Is this project an undergraduate, graduate, or faculty project?

Undergraduate

Project Type

group

Campus

Daytona Beach

Authors' Class Standing

Wesley Flewelling, Freshman Anderson Jeon, Freshman Giovanni Benjamin, Freshman

Lead Presenter's Name

Wesley Flewelling

Lead Presenter's College

DB College of Arts and Sciences

Faculty Mentor Name

Alba A. Chavez

Abstract

Aerospace physiology

Leveraging Drug Repurposing: A Strategic Approach to Combat Bacterial Infections.

Author Information: Wesley A. Flewelling, Anderson Y. Jeon and Giovanni Benjamin

Faculty mentor: Dr. Alba Chavez

The emergence of antibiotic resistant bacterial strains poses a critical threat to global public health, necessitating innovative strategies to address this challenge. Drug repurposing, the process of identifying new therapeutic uses for existing drugs, has emerged as a promising approach to Accelerate the development of effective treatments for bacterial infections. This research aims to highlight the importance of drug repurposing in the context of bacterial infections in an effort to emphasize the various advantages it offers over traditional drug discovery methods. We have selected 6 drugs that are not infrequently used to treat infections (including gentamycin sulfate, simvastatin, caspofungin, finasteride, ketorolac and clarithromycin) and tested their efficacy as antibacterial agents using four bacterial strains (Escherichia, Serratia, Micrococcus and Bacillus) as target model systems. We performed a comprehensive high throughput screening using a 96 well microplate approach and determined the Minimum Inhibitory Concentration (MIC) of bacterial growth. Our results indicate that Finasteride and Ketorolac are effective against the gram-negative bacteria Escherichia and Serratia, whereas Caspofungin and Clarithromycin are the most effective against the gram-positive Micrococcus and Bacillus. These results shed light into future perspectives of antimicrobial agents and possible treatments for fastidious infections. Embracing drug repurposing as a complementary strategy to traditional drug discovery efforts holds tremendous potential in the fight against bacterial infections.

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

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Leveraging Drug Repurposing: A Strategic Approach to Combat Bacterial Infections.

Aerospace physiology

Leveraging Drug Repurposing: A Strategic Approach to Combat Bacterial Infections.

Author Information: Wesley A. Flewelling, Anderson Y. Jeon and Giovanni Benjamin

Faculty mentor: Dr. Alba Chavez

The emergence of antibiotic resistant bacterial strains poses a critical threat to global public health, necessitating innovative strategies to address this challenge. Drug repurposing, the process of identifying new therapeutic uses for existing drugs, has emerged as a promising approach to Accelerate the development of effective treatments for bacterial infections. This research aims to highlight the importance of drug repurposing in the context of bacterial infections in an effort to emphasize the various advantages it offers over traditional drug discovery methods. We have selected 6 drugs that are not infrequently used to treat infections (including gentamycin sulfate, simvastatin, caspofungin, finasteride, ketorolac and clarithromycin) and tested their efficacy as antibacterial agents using four bacterial strains (Escherichia, Serratia, Micrococcus and Bacillus) as target model systems. We performed a comprehensive high throughput screening using a 96 well microplate approach and determined the Minimum Inhibitory Concentration (MIC) of bacterial growth. Our results indicate that Finasteride and Ketorolac are effective against the gram-negative bacteria Escherichia and Serratia, whereas Caspofungin and Clarithromycin are the most effective against the gram-positive Micrococcus and Bacillus. These results shed light into future perspectives of antimicrobial agents and possible treatments for fastidious infections. Embracing drug repurposing as a complementary strategy to traditional drug discovery efforts holds tremendous potential in the fight against bacterial infections.

 

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