Antibiotic Resistance *
| Difficulty | |
| Time Required | Long (2-4 weeks) |
| Prerequisites | This project requires access to bacteria and antibiotics in a laboratory setting. A basic knowledge of how to work with bacteria is needed to complete this science fair project. Consult the Microbiology Techniques and Troubleshooting guide for information on how to conduct microbiology experiments. |
| Material Availability | Specialty items must be ordered through a school or research laboratory. |
| Cost | High ($100 - $150) |
| Safety | Requires adult supervision in a laboratory setting. Use sterile technique. Read the Microorganisms Safety Guide before starting any experiments. SRC approval may be necessary. |
*Note: This is an abbreviated Project Idea, without notes to start your background research, a specific list of materials, or a procedure for how to do the experiment. You can identify abbreviated Project Ideas by the asterisk at the end of the title. If you want a Project Idea with full instructions, please pick one without an asterisk.
Abstract
Antibiotics work by destabilizing the metabolism or cellular structure of bacteria, preventing growth, and causing bacteria to die. Some strains of bacteria have mutated and found a way to resist the actions of antibiotics. These are called resistant strains because they resist the actions of available antibiotic treatments. There are many different types of antibiotics that are continually being developed to combat new strains of resistant bacteria. Some antibiotics work better on different bacterial strains than others. Compare the action of different antibiotics on different strains of bacteria. Which type of antibiotic works the best against each strain? Which ones are the most cosmopolitan, and work on the most different strains of bacteria? Can you use genomic techniques and bioinformatics to predict which antibiotics will work best on each bacterial species or strain? (NCBI, 2006; Brown, 2002)Share your story with Science Buddies!
I Did This Project!
Please log in and let us know how things went.
Last edit date: 2013-01-10
Bibliography
- Brown, J. (2002). What the Heck is Antibiotic Resistance? Retrieved May 1, 2006, from the University of Kansas, Dept. of Molecular Biosciences website: http://www.people.ku.edu/~jbrown/resistance.htm
- National Center for Biotechnology Information. (2006). Retrieved May 1, 2006, from http://www.ncbi.nih.gov/
Share your story with Science Buddies!
I Did This Project!
Please log in and let us know how things went.
Ask an Expert
The Ask an Expert Forum is intended to be a place where students can go to find answers to science questions that they have been unable to find using other resources. If you have specific questions about your science fair project or science fair, our team of volunteer scientists can help. Our Experts won't do the work for you, but they will make suggestions, offer guidance, and help you troubleshoot.Ask an Expert
Related Links
If you like this project, you might enjoy exploring these related careers:
Microbiologist
Microorganisms (bacteria, viruses, algae, and fungi) are the most common life-forms on Earth. They help us digest nutrients; make foods like yogurt, bread, and olives; and create antibiotics. Some microbes also cause diseases. Microbiologists study the growth, structure, development, and general characteristics of microorganisms to promote health, industry, and a basic understanding of cellular functions. Read more
Pharmacist
Pharmacists are the medication experts. They advise doctors, nurses, and patients on the correct drug dosage for a patient's weight, age, health, and gender; on interactions between drugs; on side effects; on drug alternatives; on costs; and on ways to give drugs. They also dispense drugs at pharmacies, according to prescriptions, checking for dangerous drug interactions, and educating patients on how to take drugs, what reactions to watch out for, and how long it should take for drugs to work. Read more
