Biofilms Research

In high school, I designed and conducted my own independent research project into E. coli biofilm formation, specifically whether it could be inhibited by using garlic extract to suppress quorum sensing.

Knowing what I now know, I would have conducted my research differently. For example, the way I performed t-tests increased the risk of type I error. However, I am including my work as a resource for what independent high-school science can be.

Abstract

Antibiotics have revolutionized human medicine by providing powerful tools to combat bacterial illnesses, but the rise of antibiotic resistance threatens to render them useless. One type of antibiotic resistance, called a biofilm, might be inhibited by quorum sensing inhibitors, which block bacterial communication. Because quorum sensing inhibitors do not rely on killing bacteria, it may take longer for bacteria to develop resistance against them. Garlic extract, which contains a quorum sensing inhibitor, is tested in this research for efficacy against the biofilm formation of E. coli, specifically the K-12 MG1655 strain, because E. coli is a major cause of food-borne illness. If garlic extract proves effective, it could help prevent E. coli biofilms from surviving cleaning procedures, protecting against ingestion. After testing a variety of concentrations, this research finds that garlic extract at a concentration of 16 μL / mL likely promotes biofilm formation but that it inhibits formation at a concentration of 64 μL / mL. However, the data are ultimately inconclusive. Thus, while additional research is required, garlic extract could prove valuable in preventing food-borne illness.

Biofilms Research

Abstract

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