Fungal isolates from marine sponge Chelonaplysilla sp.: Diversity, antimicrobial and cytotoxic activities

Abstract. Handayani D, Artasasta MA, Safira N, Ayuni DF, Tallei TE, Hertiani T. 2020. Fungal isolates from marine sponge Chelonaplysilla sp.: Diversity, antimicrobial and cytotoxic activities. Biodiversitas 21: 1954-1960. The purpose of this research was to study the diversity of fungi associated with marine sponges Chelonaplysilla sp. and their bioactivities. Fungal isolation was carried out by the multilevel dilution method in Saboraud Dextrose Agar (SDA). Twelve fungal isolates were successfully purified, then cultivated using rice for 4-6 weeks at room temperature and subsequently extracted using ethyl acetate. Antimicrobial activities of the fungal extracts were tested against Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, and Candida albicans by using the agar diffusion method. The extracts of isolates Ch05 and Ch12 showed a significant antagonistic effect against S. aureus and E. coli with the diameter that ranged from 15 to 17 mm. Using the brine shrimp lethality test (BSLT), six fungal extracts revealed cytotoxic activity with LC50