Faculty Sponsor

patrice bouyer

College

College of Arts & Sciences (CAS)

Department/Program

Biology

Presentation Type

Poster Presentation

Symposium Date

Summer 7-23-2025

Abstract

It is conjectured that exposing Candida albicans (C. albicans) to microgravity increases drug resistance gene expression. To research whether simulated microgravity increases amphotericin B resistance, we inoculated six plates with C. albicans that have been exposed to microgravity (using a clinostat) for 72 hours and six plates with C. albicans exposed to gravity for 72 hours. A disc diffusion (Kirby-Bauer) test was performed as such: the plates were divided into quarters, with 1 disc, either an antifungal or pure water control, placed in each quarter. The test discs were loaded with 10 micrograms (40 microliters) of amphotericin B and the controls were loaded with 40 microliters of pure water. Plates inoculated with the microgravity subjected C. albicans were reintroduced to microgravity for an additional 24 hours and the same was done for the gravity plates. Pictures of the plates were taken after 24 hours and zones of inhibition (ZOIs) calculated using ImageJ software. One experimental set showed an average ZOI of 223 mm2 for the gravity plates and 35 mm2 (n = 6) for the microgravity plates; giving a significant statistical difference, p = 3.61×10–08, between gravity and microgravity plates, meaning that resistance to antifungals was increased by microgravity. Another experiment showed no ZOIs, meaning antifungal resistance was high in both groups. Further testing and analysis are needed to determine the reason for the disparate outcomes of the procedures performed so far.

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