Interkingdom Competition Induces Morphological Changes
Poster Number
40
Format
Poster Presentation
Faculty Mentor Name
Skylar Carlson
Faculty Mentor Department
Chemistry
Abstract/Artist Statement
Human pathogens, bacteria that cause infections in humans, are becoming more antibiotic resistant. In the current crisis, discovering new antibiotics is of utmost importance. Actinomycetes are gram positive bacteria found in numerous habitats, from the ocean to terrestrial soils. They can produce defensive secondary metabolites against other bacterial and eukaryotic species. In my research, I plated ten actinomycetes against two different fungi (20 combinations total). To allow the actinomycetes and fungi to grow to their full potential, plates of 50% Potato Dextrose Agar (PDA) (purchased from Difco) and 50% A1 (starch 1.25 g/300mL, yeast 0.5 g/300mL, and peptone 0.25 g/300mL) were prepared. Each actinomycete and the two fungi were plated individually on the 50/50 plates to ensure they would grow and to monitor morphology as a control. Actinomycetes grow slowly, and were therefore plated first and allowed to grow for one week. The fungi were then introduced, plated near the actinomycetes at approximately 40 mm, 27 mm, and 5 mm. After two weeks, visual characteristics of the competitions were observed: color changes in the agar, morphological changes to either organism, a zone of inhibition where nothing grows, or one species being overtaken by the other. While observing the growth, I noticed the actinomycetes most often were exhibiting a zone of inhibition toward the fungi. On my poster, I will report my observations and future directions with these combinations.
Location
Information Commons, William Knox Holt Memorial Library and Learning Center
Start Date
29-4-2023 10:00 AM
End Date
29-4-2023 1:00 PM
Interkingdom Competition Induces Morphological Changes
Information Commons, William Knox Holt Memorial Library and Learning Center
Human pathogens, bacteria that cause infections in humans, are becoming more antibiotic resistant. In the current crisis, discovering new antibiotics is of utmost importance. Actinomycetes are gram positive bacteria found in numerous habitats, from the ocean to terrestrial soils. They can produce defensive secondary metabolites against other bacterial and eukaryotic species. In my research, I plated ten actinomycetes against two different fungi (20 combinations total). To allow the actinomycetes and fungi to grow to their full potential, plates of 50% Potato Dextrose Agar (PDA) (purchased from Difco) and 50% A1 (starch 1.25 g/300mL, yeast 0.5 g/300mL, and peptone 0.25 g/300mL) were prepared. Each actinomycete and the two fungi were plated individually on the 50/50 plates to ensure they would grow and to monitor morphology as a control. Actinomycetes grow slowly, and were therefore plated first and allowed to grow for one week. The fungi were then introduced, plated near the actinomycetes at approximately 40 mm, 27 mm, and 5 mm. After two weeks, visual characteristics of the competitions were observed: color changes in the agar, morphological changes to either organism, a zone of inhibition where nothing grows, or one species being overtaken by the other. While observing the growth, I noticed the actinomycetes most often were exhibiting a zone of inhibition toward the fungi. On my poster, I will report my observations and future directions with these combinations.