biostudies-literatureIndraningrat AAGIndonesia Endowment Fund for EducationFP7 People: Marie-Curie ActionsIndonesia Endowment Fund for Education (LPDP)Rufford Foundation1265-1283https://www.ebi.ac.uk/biostudies/studies/S-EPMC9534810biostudies-literatureUnknown115(10)In this study, we used 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing to investigate prokaryotic community composition of the Caribbean sponges Xestospongia muta and Agelas sventres from three depth ranges: < 30 m (shallow), 30-60 m (upper mesophotic), and 60-90 m (lower mesophotic). The prokaryotic community in shallow samples of X. muta was enriched in Cyanobacteria, Chloroflexota, and Crenarchaeota compared to samples from mesophotic depths, while mesophotic samples of X. muta were enriched in Acidobacteriota. For A. sventres, relative abundance of Acidobacteriota, Chloroflexota, and Gammaproteobacteria was higher in shallow samples, while Proteobacteria and Crenarchaeota were enriched in mesophotic A. sventres samples. Antimicrobial activity was evaluated by screening crude extracts of sponges agaiAntonie van LeeuwenhoekSponge holobionts shift their prokaryotic communities and antimicrobial activity from shallow to lower mesophotic depths.PMC953481017660-1607786 (BluePharmTrain)20140812021557de Goeij JMSipkema DIndraningrat AAGSteinert GBecking LESmidt HMueller BfalseSponge holobionts shift their prokaryotic communities and antimicrobial activity from shallow to lower mesophotic depths.In this study, we used 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing to investigate prokaryotic community composition of the Caribbean sponges Xestospongia muta and Agelas sventres from three depth ranges: < 30 m (shallow), 30-60 m (upper mesophotic), and 60-90 m (lower mesophotic). The prokaryotic community in shallow samples of X. muta was enriched in Cyanobacteria, Chloroflexota, and Crenarchaeota compared to samples from mesophotic depths, while mesophotic samples of X. muta were enriched in Acidobacteriota. For A. sventres, relative abundance of Acidobacteriota, Chloroflexota, and Gammaproteobacteria was higher in shallow samples, while Proteobacteria and Crenarchaeota were enriched in mesophotic A. sventres samples. Antimicrobial activity was evaluated by screening crude extracts of sponges agai2022-01-01T00:00:00Z2022 Oct2026-03-31T11:50:25.23Z2025-04-19T17:35:50.866ZS-EPMC95348103599800710.1007/s10482-022-01770-4