2018 Abstracts

Shay Bauman, Southern Utah University

Yolancee Nguyen; Mark Silvis; David Kircher; Sean Strain, University of Utah

Frost Mitchell, Utah State University

Mikala Lowrance, Southern Utah University

Karaleen Anderson; Mariel Hatch; Caeleb Harris; Karina Bravo; Rawly Lyle; Tyson Hill, Utah Valley University

Mark Albrecht; Brock Orme; Mary Jo Tufte, Southern Utah University

Nadja Redd; Gloria Slattum; Jody Rosenblatt; Franco Jin, University of Utah

Luke Tuttle, University of Utah

Trenton Colton; David Fullwood, Brigham Young University

Austin Bettridge, Utah Valley University

John Hancock; Benjamin Bickman; Kyle Kener; Kevin Garland; Claudia M Tellez Freitas; Scott Weber; Chad Hancock, Brigham Young University

Anastasiia Matkovska; Austin Bettridge; Blake Allred; Jeff Keller, Utah Valley University

Anastasiia Matkovska; Austin Bettridge; Jeff Keller, Utah Valley University

Karaleen Anderson, Mariel Hatch, Caeleb Harris, Anastasiia Matkovska, Kendrick Kiggins, Levi Neely, Utah Valley University Mucormycosis is a life-threatening disease that occurs in immunocompromised individuals, such as burn, cancer and diabetic patients. Amphotericin B is the current line of treatment for the disease, however it is known to have many adverse side effects including cell toxicity. Due to the high mortality and morbidity associated with the disease even when treated with Amphotericin B, it is vital that new combination therapeutic techniques be investigated in order to more effectively treat the disease. Mucromycosis is most often caused by a filamentous, opportunistic fungi called Rhizopus oryzae. This species causes up to 80% of infections and is the most common species isolated from confirmed Mucormycosis sites. Origanum vulgare (oregano) oil has been shown to have broad anti-microbial properties in various studies. This study investigates the ability of oregano oil to lower the concentration of Amphotericin B needed to successfully inhibit R. oryzae biofilms. Various concentrations of oregano oil and Amphotericin B are tested to determine the optimal concentration ratio that maximizes biofilm inhibition. Synergistic activity of oregano oil and Amp B could be used to decrease the amount of Amphotericin B needed to treat Mucormycosis infections while still utilizing the antifungal properties of Oregano oil.

Spencer Waters, Brigham Young University

Konstantinos Karpos; Koren Roach, University of Utah

Hal Jones, Brigham Young University

Tyler Johnson, Utah Valley University

Morrigan DeVito, Southern Utah University

Candy Roland, Dixie State University

Grace Hoffmann; Monika Lakk, University of Utah

Juan Valladares; Hanna Prieto; Niyeli Herrera; Yerina Flores, Brigham Young University

Alyson Rasmussen; Ellen Seely; Valentina Pastrana, Weber State University

Catherine Miner, Utah State University

Jake Rowley, Dixie State University

Hollie Roper; Jake Rowley; Dakota Witzel, Dixie State University

Teya Mathews; Andrea Monzon, Brigham Young University

TaylorAnn Christensen, Dixie State University

Ellison Goodrich, Salt Lake Community College

Mandy Parsons, Brigham Young University

Francesca DeMartino, Utah Valley University

Ashton Omdahl; Shun Sambongi; Megan Major; Emily LeBaron; Dallas Larsen; Daniel Lewis, Brigham Young University

Hal Jones; Dan Schindler; Brynne Anderson; Mary Rosbach; Chandler Warr, Brigham Young University

Jessie Byers, Southern Utah University

Erin Kinnally; John Capitanio; Elizabeth Wood; Angus Bennion; Ryno Kruger; Christina Barr; Stephen Lindell; Stephen Suomi, Brigham Young University

Joseph Rich, Brigham Young University

Aaron Wallace; Brad Hauck; Michelle White; Michele Hansen, University of Utah

Sara Schlagel, Southern Utah University

Jacob Shaner, Brigham Young University

Kalli Abbott, Brigham Young University

Kelsie Orton, Dixie State University

Josee Hildebrandt, Dixie State University

Mariah Clayson; Maverik Shumway; Brian Anderson, Southern Utah University

Kyle Hakes; Heather Erickson, Brigham Young University

Andrew Piskadlo; Adele Reynolds; Anna Robert; Gaurav Pandey, Westminster College

Kyleigh Tyler, Utah State University

Allison White, Dixie State University

Clayton Booth; Mitch Johansen, University of Utah

Jazmine Hurley, University of Utah

Alexander Cipro, University of Utah