The microbiome of marine sponges located on the Saudi Arabia coast of the Red sea using high-throughput 16S amplicon sequencing

Marine sponges (Porifera) from the Red Sea host diverse microbial communities that are integral to sponge health, nutrient cycling, and ecological resilience. Using high-throughput 16S rRNA amplicon sequencing, we characterized the bacterial diversity and functional potential across several Red Sea sponge species. Our findings revealed that these microbiomes are dominated by Alphaproteobacteria, Gammaproteobacteria, and Roseobacteraceae, with notable contributions from bacterial taxa involved in nitrogen fixation, organic matter degradation, and antimicrobial compound production. Functional predictions indicate that these symbionts support sponge nutrition, defense, and adaptation to the extreme Red Sea environment, including high salinity and temperature. Compared to sponge microbiomes from other marine regions, the Red Sea communities display unique taxonomic compositions and enhanced metabolic and defensive capacities. This highlights the essential ecological roles and potential biotechnological applications of these symbiotic assemblages. Our study underscores the significance of exploring sponge-associated microbiomes in understudied and extreme marine ecosystems. These results provide a foundation for future bioprospecting and work on adaptive mechanisms, emphasizing the value of Red Sea sponges and their microbiota for marine biotechnology and ecosystem resilience.