The Search for Penicillin II

Microorganisms outnumber humans by more than a trillion to one, and with this figure comes a growing concern over the rise of antibiotic resistance. Many of these microbes can be found in soil and, luckily, can produce antibiotics to compete with and inhibit one another. One such microbe, Cerebral, taken from a soil sample at Woodridge Park was found to inhibit the relative of common pathogens. Soil dilutions, streak plates, and antibiotic screening led to the discovery of this candidate inhibiting the growth of Acinetobacter baylyi, possibly beginning the potential discovery of a new antibiotic that can aid in the fight against antibiotic resistance.