''Ochridaspongia rotunda'' is freshwater sponge endemic to

Lake Ohrid Lake Ohrid ( mk, Охридско Езеро , al, Liqeni i Ohrit , also referred as ''Liqeni i Pogradecit'';) is a lake which straddles the mountainous border between the southwestern part of North Macedonia and eastern Albania. It is one of Eu ...

. This sponge is found mostly at depths of 30–50 m and water temperatures of 6–8 °C. Its circular shape indicates the animal lives under conditions of relatively calm water.

Possible medicinal uses

Following comparative tests with positive controls of its extracts against 8 bacterial and 8 fungal strains, ''Ohridaspongia rotunda'' has been described as a potential "gold mine of new antimicrobial substances with significant and broad-range activity". Current research is investigating its acetone extracts for application in the treatment of Alzheimer's disease, for which it has demonstrated promising inhibitory activity. These may originate with symbiotic bacteria hosted by the sponge and further research is required.

References

External links

''Нову врсту сунђера уловили су наши охридски рибари у Охридском језеру''
"Politika", Belgrade 1938-03-09 Haplosclerida Freshwater animals of Europe Endemic fauna of North Macedonia Animals described in 1937 {{demosponge-stub