Abstract
We have developed a hands-on experimental module that combines biology experiments with a physics-based analytical model in order to characterize antimicrobial compounds. To understand antibiotic resistance, participants perform a disc diffusion assay to test the antimicrobial activity of different compounds and then apply a diffusion-based analytical model to gain insights into the behavior of the active antimicrobial component. In our experience, this module was robust, reproducible, and cost-effective, suggesting that it could be implemented in diverse settings such as undergraduate research, STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) camps, school programs, and laboratory training workshops. By providing valuable interdisciplinary research experience in science outreach and education initiatives, this module addresses the paucity of structured training or education programs that integrate diverse scientific fields. Its low-cost requirements make it especially suitable for use in resource-limited settings.
Highlights
Antibiotic resistance is a major public health problem worldwide [1–3]
As part of a science outreach initiative, we have developed a hands-on experimental module to study and characterize antimicrobial compounds
This module was first implemented at the Hands-On Research in Complex Systems School held at the Abdus Salam International Centre for Theoretical Physics (ICTP) in Trieste, Italy, in July 2014 [10]
Summary
Antibiotic resistance is a major public health problem worldwide [1–3]. Increased resistance of bacteria to current antibiotics and a steady decline in the development and approval of newer antibiotics [4, 5] motivate efforts to search for novel antimicrobial agents, especially from natural sources [6–9]. The Hands-On Research in Complex Systems School aims to introduce young scientists from developing countries to cutting-edge science in physical, chemical, and biological systems [10]. These 2-week-long schools focus on using simple, low-cost, and reliable techniques to perform tabletop research in daily, 3-hour-long laboratory sessions. The instructor provided a brief overview of the global problem and challenges of antibiotic resistance and the imperative need to discover novel antimicrobial compounds. This opened a brief discussion on recent efforts towards exploring natural, biological, and indigenous resources as antimicrobial agents [6–9]. This overview emphasized the key feature of our laboratory module, whereby an interdisciplinary approach could aid the discovery and identification of novel antimicrobial compounds, especially those from natural sources
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