Therapeutic Use of Bacteriophage and Antibiotic Formulations for the Treatment of Antibiotic Resistant Acinetobacter Baumannii

Gemstone Team LYTICWidespread use of antibiotics has enriched global bacteria populations for strains possessing antibiotic resistance (AR) genes. Proliferation of AR genes and mechanisms have resulted in numerous multidrug resistant (MDR) infections for which there are no effective treatments. Acinetobacter baumannii is a major cause of hospital acquired (nosocomial) infections and is associated with outbreaks of MDR infections. Virulent bacteriophages (phages) present a way to remedy bacterial infections, while also having built-in mechanisms to circumvent resistance. This proposed study aims to develop a phage therapeutic targeting antibiotic resistant A. baumannii. The phages chosen for the final formulation exhibited high bactericidal activity and were able to infect several strains of A. baumannii from a provided library. Additionally, the phage-antibiotic synergy (PAS) effect was investigated in formulations with sub-lethal doses of ampicillin and chloramphenicol. The effectiveness of the phage therapeutic at different multiplicity of infections (MOI) and antibiotic concentrations were assessed relative to standard antibiotic doses. Well-plate studies suggest that higher MOI and antibiotic concentrations resulted in the greatest initial bactericidal effects, longest time to develop resistance, and lowest overall bacteria concentration. In future formulation studies, we would like to expand and optimize the current phage-antibiotic formulation and explore cocktail effects, whereby the formulation consists of a mixture of different phages that increases selective pressure

Flooding in Patapsco Valley State Park: Recommendations for Signage and Communication Materials

Final project for ENSP400: Capstone in Environmental Science and Policy (Spring 2020). University of Maryland, College Park.Patapsco Valley State Park (PVSP) and its surrounding areas have been subject to increased flooding in recent years. In 2016 and 2018, the area experienced two 1,000-year floods (Halverson, 2018) that significantly damaged the park. Flooding events of this severity and magnitude are expected to be exacerbated in the future due to rapidly increasing impacts from climate change (Denchak, 2019). The park has found it challenging to communicate flood risks to visitors. The Maryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR), which manages PVSP, is concerned that visitors don’t plan ahead when they attend the park, and don’t know the risks involved in hiking through the park, which puts them at a greater risk of harm in the event of a flood. Additionally, many PVSP visitors don’t speak or read English, which creates a significant communication gap between visitors and the park to convey safety messages about flooding. This project aims to determine the most effective language for signage and communication materials to communicate flood risks and what to do if a flood occurs. The group reviewed academic and non-academic literature on the best ways to communicate risk, the best ways to educate youth, strategies used by other parks to communicate risk, as well as information about the Ellicott City area. The research and final deliverables aim to determine the most effective language for signs within PVSP, and the best education and communication materials to distribute to park visitors. The project began with a client meeting to define expectations for the project. We determined three major aspects: creating safety signage, creating educational materials, and creating a video to be shown at the PVSP mobile ranger station. We also discussed the importance of improving communication with Spanish-speaking visitors. Following this meeting, the group researched flood-risk education, risk communication in parks, risk communication with Spanish speakers, and best practices for park signage. A site visit gave the team a better understanding of the client’s expectations. After this visit, the group divided into three teams; the first team was tasked with editing existing park signs, the second team was tasked with developing educational materials, and the third team was tasked with writing a detailed video script for use throughout the park and at the mobile ranger station. Each team conducted additional relevant research. The result was three deliverables: recommendations and mock-ups of effective safety signage, educational pamphlets that inform park visitors about flooding risks, and a script for an educational video on flooding. We hope this work can contribute to DNR’s goal of providing accessible and appropriate flood communication materials for all park visitors.Maryland Department of Natural Resource