Co-Selection of Metal- and Antibiotic-Resistance Following Nanoparticle Exposure
My project’s overarching goal is to learn more about the environmental and biological effects of nanoparticles through the lens of bacterial resistance. Examining the correlation between bacterial resistance to nanoparticles and antibiotics will demonstrate that nanoparticle resistance has implications beyond just metals and nanoparticles and into the realm of organic antibiotics. To determine whether bacterial exposure to nanoparticles increases the transfer of antibiotic resistance plasmids, I will implement a simple plate-counting method. This will reveal the mechanisms of resistance and valuable information about the effects of nanoparticle exposure on organisms. To study the impact of nanoparticles on antibiotic resistance, I will also test the nanoparticle-resistant bacteria to see if they are more or less sensitive to a selected panel antibiotics when compared to the non-resistant bacteria. Doing this will also indicate which biochemical processes in S. oneidensis are affected by nanoparticle resistance, shown through mechanism of resistance. This will continue the work that the Carlson Lab has been pursuing-to expand knowledge of nanoparticle resistance and promote environmental advocacy through scientific research.