University
Shawnee State University
Major
Biomedical Sciences
Student Type
Undergraduate Student
Presentation Types
Poster Presentation (Live)
Keywords:
Biofilm, Bacterial Pathogen, Normal Microbiome, Disruption
Abstract
Streptococcus pyogenes (Group A Streptococcus, GAS) is a common bacterial pathogen associated with sore throat in children and young adults. Although it is possible to be an asymptomatic carrier of GAS, infection often results in streptococcal pharyngitis or other invasive diseases. This study aims to determine whether GAS disrupts formation and growth of biofilms of normal microbes in the oral cavity and throat to cause disease. Bacterial species used in this research to simulate biofilms of the oral cavity and throat include Streptococcus dysgalactiae, Streptococcus salivarius, and Streptococcus mutans which are all part of the normal oral biome. Optimal biofilm growth conditions for each species were determined in vitro using six-well plates and tryptic soy broth (TSB). A series of washes and staining using 01% crystal violet were performed, followed by optic density (OD) measurements using spectrophotometry. To determine the effects of GAS on oral biofilm growth, the sterile TSB was replaced with filtered supernatant of GAS. Results showed no significant difference between the biofilms grown in sterile TSB and those grown in filtered GAS supernatant. Further testing is required to determine if proteins attached to the surface of GAS or particular virulence factors affect oral biofilms.
Human and Animal Subjects
no
IRB or IACUC Approval
yes
Faculty Mentor Name
Eugene Burns
Faculty Mentor Title
Professor
Faculty Mentor Department
Natural Sciences
Recommended Citation
Yarnell, Brayden and Lewis, Tracy, "Effects of Group A Streptococcus on Normal Microbiome Species of the Oral Cavity and Throat" (2025). Celebration of Scholarship. 5.
https://digitalcommons.shawnee.edu/cos/2025/posters/5
Effects of Group A Streptococcus on Normal Microbiome Species of the Oral Cavity and Throat
Streptococcus pyogenes (Group A Streptococcus, GAS) is a common bacterial pathogen associated with sore throat in children and young adults. Although it is possible to be an asymptomatic carrier of GAS, infection often results in streptococcal pharyngitis or other invasive diseases. This study aims to determine whether GAS disrupts formation and growth of biofilms of normal microbes in the oral cavity and throat to cause disease. Bacterial species used in this research to simulate biofilms of the oral cavity and throat include Streptococcus dysgalactiae, Streptococcus salivarius, and Streptococcus mutans which are all part of the normal oral biome. Optimal biofilm growth conditions for each species were determined in vitro using six-well plates and tryptic soy broth (TSB). A series of washes and staining using 01% crystal violet were performed, followed by optic density (OD) measurements using spectrophotometry. To determine the effects of GAS on oral biofilm growth, the sterile TSB was replaced with filtered supernatant of GAS. Results showed no significant difference between the biofilms grown in sterile TSB and those grown in filtered GAS supernatant. Further testing is required to determine if proteins attached to the surface of GAS or particular virulence factors affect oral biofilms.
