Digital Commons @ East Tennessee State University

A Pilot Research Project to Enhance Inquiry-Based Learning by Mapping the Microbiome of the Southern Appalachian Region

As humans continue to advance healthcare resources, we face a growing threat of nosocomial multidrug-resistant bacteria. The rise of these antibiotic-resistant microorganisms has been placed on the World Health Organization’s watchlist as one of the biggest threats to global health. We continue to have a shortage of effective antibiotics with the rise of these “superbugs”. With the growing number of deadly pathogens, the future of medicine relies on scientific findings to combat multidrug-resistant bacteria. Appalachia could be the answer to combat this new health threat. As the most biodiverse temperate forest region in North America, our beautiful backyard in the Smoky Mountains contains a plethora of microorganisms that have become genetically diversified over billions of years. Many of these soil bacteria naturally produce their own antibiotics. With the wide variation of natural bacteria, Appalachia serves as a testing ground to harness the power of natural antibiotics. A gram of soil contains more than 10,000 different species of bacteria. The biodiversity of these microbes is still largely unknown, as almost 99% of these species cannot be cultured in a normal lab setting. This pilot project will lay the foundations of discovering Appalachia’s microbiota which has, thus far, never been cataloged.