At the beginning of this semester, my professor and I planned that by the end of this semester I should have:

1. Amplified PKS I and PKS II genes from last semesters’ antimicrobial agent-producing microbes.

2. Executed at least three more antibiograms (antimicrobial activity detection assays) to ensure reproducibility.

3. Determine the level of susceptibility of target specimens against the antimicrobial agent-producing microbes.

So far, we have amplified PKS I-encoding genes from two distinct soil samples. Furthermore, we expect to finish amplifying other PKS-encoding genes by the end of this month. This amplification process is carried-out by polymerase chain reactions (PCRs) aiming to screen large genomic libraries for potential antimicrobial activity.

Last month however, the objectives changed with the addition of two actinomycetes isolated by Vanessa Cardona, a master student from Dr. Ríos-Velázquez’s Lab. One of these actinomycetes has already shown antimicrobial activity against a common fungal contamination in the laboratory. While the other, presents dual pigmentation. Currently, we are assaying the antimicrobial potential of both actinomycetes, via modified Kirby-Bauer antibiotic activity tests.