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Full-Text Articles in Microbiology
Enhanced Killing Of Mycobacterium Abscessus By Nanosponge Delivery Of Antimycobacterials, Casey Albano
Enhanced Killing Of Mycobacterium Abscessus By Nanosponge Delivery Of Antimycobacterials, Casey Albano
Masters Theses
The increasing prevalence of bacterial infections has made it necessary to find novel methods of combatting the resistance of bacteria to conventional antibiotics. Mycobacterium abscessus is an increasingly prevalent pathogen that is intrinsically drug resistant, therefore difficult to treat. The use of phytochemicals as a source of alternate antibiotics has been explored, however, the poor solubility of phytochemicals in water makes it difficult to effectively deliver them to bacterial biofilms. In this study, I investigated the efficacy of nanosponge-emulsified phytochemicals in killing M. abscessus biofilms. The nanosponge technology was used to improve the solubility and stability of the phytochemicals, allowing …
Investigating Natural And Induced Biofilm Dispersion In Listeria Monocytogenes, Brett Boulden
Investigating Natural And Induced Biofilm Dispersion In Listeria Monocytogenes, Brett Boulden
Masters Theses
Dispersion is a natural part of a biofilm life cycle in many bacterial species. Dispersion occurs when bacteria revert from a stationary, sessile state to a free-swimming, planktonic state and are freed from a biofilm. Bacterial biofilms consist of proteins, polysaccharides, and extracellular DNA that together make up the extracellular polymeric substances. Surrounded by this mucus-like substance, sessile cells can be extremely difficult to eradicate as compared to the planktonic form of Listeria monocytogenes. Biofilms are robust due to increased surface adherence, inhibition of diffusion of harmful compounds, and increased genetic diversity that exists within a biofilm. As a …