Presenter(s)

George Kenneth Hudak

Comments

This poster reflects research conducted as part of a course project designed to give students experience in the research process. Course: BIO 411L

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Description

Infections that were once able to be cured have now come back due to excessive usage and misusage of antibiotics. Bacteria have built up resistance to various antibiotics and are becoming more prevalent in deadly diseases. The lack of success in treating resistant bacteria calls demand for research to produce new and effective antibiotics. Antibiotics can be produced synthetically, but they can also be isolated from bacterial colonies that produce antimicrobial activity against pathogens. In this research project, the bacterial colonies were isolated from soil and tested on their antimicrobial activity responses. As part of the Tiny Earth Network project, the goal of this research was to isolate bacteria from soil samples and observe their antimicrobial activities against antibiotic-resistant pathogens. The antimicrobial activity was indicated through zones of inhibition against safe relatives of ESKAPE pathogens. Two there were used in this research were Bacillus subtilis and Escherichia coli. Bacteria that produced antimicrobial activities against these two pathogens were further examined in a series of biochemical tests, Gram staining, and catalase testing. Finally, an ethyl acetate extraction was performed to confirm the antimicrobial activity and investigate for potential toxicity. By identifying bacteria that are producing this antimicrobial activity will help further the knowledge to combat antibiotic resistance and help in the development of new antibiotics.

Publication Date

4-22-2021

Project Designation

Course Project

Primary Advisor

Jessica Elizabeth Geyer, Yvonne Y. Sun

Primary Advisor's Department

Biology

Keywords

Stander Symposium project, College of Arts and Sciences

United Nations Sustainable Development Goals

Good Health and Well-Being

Antimicrobial Activities in Soil Microorganisms

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