A high quality whole chromosomal genome of the sponge Diacarnus erythraeanus and the metagenomes of its microbial associates have been published from the Photosymbiosis Hub, a component of the Wellcome Sanger Institute/Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation Aquatic Symbiosis Genome (ASG) Project. Dr. Laura Steindler has studied this common sponge and marine microbial associations for a number of years at the University of Haifa and has shepherded the collection of Red sea samples and its biological characterization. For example, like many sponge species, Diacarnus erythraeanus has the potential to produce bioactive secondary metabolites, such as terpenes with anti-cancer properties. This is a sponge belongs in the Heteroscleromorpha subclass of the Porifera phylum with more than nominal 8500 species.
https://wellcomeopenresearch.org/articles/10-466/v1
s
Lopez Lab @ NSU 