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Microbial Treatment Strategies: An Integrative Approach

Brantner, Justin
http://orcid.org/0000-0001-8390-4520
http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=akron1435246535

Abstract Details

2015, Doctor of Philosophy, University of Akron, Integrated Bioscience.
Understanding microbial treatment strategies represents a unique challenge for integrative biologists. From one viewpoint, the metabolic diversity of naturally occurring bacteria could be utilized to develop passive treatment strategies that target specific systems impacted by environmental contamination. On the other hand, from a medical perspective many bacteria are capable of establishing residence within host environments often resulting in difficult to treat infections. The purpose of this research was to explore two specific scenarios, acid mine drainage (AMD) and cystic fibrosis (CF), as a means to further develop potentially useful microbial treatment strategies. In order to develop effective passive treatment options for water pollution caused by AMD, it becomes necessary to first evaluate how natural soil bacteria respond to sustained AMD intrusion. Data presented shows how the population of soil microorganisms from an AMD site exhibiting “sheet flow” characteristics shifts from a highly diverse community towards a less metabolically robust community composed of higher relative percentages of organisms capable of metabolic iron(II) oxidation. Data is also shown for depth dependent organization of microbial communities through a “mature” iron mound that has formed as a result of continuous iron(II) oxidation and subsequent precipitation of various iron(III)-(hydr)oxides. From a medical perspective, more clinically relevant microbial treatment methodologies are necessary to combat infections such as those commonly caused by Pseudomonas aeruginosa in the lungs of CF patients. Utilizing conditions that better approximate the chemical composition and bacterial population of the CF lung environment, various antimicrobial compounds (including two novel silver carbene complexes) were examined for efficacy against planktonic and biofilm phenotypes of multiple strains of P. aeruginosa. Data shows that mucin (a key component of the CF lung environment) concentration greatly impacts the efficacy of multiple classes of antimicrobial compounds. Further, it was found that silver carbene complexes were more effective at treating the biofilm phenotype of P. aeruginosa strains compared to other currently utilized antibiotics in conditions that approximate the CF lung environment. Ultimately, results from both scenarios represent useful data that environmental and medical scientists respectively can use in attempts to begin developing more integrative approaches to effective microbial treatment strategies.
John Senko, Dr. (Advisor)
Donald Ott, Dr. (Committee Member)
Wiley Youngs, Dr. (Committee Member)
Robert Joel Duff, Dr. (Committee Member)
Rolando Juan Jose Ramirez, Dr. (Committee Member)
205 p.
Biology
acid mine drainage; iron; cystic fibrosis; silver; antimicrobials; mucin

Recommended Citations

Citations

  • Brantner, J. (2015). Microbial Treatment Strategies: An Integrative Approach [Doctoral dissertation, University of Akron]. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=akron1435246535

    APA Style (7th edition)

  • Brantner, Justin. Microbial Treatment Strategies: An Integrative Approach . 2015. University of Akron, Doctoral dissertation. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center, http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=akron1435246535.

    MLA Style (8th edition)

  • Brantner, Justin. "Microbial Treatment Strategies: An Integrative Approach ." Doctoral dissertation, University of Akron, 2015. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=akron1435246535

    Chicago Manual of Style (17th edition)

akron1435246535
867
© 2015, all rights reserved.
This open access ETD is published by University of Akron and OhioLINK.
Release 3.2.12