High Levels of Antibiotic Resistance but No Antibiotic Production Detected Along a Gypsum Gradient in Great Onyx Cave, KY, USA
A preliminary study of antibiotic production and antibiotic resistance was conducted in Great Onyx Cave in Mammoth Cave National Park, KY, to determine if gypsum (CaSO4∙2H2O) affects these bacterial activities. The cave crosses through the width of Flint Ridge, and passages under the sandstone capro...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2017-09-01
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| Series: | Diversity |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/1424-2818/9/4/42 |
| _version_ | 1798026841172213760 |
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| author | Kathleen Lavoie Tania Ruhumbika Anissa Bawa Aaryn Whitney José de Ondarza |
| author_facet | Kathleen Lavoie Tania Ruhumbika Anissa Bawa Aaryn Whitney José de Ondarza |
| author_sort | Kathleen Lavoie |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | A preliminary study of antibiotic production and antibiotic resistance was conducted in Great Onyx Cave in Mammoth Cave National Park, KY, to determine if gypsum (CaSO4∙2H2O) affects these bacterial activities. The cave crosses through the width of Flint Ridge, and passages under the sandstone caprock are dry with different amounts of gypsum. The Great Kentucky Desert hypothesis posits that gypsum limits the distribution of invertebrates in the central areas of Great Onyx Cave. Twenty-four bacterial isolates were cultivated from swabs and soils. Using three methods (soil crumb, soil crumb with indicator bacteria, and the cross-streak method using isolated bacteria) we did not detect any production of antibiotics. Antibiotic resistance was widespread, with all 24 isolates resistant to a minimum of two antibiotics of seven tested, with three isolates resistant to all. Antibiotic resistance was high and not correlated with depth into the cave or the amount of gypsum. The Great Kentucky Desert hypothesis of the negative effects of gypsum seems to have no impact on bacterial activity. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-11T18:41:45Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-31c62ba54bc54dca983538b0a4163def |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1424-2818 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-11T18:41:45Z |
| publishDate | 2017-09-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Diversity |
| spelling | doaj.art-31c62ba54bc54dca983538b0a4163def2022-12-22T04:08:58ZengMDPI AGDiversity1424-28182017-09-01944210.3390/d9040042d9040042High Levels of Antibiotic Resistance but No Antibiotic Production Detected Along a Gypsum Gradient in Great Onyx Cave, KY, USAKathleen Lavoie0Tania Ruhumbika1Anissa Bawa2Aaryn Whitney3José de Ondarza4Department of Biological Sciences, State University of New York, Plattsburgh, NY 12901, USADepartment of Biological Sciences, State University of New York, Plattsburgh, NY 12901, USADepartment of Biological Sciences, State University of New York, Plattsburgh, NY 12901, USADepartment of Biological Sciences, State University of New York, Plattsburgh, NY 12901, USADepartment of Biological Sciences, State University of New York, Plattsburgh, NY 12901, USAA preliminary study of antibiotic production and antibiotic resistance was conducted in Great Onyx Cave in Mammoth Cave National Park, KY, to determine if gypsum (CaSO4∙2H2O) affects these bacterial activities. The cave crosses through the width of Flint Ridge, and passages under the sandstone caprock are dry with different amounts of gypsum. The Great Kentucky Desert hypothesis posits that gypsum limits the distribution of invertebrates in the central areas of Great Onyx Cave. Twenty-four bacterial isolates were cultivated from swabs and soils. Using three methods (soil crumb, soil crumb with indicator bacteria, and the cross-streak method using isolated bacteria) we did not detect any production of antibiotics. Antibiotic resistance was widespread, with all 24 isolates resistant to a minimum of two antibiotics of seven tested, with three isolates resistant to all. Antibiotic resistance was high and not correlated with depth into the cave or the amount of gypsum. The Great Kentucky Desert hypothesis of the negative effects of gypsum seems to have no impact on bacterial activity.https://www.mdpi.com/1424-2818/9/4/42gypsumantibiotic productionantibiotic resistanceGreat Onyx CaveGreat Kentucky Desert |
| spellingShingle | Kathleen Lavoie Tania Ruhumbika Anissa Bawa Aaryn Whitney José de Ondarza High Levels of Antibiotic Resistance but No Antibiotic Production Detected Along a Gypsum Gradient in Great Onyx Cave, KY, USA Diversity gypsum antibiotic production antibiotic resistance Great Onyx Cave Great Kentucky Desert |
| title | High Levels of Antibiotic Resistance but No Antibiotic Production Detected Along a Gypsum Gradient in Great Onyx Cave, KY, USA |
| title_full | High Levels of Antibiotic Resistance but No Antibiotic Production Detected Along a Gypsum Gradient in Great Onyx Cave, KY, USA |
| title_fullStr | High Levels of Antibiotic Resistance but No Antibiotic Production Detected Along a Gypsum Gradient in Great Onyx Cave, KY, USA |
| title_full_unstemmed | High Levels of Antibiotic Resistance but No Antibiotic Production Detected Along a Gypsum Gradient in Great Onyx Cave, KY, USA |
| title_short | High Levels of Antibiotic Resistance but No Antibiotic Production Detected Along a Gypsum Gradient in Great Onyx Cave, KY, USA |
| title_sort | high levels of antibiotic resistance but no antibiotic production detected along a gypsum gradient in great onyx cave ky usa |
| topic | gypsum antibiotic production antibiotic resistance Great Onyx Cave Great Kentucky Desert |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/1424-2818/9/4/42 |
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