Summary
- Major: Biotechnology
- Faculty Mentor: Dr. William McCoy
- Research Topic: Bioinformatic Analysis of Rough and Smooth Isolates of Mycobacterium abscessus in Built-water samples
- New Scholar: 2022 Cohort
- Graduating with a Baccalaureate Degree: 2024
Abstract
Mycobacterium abscessus is a rapid-growing, pathogenic bacterium that appears in potable water sources and is one of the most antibiotic-resistant mycobacteria. The rough and smooth morphotypes of the bacteria vary in virulence. Research on the genome of rough and smooth M. abscessus in environmental samples is limited. Almost all publications on M. abscessus are analyses of clinical samples and even fewer are whole-genome analyses. This study will analyze the genomes of 20 rough and smooth M. abscessus isolates using bioinformatic programs. Identification of genes that could be related to each morphotype’s individual virulence aids in preventing potable water contamination resulting in human infection.