Identifying Natural Inhibitors of Bacterial Efflux Pumps

Identifying Natural Inhibitors of Bacterial Efflux Pumps

Presenter(s)

Marrisa Ann Therriault

Description

Antibiotic resistance is a constantly progressing epidemic. Many strains of bacteria have developed a resistance to antibiotics, resulting in prolonged sickness and death. Resistance can be to a specific drug (single drug resistance) or to multiple drugs (multi-drug resistance). This resistance can be caused by a tripartite protein pump called an efflux pump that extends through the inner and outer membranes of the bacterium to pump antibiotics from the inside of the cell to the extracellular environment. In E. coli, the efflux pump is called AcrAB-TolC. In an effort to combat the problem of multidrug resistance, I sought to identify inhibitors of the AcrAB-TolC pump by screening extracts made from edible plants. I identified one plant extract that appears to block efflux pump activity in live E. coli cells and can sensitize the cells to the antibiotic, carbenicillin.

Publication Date

4-24-2019

Project Designation

Honors Thesis

Primary Advisor

Matthew E. Lopper

Primary Advisor's Department

Chemistry

Keywords

Stander Symposium project

Identifying Natural Inhibitors of Bacterial Efflux Pumps

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