Date of Award

5-2018

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Science (MS)

College/School

College of Science and Mathematics

Department/Program

Biology

Thesis Sponsor/Dissertation Chair/Project Chair

Lee H. Lee

Committee Member

Sandra Adams

Committee Member

Ann Marie DiLorenzo

Abstract

In recent years, a growing concern in the medical field has been the ability to treat infectious diseases. The microorganisms that cause these diseases have developed invasive mechanisms that elude possible treatments and increase their virulence. Some virulent factors that have been observed in microorganisms are biofilm and endospore formation. Development of new antimicrobial agents are needed to combat these microorganisms.

Green tea from the leaves of Camellia sinensis, has many health benefits, such as anti-bacterial, anti-spore, anti-cariogenic and anti-viral properties. Epigallocatechin-3- gallate (EGCG) is the most abundant catechin and contributes to these effects. Due to the instability of EGCG, a modified stable lipophilic based molecule Epigallocatechin Gallate- Stearate (EGCG-S) was used to determine the effectiveness as an antimicrobial agent on eight gram-positive bacteria, seven gram-negative bacteria, one acid-fast bacterium, one fungus. Colony forming unit (CFU) was used to determine the growth. LIVE/DEAD® BaclightTM Kit was used to observe the viability of the cells; Congo red assay was used to study the biofilm formation and Rapid Agar Plate Assay (RAPA) was used to study the application of EGCG-S as an antimicrobial agent. The results indicated that the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) for most bacteria is 250μg/mL of EGCG-S within 2 hours, except K. pneumoniae and M. smegmatis. MIC for biofilm formation is 500μg/ml EGCGS for most bacteria. One percent (1%) and 5% sucrose concentrations can reduce the inhibitory effect of EGCG-S. Formulated prototype, ProtecTeaV is effective in treating C. albicans and three endospore forming Bacillus spp. Percentage of inhibition was above 95.97 within 60 seconds. This study suggested that EGCG-S can be a good potential antimicrobial agent.

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