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Procedures of Finding Bacteria that Inhibit Growth as a Way to Find Antibiotic Resistance
No full textAntibiotic resistance is a growing problem in modern medicine, as many bacterial pathogens have evolved mechanisms to withstand commonly used treatments. This has led to an urgent need for new antimicrobial compounds to combat drug-resistant infections. One group of particularly concerning bacteria is the ESKAPE pathogens, which include Enterococcus faecium, Staphylococcus aureus, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Acinetobacter baumannii, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Enterobacter species. These organisms are known for their ability to escape the effects of antibiotics, making them major contributors to hospital-acquired infections. To address this pressing issue, a survey of soil microorganisms from a site in Ottawa, KS was collected to identify potential antibiotic-producing candidates. Soil sample was collected, diluted, and cultured on selective media to isolate bacteria capable of producing antimicrobial compounds. The initial screening revealed 12 promising isolates that demonstrated inhibitory activity against non-pathogenic relatives of ESKAPE pathogens. Further testing, including secondary screenings and biochemical characterization, narrowed the selection to a single highly effective candidate. This candidate is a Gram-positive, spore-forming rod, suggesting it may belong to the genus Bacillus or Streptomyces, both of which are well-known producers of antibiotics. Further studies, including genetic sequencing and metabolite analysis, will be necessary to determine the specific identity of this organism and the nature of the antimicrobial compound it produces. If successful, this discovery could contribute to the ongoing search for novel antibiotics to combat drug-resistant infections
The Hunt for Hope
No full textNew antibiotic discoveries have become scarce in the past couple of decades. As well as antibiotic resistance being on the rise, we are in dire need than ever to find more antibiotics. To help improve and progress the discoveries, I have collected soil from a more rural location in hopes of finding new antibiotics. My soil was collected just south of Osawatomie, Kansas on the bank of a wooded creek. I have screened multiple soil candidates for their antibiotic activity. I slowly have narrowed down potential antibiotic producing candidates, using genetic and metabolic approaches. I hope this research helps find a new antibiotic in the soil
Grandma’s Garden Grows New Antibiotics
No full textAntibiotic resistance has become an increasing issue in medicine and healthcare. Given that antibiotics derived from soil provide a vast source of research resources, I located and collected soil samples from multiple soil types and samples. I identified a candidate through genetic and metabolic approaches and tested them against safe Eskape relatives. These candidates were screened for antibiotic activity. This research could improve the process of finding new antibiotics, and open a world of possibilities in new medicine
Finding Antibiotic in Unexpected Places
No full textFinding Antibiotic in unexpected places This research is being done to find the next antibiotic against antibiotic-resistant microbes. I started by collecting soil sample from my backyard in Olathe, KS. Soil was collected from a depth of 5 in, at a 31 degree F, cold weather condition, clay type. I have screened soil sample looking for potential candidates that will inhibit the growth of antibiotic. My samples have have shown potential antibiotic candidates. My hope for this research is to potentially find the next antibiotic. I have found potential antibiotic producing candidate. I will test this candidate against different pathogens, once identified, I isolate such candidate by applying the \u27streak plate\u27 method
Curating Fashion History: Sabbatical Overview
No full textThis sabbatical explored the management, preservation, and utilization of historical fashion collections, with a focus on enhancing the JCCC Historical Fashion Collection. The collection, inherited in the 1990s, plays a crucial role in fashion education but faces challenges due to inadequate storage, lack of exhibit space, and the absence of dedicated faculty compensation. Through visits to leading institutions, including the Rhode Island School of Design and the Columbia College Chicago, insights were gained on best practices for storage, curation, and community engagement. The findings emphasize the need for a dedicated exhibit and study space, faculty release time for collection management, and sustained institutional support. The video created from this research highlights the positive impact of fashion exhibits on student engagement, public interest, and institutional prestige, advocating for necessary changes to preserve and expand the collection\u27s role in both academic and community settings
The Euler-Lagrange Equation
No full textThe Euler-Lagrange equation is a mathematical tool that allows us to find functions which minimize certain quantities, such as a path function that minimizes the energy in a system or the distance between two points. This equation is foundational to variational calculus and simplifies many problems arising in physics and engineering. In this poster we will do a simple derivation of the equation before demonstrating its utility in solving physics problems using Lagrangian mechanics
In Search for Antibiotics in Soil
No full textThe Tiny Earth Network has students collect soil samples, grow bacterial colonies, isolate bacteria, test for antibiotic activity, and characterize those showing inhibitory activity. With my personal research I have found that the bacterial isolate that I have been watching has large zones of inhibition. on, Pseudomonas putida, Staphylococcus epidermidis, Bacillus subtilis, and Mycobacterium smegmatis. Therefore M. smegmatis (a non-pathogenic, fast-growing species) is a close relative of the human pathogens we all know, Mycobacterium tuberculosis. This research is important because if we are able to find a bacterial cell that has a large zone and has a pathogenic relative, then it might be able to produce a new antibiotic. In this case with the research I have done, I may have found a new antibiotic for M. tuberculosis
Estimating Stature from Unknown Human Skeleton #2
No full textBones can reveal many traits about people, such as sex, age, and ancestry. In everyday life, investigators use bones to uncover details about unidentified individuals. JCCC’s human anatomy department has six real human skeletons but no information about their origins. We are investigating unknown skeleton #2. A previous class has identified our skeleton as male, now we will focus on stature. We used various methods to estimate the stature of our skeleton. We have used the “Full Skeleton” and the “Linear Regression” methods. With the Full Skeleton method, we measured all the bones that affect a person’s height. The bones we used were the cranium, C2 to L5 vertebrae, the first sacral segment, femur, tibia, talus, and calcaneus. After summing the bones we put our data into a stature formula that accounts for soft tissue. Our results were 150.283cm or about 4’11. Next in the Linear Regression method, we measured the length of the femur, fibula, and, humerus, separately. We do not yet know the ancestry so we assumed they had european ancestry and used the respective linear regression equation. Then we accounted for error by adding and subtracting the standard error. After applying the data to the equation our range was 159.528-166.068cm or an average of about 5’4. This method estimated a few more inches for our skeleton compared to the Full Skeleton method. Any errors could be accounted for in measurements. Future groups can continue to research by finding the ancestry and age of skeleton #2
Butterfly Milkweed Vernalization
No full textThe purpose of this experiment is to test different methods to encourage germination of Butterfly weed to aid monarch butterfly populations. The issue at hand is the vernalization process of milkweed and what it requires to germinate. We tested two possible methods to encourage germination: cold stratification & scarification of Asclepias tuberosa. From this experiment, the researchers learned that the cold stratification worked best as those were the only seeds to germinate. The results did not indicate whether the scarification or the substrate is the variable behind the non-germination. Another test is needed to conclude which method was ineffective, or possibly effective under different circumstances. This research implies that cold stratification in a moist, low-density substrate is effective in encouraging butterfly weed to germinate