Methods of Blocking Efflux Pump Activity in Escherichia Coli

Methods of Blocking Efflux Pump Activity in Escherichia Coli

    Presenter(s)

    Erich Nicholaus Auer

    Description

    Overuse of antibiotics throughout the developed world has contributed significantly to the emergence of antibiotic-resistance in bacteria. Although this helps bacteria it is extremely harmful to humans. As bacteria adapt to the antibiotics, current treatments become ineffective and bacterial infections can become life threatening. One of the mechanisms that bacteria, such as E. Coli, use are efflux pumps. Efflux pumps are capable of taking potentially harmful substances, like antibiotics, from inside the bacterial cell and moving them out. This allows the bacterium to escape from the killing effects of the antibiotics. My hypothesis was that a natural product, small molecule compound, or DNA aptamer would be able to bind to some part of the tri-part structure of the efflux pump and block its activity. The results showed that there are some promising compounds but none that were actually capable of blocking activity to a significant degree.

    Publication Date

    4-18-2018

    Project Designation

    Graduate Research

    Primary Advisor

    Matthew E. Lopper

    Primary Advisor's Department

    Chemistry

    Keywords

    Stander Symposium project

    Methods of Blocking Efflux Pump Activity in Escherichia Coli

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