Date of Award

Spring 2021

Thesis Type

Open Access

Degree Name

Honors Bachelor of Arts

Department

Biology

Sponsor

Dr. Brendaliz Santiago-Narvaez

Committee Member

Dr. Laurel Habgood

Committee Member

Dr. Anne Murdaugh and Dr. Pamela Brannock

Abstract

Streptococcus mutans is identified as the causative agent of human dental caries, with biofilm formation serving as its most important virulence factor. Biofilms are typically more challenging to treat than planktonic or free-floating bacteria, adding to the already challenging issue of antibiotic resistance. This has led to an increased need for the discovery of alternative antibacterial compounds other than antibiotics. Among these compounds, silver(I) cyanoximates have been demonstrated to have antibacterial activity against a variety of microorganisms, specifically those that colonize in-dwelling medical devices. To assess the antibacterial properties of two silver(I) cyanoximate compounds, silver(I) nitrosodicyanomethanide (Ag(ACO)) and silver(I)α-oximido-(2-benzoyl)acetonitrile (Ag(BCO)), growth curves, minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) assays, minimum biofilm inhibitory concentration (MBIC) assays, and biofilm disruption assays were performed against S. mutans UA159. Both compounds inhibited planktonic growth and significantly decreased or disrupted biofilm formation at concentrations between 8 µg/mL and 128 µg/mL. The study of compounds that can target biofilm forming organisms contributes to the overall understanding of how to successfully target S. mutans and may lead to better treatment and prevention of dental caries as well as other biofilm related infections.

Rights Holder

Sarah Hameer

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Included in

Microbiology Commons

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