The Search for New Antibiotics: Deriving Antimicrobials From Soil
Session Number
Project ID: MEDH 02
Advisor(s)
Dr. John Thurmond, Illinois Mathematics and Science Academy
Discipline
Medical and Health Sciences
Start Date
20-4-2022 9:30 AM
End Date
20-4-2022 9:45 AM
Abstract
The prevalence of antibiotic-resistant infectious diseases has been on the rise, staging a major threat to the key role antibiotics play a key role in disease management. This global public health problem has reignited many discussions of finding new antibiotic resistance genes, revealing antimicrobial impacts and potential of soil bacteria in fighting these pathogens. Antibiotic residues in soil vary depending on the characteristics of the soil and climatic factors. Our study focuses on ESKAPE pathogens, whose antibiotic-resistant properties have been on the rise for over 50 years. We collected over 50 soil samples for serial dilution and spread plating in order to isolate multiple colonies of soil bacteria to test against ESKAPE pathogens. After reserving the pathogens in glycerol stocks, we PCR tested to genetically determine and verify whether or not these pathogens are new discoveries. We currently have 25 isolates being investigated, all of which were active against at least one of the ESKAPE pathogens.
The Search for New Antibiotics: Deriving Antimicrobials From Soil
The prevalence of antibiotic-resistant infectious diseases has been on the rise, staging a major threat to the key role antibiotics play a key role in disease management. This global public health problem has reignited many discussions of finding new antibiotic resistance genes, revealing antimicrobial impacts and potential of soil bacteria in fighting these pathogens. Antibiotic residues in soil vary depending on the characteristics of the soil and climatic factors. Our study focuses on ESKAPE pathogens, whose antibiotic-resistant properties have been on the rise for over 50 years. We collected over 50 soil samples for serial dilution and spread plating in order to isolate multiple colonies of soil bacteria to test against ESKAPE pathogens. After reserving the pathogens in glycerol stocks, we PCR tested to genetically determine and verify whether or not these pathogens are new discoveries. We currently have 25 isolates being investigated, all of which were active against at least one of the ESKAPE pathogens.