Is this project an undergraduate, graduate, or faculty project?
Undergraduate
Project Type
group
Campus
Daytona Beach
Authors' Class Standing
Natalie Brattain, Senior
Lead Presenter's Name
Natalie Brattain
Lead Presenter's College
DB College of Arts and Sciences
Faculty Mentor Name
Dr. Emel Sen Kilic
Abstract
Antimicrobial resistance is a growing global concern that necessitates the development of effective strategies for selecting appropriate antibiotics, especially in the context of future long-duration space missions, where infection control and treatment options are limited. This study employs the Kirby–Bauer disk diffusion assay to evaluate the antimicrobial susceptibility of Pseudomonas aeruginosa and other clinically and spaceflight-relevant bacterial pathogens such as Klebsiella pneumoniae, Staphylococcus aureus, and Streptococcus pneumoniae. These pathogens will be tested with commonly used antibiotics and potential natural compounds. The pathogens will be cultured and isolated onto Mueller–Hinton agar plates. Antibiotic disks, along with various flavonoids disks, such as Quercetin, will be used to evaluate its potential antimicrobial activity against the pathogens. The bacteria and disk will be placed on the plates then incubated at 37 °C overnight. Zones of inhibition will be measured to determine susceptibility patterns and to assess the comparative effectiveness of conventional antibiotics versus natural compounds like Quercetin. Due to preliminary findings, it is anticipated that P. aeruginosa will exhibit low susceptibility to penicillin-streptomycin due to its resistance mechanisms, while showing greater sensitivity to gentamicin. Understanding the susceptibility patterns of these pathogens has both terrestrial and spaceflight implications. On Earth, multidrug-resistant infections are a major public health issue, especially in the hospital environment. In space, the risk is amplified by the immune dysregulation experienced by astronauts, the closed spacecraft environment, and the reduced availability of treatments. Characterizing resistance trends and researching alternative therapeutics such as Quercetin could help guide targeted treatment strategies and inform future countermeasure development for spaceflight-associated infections. Ultimately, these findings will help inform infection prevention and treatment strategies that are critical for safeguarding crew health during long-duration space missions
Did this research project receive funding support (Spark, SURF, Research Abroad, Student Internal Grants, Collaborative, Climbing, or Ignite Grants) from the Office of Undergraduate Research?
No
Included in
Pathogenic Microbiology Commons, Pharmacology Commons, Space Habitation and Life Support Commons
Evaluation of Antimicrobial Resistance in Pathogens Relevant to Long-Duration Space Missions
Antimicrobial resistance is a growing global concern that necessitates the development of effective strategies for selecting appropriate antibiotics, especially in the context of future long-duration space missions, where infection control and treatment options are limited. This study employs the Kirby–Bauer disk diffusion assay to evaluate the antimicrobial susceptibility of Pseudomonas aeruginosa and other clinically and spaceflight-relevant bacterial pathogens such as Klebsiella pneumoniae, Staphylococcus aureus, and Streptococcus pneumoniae. These pathogens will be tested with commonly used antibiotics and potential natural compounds. The pathogens will be cultured and isolated onto Mueller–Hinton agar plates. Antibiotic disks, along with various flavonoids disks, such as Quercetin, will be used to evaluate its potential antimicrobial activity against the pathogens. The bacteria and disk will be placed on the plates then incubated at 37 °C overnight. Zones of inhibition will be measured to determine susceptibility patterns and to assess the comparative effectiveness of conventional antibiotics versus natural compounds like Quercetin. Due to preliminary findings, it is anticipated that P. aeruginosa will exhibit low susceptibility to penicillin-streptomycin due to its resistance mechanisms, while showing greater sensitivity to gentamicin. Understanding the susceptibility patterns of these pathogens has both terrestrial and spaceflight implications. On Earth, multidrug-resistant infections are a major public health issue, especially in the hospital environment. In space, the risk is amplified by the immune dysregulation experienced by astronauts, the closed spacecraft environment, and the reduced availability of treatments. Characterizing resistance trends and researching alternative therapeutics such as Quercetin could help guide targeted treatment strategies and inform future countermeasure development for spaceflight-associated infections. Ultimately, these findings will help inform infection prevention and treatment strategies that are critical for safeguarding crew health during long-duration space missions