Medicine and Health Sciences Commons^™

Antimicrobial Activity Of Bacterial Virus Components: An Empirical Investigation Of The Killing Capacity Of Toxins From Burkholderia, Kyle Walny

Honors Projects

Given the growing issue in healthcare of antibiotic resistance, effective and safe alternative treatment methods are required. One of these possible alternative treatment methods is bacteriotoxins including bacteriocins and tailocins. The focus of this study is a bacteriotoxin from Burkholderia cenocepacia (ATCC 25608), which was induced for toxin using a modified UV light induction procedure and tested against a variety of Pseudomonas and Burkholderia for its killing capacity. Various other pathogenic strains were then induced with UV light and tested. The results showed that the toxin from ATCC 25608 was very effective against most of the Burkholderia tested and warrants …

Assesment Of Antibiotic Resistant Gene Expression In Clinical Isolates Of Pseudomonas Aeruginosa, Dustin Esmond

Biology Theses

Increasing prevalence of nosocomial infections by antimicrobial resistant pathogens resulting in higher mortality rates and financial burden is of great concern. Pseudomonas aeruginosa represents one of six highly virulent “ESKAPE” pathogens that exhibit considerable intrinsic drug resistance as well as mechanisms for acquiring further resistance. As many of these mechanisms are regulated through gene expression, we sought to identify regulatory strategies and patterns at play in 23 clinical isolates collected from Baku, Azerbaijan and Tyler, Texas, USA. Real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction was performed on six gene targets implicated in resistance and contrasted with antibiotic phenotypes. We found AmpC cephalosporinase …

Targeting Modern Pathogens With Rational Drug Design, Michael Dominic Sacco

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Since the first living organisms appeared on earth, their very existence was dependent on their ability to contend for resources. To this day, organisms are perpetually competing for resources, and in doing so, have evolved highly effective defense mechanisms and systems for propagation. Although invisible to the eye, we live in a world teeming with microbes and viruses. While many are harmless, others cause widespread disease. One of the key niches for these pathogens, particularly bacteria, are health-care facilities. These health-care facilities have a high concentration of immunocompromised patients and rely heavily on antibiotics, which strongly contributes to antibiotic resistance. …

Antibiotic Tolerance And Heteroresistance: Associated Fitness Costs And Potential In Evading Antibiotic Killing, Tina H. Dao

Theses and Dissertations (ETD)

Streptococcus pneumoniae is a prominent human pathogen that causes both invasive and non-invasive diseases, such as otitis media, pneumonia, meningitis, and bacteremia. Although it is frequently an asymptomatic colonizer of the human nasopharynx, S. pneumoniae is a major cause of morbidity and mortality in the immune compromised population, young children, and the elderly. Up until the 1970s, S. pneumoniae was susceptible to almost all antibiotics. Since then, this pathogen has gained resistance to a variety of antibiotic treatments, including beta-lactams, macrolides, and fluoroquinolones.

In the first chapter, we focused on fluoroquinolone resistance in S. pneumoniae. Fluoroquinolones are one of the …

Exploring Antibiotic Resistance And The Effect Of Antimicrobial Stewardship On Physicians’ And Non-Physician Prescribing Clinicians Through Knowledge, Attitudes, Practices And Beliefs (Kapb) Utilizing The Social Cognitive Theory (Sct), Tamika Carty

Seton Hall University Dissertations and Theses (ETDs)

ABSTRACT

Exploring Antibiotic Resistance and the Effect of Antimicrobial Stewardship on Physicians’ and Non-Physician Prescribing Clinicians through Knowledge, Attitudes, Practices and Beliefs (KAPB) Utilizing the Social Cognitive Theory (SCT)

Tamika Carty

Seton Hall University, 2021

Dissertation Chair: Genevieve Pinto Zipp, PT, EdD, FNAP

Background: Antibiotics are one of the greatest medical discoveries, revolutionizing the field of medicine. However, antimicrobial and antibiotic over usage has become a prevalent issue among outpatients, leading to antibiotic resistance (AR) (Ventola, 2015). As a result of, its widespread usage and associated concerns, the World Health Organization (WHO) has cited AR as a growing concern for …

Gut Reactions: Quantitative Predictions Of The Responses Of Human Gut Microbiota To Medical Interventions, Amy Elizabeth Langdon

Arts & Sciences Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The collection of microbes known as the human microbiome perform vital functions for their host, and when this community becomes unhealthy, its dysbiosis is implicated in a myriad of diseases. The gut microbiota in particular are known to suppress colonization of opportunistic pathogens, regulate the immune system, aid in nutrient breakdown, produce vitamins, and a growing number of other functions. In order to intervene in a dysbiotic microbial ecology, we can try to remove unwanted microbes or try to recolonize the gut with microbes expected to be beneficial. This dissertation provides an overview of the state of medical interventions for …

Case Study Of Nursing Home Residents: The Association Between Carbapenemase-Producing Enterobacteriaceae (Cpe) And Covid-19, Jordan Ranta

Capstone Experience

None

Deciphering The Mechanisms Of Alcaligenes Faecalis’ Inhibition Of Staphylococcus Aureus And Synergism With Antibiotics, Cortlyn Holdren

Undergraduate Honors Theses

Staphylococcus aureus has developed resistance to several antibiotics including vancomycin, which is often used as a “last resort” treatment. There is an ever-increasing need to develop novel antimicrobial treatments to combat S. aureus and other drug resistant bacteria. Microorganisms are most often found in polymicrobial communities where they either exhibit synergistic or antagonistic relationships. Competition between microorganisms can lead to the discovery of new antimicrobial targets as the specific mechanisms of resistance are elucidated. In addition, synergistic treatments are being evaluated for their combined effect and potential to decrease the concentration of drugs needed, and thus the side effects also. …

The Migration Of Carbapenem-Resistant Acinetobacter Baumannii From The Battlefields Of Iraq And Afghanistan To The Healthcare Facilities Of The Veterans Health Administration, Jeffery Rogers

Capstone Experience

Multidrug-resistant organisms (MDRO) pose a great threat to health across the globe. That threat is also felt in the Veterans Health Administration (VHA). Wounded warriors returning home from the battlefields of Iraq and Afghanistan may have brought with them MDROs, such as the bacterium Acinetobacter baumannii, as they have transitioned from military service into the VHA facilities. This study investigates the interconnectedness of military service in the Department of Defense (DoD) and a lifetime of care at VHA through a longitudinal tracking of a linked cohort of combat veterans with battlefield injuries and subsequent MDR infections of A. baumannii. …

Microevolution In Staphylococcus Aureus: Does Exposure To Sub-Lethal Levels Of Cinnamon Bark Oil Lead To Changes In Antimicrobial Susceptibility?, Heather Sandra Schuettner

Graduate College Dissertations and Theses

The emergence of antibiotic-resistant and multi-drug resistant bacteria presents a growing global health issue recognized by the World Health Organization and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Infections caused by drug-resistant bacteria are associated with longer hospital stays, higher treatments costs, and increased mortality compared to infections caused by antibiotic-susceptible pathogens. The global increase in antibiotic resistance is driven in part by the misuse and overuse of antibiotics in healthcare and agriculture. Staphylococcus aureus can infect humans and animals, and strains that are resistant to one or more antibiotics are common. Many plant essential oils have antimicrobial properties. Essential …

Microevolution In Staphylococcus Aureus: Does Exposure To Sub-Lethal Levels Of Cinnamon Bark Oil Lead To Changes In Antimicrobial Susceptibility?, Heather Sandra Schuettner

Graduate College Dissertations and Theses

The emergence of antibiotic-resistant and multi-drug resistant bacteria presents a growing global health issue recognized by the World Health Organization and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Infections caused by drug-resistant bacteria are associated with longer hospital stays, higher treatments costs, and increased mortality compared to infections caused by antibiotic-susceptible pathogens. The global increase in antibiotic resistance is driven in part by the misuse and overuse of antibiotics in healthcare and agriculture. Staphylococcus aureus can infect humans and animals, and strains that are resistant to one or more antibiotics are common. Many plant essential oils have antimicrobial properties. Essential …

Delineating The Biosynthesis Of Capuramycin-Type Antibiotics, Ashley L. Biecker

Theses and Dissertations--Pharmacy

New antibiotic scaffolds with novel drug targets are needed to combat the rise of drug-resistant, infectious microorganisms. The bacterial translocase I is a ubiquitous enzyme in the peptidoglycan biosynthetic pathway that has yet to be targeted by clinically used antibiotics. It catalyzes the transfer of N-acetylmuramoyl-pentapeptide to undecaprenylphosphate in order to generate lipid I during cell wall biosynthesis. A screening of bacterial translocase I inhibitors led to the discovery of the novel compound capuramycin and its analogues: A-500359s, A-503083s, and A-102395, produced by various species of actinomycetes. The capuramycins show potent activity against the bacterial translocase I with IC50s …