Scientists with the MBBR Program have found sponges that show activity against the deadly antibiotic-resistant staphylococcus bacteria, methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), as well as a lesser-known bacterium that causes problems for people with cystic fibrosis and other diseases. One compound, discodermolide, a natural product from a Caribbean sponge that attacks cancer cells, made it to phase 1 clinical trial.
As a sponge expert, Shirley Pomponi, Ph.D., a research professor at FAU Harbor Branch in the MBBR program, was recruited in 1984 to help organize the sampling efforts and identify specimens that contained promising chemicals. “I have been part of a dedicated team that has discovered marine-derived chemicals that will benefit human health, and that’s been extremely satisfying,” she said.
Additionally, in 2019, after 19 years of trying, she was able to get a cell line from sponges – which allows her to get chemicals from the cells rather than needing to collect living sponges. To Pomponi, achieving that was like finding the Holy Grail, she said. “Now, there are all kinds of really interesting hypotheses to test,” Pomponi said. For her, that means she can now help find ways to restore and conserve habitats dominated by sponges but impacted by hurricanes, disease, or algal blooms by being able to grow and plant them out in the wild by constructing mini sponges from the cells using 3D bioprinters.
For many at FAU Harbor Branch, collaboration is at the heart of opportunity. Brian Lapointe, a research professor at FAU Harbor Branch, for example, has been able to publish groundbreaking papers due to long-term data collection. Most recently, with 30 years of unique data from Looe Key Reef in the lower Florida Keys, he discovered that the problem of coral bleaching is not only due to a warming planet, but also because of excess nitrogen in the water. “Working at FAU Harbor Branch has afforded me the opportunity to do really unique, long-term research,” Lapointe said.
Dennis Hanisak, Ph.D., who started in 1977 as a postdoctoral researcher and is now a research professor at FAU Harbor Branch and director of the Indian River Lagoon Observatory (IRLO), specializes in the study of marine plants,
like seagrasses and seaweeds. For many years, Hanisak said that the plants were often overlooked, despite their importance as nursery grounds for fish and other animals. In the last few years, he created an innovative seagrass nursery, because the marine plants are disappearing in the Indian River Lagoon due to algae blooms and the ongoing pollution issues. “And flashforward now, everyone is talking about them because they’re all gone, and manatees are dying because they’re starving,” said Hanisak, adding seagrass is the main food source of Florida manatees.
Like Lapointe, Hanisak has seen the natural world change before his eyes faster than he ever thought possible. He too worked on the Florida reef and “it died before my eyes,” he said. Throughout Hanisak’s career, he has seen new fields emerge like restoration ecology and conservation biology that weren’t around when he started, to address these threats due to human activity.
The work of scientists like Hanisak, Lapointe and others is critical for marine ecosystem conservation. Results from these studies help inform policy makers as they develop sound conservation, management and restoration strategies to protect and save our oceans.
“Now more than ever, there is a critical need to understand the ocean, and how to best manage this complex ecosystem for the benefit of society,” Sullivan said. “FAU Harbor Branch was founded in the spirit of ocean exploration to unveil the mysteries of the deep. To this day, the institute relentlessly pursues innovative ocean research, while providing top-tier educational programs that will lead us to solve the most pressing issues facing our oceans.” ♦