Introduction
Sepsis, meningitis, and pneumonia are all caused by Streptococcus pneumoniae, a gram positive pathogen. The majority of fatalities caused by Streptococcus pneumoniae are in children under five years and adults over sixty-five years. Unlike many other pathogens, Streptococcus pneumoniae is prevalent in both well- and under-developed countries. Antibiotics and vaccines are constantly being developed to combat Streptococcus pneumoniae, as new strains evolve and resistance increases. The new vaccine must provide protection against a broad spectrum of pneumococcal strains (Bogaert et al, 2014). Penicillin has been used against Streptococcus pneumoniae for over fifty years and is losing its potency. It works by binding to cells, blocking …show more content…
Infections such as pneumonia and bacteraemia reside outside of the central nervous system and are considered intermediate-susceptible strains, meaning Penicillin is effective only if administered at least four times a day in high dosages. Though temporarily effective, this increases the likelihood of resistance (Moyo et al, 2012). In the 1990s Tetracycline was the second most prescribed antibiotic for Pneumococcol infections, behind Penicillin. (Doherty et al, 2000) The majority of strains resistant to Penicillin are also resistant to Tetracycline. These strains underwent become resistant from overexposure, when high levels of Penicillin and Tetracycline were administered (Musher, 1992). Kanamycin is most frequently used to treat tuberculosis and infections of the blood and tissues. It has been tested on Streptococcus pneumoniae and proved to have very little effect (Marini et al, 2014). Streptococcus pneumoniae thrives in a human host, living off of the human’s nutrients, usually the human’s transition metals: Manganese, Copper, Iron, and Zinc. As the pathogen extracts these metals, the body maintains homeostasis by removing …show more content…
The presence of Pneumococcol Surface Adhesin A (PsaA) in protein rich vaccines effectively halts the growth of disease in humans. Therefore, upcoming vaccines are likely to incorporate metal-attracting surface proteins (Mortensen and Skaar, 2013). The goal of the experiment is to test the effectiveness of Penicillin, Tetracycline, and Kanamycin in Streptococcus pneumoniae. Prior to having background information on the bacteria and the antibiotics I hypothesized that when Streptococcus pneumoniae is placed in a blood agar plate, Penicillin will prevent the bacteria’s growth, while Tetracycline and Kanamycin will have no effect. Therefore, if Streptococcus pneumonia is given one week to grow, then there will be a 1 mm zone of inhibition around Penicillin and a 0 mm zone of inhibition around Tetracycline and Kanamycin. Materials and Methods Prior to beginning, the work stations were cleaned and gloves were placed on. Blood agar plates were labeled and two perpendicular lines were drawn on the bottom of the agar plate, creating four equal sections. The labeling included the student’s name, the lab section and room number, the date, and the word “antibiotic.” The first letter of each antibiotic was placed in each section: P for Penicillin, T for Tetracycline, K for Kanamycin, and C for control. A cotton swab was then used to extract Streptococcus pneumoniae from another agar plate.
Sepsis, meningitis, and pneumonia are all caused by Streptococcus pneumoniae, a gram positive pathogen. The majority of fatalities caused by Streptococcus pneumoniae are in children under five years and adults over sixty-five years. Unlike many other pathogens, Streptococcus pneumoniae is prevalent in both well- and under-developed countries. Antibiotics and vaccines are constantly being developed to combat Streptococcus pneumoniae, as new strains evolve and resistance increases. The new vaccine must provide protection against a broad spectrum of pneumococcal strains (Bogaert et al, 2014). Penicillin has been used against Streptococcus pneumoniae for over fifty years and is losing its potency. It works by binding to cells, blocking …show more content…
Infections such as pneumonia and bacteraemia reside outside of the central nervous system and are considered intermediate-susceptible strains, meaning Penicillin is effective only if administered at least four times a day in high dosages. Though temporarily effective, this increases the likelihood of resistance (Moyo et al, 2012). In the 1990s Tetracycline was the second most prescribed antibiotic for Pneumococcol infections, behind Penicillin. (Doherty et al, 2000) The majority of strains resistant to Penicillin are also resistant to Tetracycline. These strains underwent become resistant from overexposure, when high levels of Penicillin and Tetracycline were administered (Musher, 1992). Kanamycin is most frequently used to treat tuberculosis and infections of the blood and tissues. It has been tested on Streptococcus pneumoniae and proved to have very little effect (Marini et al, 2014). Streptococcus pneumoniae thrives in a human host, living off of the human’s nutrients, usually the human’s transition metals: Manganese, Copper, Iron, and Zinc. As the pathogen extracts these metals, the body maintains homeostasis by removing …show more content…
The presence of Pneumococcol Surface Adhesin A (PsaA) in protein rich vaccines effectively halts the growth of disease in humans. Therefore, upcoming vaccines are likely to incorporate metal-attracting surface proteins (Mortensen and Skaar, 2013). The goal of the experiment is to test the effectiveness of Penicillin, Tetracycline, and Kanamycin in Streptococcus pneumoniae. Prior to having background information on the bacteria and the antibiotics I hypothesized that when Streptococcus pneumoniae is placed in a blood agar plate, Penicillin will prevent the bacteria’s growth, while Tetracycline and Kanamycin will have no effect. Therefore, if Streptococcus pneumonia is given one week to grow, then there will be a 1 mm zone of inhibition around Penicillin and a 0 mm zone of inhibition around Tetracycline and Kanamycin. Materials and Methods Prior to beginning, the work stations were cleaned and gloves were placed on. Blood agar plates were labeled and two perpendicular lines were drawn on the bottom of the agar plate, creating four equal sections. The labeling included the student’s name, the lab section and room number, the date, and the word “antibiotic.” The first letter of each antibiotic was placed in each section: P for Penicillin, T for Tetracycline, K for Kanamycin, and C for control. A cotton swab was then used to extract Streptococcus pneumoniae from another agar plate.