Response of Staphylococcus aureus to acetylsalicylate challenge while in the presence of
Notatum Penicillium.(No Period)
Sarai Finks and Kazuhiro Sabet
Biology 3B, Department of Biology, Saddleback College, Mission Viejo, California
Bold -- Align flush with right margin Bacterial resistance to antimicrobial agents is
emerging in a wide variety of pathways taken by pathogens. The ability of S. aureus to
grow in an acetylsalicylate challenge was tested in the presence of N. penicillium. (After
a 72-hour incubation period the mean diameter of the zone of inhibition around the
sterilized chads under non-acetylsalicylic environment was 0.0 ± 0.0cm (± SEM), and the
mean diameter around chads under an acetylsalicylic environment was 0.0 ± 0.0cm (±
SEM).) Too wordy, run-on sentence The mean diameter around the 10g of N.
penicillium under a non-acetylsalicylic environment was 5.3 ± 0.4cm (± SEM), and the
mean diameter around N. penicillium under an acetylsalicylic environment was 8.3 ±
0.6cm (± SEM). There is a significant difference between the four groups (p =???,
ANOVA)(Running an ANOVA results in no significant difference, p=…). There was a
significant difference in the mean diameter around the10g of N. penicillium under an
acetylsalicylic and non-acetylsalicylic environment was 5.5%. The mean diameter around
the sterilized chads in S. aureus under an acetylsalicylic environment, and the mean
diameter around the 10g of N. penicillium in S. aureus under an acetylsalicylic
environment was 14.2%. This shows a greater inhibition of S. aureus in the presence of a
30mM concentration with N. penicillium than with only the affect of N. penicillium on S.
aureus alone.
Introduction
S. aureus has the ability to grow in high-salt comma and low moisture environments as
well as resist multiple antibiotics in the presence of acetylsalicylate (aspirin) (Riordan, et
al., 2006). S. aureus contains a strain that is methicillin-resistant, splice methicillin is in a
group of antibiotics called beta-lactams (Lewis et al., 1990) and is a source for many
enteric diseases. Investigators were interested in the antibacterial properties that many
fungi contain and the properties that bacteria display in response to a threat. Penicillin for
example is an endotoxin excreted from the (remove ‘the’) Penecillium fungi and has
beneficial healing properties in that it was first synthesized for use as an antibiotic
(Arriero 2002). The objective of this experiment was to observe the ability of Notatum
Penecillium to withstand Staphylococcus aureus in the presence of acetylsalicylate
(Riordan et al., 2006). (Did Riordan already conduct this experiment? Why quote them
here?) Conflicting research exists as to whether acetylsalicylate inhibits or promotes
bacterial growth in the presence of an antimicrobial (antimicrobial what?)(Arriero 2002,
Lewis 2006). Acetylsalicylate is classified as a nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drug (Shiff
et al.,1995). It is widley sp consumed for a variety of ailments ranging from pain to fever.
It is also utilized as a means of preventative health measures against cancer and heart
disease (Shiff et al., 1995). In this experiment acetylsalicylate was a successful growth
inhibitor of S. aureus in the presence of N. Penecillium, (period) this observation may
contribute to a better understanding of the properties and mechanisms of fungi in
response to a bacterial threat. It is important to have a deeper understanding of how
bacteria can adapt to overcome changes to their environment. Understanding how
bacteria adapt and evolve to survive despite the best efforts of the present day
antibacterial practices can possible aid in helping to prevent or treat infection (Tenover,
2001).
Materials and Methods
The bacteria S. aureus and fungus N. Penicillium (The S and N are italicized) were
cultured over a 48-hour period. This was to ensure that the appropriate amounts of the
organisms were available for plating on 27 plates. A nutrient agar was made by placing
27.6 g of nutrient starter in 1200 ml of water and carefully bringing the solution to a to a
boil. Once the solution was autoclaved at 200º F for 30 minutes (The Autoclave utilizes a
high pressure too. At what pressure?) (period) the solution was allowed to cool slightly
and then poured over 27 sterile plates. The plates were allowed to cool and the cultures of
S. areus sp(250 L) and N. Penicillium (10g) were placed on the plates. The
acetylsalicylate solution was made by dissolving 0.324 g of solid acetylsalicylic acid in
60.0 ml of DI water yielding a concentration of 30mM. Ten plates consisted of the S.
aureus (250 L), N. Penecillium, and acetylsalicylic acid (250 l). Ten additional plates
consisted of S. aureus and N. penecillium in the same concentrations as mentioned
above(but no acetylsalicylate?). Seven plates where served (grammar)as the control.
Sterilized chads were placed in DI water and also in the acetylsalicylate solution and
placed on opposite ends of the same plate. This was done to observe the (effect)affect
acetylsalicylate would have on bacterial growth. The plates were all placed in an
incubator for 72-hours at 37º C. All temperatures and outside factors were held constant
and data was then collected by measuring the halos or zone of inhibition (where bacteria
did not grow) around N. penecillium and the chads.
Results:
12
Diameter(cm)
10
8
6
4
2
0
Bacteria Bacteria&Acetyl salicylate Bacteria&Fungi Bacteria&Fungi&Acetyl salicylate
Figure 1. The bar graph showing mean diameter of the zone of inhibition ± SEM around
the sterilized chads and 10 g of N. penicillium under an acetylsalicylic and nonacetylsalicylic environment. The figure represents the bacteria, S. aureus and the fungi,
N. penicillium. (italicize figure caption)(figure should be after written results)
The measurements were taken after a 72-hour incubation period. The mean diameter of
the zone of inhibition around the sterilized chads under non-acetylsalicylic environment
was 0.0 ± 0.0cm (± SEM), and the mean diameter around chads under an acetylsalicylic
environment was 0.0 ± 0.0cm (± SEM). The mean diameter around the 10g of N.
penicillium under a non-acetylsalicylic environment was 5.3 ± 0.4cm (± SEM), and the
mean diameter around N. penicillium under an acetylsalicylic environment was 8.3 ±
0.6cm (± SEM). There is a significant difference between the four groups (p =,
ANOVA).The Bonferroni correction showed no significant difference between the
groups S. aureus in a non-acetylsalicylic environment and S. aureus in an acetylsalicylic
environment was 0.0%. There was a significant difference in the mean diameter around
the10g of N. penicillium under an acetylsalicylic and non-acetylsalicylic environment
was 5.5%. The mean diameter around the sterilized chads in S. aureus under an
acetylsalicylic environment, (huh? Sentence fragment)and the mean diameter around the
10g of N. penicillium in S. aureus under an acetylsalicylic environment was 14.2%.
(what do all the % signs mean? aren’t these in cm? how do you get a ratio?)
Discussion:
Based on the results it is thought that there may be some reaction taking place between N.
penicillium and the acetylsalicylate that caused a greater inhibition of bacterial growth of
S. aureus since there is a difference, although the mechanism is not fully understood .
This could be attributed to the specific proteins found with in the cell wall of N.
Penecillium and related to the endotoxin that is released from the N. penecillium that
gives it its antimicrobial traits. A reaction between the penicillin endotoxin and the
acetylsalicylate could produce a greater toxic environment and thereby create a more
unfavorable environment for S. aureus (italicize)to thrive than if just the penicillin were
present. This is noted in the difference in the mean zone of inhibition for the bacterial
growth and (remove ‘and’)which was 5.3 ± 0.4cm (± SEM) for the group with out the
acetylsalicylate challenge and 8.3 ± 0.6cm (± SEM) for the group with the
acetylsalicylate challenge. An ANOVA, p =, was then run for all the groups and showed
a F-value equal to 100.5 showing a significant difference in the groups. The groups were
then compared to each other by running a Bonferroni correction this revealed that there
was a significant difference in the zones of inhibition between each group. The group
containing S. aureus and N. penicillium and acetylsalicylate were significantly different
than the group containing just the bacteria and the fungi and the group containing only
the bacteria and the acetylsalicylate by 5.5% and 14.2% respectfully. Some sources for
error may have arose and lead to error in measurements. These sources could be
attributed to incorrect plating of the bacteria and the fungi and aspirin(acetylsalicylate).
Cross contamination also played a minor role as some of the data had to be negated to
over growth of fungus on the bacterial control. The control was very important since we
were testing aspirins combined effect with penicillin to inhibit bacterial growth. The
control was initially done but only qualitative observations could be made from it since
sterilized chads had not been added. A second round of plates containing the bacteria and
sterilized chads that had been treated with DI water and with a 30 mM solution of
acetylsalicylate was used to quantitatively collect data. The same environment was
created for the control and observations and data collected.
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Review Form
Department of Biological Sciences
Saddleback College, Mission Viejo, CA 92692
Author (s):___________Sarai Finks and Kazuhiro Sabet__________________________
Title:_______________Response of Staphylococcus aureus to acetylsalicylate challenge
while in the presence of Notatum
Penicillium_______________________________________
Summary
Summarize the paper succinctly and dispassionately. Do not criticize here, just show that you understood the paper.
The study involved the effect acetylsalicylic acid on N. penicillium’s antimicrobial
effects. Cultures of Staphylococcus aureus were plated with penicillium with and without
acetylsalicylate. Results show a significant difference with the acetylsalicylate on the
plates, widening the zone of inhibition by a significant amount. No significant difference
was observed when S. aureus was plated with just the acetylsalicylate, and no
penicillium, so the conclusion was made that the acetylsalicylate strengthens the
antimicrobial effects of N. penicillium.
General Comments
Generally explain the paper’s strengths and weaknesses and whether they are serious, or important to our
current state of knowledge.
The wording throughout is slightly confusing. Shortening the sentences in the
introduction, results and discussion could help to clarify the study.
There are many misuses of commas, and many comma splices. Sentence structure should
be fixed.
The figure’s x-axis should be clarified. Each Group should be clearly labeled.
The results for the zone of inhibition on the plate with S. aureus but no penicillium
should not be described as 0.0 +/- 0.00 S.E.M. This should just be described as “no
inhibition.” Discussing these numbers make one think its an important part of the study.
Discussion addresses the benefits of this test in the medical field. These findings are
important and this is emphasized here.
Technical Criticism
Review technical issues, organization and clarity. Provide a table of typographical errors, grammatical
errors, and minor textual problems. It's not the reviewer's job to copy Edit the paper, mark the
manuscript.
This paper was a final version
This paper was a rough draft XXX