Theses and Dissertations - UTB/UTPA
Date of Award
12-2011
Document Type
Thesis
Degree Name
Master of Science (MS)
Department
Biology
First Advisor
Dr. Luis Materon
Second Advisor
Dr. Joanne Rampersad
Third Advisor
Dr. Mohammed Farooqui
Abstract
Staphylococci from part of the natural flora of humans and some, like Staphylococcus aureus, appear to be evolving antibiotic resistance. The Lower Rio Grande Valley (LRGV) is an area of interest due to its proximity to the US/Mexico border where antibiotics could recently be purchased without prescription. Two libraries from community association (CA-S) and environmental association (E-S) have been collected and the staphylococci isolated. We hypothesize that their SCCmec type, which aids the staphylococci in antibiotic resistance, will not display classically defined association schemes and will surface in many species of staphylococci. This study generates antibiotic resistance profiles via antibiotic susceptibility testing, identifies the presence of Staphylococcus aureus, Staphylococcus epidermidis, Staphylococcus haemolyticus, the presence of the mecA gene, and SCCmec types I-V among both libraries through multiplex and standard polymerase chain reaction (PCR). The data produced is an insight into the composition of the staphylococci in the LRGV.
Granting Institution
University of Texas-Pan American
Comments
Copyright 2011 Diana Evelyn Treviño. All Rights Reserved.
https://www.proquest.com/dissertations-theses/characterization-antibiotic-resistance-profile/docview/923013120/se-2