Presentation Title
Abstract
Of the estimated one billion species of bacteria out there, we've only named thirty thousand of them. Despite their reputation for getting us sick, bacteria, ironically, also help keep us healthy in many different ways. The Tiny Earth project enrolls the help of college students to expand our knowledge of antibiotics. Antibiotics were actually discovered by studying specific bacteria that have the capacity to repel other species of bacteria.
The growing threat of drug resistant bacteria is global, and the production of new antibiotics is limited. This study aims to explore the efficiency of a method for plating and testing for antibiotic producers used by high school students in MicroMundo Albacete 2020 as well as experienced UCLM researchers. Here, soil samples from eight different locals from within Minnesota are diluted, inoculated and incubated. After being treated with gram-negative antibiotics, the inoculated medium, Reasoner's 2A agar, is flipped over like a pancake in its dish. The now new top of the medium is treated with a grampositive bacterial tester ESKAPE strain (either Bacillus subtilis, Staphylococcus epidermidis, or Escherichia coli) known to be pathogenic to humans. Cultured bacteria showing signs of antibacterial production will be extracted via transfer tube to be isolated on their own dish. Data is currently being collected for review.
College
College of Science & Engineering
Department
Biology
First Advisor
Casey M. Finnerty
Location
Kryzsko Commons Ballroom
Start Date
4-20-2022 10:00 AM
End Date
4-20-2022 11:00 AM
Presentation Type
Poster Presentation
Session
1b=10am-11am
Poster Number
14
Tiny Earth: Reverse Antibiosis Approach
Kryzsko Commons Ballroom
Of the estimated one billion species of bacteria out there, we've only named thirty thousand of them. Despite their reputation for getting us sick, bacteria, ironically, also help keep us healthy in many different ways. The Tiny Earth project enrolls the help of college students to expand our knowledge of antibiotics. Antibiotics were actually discovered by studying specific bacteria that have the capacity to repel other species of bacteria.
The growing threat of drug resistant bacteria is global, and the production of new antibiotics is limited. This study aims to explore the efficiency of a method for plating and testing for antibiotic producers used by high school students in MicroMundo Albacete 2020 as well as experienced UCLM researchers. Here, soil samples from eight different locals from within Minnesota are diluted, inoculated and incubated. After being treated with gram-negative antibiotics, the inoculated medium, Reasoner's 2A agar, is flipped over like a pancake in its dish. The now new top of the medium is treated with a grampositive bacterial tester ESKAPE strain (either Bacillus subtilis, Staphylococcus epidermidis, or Escherichia coli) known to be pathogenic to humans. Cultured bacteria showing signs of antibacterial production will be extracted via transfer tube to be isolated on their own dish. Data is currently being collected for review.
