Photo by V. Miller

Feb. 16, 2005

Antibiotic Resistance

Keeping Antibiotics Working: Modulatory Effects of Over-the-Counter Medicines, Dietary Supplements, and Fresh Fruits on the Sensitivity of Bacteria to Antibiotics
Maryam Khadijah Mohammed, 13, Niceville, Fla.
Finalist, Discovery Channel Young Scientist Challenge, 2004

Project background: After Maryam learned about the growing challenge of antibiotic resistance, she wanted to know if everyday supplements and foods affected a bacterium's susceptibility to antibiotics.

Tactics and results: Maryam tested 30 over-the-counter medicines, dietary supplements, and fresh fruits. For the tests, she soaked antibiotic sensitivity discs in solutions of the various test substances. She incubated colonies of bacteria on these discs, then measured the increase or decrease in effectiveness of antibiotics compared to their use alone. She also tested 150 combinations of her test substances.

Photo by V. Miller

Maryam found that fresh fruit solutions increased the sensitivity of bacteria to antibiotics, whereas certain combinations of herbal supplements decreased antibiotic effectiveness.

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