Location
OCB 100
Start Date
28-4-2022 12:00 PM
Document Type
Poster
Description
Antibiotic resistance is a nationwide crisis that plagues the world as it grows stronger in prevalence. With the production of new antibiotics falling short of what is required to combat this calamity, scientists are turning to a substance that can be found in your very own backyard. Soil sampling for the search of a new antibiotic is on the rise and just so happens to be the very first step in this experiment. Soil was collected from Lawrence, Kansas and a serial dilution was conducted in order to view the colonies of bacteria present in this soil. Possible candidates were chosen based on the presence of zones of inhibition and each candidate was then tested against the ESKAPE relatives. Candidate 4 showed resistance against Staphylococcus epidermis and Acinetobacter baylyi and was chosen as the main candidate moving forward with the project. Genetic and metabolic testing was conducted to identify the bacterium and map its genome. Microscopic staining methods were also performed so that the full extent of this microbe could be studied.
Image
Backyard Shenanigans: The Search for Antibiotics in Clay Soil from Lawrence Kansas
OCB 100
Antibiotic resistance is a nationwide crisis that plagues the world as it grows stronger in prevalence. With the production of new antibiotics falling short of what is required to combat this calamity, scientists are turning to a substance that can be found in your very own backyard. Soil sampling for the search of a new antibiotic is on the rise and just so happens to be the very first step in this experiment. Soil was collected from Lawrence, Kansas and a serial dilution was conducted in order to view the colonies of bacteria present in this soil. Possible candidates were chosen based on the presence of zones of inhibition and each candidate was then tested against the ESKAPE relatives. Candidate 4 showed resistance against Staphylococcus epidermis and Acinetobacter baylyi and was chosen as the main candidate moving forward with the project. Genetic and metabolic testing was conducted to identify the bacterium and map its genome. Microscopic staining methods were also performed so that the full extent of this microbe could be studied.
Comments
The faculty mentor for this project was Heather Seitz, Biology.