Life Sciences Commons^™

Investigating The Ability Of Saltwater Isolates To Inhibit Biofilm Formation By Clinically Significant Pathogens, Monica Murphy

ORBioM (Open Research BioSciences Meeting)

Background

Nosocomial pathogens are responsible for chronic and persistent infections partly due to their ability to form protective biofilms which enhance their antibiotic tolerance. Biofilm disruption combats antimicrobial resistance as dispersed cells regain antibiotic susceptibility. The goal of this study was to evaluate the antibiofilm potential of isolates from marine environments against a pathogen panel consisting of MRSA and clinical Staphylococcus aureus strains, Acinetobacter baumannii and Escherichia coli pathogens.

Method

A large bank of saltwater bacterial isolates was cultured in glucose-supplemented trypticase soy broth (TSBg) and resulting colonies were screened against the pathogen panel. Isolates of interest were further examined …

Examining The Absorbance Maximum, Protein Concentration And Antimicrobial Activity Of Seaweed Extracts, Claudia Kenneally

ORBioM (Open Research BioSciences Meeting)

Background

The emergence of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) has highlighted the need for novel antimicrobials. Antimicrobial compounds can be isolated from various marine sources, including seaweed, which contain pigments and proteins. This study focuses on screening seaweeds for potential antimicrobial compounds.

Methods

Four seaweed types (A, B, C, D) were collected from beaches in Cork, Ireland, and extracts of each were prepared using both methanol (-M) and water (-H₂O). The absorbance maximum (λ_max)of seaweed extracts was determined from 220 – 800 nm to investigate potential pigment interference at 600 nm. The bicinchoninic acid (BCA) assay was preformed …

An Investigation Of The Novel Use Of Bacteriophages To Diagnose And Treat Johne's Disease In Cattle, Max Kevane-Campbell

ORBioM (Open Research BioSciences Meeting)

Johne’s disease is a scourge to dairy farmers all over the world. It is an infectious disease that causes chronic inflammation and lesions along the inside of the small intestine of, primarily, ruminant animals (i.e., cattle and sheep). It is an incurable disease and urgently requires new and radical intervention strategies. Apart from careful on-site farm management practices, little can be offered to farmers to reduce the risk of infection, and nothing short of livestock culling is effective once an animal becomes infected. Currently, there are no vaccines licensed in Ireland or antibiotic treatment strategies available for Johne’s disease. This …

A Research Of Some Pathogen Microorganisms In Traditional Sharri Cheese, Ali Aydin, Endra Luzha

UBT International Conference

Sharri cheese is a traditional hard, fatty and salty type of cheese produced in Sharri, Gora, Opoja and Shtirpca towns in the Sharr Mountains region. Sharri cheese is produced by processing sheep milk, cow milk or their mixture. The aim of this study was to determine the microbiological quality of traditionally and industrially produced Sharri cheese. In total 58 samples of cheese were examined. Staphyloccocus aureus was positive in 57 samples. In a research for Eschericia coli, 34 samples showed result from 1x10¹/mL to 4.5x10⁶/mL. According to our results, Sharri cheese can carry risk for foodborne pathogens and these …

Searching For Megaviruses In Iceland, Delanie Baker

Student Symposium

The proposed Megavirales order comprises members of the previously known nucleocytoplasmic large DNA viruses (NCLDVs). Virus families in the Megavirales order include Poxviridae, Ascoviridae, and the recently explored families of megaviruses infecting free living amoeba such as Mimiviridae, Marseilleviridae, and Pandoraviridae. Megaviruses have been isolated from water and soil samples from Chile, France, India, and the United States. We chose to study the occurrence of megaviruses in Iceland because of the diverse habitats all within one island. No research has been carried out on the presence of megaviruses in Iceland. Samples of water and soil were collected from lava fields, …

Effects Of Evolution On Laboratory Sublines Of Myxococcus Xanthus Dk1622, Mackenzie Ryan, Francesca Scribano, Kimberly Murphy

Celebration of Learning

Microbes have served as effective models for studying evolution because of their ability to be easily replicated, stored, and manipulated. Myxococcus xanthus is a soil bacterium that has served as a model organism in many laboratories. The unique social and motile behaviors exhibited by this bacterium make it ideal for phenotypic assays. A wild-type strain of M. xanthus, DK1622, has been distributed to laboratories across the United States and therefore we now have DK1622 sublines. The genomes of a number of these sublines have been sequenced and their social and motile phenotypes have been analyzed. When nine of these sublines …

Genome Analysis Of Multiple Mycobacteriophage, Emily Kerstiens, Kari Clase, Yi Li, Gillian Smith, Sarah Bell

The Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship (SURF) Symposium

Bacteriophage are viruses that infect and kill bacteria. They can be used as treatments for antibiotic resistant bacterial infections, but more knowledge is needed about phage and how they interact with bacteria in order to develop safe and effective phage therapy treatments. This study examines the genomes of eighteen mycobacteriophage that were isolated from the environment on and surrounding Purdue University. Phage genomes were annotated using several bioinformatics software, including DNA Master, GeneMark, and PECAAN. Evidence was examined to determine the correct location within the genome and the potential function. Approximately two thousand genes were annotated in this study. A …

Microbiological Analysis Of The Aspergillus Carbonarius And Penicilliumverrucosum In Kosovo Vineyards, Valon Durgati, Aneliya Georgieva, Galena Angelova, Angel Angelova, Zyri Bajrami

UBT International Conference

Through the use of the microbiological semi-selective media (MEA-B and DYSG) for the species Aspergillus carbonarius and Penicillium verrucosum we have analyzed different varieties of the table and wine grapes in the region of Suhareka, south part of Kosovo. The purpose of this scientific work it was to determine through the microbiological analysis the main species of the fungi that produce the micotoxin known as Ochratoxin A. Analysis of the samples was done in the Department of Microbiology, University of Food and Technology, Plovdiv – Bulgaria.

Impact Of Cations On The Sorption Capabilities Of Kaolin Towards Biofilm-Forming Bacteria, Rachel E. Brineman

Georgia College Student Research Events

Biofilm-forming bacteria cause problems for industries such as medical, food, and water treatment. Due to its heterogeneous charges, kaolin is capable of sorption of these microorganisms. These charges are impacted by pH and cations, which change the electrostatic interactions between kaolin particles and microorganisms. Proper pH and cation composition may lead to enhanced sorption. The impact of Al3+ cations on kaolin sorption of Gram negative (E. coli and P. aeruginosa) and Gram positive (B. megaterium and S. aureus) was investigated. Calcined kaolin and Diatomaceous Earth kaolin, which were selected in previous studies, were incubated in triplicates with the above organisms …