Unearthing Antibiotics
Location
CoLab, COM 377
Start Date
30-4-2026 3:45 PM
Document Type
Poster
Description
Soil is a rich source of diverse microorganisms, many of which produce antimicrobial compounds that inhibit the growth of competing microbes. In this study soil samples have been collected and cultured to isolate potential antibiotic producing bacteria. Candidate microbes were screened against safe pathogens using antibiotic screening plates to observe zones of inhibition. The presence of clear zones indicates antibiotic compounds were present. These results suggest that soil environments contain microorganisms capable of producing compounds that inhibit microbial growth. This experiment demonstrates the importance of soil microbes as a potential source of antibiotics. One candidate with the most promising results will be selected for identification.
Image
Unearthing Antibiotics
CoLab, COM 377
Soil is a rich source of diverse microorganisms, many of which produce antimicrobial compounds that inhibit the growth of competing microbes. In this study soil samples have been collected and cultured to isolate potential antibiotic producing bacteria. Candidate microbes were screened against safe pathogens using antibiotic screening plates to observe zones of inhibition. The presence of clear zones indicates antibiotic compounds were present. These results suggest that soil environments contain microorganisms capable of producing compounds that inhibit microbial growth. This experiment demonstrates the importance of soil microbes as a potential source of antibiotics. One candidate with the most promising results will be selected for identification.
Comments
The faculty mentor for this project was Kara Weigand.