Mar 16, 2026
Isolating microorganisms from Scopalina sp. (marine sponge)
- Yu Jing Chiou1,
- Emmanuelle Botte1
- 1Centre for Marine Science and Innovation, School of Biological, Earth, and Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Science, The University of New South Wales, Kensington, New South Wales, Australia
Protocol Citation: Yu Jing Chiou, Emmanuelle Botte 2026. Isolating microorganisms from Scopalina sp. (marine sponge). protocols.io https://dx.doi.org/10.17504/protocols.io.4r3l2zr2xl1y/v1
License: This is an open access protocol distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited
Protocol status: Working
We use this protocol and it's working
Created: March 03, 2026
Last Modified: March 16, 2026
Protocol Integer ID: 245543
Keywords: marine sponge, common sponge species, other sponge species, isolating microorganism, microorganisms from scopalina sp, scopalina sp
Funders Acknowledgements:
Yu Jing Chiou
Emmanuelle Botte
Abstract
This protocol describes a method for isolating microorganisms from Scopalina sp., a common sponge species found in Sydney, Australia. This protocol can be adapted or modified for other sponge species or with different filter sizes to suit your purpose.
Troubleshooting
Isolating microorganisms from Scopalina sp. (marine sponge)
Prepare Calcium-Magnesium free sea water (CMFSW) first.
| Reagent | Quantity to weigh (g) | Final concentration in 1 L | |
| NaCl | 25 | 0.4 M | |
| KCl | 0.8 | 10 mM | |
| Na2SO4 | 1 | 7 mM | |
| NaHCO3 | 0.04 | 0.5 mM |
Adjust the volume to 1L with milliQ
water, autoclave and filter-sterilise before using (0.22μm)
With a sterile scalpel blade, cut a piece of sponge tissue underwater and place it in a 50mL falcon tube.
In the lab, weigh the sample (aim for a weight between 2.5g and 4g).
Place the sample in another 50mL falcon tube filled with 40mL of CMFSW.
Leave the tube shaking at 150rpm at room temperature.
Place the sample in another falcon tube filled as in step3 and repeat step4 (2 washes).
Place the sample in a mortar and use a pestle to squeeze and grind the tissue, which will separate quite quickly from the sponge fibres (skeleton) and will form an almost-liquid solution.
Place a 70μm sterile sieve over a 50mL falcon tube and pour the tissue slurry to filter it through.
Dilute the filtrate1:10 in CMFSW.
Use the swinnex cassettes to filter the sample through 8μm and subsequently 5μm.
You can now use this for further applications !