Breadcrumbs

Bay of Plenty sponge gardens a new lead in cancer research

6 July 2021

lophon laevistylis
lophon laevistylis

The discovery of never before seen vibrant sponge gardens in deep sea reefs off the Bay of Plenty could signal a new era in the development of cancer fighting drugs, say University of Waikato researchers.

The discovery was presented at the New Zealand Marine Sciences Society Conference “Titiro whakamuri, kōkiri whakamua”, looking back to move forward, held at the University of Waikato’s Tauranga campus this week.

Bachelor of Science student Emma Donald discovered the sponges about 50 metres below the surface, off the Tauranga coastline, as part of a summer research project. Emma lost her own father Malcolm to an aggressive form of brain cancer in 2019.

“Throughout dad’s sickness, even when he could no longer talk, the things I was learning about the ocean at University would make his face light up, he would be really proud of this,” said Emma.

More than 400 scientists, iwi, and marine environmental stakeholders from universities, Crown Research Institutes and organisations have gathered at the conference to discuss how New Zealand can protect and sustainably harness the economic potential of our marine environment.

Papers being presented include how seaweed can help our agriculture industry, the migratory patterns of Bronze Whaler Sharks, research on sea level rise, and the discovery of microplastics in shellfish.

While marine biodiversity in the Bay of Plenty was extremely high, footage from the reefs showed just how little we have explored or understood the depths of our oceans, Emma said.

Conference organiser, University of Waikato Chair in Coastal Sciences, Professor Chris Battershill said the vast number of sponges was a rare find and many appeared to have affinities with species already known to have cancer fighting properties.

In 1986, Professor Battershill was part of a team of international scientists who discovered a rare sea sponge off the coast of Kaikoura in the South Island, which has since been used in the creation of the late phase breast cancer drug Halaven®.

“New Zealand is already responsible for the research behind Halaven® and another treatment for HIV AIDS derived from compounds in red algae. Those compounds are now also being investigated for use in a Covid-19 treatment,” he said.

New Zealand’s marine biodiversity presents researchers a huge opportunity to unlock bioactive compounds, he said, but the race is also on to protect our marine ecosystems from threats including land runoff, pollutants, sea temperature rise and ocean acidification.

“There are many tensions at play. We want to ramp up New Zealand’s blue economy for the benefit of New Zealand Inc, but we also want to ramp up our conservation and restoration efforts. The two priorities are fundamentally linked.”

Professor Battershill said the sponges’ discovery would form part of a new initiative at the University reawakening work on marine bioactive compounds for use in both pharmaceuticals and agrochemicals. The next step would be getting samples to analyse the sponges and formally identify them.

The University has also reengaged with American and Australian colleagues at the National Cancer Institute to begin working up leads not yet developed, he said. Researchers are additionally looking at how certain leads could be mapped into the agriculture and horticulture sectors.

The University is currently working with Zespri on a treatment for PSA from compounds in seaweed. They plan to also test similar leads against diseases including Myrtle Rust and Kauri Dieback and look at mapping alternative weed killers, he said.

“We are entering a new era for high value bioactives from marine organisms. The potential to create jobs and a high value biotech industry in New Zealand from our marine environment is huge but we must also be seeking to protect and restore what we already have,” he said.


This research aligns with the following United Nations Sustainable Development Goals:

Good Health and Well-being Climate Action Life Below Water

Latest stories

Related stories

Rapid response to protect penguins from bird flu

Professor Craig Cary wasn’t planning to spend part of his 2022/23 Antarctic deployment trekking around…

Students from the University of Waikato met with Action Manufacturing to talk about their ideas

Driving sustainability: University students and Hamilton manufacturer tackle eco-challenges

A group of University of Waikato students are helping solve sustainability challenges for the largest…

Bouncing unborn baby research between time zones secret to success

Bouncing work back and forth between time zones has allowed research into fetal development to…

Oceanography researcher recognised for making waves around the world

With a sea captain for a grandfather and childhood summers spent around the sea, it’s…

Nathan Bailey, inaugural recipient of the Tauranga Moana Futures Scholarship

Scholarship enables inaugural recipient to contribute to the redevelopment of Tauranga City

University of Waikato first-year Bachelor of Engineering student Nathan Bailey is the inaugural recipient of…

Waikato alumnus awarded prestigious University Medal.

The University of Waikato has awarded its prestigious University of Waikato Medal to alumnus Rob…

An ocean of possibilities in marine research at University of Waikato

Researchers at the University of Waikato are turning to the ocean to clean up our…

Jasmine Campbell

Exchange students fly high in Denmark and Singapore

While most of us were on summer holiday, a group of third-year University of Waikato…

Waikato researchers at the frontier of New Zealand’s high-tech robotics industry

Developing a high-tech robotics industry in New Zealand to grow and support a horticulture sector…

Algae to economics: academic promotions announced

The University of Waikato has announced its latest round of academic promotions.

Scholarship

Scholarship recipient loves learning about people

It takes a special person to receive two scholarships from the University of Waikato but…

University set to host international epicentre of activity for volcanologists

Hundreds of volcanologists and earth scientists from around the world meet in Rotorua for the…