Hunting Pathogen Inhibiting Bacteria: The Story of Peanut

Most antibiotics commonly used in society today are becoming less effective in treating infections caused by pathogenic bacteria, which are continually developing and adapting. Many of these antibiotics were discovered by observing microorganisms found in soil, and the Tiny Earth Network (TEN) has continued this research by partnering with instructors and students around the globe in search of new antibiotic-producing microorganisms living undiscovered within the soil. In contribution to this research, I performed a serial dilution using a soil sample collected in Gardner, KS. From the plates created in this dilution, twelve candidate organisms were selected for their ability to inhibit the growth of neighboring microbes. The candidate organisms were then subjected to experiments designed to test their ability to inhibit the growth of safe relative species to known pathogenic bacteria. More specifically, the chosen tester strains are related to the ESKAPE pathogens- six bacterial species considered major threats within a clinical setting. Candidate organism number seven, Peanut, was selected for its ability to significantly inhibit the growth of Staphylococcus epidermidis, the chosen safe relative of the ESKAPE pathogen Staphylococcus aureus. Though Staphylococcus aureus is commonly found on the skin and in the nose of humans, where it does not cause harm, if it finds its way into the bloodstream or internal tissues, it can cause severe or even fatal infections. Further, Staphylococcus aureus is a very adaptable organism that has developed resistance to many common antibiotics widely used today.