Date of Award

5-2019

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

The primary etiology of nosocomial infections derives from the following pathogenic ESKAPE organisms: Enterococcus faecium/faecalis, Staphyloccoccus aureus, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Acinetobacter baumanni, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Enterobacter species. These opportunistic organisms are multidrug resistant and have the ability to form biofilm, which pose a great threat to clinical medicine. Evidence has shown catechins found in green tea (Camellia sinensis), have antibacterial activity. In this study, a modified polyphenolic catechin compound Epigallocatechin-3-gallate stearate (EGCG-S) was used to research its potential to inhibit ESKAPE growth and biofilm formation. In addition, synergistic ability of EGCG-S with antibiotics was also studied. Disk diffusion and colony forming unit assays were conducted to study the effects of EGCG-S, with and without antibiotics on the ESKAPE bacteria. Growth in the presence of EGCG-S was monitored and biofilm formation was analyzed. In all of the microorganisms, EGCG-S was able to enhance the antimicrobial activity of some antibiotics, converting them from resistant to sensitive or intermediate. The results indicated that EGCG-S can inhibit the growth and biofilm formation of bacteria at both 250 and 500 μg/ml.

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