Combating antibiotic resistance: An approach to discover antimicrobial compounds

Abstract

Objective: This study aims to test a cost-effective approach for discovery of novel molecular compounds with antimicrobial characteristics.

Materials and methods: Thirteen randomly picked objects were swabbed in the area in and around Liverpool. They were further cultivated on BHI-agar plates, and then spread on top of several clinically relevant pathogenic indicator strains including C. albicans, C. auris, E. coli, M. luteus and MRSA. This system was incubated overnight and then analysed. Colonies which inhibit the growth of indicator strains, preferable more than one, were assessed suitable for further analysis.

Results: From all the cultivated samples, no bacterial colonies showed antimicrobial activity against C. albicans, C. auris and E. coli. Multiple colonies demonstrated antimicrobial activity against M. luteus, and one clone against MRSA.

Conclusion: Based on the result from thirteen samples were four of them demonstrate antimicrobial activity, the pipeline of such an approach to discover new antimicrobial molecules seems promising. It is cost-effective with great potential to detect novel antimicrobial compounds. More resources and time are required to investigate its fully potential.