Exploration of Deepwater Habitats off Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands for Biotechnology Potential

Past Expedition

Primary Goal

Collect marine organisms (e.g., sponges, corals, and microorganisms) that may contain natural products that can be developed into useful pharmaceutical products

Dates

April 10 - 21, 2024

Location

Gulf of Mexico/Caribbean

Vessel

Research Vessel F.G. Walton Smith

Primary Technology

Remotely operated vehicle

Overview

April 10-21, 2024, a research team led by scientists at Florida Atlantic University’s Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institute (HBOI) explored marine habitats in deepwater areas around Puerto Rico. Using a Mohawk remotely operated vehicle (ROV), they sought out marine organisms (e.g., sponges, corals, and microorganisms) that may contain natural products that can be developed into useful pharmaceutical products.

The Mohawk remotely operated vehicle on the deck of Research Vessel F.G. Walton Smith off the coast of Puerto Rico during Exploration of Deepwater Habitats off Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands for Biotechnology Potential. — The Mohawk remotely operated vehicle on the deck of Research Vessel *F.G. Walton Smith* off the coast of Puerto Rico during Exploration of Deepwater Habitats off Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands for Biotechnology Potential. *Image courtesy of Exploration of Deepwater Habitats off Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands for Biotechnology Potential.*
Download largest version (jpg, 2.2 MB).

Map showing the locations of remotely operated vehicle dives conducted (red arrows) and originally planned (green dots) for Exploration of Deepwater Habitats off Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands for Biotechnology Potential. *Map courtesy of Exploration of Deepwater Habitats off Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands for Biotechnology Potential.*
Download largest version (jpg, 238 KB).

During the expedition, the team conducted 16 successful ROV dives — as many as three a day — to depths that ranged from 70 to 505 meters (230 to 1,657 feet), collecting video, still photos, and samples. Team members included a sponge expert and a coral expert. From their monitors in the ship’s control room, they watched video of the dives, looking for sponges and gorgonian corals, and collecting those that either were different from past collections or that are known to have rich chemistry in the hopes of finding some that have benefits to human health.

Two white sponges seen off northwestern Puerto Rico at a depth of 109 meters (358 feet) during Exploration of Deepwater Habitats off Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands for Biotechnology Potential. The white sponge on the right was collected and is an Aplysina sp. The research team recently found that another species of Aplysina has active compounds that are useful against triple negative breast cancer cells when grown as small tumors. They’re hoping this one has active compounds too! — Two white sponges seen off northwestern Puerto Rico at a depth of 109 meters (358 feet) during Exploration of Deepwater Habitats off Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands for Biotechnology Potential. The white sponge on the right was collected and is an *Aplysina* sp. The research team recently found that another species of *Aplysina* has active compounds that are useful against triple negative breast cancer cells when grown as small tumors. They’re hoping this one has active compounds too! *Image courtesy of Exploration of Deepwater Habitats off Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands for Biotechnology Potential.*
Download largest version (jpg, 5.06 MB).

A Spongosorites siliquaria collected off western Puerto Rico at a depth of 84 meters (276 feet) during Exploration of Deepwater Habitats off Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands for Biotechnology Potential. Spongosorites sponges are very rich in chemistry. Some contain topsentins, which are potent anti-inflammatory compounds; some have dragmacidin G, a broad-spectrum antibiotic; and others have dragmacidin D, which kills triple negative breast cancer cells when grown as small tumors. The research team is always excited when they see a Spongosorites. — A *Spongosorites siliquaria* collected off western Puerto Rico at a depth of 84 meters (276 feet) during Exploration of Deepwater Habitats off Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands for Biotechnology Potential. *Spongosorites* sponges are very rich in chemistry. Some contain topsentins, which are potent anti-inflammatory compounds; some have dragmacidin G, a broad-spectrum antibiotic; and others have dragmacidin D, which kills triple negative breast cancer cells when grown as small tumors. The research team is always excited when they see a *Spongosorites*. *Image courtesy of Exploration of Deepwater Habitats off Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands for Biotechnology Potential.*
Download largest version (jpg, 4.72 MB).

A possible new species of Aplysina sponge collected off western Puerto Rico at a depth of 84 meters (276 feet) during Exploration of Deepwater Habitats off Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands for Biotechnology Potential. — A possible new species of *Aplysina* sponge collected off western Puerto Rico at a depth of 84 meters (276 feet) during Exploration of Deepwater Habitats off Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands for Biotechnology Potential. *Image courtesy of Exploration of Deepwater Habitats off Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands for Biotechnology Potential.*
Download largest version (jpg, 6.43 MB).

A gorgonian with a brittle star seen off southwestern Puerto Rico at a depth of 366 meters (1,201 feet) during Exploration of Deepwater Habitats off Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands for Biotechnology Potential. *Image courtesy of Exploration of Deepwater Habitats off Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands for Biotechnology Potential.*
Download largest version (jpg, 772 KB).

The pink and green dots in the images above are laser lights from the remotely operated vehicle. The like-colored dots are spaced 10 centimeters (4 inches) apart and are used to estimate the size of an animal.

In total, the team collected 136 samples: 112 sponges, 17 octocorals, 2 stony corals, 2 black corals, and 1 worm, as well as some red and green algae. One of the sponges collected may be new to science, but DNA sequencing will need to be done before we know for sure.

At the end of a dive during Exploration of Deepwater Habitats off Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands for Biotechnology Potential, the bioboxes on the Mohawk remotely operated vehicle are full of samples to be tested for their biotechnology potential. *Image courtesy of Exploration of Deepwater Habitats off Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands for Biotechnology Potential.*
Download largest version (jpg, 7.96 MB).

As soon as the samples were brought to the surface, they were removed from the ROV’s bioboxes, and the processing began. First, the samples were organized and tagged. Then, to avoid contamination that may be introduced later in the processing, samples were “subsampled” (small pieces were taken) for a variety of purposes:

All samples were subsampled for DNA archiving and identification.
Some sponges were subsampled and then their cells were separated and frozen for HBOI’s sponge biobank.
Two samples were subsampled each day for microbial culture (which enables microbes to multiply) for the microbial libraries at HBOI and Mote Marine Lab.

After this initial subsampling, each sample was photographed and then further subsampled for a quick chemistry analysis and a voucher to be stored and made available for future taxonomic studies. Whatever was left of the sample after all the subsampling was frozen for future chemical studies and testing to evaluate their pharmaceutical potential.

Esther Guzmán and Kirstie Francis process a sample in the wet lab on Research Vessel F.G. Walton Smith during Exploration of Deepwater Habitats off Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands for Biotechnology Potential. — Esther Guzmán and Kirstie Francis process a sample in the wet lab on Research Vessel *F.G. Walton Smith* during Exploration of Deepwater Habitats off Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands for Biotechnology Potential. *Image courtesy of Exploration of Deepwater Habitats off Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands for Biotechnology Potential.*
Download largest version (jpg, 6.48 MB).

While at sea, the team was also interested in documenting fish, invasive coral, and trash. Unfortunately, they saw very few fish during most dives, which suggested the areas have been overfished. While they did see many invasive lionfish, they didn’t see any invasive corals at the depths they visited.

Despite the many successful collections, the expedition wasn’t all smooth sailing. Prior to departure, the team had difficulties setting expedition dates and getting the required research permits. While at sea, bad weather, seasick teammates, and issues with the ship and the ROV presented anticipated and unanticipated challenges. Yet, through it all, team members persevered: the ship crew worked all night to repair the ship’s engine, the ROV crew operated for most of the expedition without the ability to track the ROV, and the science crew stepped in and helped wherever they could. The exemplary teamwork made for a pleasant expedition and contributed to its success.

The whole shipboard team from Exploration of Deepwater Habitats off Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands for Biotechnology Potential, including the science crew, ship crew, and remotely operated vehicle crew. *Image courtesy of Exploration of Deepwater Habitats off Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands for Biotechnology Potential.*
Download largest version (jpg, 868 KB).

Back on shore, samples and subsamples collected during the expedition have been stored in and will be shared via a suite of long-term repositories to enable future biopharmaceutical research and development. In the near term, select samples are being studied for identification purposes and others are being processed further and will be tested to determine their biotechnological potential. Knowledge gained as a result of this work will contribute to the treatment and prevention of existing and emerging illnesses and diseases.

Using Shrunken Styrofoam Cups for Outreach

Subjecting decorated styrofoam cups to the intense pressure of the deep ocean has been a tradition among deep-sea explorers for decades. This pressure causes the cups to compress, resulting in fun keepsakes. Learn about how shrunken styrofoam cups were used for outreach in association with a recent expedition.

October 3, 2024

Biological Collections: The HBOI Sponge Biobank

About half of the medicines we currently use are based on a natural product, including aspirin, morphine, and penicillin. Natural products are chemical compounds made by an organism that are not essential for their survival but give them some evolutionary advantage.

October 1, 2024

Culturing the Sponge Microbiome for Natural Product Discovery

About half of the medicines we currently use are based on a natural product, including aspirin, morphine, and penicillin. Natural products are chemical compounds made by an organism that are not essential for their survival but give them some evolutionary advantage.

September 24, 2024

View More View Less

The marine sponge Discodermia dissoluta, seen here, contains many natural products with potential anti-cancer use that kill cells and lower inflammation.

Natural Products and Why We Love Them So Much

About half of the medicines we currently use are based on a natural product, including aspirin, morphine, and penicillin. Natural products are chemical compounds made by an organism that are not essential for their survival but give them some evolutionary advantage.

September 19, 2024

Courtney Brooks and Madison Lytle handle the umbilical tether for the remotely operated vehicle.

My First Expedition Experience

One often doesn’t know what to expect when they accept an invitation to go to sea for an ocean exploration expedition for the very first time. In this expedition feature, Courtney Brooks describes her first expedition experience and what made it so special to her.

September 17, 2024

A selection of orange sponges collected during the search for Raspaillidae — a target sponge that contains an antiparasitic compound — during Exploration of Deepwater Habitats off Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands for Biotechnology Potential.

Wanted for Killing Parasites: Hunting for Sponge Treasure and a Treasured Sponge

During the Exploration of Deepwater Habitats off Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands for Biotechnology Potential, the team returned to a location where they’d previously collected a sponge that’s been proven beneficial to human health.

September 9, 2024

Diversity and Representation at Work at Sea

Do you notice something interesting about this picture? In a crew of 17, 10 are women! Seven of the eight science crew members are women; two of the three remotely operated vehicle crew members are women; and the ship’s second mate is a woman. This means women represented 59% of the expedition team, which is higher than the national average.

July 24, 2024

John Reed, co-chief scientist, addresses the science crew prior to a dive during Exploration of Deepwater Habitats off Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands for Biotechnology Potential. Clockwise from left to right: Megan Conkling, John Reed, Carol Kim, Courtney Brooks, Cristina Diaz and Kirstie Francis.

All in a Day’s Work

During this expedition, every day was focused on collecting samples and were largely the same tempo. Here, I describe a day’s work on F.G. Walton Smith during Exploration of Deepwater Habitats off Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands for Biotechnology Potential.

July 24, 2024

A beautiful morning on Day 1 of remotely operated vehicle operations off Isla Caja de Muertos, an island off southern Puerto Rico.

The "Perfect" Dive

During this expedition, every day was focused on collecting samples and were largely the same tempo. Here, I describe a day’s work on F.G. Walton Smith during Exploration of Deepwater Habitats off Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands for Biotechnology Potential.

July 24, 2024