Sponges in Peru and their potential as a source of antibacterial compounds

In the last decades, sponges have emerged as the largest source of active compounds of animal origin for pharmaceutical purposes. In Peru information on these animals is incipient and scattered, which limits taking the right measures for their adequate management, exploitation, and conservation. The aim of this study is to provide an update on the scope and perspectives of sponge research in Peru, with an emphasis on species richness and their antibacterial potential. Likewise, research initiatives carried out in other South American Pacific countries are reviewed. Research efforts in Peru have allowed the description of 46 species; however, the sponge richness is underestimated. On the other hand, in other latitudes, active principles with antimicrobial activity have been isolated from at least 36 species belonging to 11 of the 25 genera recorded in Peru (44 %), suggesting the high potential of Peruvian sponges as a source of antibacterial metabolites. It is concluded that the implementation of projects that integrate sponge research at different scales is necessary to contribute to the development of innovation plans and bio-businesses in the fishing, aquaculture, and pharmaceutical industries.