Degree Name

MS (Master of Science)

Program

Biology

Date of Award

5-2021

Committee Chair or Co-Chairs

Sean J. Fox

Committee Members

Ranjan Chakraborty, W. Andrew Clark, Rebecca Pyles

Abstract

Skin related injuries are some of the most dangerous forms of wounds. In addition to treating the wound itself, health care providers must be cautious of microbial infections. In this study, we evaluate a novel all-natural antimicrobial gel compound (AMG) designed to kill planktonic bacteria, penetrate bacterial biofilms, and accelerate wound healing. In -vitro experiments demonstrate that AMG is effective in inhibiting planktonic growth and biofilm development of eight common pathogens. LIVE/DEAD staining and confocal microscopy reveal that planktonic growth and three-dimensional structure of biofilms were significantly reduced. Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction (RT-PCR) was used to investigate a small panel of genes (PrsA, Sprx) and showed potential targets for future study. A physiologically relevant wound model was created for treating S. aureus infections by using AMG alone or in combination with a common topical antibiotic, Mupirocin. AMG is a safe and effective treatment option for skin related infection.

Document Type

Thesis - embargo

Copyright

Copyright by the authors.

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