Antibiotic Producing Bacteria is in Soil?!
Abstract
Being in microbiology this semester, we, as students, were given the opportunity to hopefully discover a new bacteria with antibiotic producers. With various methods, I was able to obtain information regarding my own bacteria as well as learning further in the antibiotic world, thanks to “Tiny Earth” and “Small World.” Our purpose is to find antibiotic producing bacteria in the soil we see and walk on every day.
During our research and lab instruction, I began my process by diluting my soil sample with water to further pick out, which bacteria I thought would be the most efficient to transfer onto my master plates. I chose an estimate of twenty individual colonies out of over one hundred. From there, I was able to study my bacteria in a more isolated and advanced environment. I proceeded to test my bacteria on Staphylococcus epidermis and Escherichia coli (E.coli). From that test, two of my bacteria’s (the same strains on both plates) were successful in producing antibiotics to fight off these infections. From the start these two showed light pink or heavy white appearances, and always had a clear halo surrounding the colony. My other bacteria samples did not fight of the infections as successfully but I was still able to obtain information in regards to the specific stain they could potentially be. After those testing’s, we were able to gram stain one of our bacteria’s, where the one I chose seemed to be gram positive (crystal violet in color). Gram positive bacteria are more receptive to certain cell walls targeting antibiotics, therefore the research and testing I have done seems to be going in the correct path of developing a new antibiotic resistant bacteria’s.
Poster
Presentation
Lindsey Petrie’s Presentation Slides
Lindsey Presentation of Her Project on Zoom
Mini Bio
My name is Lindsey Petrie, and I am currently a student at Penn State Schuylkill but I am formally known as a Joseph F. McClowksy School of Nursing student where our first year we are explained as “borrowed” before we start our clinicals this August (2020) at the hospital where our school is based off of. I have known I wanted to be apart of the medical field, since I was about 5 years old, so my choice to go into the nursing field was no shock for my family nor friends. Being in Microbiology this semester has opened my eyes to how antibiotics truly work and the nasty ways bacteria can find ways into our bodies! I hope you enjoy viewing my work, as much as I enjoyed being apart of this course!