Bacteria Commons^™

Quality Improvement (Qi) Project Aimed At Reducing Unnecessary Antibiotic Usage Among Older Adult Patients By Addressing Inappropriate Antibiotic Prescribing In Primary And Long-Term Care Settings, Pamela M. Thomas

Seton Hall University Dissertations and Theses (ETDs)

Antibiotic overuse among older adults remains a significant patient safety and public health concern. Recent national data indicate that approximately 30%–50% of outpatient antibiotic prescriptions may be unnecessary, particularly for viral or self-limiting conditions (Chua et al., 2021). Antimicrobial resistance has been associated with more than 1.27 million deaths globally (Murray et al., 2022). This quality improvement project evaluated a multifaceted antimicrobial stewardship intervention in primary and long-term care settings. Baseline review of 167 antibiotic cases revealed 37.1% were inappropriate or questionable, and 28.7% lacked adequate diagnostic documentation. The intervention incorporated provider education, electronic health record decision-support tools, audit and …

A Conserved Role For Cyclin C In Regulated Cell Death Across Yeast And Humans, Samar Emami, David Stieg, Daniel Smethurst, Justin Bauer, Randy Strich

Rowan-Virtua Research Day

Background: Programmed cell death (PCD) is a tightly regulated process that maintains tissue homeostasis and eliminates damaged, infected, or malignant cells. A key regulator of this process is Cyclin C (CCNC), which functions as a component of the mediator complex to regulate gene transcription. During cellular stress, CCNC translocates from the nucleus to the mitochondria, where it associates with Dnm1 to promote mitochondrial fragmentation and  apoptosis.

Objective: This study aimed to unravel conservation of CCNC’s function between yeast and humans by investigating whether human CCNC can induce apoptosis in yeast and whether it does so through interaction with …

Comparison Of Ecg Features, Cardiac Biomarkers, And Clinical Outcomes In Three Waves Of Hospitalized Covid-19 Pneumonia Patients With Cardiovascular Events, Yuchen Han, Jahnavi Sunkara, Tshura S Ali, Harideep Samanapally, Vidyulata Salunkhe, Fnu Deepti, Emma C. Huang, Justin J. Huang, Maiying Kong, Jiapeng Huang

The University of Louisville Journal of Respiratory Infections

Background

Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) is a rapidly evolving virus that can severely impact the cardiovascular system. With new variants, it is important to characterize wave-specific (defined by dominant circulating variants) clinical changes.

Methods

A multi-center retrospective cohort study of patients hospitalized with SARS-CoV-2 community acquired pneumonia at eight adult acute-care hospitals in the city of Louisville, KY was conducted. Patients hospitalized with Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) community acquired pneumonia who experienced a cardiovascular event between March 2020 and July 2022 were included in this analysis. Variant assignment was based on temporal prevalence rather than genomic confirmation, and …

Adhesion Of Antibiotic-Resistant Bacteria To Thermoplastic Materials Used In Fabricating Medical Devices: Patient Consequences, Dev V. Mehta

Poster Presentations

Burn injury patients wear supportive orthoses made by heat-forming sheets of thermoplastic material (Figs. 1 & 2). Bacteria cause severe soft tissue infections in patients wearing contaminated orthoses. Thermoplastic medical devices can develop biofilms that include antibiotic-resistant (AR) bacteria, which significantly reduces the number of available treatment options. A biofilm is a community of microorganisms that share resources allowing them to exist in a nutrient-limited environment. Biofilm microbes secrete extracellular polymeric substance (EPS) that attaches them firmly to a substrate surface while protecting them from harmful substances, including antibiotics. Bacteria living within biofilms on inanimate surfaces can survive for extended …

Comparative Investigation Of Bacterial Adhesion On Medical Device Thermoplastics, Dev V. Mehta

Honors Theses

This project will focus on determining if differences in bacterial cell wall composition influences adhesiveness to thermoplastic materials used to construct patient orthotic splints. Bacteria with decreased adhesion are unable to remain bonded to orthotic splints, increasing its ability to transfer to a patient’s wound, leading to an infection. Antibiotic resistant bacteria used in this investigation included gram-positive cocci vancomycin-resistant (VRE) Enterococcus faecalis, methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), and gram-negative rods extended-spectrum beta-lactamase (ESBL) Escherichia coli and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Each test bacterium is a major pathogen causing healthcare-associated infections (HAIs). Saline, artificial perspiration, and ascites fluids were used to determine the …

Mississippi Coastal Bacterial Community Response To Lowered Salinty, Jackson C. Sues

Honors Theses

Microbial communities are essential to the function of coastal ecosystems; however, few studies have examined their response to short-term reductions in salinity. This study used a microcosm approach to examine how decreased salinity over five days affected seawater bacterial community composition, diversity, and richness. Microcosms were assigned to three treatments: unmanipulated seawater (control) collected from the Mississippi coast, seawater amended with natural freshwater, and seawater amended with sterilized freshwater. Length of time bacteria spent in the microcosms was found to have the strongest effect on bacterial community composition, while salinity effects were weaker but still statistically significant. All treatments shifted …

Geographical And Anatomical Microbiome Variation In Invasive Green Iguanas (Iguana Iguana), Amanda A. Diaz

All HCAS Student Capstones, Theses, and Dissertations

The common green iguana (Iguana iguana) was introduced to South Florida in 1965 and has since been an especially pernicious threat both environmentally and economically. This highly invasive species is also expanding in range and populations at an astonishing rate. Understanding how this reptile is able to adapt and thrive in novel environments is of imperative need in order to begin managing their disruptive populations. Notwithstanding their negative impacts and significance, the microbiome of wild populations has not yet been characterized. Here, using 16S ribosomal RNA gene sequencing, this study is the first to characterize the microbiome composition …

Identifying Major Sources Of Leptospira Interrogans In San Juan Bay And Río Grande De Loíza Estuaries Of Puerto Rico, Logan Mccullers, Dave Bachoon

Biology Theses

This study evaluated the presence of pathogenic Leptospira interrogans, potential carriers, and environmental factors influencing their occurrence in the San Juan Bay Estuary (SJBE) and Río Grande de Loíza (RGDL) watersheds of Puerto Rico from 2024–2025. Detection of this pathogen from water samples was performed using the lipL32 PCR assay. The likely hosts of L. interrogans were determined using fecal source tracking (FST) assays for human (HF-183), canine (BacCan-UCD), equine (HoF597), and rat mitochondrial DNA NADH dehydrogenase subunit 2 gene (RatMt) markers. In 2024, 91 samples were collected (March: 50; June: 41), and in 2025, 124 samples were collected …

Investigating Corollaries Between Streptococcus Gallolyticus Subsp. Gallolyticus Virulence And Colorectal Cancer, Tyler G. Myers

Pursuit - The Journal of Undergraduate Research at The University of Tennessee

Streptococcus gallolyticus subsp. gallolyticus (Sgg) is a gram-positive, non-beta-hemolytic bacterium that belongs to the Lancefield group D of streptococcal pathogens. For the past several decades, associations between Sgg bacteremia and colorectal cancer (CRC) have been apparent, with gastroenterologists routinely recommending colonoscopies for positive cases of Sgg in either blood or stool samples. However, current research has not wholly established whether Sgg acts as a causative agent of CRC or if pre-existing cancers make the lumen of the colon more hospitable to its colonization. Regardless, Sgg has been implicated in the modulation of host inflammatory pathways and subsequent remodeling …

A Rare And Challenging Polymicrobial Pleural Infection Involving Cupriavidus Pauculus In A Patient With Rheumatoid Arthritis And Multiple Complications, Moiz Ahmed Khan, Syeda Samiya Kamal, Muhammad Muneeb, Summaya Zafar

The University of Louisville Journal of Respiratory Infections

A 58-year-old female with a 15-year history of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and a history of treatment consisting of methotrexate, hydroxychloroquine, leflunomide, and chronic prednisolone therapy, presented with fever, productive cough, dyspnea, and left leg cellulitis. She developed septic shock complicated by tension pneumothorax requiring emergency thoracostomy and non-ST-elevation myocardial infarction (NSTEMI). Pleural fluid culture grew Cupriavidus pauculus, a rare environmental gram-negative bacillus, alongside Burkholderia cepacia and Candida parapsilosis, indicating polymicrobial infection which was most likely predisposed by patient's immunosuppressed state from RA and prolonged steroid use. Treatment consisted of trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole, meropenem, fluconazole, and cardiopulmonary support, and culminated in …

Late Bioprosthetic Valve Migration- A Rare Entity After Tavi, Sahej Arora, Ghazi Khan, Jeremiah Depta

Advances in Clinical Medical Research and Healthcare Delivery

We present a case of hemolytic anemia due to a rare complication of late bioprosthetic valve migration, who underwent successful treatment with valve in valve transcatheter aortic valve implantation. Our patient with symptomatic moderate aortic stenosis underwent the index procedure a year ago and treated for bacteremia 3 months ago, presented with hemolytic anemia and echocardiography revealing aortic paravalvular leak. The hemolysis was attributed to Bioprosthetic valve dysfunction after a negative hematological workup. The patient's aortography revealed ventricular migration of the valve, not seen on a cardiac CT scan performed before. This was followed by a successful valve in valve …

The Structure, Dynamics, And Impact Of An Interbacterial Weapon Encoded By Human Gut Bacteria, Casey John Latario

Dartmouth College Ph.D Dissertations

The human gut is densely colonized by diverse bacteria. Over a human’s growth, the GI tract becomes a dynamic community that is subjected to a continual in-flow of nutrients and would-be colonizers and an out-flow of microbes and waste products. Despite these dynamics, the bacterial community often displays stability, with particular strains persisting over decades. These stable colonizers have evolved mechanisms to bolster their colonization, resist disruption by other microbes, and persist through environmental flux.

Both interbacterial competition and horizontal gene transfer (HGT) contribute to colonization and survival within the GI tract. A major mechanism for interbacterial competition is the …

Expanded Scorpionate And Siderophore-Inspired Ligands: From Foundational Designs To Modern Applications, Austin Winfield Medley, Trandon Allen Bender

Chemistry & Biochemistry Faculty Publications

Scorpionate ligands have been advanced significantly through systematic modifications of their apical atoms and heterocyclic arms, expanding their structural diversity and chemical reactivity. Recent biologically inspired variants now enable accurate modeling of complex bioinorganic motifs, such as the Fe₄S₄ clusters of nitrogenase, and support enzyme‐like reactivity under mild aqueous conditions. These developments have broadened the impact of scorpionate chemistry across bioinorganic modeling, homogeneous catalysis, and biorthogonal transformations. In particular, expanded tripodal scaffolds provide modular, tunable platforms for mimicking enzyme active sites and probing biological nitrogen fixation pathways. Beyond fundamental insight, these ligands present practical opportunities for sustainable catalysis by enabling …

Investigating The In Vitro Antimicrobial Potential And Comprehensive Computational Studies Of New Schiff Base Derivatives, Abrar Hussain, Shahzaib Akhter, Hammad Nasir, Khurram Shahzad, Muhammad Arfan, Sand Hyun Park

Chemistry & Biochemistry Faculty Publications

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is a growing global health threat driven by multidrug-resistant bacteria (Staphylococcus aureus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa), and fungi (Candida albicans, and C. parapsilosis). This study evaluated six novel Schiff base derivatives (HSB-1 to HSB-6) through integrated in vitro antimicrobial activity and comprehensive computational studies. In vitro disk diffusion assay demonstrated the largest zones of inhibition against S. aureus for HSB-6 and HSB-1 (15–17 mm), activity against P. aeruginosa for HSB-5 and HSB-6 (12 mm), and moderate antifungal activity for HSB-4 (8–11 mm). Molecular docking results correlated with the in vitro findings with the binding energy ΔG = −12.3 kcal/mol …

Evaluation Of Mycoplasma Genitalium Positivity And Co-Infection With Chlamydia Trachomatis And/Or Neisseria Gonorrhoeae At Various Care Sites Across The United States, Rebecca Lillis, Rodney Arcenas, Christy M. Boraas, Steven E. Chavoustie, Lashonda Crane, Nicole D'Empaire, Aaron C. Ermel, Glenn Harnett, Federico Hinestrosa, Stacey House, Joseph Miller, Anthony Mills, Ronald Poblete, Stephen Young, Barbara Van Der Pol

School of Medicine Faculty Publications

OBJECTIVES: We evaluated Mycoplasma genitalium (MG) positivity and co-infection with Chlamydia trachomatis (CT) and/or Neisseria gonorrhoeae (NG), based on results from a trial assessing clinical performance of the Cobas® Liat CT/NG/MG point-of-care test. METHODS: A prospective, US, multicenter, noninterventional study assessed MG positivity in prospective urine samples (male) and clinician-collected vaginal swabs (female) from symptomatic/asymptomatic patients aged ≥14 years attending various clinical settings. Participants were designated positive or negative for MG, CT, and NG based on combined results from three US Food and Drug Administration-approved assays and one laboratory-developed test. MG co-infection with CT and/or NG was assessed. RESULTS: Among …

Adaptive Compulsion, Amanda A. Santos

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

Adaptive

Adjective

Adap.tive ( ə-ˈdap-tiv)

of, relating to, or being a heritable trait that serves a specific function and improves an organism's fitness or survival

Compulsion

Noun

Com.pul.sion (kəm-ˈpəl-shən)

a repetitive behavior or mental act that a person feels driven to perform to alleviate the anxiety and distress caused by an unwanted thought or urge, known as an obsession.

For years we have lived in unprecedented times. From the worldwide quarantine in 2020 resulting from the pandemic, to our current US political crisis. The constant barrage of events is overwhelming and demoralizing.

The work in this gallery is a display …

Acute Gastropericardial Fistula With Cardiac Tamponade And Septic Pericarditis Due To Helicobacter Pylori–Induced Gastric Ulcer Perforation, Stephen J. Bordes, Christopher D. Oubre, Preethi H. Kanumuri, Nicholas Leblanc, Richard Lewis, Thomas Marsden, Terry Stelly

School of Medicine Faculty Publications

No abstract provided.

Elucidating The Relationship Between Water Quality And Antibiotic Resistance Of Rainwater Microbes Across Western Humboldt County, Theo P. Murphy, Eve Wendley, Justice Laskowski, Tyler Paredes

Humboldt Journal of Microbiology

Limited studies have been conducted regarding the fecal contamination and microbial dispersal through rainwater, with no known studies investigating the potential connection between antibiotic resistant microbes and water quality in rainwater. This study seeks to identify the presence of a correlation between water quality and incidence of antibiotic resistance in rainwater microbes. We hypothesize that there will be a correlation between these two variables. We additionally anticipate a high incidence of fecal contamination across rural and urban collection sites alike, with fecal contamination being more prevalent in rural areas than urban locals. To determine water quality, we measured the concentration …

Lyme Disease Presenting As A Dermal Hypersensitivity Reaction, William T. Snider, Ian Depew, Rebecca Hicks, Shane Cook

Marshall Journal of Medicine

Background:

Lyme disease is a well-recognized illness commonly associated with skin manifestations such as erythema migrans. However, atypical presentations can complicate diagnosis, particularly when they deviate from classic clinical and histological findings.

Methods:

We report a potential case of Lyme disease presenting as a dermal hypersensitivity reaction (DHR), with clinical findings resembling urticaria rather than urticarial vasculitis. Skin biopsy findings were reviewed, and Lyme serology testing was performed.

Results:

The biopsy did not demonstrate the characteristic superficial perivascular lymphocytic infiltrate typically seen with erythema migrans. The patient's history included prior tick exposures, but while Lyme IgM was positive, the Lyme …

Antibiotic Resistance Trends In Coliform Bacteria Of Kittitas County Waters, Kaitlyn Holbrook, Bella Blasingim, Cruz Veronica Guillen Mejia, Holly Pinkart

Journal of the Symposium of University Research and Creative Expression

Project Mentor(s): Holly Pinkart, PhD

Since the mid-1900s, antibiotics have been developed to help fight against bacterial pathogens. However, bacteria can evolve rapidly and have evolved resistance to many types of antibiotics. Using coliform bacteria collected from waters around Kittitas County, BIOL 323 students at Central Washington University have identified a variety of antibiotic-resistant bacteria in Kittitas County streams and canals. Antibiotic resistance was measured from 2014-2019 and compared to data collected in 2024. This study focuses on three antibiotics, ampicillin, kanamycin, and trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole. In the past (2014-2019) we saw no change in the trend of antibiotic resistance in collected …

Complete Genome Sequence Of Rothia Mucilaginosa D1, A Genetically Amenable Strain, Hemendra P. Dhaked, Isabella Andonie, Bo Yang, Vinayka M. Joshi, Zezhang T. Wen

School of Dentistry Faculty Publications

Here, we report the complete genome sequence of Rothia mucilaginosa D1. Unlike many other strains that have been sequenced, R. mucilaginosa D1, a clinical isolate, is genetically amenable. The complete sequencing of the genome provides potential for further studies on the genetics and pathophysiology of this emerging pathobiont.

Should We Subtype Gastric Intestinal Metaplasia In Gastric Biopsies, A Single Institution's Experience, Haibo Wang, Yu Liu, Asra Feroze, Zengying Wu, Jonathan D. Somma, Zhiyan Fu

School of Medicine Faculty Publications

Gastric intestinal metaplasia (GIM) is considered a risk factor for gastric dysplasia and adenocarcinoma. While surveillance endoscopies are often performed, particularly for incomplete GIM, the clinical value of histologic subtyping (complete, incomplete, or mixed) remains unclear. This study evaluated the progression risk of different GIM subtypes diagnosed through random gastric biopsies and their association with various clinical factors. Archived pathology data from 206 gastric biopsy cases were analyzed, including 52 negative controls, 56 complete GIM, 54 incomplete GIM, and 44 mixed GIM. Histologic slides were reviewed for subtype confirmation and other pathological changes; clinical data were extracted from medical records. …

Genome Sequence Of Lacticaseibacillus Paracasei G277-1.1, A Clinical Strain That Forms Enhanced Biofilms With Streptococcus Mutans, Xiaochang Huang, Hemendra Pal Dhaked, Yihong Li, Zezhang T. Wen

School of Dentistry Faculty Publications

Lacticaseibacillus paracasei G277-1.1 was isolated from dental plaque of a patient with severe early childhood caries. It forms synergistic biofilms with Streptococcus mutans in vitro. Here, we report its high-quality genome sequence, revealing insights on its inter-species interaction with S. mutans.

Host, Microbiome, And Parasite: How Apicomplexan Microorganisms Interact With Gut Microbiota, Senia Bu, Andrew T. Ozga

Mako: NSU Undergraduate Student Journal

The gut microbiome, a complex ecosystem of microorganisms residing in the human gastrointestinal tract, plays a crucial role in maintaining overall health. It functions in immune system regulation, digestion, and protection against pathogens. Apicomplexan parasites, such as Toxoplasma gondii, Plasmodium spp., and Cryptosporidium spp., are major pathogens that can significantly disrupt the gut microbiota, leading to alterations in microbial composition and function. This review explores the bidirectional interactions between Apicomplexan parasites and the gut microbiome, focusing on how these parasites influence microbial diversity, immune responses, and host metabolism. It examines the mechanisms by which infection-induced inflammation, altered …

Synergistic Cefiderocol-Containing Antibiotic Combinations Active Against Highly Drug-Resistant Acinetobacter Baumannii Patient Isolates With Diverse Resistance Mechanisms, Justin Halim, Andrew P. Keane, Jeannete Bouzo, Tope Aderibigbe, Jessica A. Chicola, Katie T. Nolan, Keertana Jonnalagadda, Jason X. Tran, Valerie J. Carabetta

Rowan-Virtua School of Osteopathic Medicine Departmental Research

BACKGROUND: Acinetobacter baumannii is a nosocomial pathogen known for rapidly developing resistance to nearly all antibiotics, including last-line agents. Cefiderocol, a novel siderophore cephalosporin, has shown in vitro activity against A. baumannii and is now used clinically, but resistance is emerging. Data on cefiderocol-based antibiotic combinations are limited.

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the in vitro activity of cefiderocol alone and in combination with other antibiotics against XDR and PDR A. baumannii clinical isolates, and to explore resistance mechanisms underlying cefiderocol synergy.

METHODS: We tested 21 XDR/PDR clinical isolates and one NDM-1-producing strain using broth microdilution and checkerboard assays with cefiderocol and …

Bcg Vaccine-Induced Innate And Adaptive Pulmonary Immunity Correlating With Protective Efficacy Against Mycobacterium Tuberculosis In The Lungs, Mayank Khanna, Alistair J. Ramsay

School of Graduate Studies Faculty Publications

Background/Objectives: Effective prophylaxis for Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb) requires greater understanding of immune correlates of protection. With renewed interest in BCG as an Mtb vaccine, particularly via the intravenous (IV) route, our objective was to characterize both innate and adaptive immune correlates of vaccine-induced pulmonary immunity as potential biomarkers for protective efficacy in a murine model of Mtb infection. Methods: Mice were given BCG via different routes and some boosted with recombinant virus constructs encoding Mtb Ag85B. Responding innate lymphoid cell (ILC) populations, T cells and B cells were analyzed by fluorescence activated cell sorting (FACS) for surface markers and by …

Case Report: Sarcina Ventriculi, A Masquerade Of Motility, Katherine Westbrook Cates, Catherine Hudson

School of Medicine Faculty Publications

Sarcina ventriculi is a rare bacterium that has the potential to cause severe disease in the gastric mucosa. According to our search, there are less than 100 prior published case reports. This case discusses a 69-year-old man who presented to the hospital with severe gastric distention noted on CT of the abdomen with intractable nausea and emesis, for which endoscopy was performed and ruled out gastric outlet obstruction, with biopsies resulting as S. ventriculi. This bacterium has previously been reported to cause gastric dysmotility, as well as severe side effects including gastric perforation.

Chemical And Physical Characterization Of Verbenaceae Essential Oils Using Modern Analytical Methods And Chemometrics, Aleksandra N. Hilliard

Master's Theses

Essential oils have been used for generations to treat various health issues, including mitigating insomnia, reducing stress, inflammation, and preserving foods, to mention a few. Essential oils have complex chemistry, which defines the essence of the host plant. Recently, increased commercial uses of essential oils have prompted attention at the governmental level to monitor the chemical, physical, or biological activity of essential oils. This study is an attempt to add new information for consumers to the understanding of the composition of essential oils.

Modern analytical techniques including FTIR-ATR, GC-MS, LC-MS-MS, multivariate analysis statistics, and physio-chemical techniques (electrochemistry, DPPH, TRC, and …

Abdominal Tuberculosis In Children, Melike Emiroglu, Gulsum Alkan, Meltem Kiymaz, Sadiye Kubra Tuter Oz, Hatice Turk Dagi, Mehmet Öztürk, Zeliha Esin Çelik

Journal of Pediatric Infectious Diseases

Objective: To provide an insight into the presentation, diagnosis and management of gastrointestinal tuberculosis in children.

Methods: We reviewed the medical records of children who were diagnosed with gastrointestinal tuberculosis, between October 2013 and October 2023. The analysis was performed using descriptive statistics.

Results: During the study period, 11 of 76 tuberculosis pediatric patients (14.5%) were diagnosed with gastrointestinal tuberculosis. Six of 11 patients (54.5%) were female. The median age of the patients was 60 months (51-205 months). Eight of 11 patients had intra-abdominal lymph node involvement, 3 of 11 patients had intestinal tuberculosis and 2 of 11 patients had …

Addressing Socioeconomic Disparities In The Treatment Of Antimicrobial-Resistant Infections: The Role Of Pharmacists In Mitigating Barriers, Arin Wade, Danielle Egbujor, Anna Spalvieri, Owen Fox, Marisa Petrunich, Joshua Honaker, Samantha Mccord, Kasie Landin

Pharmacy and Wellness Review

Antimicrobial resistance is an escalating global threat driven by inappropriate antibiotic use and shaped by socioeconomic disparities. Social determinants of health, including limited healthcare access, poverty, low health literacy, and environmental conditions, contribute to higher rates of resistant infections and poorer treatment outcomes in underserved populations. Barriers such as pharmacy deserts, self-medication, and inadequate stewardship infrastructure amplify these risks. Pharmacists, as accessible and highly trained healthcare professionals, play a critical role in combating antimicrobial resistance by optimizing antibiotic use, delivering culturally competent education, and leading antimicrobial stewardship programs across settings. Community and clinical pharmacists are especially well positioned to bridge …