Authors: Cori Bailie, Arlene Majers, Katherine Judge
Mentors: Olga Kopp
Insitution: Utah Valley University
Ever since antibiotics have been in use, bacteria have been evolving to develop resistance against them. Each year, the number of people who die from previously treatable infections increases, showcasing the seriousness of this global issue. According to the CDC, facilities were overwhelmed during the 2020 pandemic, decreasing antibiotic production. By refocusing on discovering and producing new antibiotics, resistance can once again begin to be combatted. Bacteria found in soil samples were used to test for antibiotic production, using safe relatives to the ESKAPE pathogens. Starting with three master plates on Tryptic Soy Agar, 39 total bacterial colonies were studied. Colonies of interest were then PCR tested for DNA sequencing, and will be run through multiple different chemical tests for classification. Results showed that three different colonies displayed antibiotic activity. Colony 7 on master plate A produced antibiotics against Bacillus subtilis. Colonies 6 and 13 on master plate B, both produced antibiotics against Mycobacterium smegmatis, and Staphylococcus aureus. The results suggest that there are more soil bacteria to be discovered that may be able to produce antibiotics for common infections that are getting harder to treat. Further testing needs to be done to determine whether these colonies are safe for human therapy.