An assessment of anti-staphylococcal, anti-mycobacterial and anti-candidal properties in fungal isolates of the big brown bat (Eptesicus fuscus) microbiome

Abstract

Antibiotic resistance is becoming an increasing problem in global health. The emergence of antibiotic-resistant bacterial and fungal infections is expected to increase over the next few years. In an effort to develop therapies to counteract this issue, previously unexplored environmental microbes are assessed in their anti-candidal, anti-staphylococcal and anti-mycobacterial properties. Five strains from the big brown bat microbiome are cross-cultured with three pathogenic strains: Staphylococcus aureus, Mycobacterium smegmatis, and Candida albicans. These pathogenic strains act as proxies for antibiotic-resistant pathogens. Working under the presumption of quorum-sensing occurring between microbes in close proximity, cross-cultures are conducted with the intent of activating dormant pathways. Bat strain growth and phenotypic changes are assessed in these cross-cultures and the possibilities of anti-pathogenic properties in bat strains are determined based on these findings. Two of the five bat strains studied have a strong likelihood of possessing anti-pathogenic properties. The remaining bat strains show promise in further investigations as well, but not to the same extent based on findings.