Characterization of a bacteriocin with effectivity against Klebsiella

Abstract

Within the last century, antibiotics have been discovered and proved to be successful in killing or inhibiting growth of bacteria. However, in its short history, antibiotics have been overprescribed and misused, which has caused many species of bacteria to become resistant to its effects. This has led to a dramatic increase in infections that cannot be resolved with antibiotics. Therefore, antimicrobial research has turned to finding new ways to counter bacterial infections such as understanding and utilizing polymicrobial interactions. Previous research in our laboratory has found that Klebsiella pneumoniae, a Gram-negative, rod-shaped bacterium that can cause pneumonia, possess inhibitory properties that reduce the growth of certain bacterial genus including Enterobacter, Citrobacter, and even other Klebsiella species. In the current research, our lab has demonstrated that supernatant from a specific strain of K. pneumoniae, which includes the bacteria’s metabolites and proteins without cells, have antimicrobial properties that inhibit growth of other strains of K. pneumoniae including K. Pneumoniae 9997 in both planktonic and biofilm growth. Development of a treatment that delivers the antimicrobial compound from K. pneumoniae to those with drug resistant infections could become an alternative treatment to antibiotics that have failed in treating infections.

Start Time

16-4-2025 1:30 PM

End Time

16-4-2025 4:00 PM

Presentation Type

Poster

Presentation Category

Science, Technology and Engineering

Student Type

Undergraduate Student

Faculty Mentor

Sean Fox

Faculty Department

Biomedical Health Sciences

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Apr 16th, 1:30 PM Apr 16th, 4:00 PM

Characterization of a bacteriocin with effectivity against Klebsiella

Within the last century, antibiotics have been discovered and proved to be successful in killing or inhibiting growth of bacteria. However, in its short history, antibiotics have been overprescribed and misused, which has caused many species of bacteria to become resistant to its effects. This has led to a dramatic increase in infections that cannot be resolved with antibiotics. Therefore, antimicrobial research has turned to finding new ways to counter bacterial infections such as understanding and utilizing polymicrobial interactions. Previous research in our laboratory has found that Klebsiella pneumoniae, a Gram-negative, rod-shaped bacterium that can cause pneumonia, possess inhibitory properties that reduce the growth of certain bacterial genus including Enterobacter, Citrobacter, and even other Klebsiella species. In the current research, our lab has demonstrated that supernatant from a specific strain of K. pneumoniae, which includes the bacteria’s metabolites and proteins without cells, have antimicrobial properties that inhibit growth of other strains of K. pneumoniae including K. Pneumoniae 9997 in both planktonic and biofilm growth. Development of a treatment that delivers the antimicrobial compound from K. pneumoniae to those with drug resistant infections could become an alternative treatment to antibiotics that have failed in treating infections.