Identification of bacterial symbionts from the marine sponge aaptos suberitoides (Demospongiae: Suberitidae)

The sponges are primitive multicellular animals (metazoans) that belong to the phylum of Porifera. They are symbiotic with bacteria, archaea, microalgae and fungi, and the common symbionts organisms. Symbionts bacteria are obtained vertically through gametes and horizontal through the filter feeder process. This study aimed to isolate and the species of symbionts bacteria in Aaptos suberitoides sponge from Pasir Putih Beach waters Situbondo, East Java. Six symbionts bacterial were isolated from the sponge Aaptos suberitoides; namely, Corynebacterium hofmanni, Vibrio damsela, Oligella urethralis, Bacillus coagulan and Bordetella parapertusis. Biochemical tests confirmed that the symbiotic bacteria can perform several processes: nitrification process, citrate, urease, Voges Proskauer, decarboxylase lysine, and decarboxylase ornithine and hydrolysis aesculin. In conclusion, excluding Bacillus coagulant bacteria, symbionts bacterial were proved mostly pathogenic to humans and fish.