, and most of all, by toxas serrated in an unusual pattern (on the inner parts of all three bends). Mycale magnirhaphidifera Van Soest, 1984 is redescribed from the Brazilian coast, based on a population from the northern São Paulo State coastline. The remaining two species with raphidotoxas, viz. Mycale rhaphidotoxa Hentschel, 1912 and M. mannarensis Thomas, 1968 are revised. Levi's (1963) record of Carmia macilenta (Bowerbank, 1866) for the South African coast was reevaluated and found conspecific with M. kolletae sp. n. It has both raphidotoxas as well as toxas with bends which are serrated on their inner surfaces. An identification key for all the Mycale with raphidotoxas is given, and a discussion on possible phylogenetic interpretations for the occurrence of raphidotoxas is advanced.

Herein we describe the isolation of homarine and piridiniumbetaine B from the sponge Aaptos sp. Although homarine has a common occurrence among animals, piridiniumbetaine B was only recently isolated from the marine sponge Agelas dispar. The isolation of piridiniumbetaine B from two taxonomically distant marine sponges corroborate previous assumptions that such betaines should be regarded rather as primary metabolites. We have also isolated (9-[5'-(methylthio)-beta-D-xylofuranosyl]adenine (xylosyl-MTA) from the mantle of a nudibranch identified as Doris aff. verrucosa. The occurrence of xylosyl-MTA in the mantle of this animal strongly suggests that it is the same nudibranch species described for the Mediterranean sea. We have been unable to detect any other compound in the mantle extract of D. aff. verrucosa other than xylosil-MTA and sterols. GC-MS analysis of the sterol fraction from the nudibranch and its prey, the sponge Hymeniacidon aff. heliophila, revealed the occurrence of the ubiquitous sterols, cholesterol, brassicasterol, cholestanol, 24-methylcholesterol and 24-ethylcholesterol, as the only common metabolites, therefore precluding any assumption concerning the sequestration of secondary metabolites by the nudibranch from H. aff. heliophila.