Investigation of Minimal Media and Chemical Stress on Antibiotic Sensitivity of Pseudomonas putida and Pseudomonas fluorescens

https://kent-islandora.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/starkstudentconference/2017/Posters/4/thumbnail.jpgThe genus Pseudomonas contains many species that range from harmless commensals to antibioticresistant pathogens. The most dangerous group is Pseudomonas aeruginosa, a leading cause of concern as the source of many antibiotic-resistant infections. Pseudomonas putida and Pseudomonas fluorescens were used in this study as they exhibit properties similar to those of P. aeruginosa without the issue of pathogenicity. Previous studies with non-pathogenic organisms such as Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus epidermis have shown an increase in antibiotic sensitivity when grown in the presence of sodium acetate, a known chemical stress agent, on complex media. This project is designed to study the effects of sodium acetate as the sole carbon source on antibiotic sensitivity of Pseudomonas putida and Pseudomonas fluorescens grown on M9 minimal medium. Antibiotic sensitivity is measured using the standard Kirby-Bauer method.