Level of Education of Students Involved
Undergraduate
Faculty Sponsor
Patrice Bouyer
College
College of Arts & Sciences (CAS)
Discipline(s)
Microbiology
Presentation Type
Poster Presentation
Symposium Date
Spring 4-24-2025
Abstract
Candida albicans is an opportunistic commensal fungus that can respond to the stress of low-shear modeled microgravity by exhibiting phenotypes associated with increased virulence. In previous studies, C. albicans have demonstrated increased resistance to amphotericin B under microgravity conditions, but no change in resistance to caspofungin. Here, we investigated how microgravity (3 and 5 days) influences the resistance of two C. albicans strains (SC5314 and from Carolina) to clotrimazole (200 µg/µl) and amphotericin B (250 µg/µl). Resistance was evaluated by measuring the zone of inhibition (ZOI) around the treatment discs after 24 hours of exposure to the drugs in the presence or absence of microgravity. We used a clinostat to create microgravity. In summary, we found that on minimum plates, 3 days of pre-exposure to microgravity increased sensitivity to antifungal drugs, which reversed after 5 days of pre-exposure to microgravity. On YEPD plates, 3 days microgravity did not change drug sensitivity, but at 5 days we observed an increase resistance to amphotericin B for SC5314 and increase sensitivity for the Carolina strains.
Recommended Citation
Gaetano, Matthew; Carter, Kendall; Gundelach, George; Bouyer, Patrice; and Jendreas, Grace, "Effect of Simulated Microgravity on Candida albicans Resistance to Antifungal Drugs" (2025). Symposium on Undergraduate Research and Creative Expression (SOURCE). 1391.
https://scholar.valpo.edu/cus/1391
Biographical Information about Author(s)
My name is Matthew Gaetano, and I am a Health Science major enrolled in the Master of Science in Physician Assistant Studies program. My passion for biology and microbiology, along with outside inspiration, motivates me to continue learning and researching. My involvement in research has provided valuable experience in laboratory techniques and enhanced my critical thinking skills. My future goals include PA school, research, and making a difference in the healthcare field.
Kendall is an aspiring physician assistant with a background in biological sciences and clinical shadowing. They aim to explore how space and environments impact human health. Their future goals include attending PA school and contributing to healthcare advancements