Sarah Trumble, Employment Visionary Empowering Job Applicants

Sarah Springsteen Trumble, Founder and CEO of The Job Applicant Perspective, was interviewed by Robb Scott

Discovering the Function of an Unknown Protein Using Bioinformatics Tools

This research will examine the potential function(s) of the protein 2P9B by utilizing tools such as the protein database, InterPro, FoldSeek, and CLEAN Background to obtain its’ known characteristics and properties to provide context into the protein’s potential function. By conducting this research, we may gain insights into how we may utilize this protein for the betterment of the human race, such as developing pharmaceuticals. In addition, this research could provide researchers with a better understanding of the protein itself, while also gaining potential clarity on the organisms that possess this protein (and why)

Antibiotic Screening with JCCC Soil

Soil is a rich source of diverse microorganisms, many of which produce antibiotics. This is due to the soil being surrounded by many microorganisms, which makes them kill other bacteria in advantage for them to grow. This project focuses on isolating and identifying candidates that are effective against tester strains of the ESCAPE pathogens\u27 safe relatives. The soil used for this study came from Johnson County Community College, collected by Xavier Cunningham. By using the serial dilution method, five agar plates containing colonies were later selected to form a master plate. From this master plate, each candidate was tested against the safe relatives of the ESKAPE pathogens. From the results, the candidate that was most effective from the tester strains was used for further examination

Mining Eloise for Medicine

Antibiotic resistance, a growing global threat since the discovery of penicillin in the 1940s, has been exacerbated by the overuse and misuse of antibiotics. One of the most prevalent forms of resistance today comes from the ESKAPE pathogens, a group of bacteria known for their ability to spread easily in healthcare settings and their resistance to antibiotics. Staphylococcus aureus, the causative agent of MRSA (Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus), is one of these pathogens and exhibits significant antibiotic resistance. Staphylococcus epidermidis, the safe relative of Staphylococcus aureus, is found on human skin. In partnership with the Tiny Earth Network, which focuses on discovering soil microbes with antibiotic properties, a microbe named Eloise—found in the flower bed of an apartment complex—was identified for its inhibition of Staphylococcus epidermidis. Given its activity against Staphylococcus epidermidis, Eloise is likely to also inhibit Staphylococcus aureus, offering promising potential for combating antibiotic-resistant infections

My Soil Collection from My Front Yard

I am searching this to find different bacteria against antibiotic resistance. Antibiotic resistance is a serious problem that affects the lives of many, making it difficult to treat a variety diseases and infections. I collected a soil sample from my front yard that has microbes that present potential inhibition against eskape relatives. Eskape relatives are related to eskape pathogens that are very common in our environments.Therefore testing the relative will be a safer way to find candidates that fight against those pathogens. I have screened and identified potential candidates through metabolic and genetic approaches. Hopefully this research can help find a new antibiotic and help with new methods and locations for the research

The Antibiotic Zone

It’s easy to call your doctor when you’re sick and get an antibiotic prescribed. In a quest to curb antibiotic resistance, I turned to the soil. I looked in a flower bed outside my house for promising antibiotic-producing bacteria. I screened multiple soil candidates for their antibiotic activity and identified potential antibiotic-producing candidates using metabolic and genetic approaches. This research could help us scientists create a novel antibiotic

Can Supercapacitors and Solar Power Replace Car Batteries?

Traditional car batteries contain toxic chemicals and require frequent replacement, contributing to environmental waste. This project explores whether a combination of supercapacitors and solar trickle charging can fully replace traditional car batteries for vehicle starting and power management. Supercapacitors provide rapid energy discharge, making them suitable for engine startup. However, they have low energy storage capacity and self-discharge over time, making overnight energy retention a challenge. To address this, a solar trickle charger is integrated to maintain charge levels. Additionally, an auxiliary capacitor bank supports essential car electronics when the engine is off. Through energy calculations, a supercapacitor bank of 5 x 100F (2.7V each) is determined to be sufficient to start a Honda Civic reliably. A 10W–30W solar panel can sustain charge levels, while the car’s alternator replenishes energy while driving. The estimated implementation cost ranges from $215 to$490, higher than a traditional battery but with a significantly longer lifespan. This research suggests that a fully battery-free car is possible, provided that supercapacitor charge retention is optimized. While challenges exist, such as weather-dependent charging and energy storage limitations, further advancements in capacitor technology and hybrid energy solutions could make this a viable and sustainable alternative to traditional car batteries. This project highlights a potential step toward eco-friendly automotive energy systems, reducing environmental impact while maintaining reliability

The Search for Antimicrobials in Soil

Antibiotic resistance is a major issue in today’s society as it complicates infection treatment and renders antibiotics useless. After collecting a soil sample from a children’s playground, I ran many tests in hopes of discovering new antimicrobials against safe relatives of ESKAPE (Enterococcus faecium, Staphylococcus aureus, Klebsiella pneumonia, Acinetobacter baumannii, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Enterobacter species) pathogens. After serially diluting the soil, I created several master plates of the bacteria that were most fascinating, hoping that they would continue to grow. After the growth, I tested them against the safe relatives and discovered that one of my twelve candidates, CC25A1, had a zone of inhibition against Staphylococcus epidermidis, a close relative to MRSA. I will continue my research by conducting a Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) on CC25A1, which will amplify a small portion of its genome to determine the type of microbe it is

The Effect of Soil Bacteria Against ESKAPE Pathogens

The Effect of Soil Bacteria Against ESKAPE Pathogens Over the past few decades, modern medicine has been in a constant battle against antibiotic-resistant pathogens. Insufficient funding for research on new bacteria and the overuse of antibiotics have led to more evolved antibiotic-resistant pathogens. Research organizations are crucial for providing resources to student scientists to conduct such research. The Tiny Earth program works with students to solve the problem of antibiotic resistance through soil data collection and experimentation. The goal of this research is to find a bacterial candidate that can be used against the antibiotic-resistant bacteria, specifically ESKAPE pathogens, which are notorious for spreading disease within medical settings. The collected soil was found to contain a type of Gram-positive bacteria that showed signs of inhibition when tested against safe ESKAPE bacteria in an in vitro environment. The candidate was able to strongly inhibit Escherichia. Coli, Enterobacter. aerogenes, and Acinetobacter. baylyi. This means that it could be a possible candidate to be used against ESKAPE pathogens, and there are potentially more candidates to be found

Dilution Revolution

The overall goal of this research project was to identify and characterize potential antimicrobial producing microorganisms. Through a serial dilution of a soil sample collected and cultured to isolate bacterial candidates created on a master plate isolating bacteria. Later using an antibiotic screening on different bacteria to screen for zones of inhibition where bacteria did not grow. Metabolic testing was performed to analyze biochemical properties, while PCR and gel electrophoresis were used to determine the genetic identity if candidates found in our antibiotic screenings. Helping confirm whether the isolated bacteria could produce antimicrobial compounds for the search of new antibiotics