The Search for New Antibiotics
Location
CoLab, COM 124
Start Date
30-4-2026 8:15 AM
Document Type
Poster
Description
The search for new antibiotics is crucial, but unfortunately, the hunt has not been very successful because resources, funding, and the number of scientists looking for them are limited. The number of antibiotics that still work well against diseases and sicknesses is dwindling. As bacteria continue to evolve, antibiotics become less effective, especially because we use them too frequently and because they are so accessible. I have found an organism I refer to as Mary Alice, who has shown potential to be able to inhibit bacterial growth, specifically Enterococcus faecalis. Enterococcus faecalis is a safe relative species of an ESKAPE pathogen called Enterococcus faecium. The Enterococcus species can cause urinary tract infections, wound infections, and more in humans. Seeing an organism inhibit the bacterial growth of an Enterococcus species gives hope for finding another antibiotic resource to fight these infections. Each step is helping us get closer and closer to finding new, helpful antibiotics.
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The Search for New Antibiotics
CoLab, COM 124
The search for new antibiotics is crucial, but unfortunately, the hunt has not been very successful because resources, funding, and the number of scientists looking for them are limited. The number of antibiotics that still work well against diseases and sicknesses is dwindling. As bacteria continue to evolve, antibiotics become less effective, especially because we use them too frequently and because they are so accessible. I have found an organism I refer to as Mary Alice, who has shown potential to be able to inhibit bacterial growth, specifically Enterococcus faecalis. Enterococcus faecalis is a safe relative species of an ESKAPE pathogen called Enterococcus faecium. The Enterococcus species can cause urinary tract infections, wound infections, and more in humans. Seeing an organism inhibit the bacterial growth of an Enterococcus species gives hope for finding another antibiotic resource to fight these infections. Each step is helping us get closer and closer to finding new, helpful antibiotics.
Comments
The faculty mentor for this project was Jamie Cunningham.