Start Date
28-4-2022 10:30 AM
Document Type
Poster
Description
Antibiotic resistance is a far-reaching problem, that if not addressed, will have detrimental effects globally. Since their discovery, antibiotics have been over-prescribed, resulting in superbugs that are resistant to their effects. This looming concern has started the race to find the next class of antibiotics, however, not all pharmaceutical companies are joining this race. Why? Research into finding this antibiotic is expensive with limited return on investment. With limited research going into this serious issue, The Tiny Earth Network, has partnered with instructors and students to assist in the search. In school labs across the country, students are obtaining soil samples and testing them throughout the semester, looking for antibiotic properties. This paper discusses the candidate found in a soil sample, discovered a few yards off of a walking trail. The sample was serially diluted to a countable plate and several promising candidates were noted. Master plates were created with twelve promising candidates, of varying characteristics. After the elimination of two candidates, ten remained and were tested against the six ESKAPE pathogens which include: E. faecalis, A. baylyi, S. epidermidis, P. putida, E. coli, and E. aerogenes. The top candidate from screening was candidate twelve with zones of inhibition in four of these pathogens. The candidate has undergone PCR analysis and DNA sequencing. This candidate shows promise and will hopefully contribute to further research.
Antibiotic Resistance
Antibiotic resistance is a far-reaching problem, that if not addressed, will have detrimental effects globally. Since their discovery, antibiotics have been over-prescribed, resulting in superbugs that are resistant to their effects. This looming concern has started the race to find the next class of antibiotics, however, not all pharmaceutical companies are joining this race. Why? Research into finding this antibiotic is expensive with limited return on investment. With limited research going into this serious issue, The Tiny Earth Network, has partnered with instructors and students to assist in the search. In school labs across the country, students are obtaining soil samples and testing them throughout the semester, looking for antibiotic properties. This paper discusses the candidate found in a soil sample, discovered a few yards off of a walking trail. The sample was serially diluted to a countable plate and several promising candidates were noted. Master plates were created with twelve promising candidates, of varying characteristics. After the elimination of two candidates, ten remained and were tested against the six ESKAPE pathogens which include: E. faecalis, A. baylyi, S. epidermidis, P. putida, E. coli, and E. aerogenes. The top candidate from screening was candidate twelve with zones of inhibition in four of these pathogens. The candidate has undergone PCR analysis and DNA sequencing. This candidate shows promise and will hopefully contribute to further research.
Comments
The faculty mentor for this project was Melissa Beaty, Biology .