Identifying Secondary Metabolites in Corals of the Order Corallimorpharia for Novel Medicinal Use

Salt Lake Community College Westpointe Campus, Salt Lake City, UT

Medicinal and bioactive compounds have been found in various species of corals and are currently being used for, but not limited to, anti-inflammatory, cytotoxic/chemotherapy, antimicrobial, antivirus, and antifouling. Currently, acquiring compounds and derivatives is limited by naturally occurring resources. This project is investigating corals from the order Corallimorpharia that are known rapid reproducers and potentially invasive. They demonstrate many of the same attributes as corals that have been studied suggesting that they have similar compounds. The specific coral of interest is Rhodactis howesii. Samples have been obtained, DNA has been isolated, and their genomes are in the process of being sequenced to confirm valid species identity, if species synonyms exist, or if samples are completely different species. Secondary metabolites will then be analyzed for any biopharmaceutical purposes. In summary, obtaining enough biomass for preclinical, clinical trials, and commercialization would no longer be a foreseeable problem.