Date of Submission

Spring 2024

Academic Program

Biology

Project Advisor 1

Robert ToddAn

Abstract/Artist's Statement

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is one of the greatest public health crises due to the overuse of antibiotics. High rates of resistance have been found in common infectious human pathogens such as Pseudomonas aeruginosa. This bacteria poses a concern due to being present environmentally, agriculturally, and clinically with its ability to form biofilms that aid in the decreased susceptibility to antibiotics. In order to prevent the development of resistance, researchers and clinicians have turned to the combination therapy of anti-biofilm agents, such as antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) that permeate or damage the membrane of bacteria in conjugation with traditional antibiotic therapy. Specifically, the combination therapy of the AMP colistin and β-lactam antibiotics, that inhibit peptidoglycan synthesis in bacteria, have shown a synergistic effect against P. aeruginosa. Although the effect of the combined therapy of colistin and β-lactam antibiotics have shown to be effective against P. aeruginosa, the effect of this therapy on biofilm production is not known. This study will investigate the synergistic effect of colistin with the β-lactam antibiotic piperacillin sodium against P. aeruginosa biofilm production. To determine the effect of this treatment against P. aeruginosa, I will use MIC assays to determine the susceptibility profile of colistin sulfate (colistin) and piperacillin sodium (piperacillin) monotherapy versus their combined therapy. Biofilm assays will also be used to find the effect of monotherapy versus combined therapy against P. aeruginosa biofilm formation. This study shows that there is a synergistic effect of colistin with piperacillin against P. aeruginosa biofilm formation. This can lead to the development of new treatments against multidrug-resistant (MDR) bacteria.

Open Access Agreement

On-Campus only

Creative Commons License

Creative Commons License
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