There is a critical need for new antibiotics to combat drug-resistant bacteria due to the inefficiency of available drugs to treat these pathogens. There is a wealth of literature showing the efficacy of drugs derived from natural products, however it can be tedious to selectively isolate the active compounds. Compounds of interest were extracted from a coral, Pseudopterogorgia acerosa, separated, and analyzed for antibacterial activity by a growth inhibition assay. A modified method of disc-diffusion involving a polymer screen functionalized with a tri-peptide, L-lysine-D-alanine-D-alanine, was used to isolate active compounds and assess the activity. Antibacterial activity was seen against all strains, with activity being greatest for methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA). While the modified disc-diffusion needs further development, P. acerosa shows promise of antibacterial compounds that could potentially provide a basis for new antibiotics.

Method to selectively analyze the antibacterial compounds of natural products

251st National Meeting (2016)

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