Searching for a novel bacterium that demonstrates inhibitory qualities against an ESKAPE pathogen
Location
CoLab, OCB 100
Start Date
28-4-2017 11:00 AM
End Date
28-4-2017 12:45 PM
Document Type
Poster
Description
We all hope for optimal health. In our lifetime, we have witnessed antibiotics' role increasing the length and quality of human life. Yet, overuse or misuse of antibiotics has also led to the rise of “super infections” that are resistant to all currently known antibiotics. These threaten all of us today as we are constantly exposed to resistant strains of bacteria through our environment, diet, international travel and health status. We all must pay attention to this threat and regain zeal in the discovery of new antibiotics that will treat these resistant pathogens since it affects us directly or our loved ones. Especially susceptible ones in our population include the very young, the elderly, anyone with chronic illness, the immuno-compromised, or anyone that is admitted to a hospital. My research focuses on finding a new bacterium in a selected soil sample that produces a novel antibiotic that inhibits these known resistant pathogens known as ESKAPE pathogens and their more resistant counterparts. I isolated my search using soil from a flower bed located on a sunny south side of a residential home in Olathe, Kansas. Interestingly enough, the flowers growing in this bed are known for their common name of “Forever Plant”. Initially, three separate bacterial candidates in the sample of soil have demonstrated inhibitory qualities against ESKAPE pathogens. With further testing, it is hoped that one of these candidates will offer hope in fighting infection and reaching paradisiac like health.
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Searching for a novel bacterium that demonstrates inhibitory qualities against an ESKAPE pathogen
CoLab, OCB 100
We all hope for optimal health. In our lifetime, we have witnessed antibiotics' role increasing the length and quality of human life. Yet, overuse or misuse of antibiotics has also led to the rise of “super infections” that are resistant to all currently known antibiotics. These threaten all of us today as we are constantly exposed to resistant strains of bacteria through our environment, diet, international travel and health status. We all must pay attention to this threat and regain zeal in the discovery of new antibiotics that will treat these resistant pathogens since it affects us directly or our loved ones. Especially susceptible ones in our population include the very young, the elderly, anyone with chronic illness, the immuno-compromised, or anyone that is admitted to a hospital. My research focuses on finding a new bacterium in a selected soil sample that produces a novel antibiotic that inhibits these known resistant pathogens known as ESKAPE pathogens and their more resistant counterparts. I isolated my search using soil from a flower bed located on a sunny south side of a residential home in Olathe, Kansas. Interestingly enough, the flowers growing in this bed are known for their common name of “Forever Plant”. Initially, three separate bacterial candidates in the sample of soil have demonstrated inhibitory qualities against ESKAPE pathogens. With further testing, it is hoped that one of these candidates will offer hope in fighting infection and reaching paradisiac like health.
Comments
The faculty supervisor on this project is Heather Seitz, Biology.