Tioluwanimi Obileye | 2026 I.S. Symposium

Name: Tioluwanimi Obileye
Title: Exploring How Pseudomonas chlororaphis 14B11 Bacteria Responds to Simultaneous Bacteriophage-Antibiotic Therapy—the Evolution of Double Resistant Strains
Major: Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
Minor: French and Francophone Studies
Advisor: Stephanie Strand

Antibiotics have long been used to clinically treat bacterial infections, but overuse has led to the emergence of antibiotic-resistant bacteria. Although bacteriophage therapy—using viruses that infect and eliminate bacteria—was put forward as a potential alternative, it can also lead to resistance in bacteria. With limited research on bacterial susceptibility to simultaneous bacteriophage-antibiotic treatment, the question of whether bacteria can evolve resistance upon simultaneous exposure arises. If double resistant strains evolve, what’s the target gene involved and the mechanism of resistance? To answer these questions, we exposed Pseudomonas chlororaphis 14B11 to bacteriophage & antibiotic simultaneously, and we tested the strains for resistance. gDNA of select mutants were amplified and sequenced to identify oprM gene mutations. Mutants resistant to none, either one, or both phage & antibiotic were isolated. Only phage antibiotic resistant strains grew at concentrations above MIC, and they showed no OprM mutations, suggesting that double resistance may arise through intrinsic mechanisms. Overall, our findings indicate the contribution of other genes to the evolution of phage antibiotic resistant strains.

Posted in Symposium 2026 on May 1, 2026.