Newly Discovered Antibiotic

The ESKAPE pathogens, standing for Enterococcus faecium, Staphylococcus aureus, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Acinetobacter baumannii, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Enterobacter species, are the top nosocomial (hospital acquired) infections of the world. These pathogens are nearly impossible to treat due to their antibiotic resistant characteristic. Currently, much research is underway in an effort to fight these resilient pathogens. Trying to find an antibiotic capable of fighting against these pathogens, I took a clay-like soil sample from my yard that was a little damp, then I proceeded to grow my sample on the 50% tryptic soy agar plates provided in class. Next I took the candidates of my sample and placed them against the ESKAPE pathogen relatives and recorded any inhibition (zones that prevented pathogenic growth) that may have developed. I found that one of my candidates created an inhibition towards Mycobacterium smegmatis. Based off my results, I consider my antibiotic to be different and distinct from the others because it is a damp clay-like sample which could hold unique nutritional values, not necessarily for the pathogens but for the antibiotic fighting the pathogen. That said, I believe my selected candidate could hold potential and contribute in the search for the undiscovered antibiotics resilient to the ESKAPE pathogens