Is this project an undergraduate, graduate, or faculty project?
Undergraduate
Project Type
group
Campus
Daytona Beach
Authors' Class Standing
Mitchell Villafania, Junior Collin Topolski, Graduate Student
Lead Presenter's Name
Mitchell Villafania
Lead Presenter's College
DB College of Arts and Sciences
Faculty Mentor Name
Dr. Hugo Castillo
Abstract
As humans explore space, bacteria will not only be present but will also be adapting to the extreme environment of space. During space missions astronauts have been shown to be immunocompromised which makes it imperative to understand the effects of space stressors (i.e., increased background radiation and microgravity(μg)) on bacteria. Current research has demonstrated an increase in virulence, biofilm formation, and antibiotic resistance. This research aims to identify multiple phenotypical changes that occur in E. coli cells exposed to simulated μg after 24 hours, 4 days, and 22 days. Specifically, this work observes changes in antibiotic resistance, osmotic tolerance, acidic tolerance, and oxidative stress. Preliminary experiments with antibiotic resistance utilizing the Kirby Bauer disc diffusion technique and the Minimum Inhibitory Concentration (MIC) method have demonstrated that exposure to simulated μg has a direct correlation of increased antibiotic resistance to some antibiotics with the increased duration of exposure. Additionally, increasing osmotic concentration inhibits the growth until four percent of sodium chloride and further increases have completely inhibited growth. These results can potentially be utilized for controlling growth of pathogenic bacteria in space. Additional studies using these two experiments as well as oxidative and pH stress will be explored.
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
Phenotypic Changes Occurring in Escherichia coli Cells Previously Exposed to Simulated Microgravity
As humans explore space, bacteria will not only be present but will also be adapting to the extreme environment of space. During space missions astronauts have been shown to be immunocompromised which makes it imperative to understand the effects of space stressors (i.e., increased background radiation and microgravity(μg)) on bacteria. Current research has demonstrated an increase in virulence, biofilm formation, and antibiotic resistance. This research aims to identify multiple phenotypical changes that occur in E. coli cells exposed to simulated μg after 24 hours, 4 days, and 22 days. Specifically, this work observes changes in antibiotic resistance, osmotic tolerance, acidic tolerance, and oxidative stress. Preliminary experiments with antibiotic resistance utilizing the Kirby Bauer disc diffusion technique and the Minimum Inhibitory Concentration (MIC) method have demonstrated that exposure to simulated μg has a direct correlation of increased antibiotic resistance to some antibiotics with the increased duration of exposure. Additionally, increasing osmotic concentration inhibits the growth until four percent of sodium chloride and further increases have completely inhibited growth. These results can potentially be utilized for controlling growth of pathogenic bacteria in space. Additional studies using these two experiments as well as oxidative and pH stress will be explored.