Antimicrobial Resistance: The Small World Tiny Earth Initiative
Abstract
Antibiotic Resistance is an issue in society today that many people do not necessarily think
about. When it comes to antimicrobial resistance and people having to take antibiotics you don’t
think about all of the factors that come along with simply taking an antibiotic. When antibiotics
are taken in large amounts the bacteria that it is supposed to be working and fighting against
learns what the antibiotic is doing and begins to create mechanisms to protect themselves from it.
Since this happens slowly over time less and less antibiotics will be effective. The Small World
Tiny Earth Initiative encourages students around the world to help in the development of new
antibiotics from bacteria that can simply be found in soil. When conducting this project soil
samples were taken from the university’s lawn dug up and collected by each of the students. The
soil samples were collected to be grown for bacteria but specifically antibiotic producers. After
the collection a series of measured dilutions were performed followed by plating for growth.
Next pick and patch plating was performed to narrow down the bacteria we were working with.
Students then narrowed it down even more by picking a certain bacteria to follow through the
rest of the series of tests, one that stood out to them either color or growth pattern. This chosen
bacteria was then regrown in numerous environments for testing purposes. A series of
biochemical tests were performed to help identify the bacteria. Such as the MR/VP, catalase,
oxidase, phenol red glucose, citrate, and SIM. In addition, we performed selective and differential media tests to determine some characteristics of the bacteria, such as Eosin Methylene Blue,
Mannitol Salt Agar, MacConkey agar, starch agar, blood agar, and skim milk agar.
Poster
Presentation
Haley Stehr’s Presentation of Her Poster
Mini Bio
Hello all, my name is Haley Stehr. If I’m being hones,t there’s not much to me. I do have a passion for helping others which is one of the main reasons I am going to nursing school. I have started my career in the medical field out by becoming an EMT. Other than having a passion for helping others and choosing to pursue a career in the medical field. I live on my family farm and I help with that as well. There is one thing about me that I do truly value and I will say that is I will help anyone with anything no matter who it is.