Analysis of Antibiotics (bacteriocins) From Antibiotic-Producing Bacterial Isolates

Abstract

The purpose of our research was to potentially find new strains of bacteria with antibiotic-producing abilities that could be effective against pathogenic microorganisms. A variety of soil samples were taken from multiple environments around Wisconsin. Each sample was screened for their ability to produce antibiotics against Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus through an assay technique. A total of 12 microbial strains showed consistent inhibition properties and underwent further testing. Of the 12 strains, one of them exhibited inhibition of E. coli only, five demonstrated inhibition of S. aureus only, and six strains demonstrated inhibition against both. We are currently identifying the biochemical and genetic properties of the strains, as well as attempting to purify the antibiotics in cell-free extracts for further chemical analysis. We have already been attempting to assay purified cell-free extracts from several of the strains but have not gotten consistent results yet.