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Bormann Presents Research Nationally at ASM Event
7/10/2019 12:53:00 PM | Women's Golf
South Dakota State golfer Sydney Bormann continues to advance her studies off the course this summer.
Recently, she was in San Francisco, Calif. attending the American Society for Microbiology (ASM) Microbe Meeting, June 20-24, presenting her research project designed to improve human health.
After displaying her research in front of South Dakota State Legislators in February, Bormann was one of 26 students nationwide to receive an ASM Undergraduate Fellowship. While in attendance, she was able to present a poster depicting her research project, "Identification of Mucosal Interface Colonizing and Biofilm-Forming Microorganisms of the Chicken Gut", as well as listen to speakers, network, and receive feedback from microbiologist mentors.
"Presenting at the national ASM conference and sharing my research with other microbiologists was an amazing opportunity," said Bormann. "I was excited to gather different ideas about my project and learn more about the new research taking place in this field. I am thankful for the guidance from Dr. [Joy] Scaria and his lab and the support from the ASM that made this impactful experience possible."
Bormann, entering her senior year as a human biology major and member of the women's golf team, is identifying gut bacteria that inhibit the growth of disease-causing microorganisms.
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The Parkston native works at the Animal Disease Research and Diagnostic Laboratory under the supervision of Assistant Professor Scaria in the Department of Veterinary and Biomedical Sciences. Bormann's project was supported through funding from the South Dakota Governor's Office of Economic Development, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and the American Society for Microbiology.
Last summer, she screened a chicken gut library, examining 63 bacterial species to identify those that form biofilms. To do this, she worked with postdoctoral research associate Abhijit Maji and graduate student Supapit Wongkuna. Professor Kinchel Doerner, dean of the Graduate School and an anaerobic bacteriologist, served as a co-mentor for the project.
"I studied bacteria within the chicken gastrointestinal tract that can form biofilms," said Bormann. "By improving the gut microbiomes of chickens, we can prevent diseases that plague the poultry industry, which humans rely on for sustenance."
Biofilm-formation is a characteristic of many gut bacteria that aid in gut health. Biofilms are composed of clusters of bacteria that adhere to surfaces and secrete substances that help them adhere. Dental plaque, pond scum, and the bacteria that build up on medical devices are common examples of biofilms.
Biofilms cause many diseases; however, biofilm-forming bacteria may also aid in human and animal gut health. Nonharmful bacterial species that form biofilms within the gut may outcompete dangerous bacteria such as Salmonella, a pathogen notorious for causing disease within chicken populations.
Developing better probiotics and preventing pathogenic infections in poultry is the final goal of the project.
Bormann's next presentation of this project will be in New Orleans, La. at the National Collegiate Honors Council Annual Conference, Nov. 6-10.
-GoJacks.com-
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Recently, she was in San Francisco, Calif. attending the American Society for Microbiology (ASM) Microbe Meeting, June 20-24, presenting her research project designed to improve human health.
After displaying her research in front of South Dakota State Legislators in February, Bormann was one of 26 students nationwide to receive an ASM Undergraduate Fellowship. While in attendance, she was able to present a poster depicting her research project, "Identification of Mucosal Interface Colonizing and Biofilm-Forming Microorganisms of the Chicken Gut", as well as listen to speakers, network, and receive feedback from microbiologist mentors.
"Presenting at the national ASM conference and sharing my research with other microbiologists was an amazing opportunity," said Bormann. "I was excited to gather different ideas about my project and learn more about the new research taking place in this field. I am thankful for the guidance from Dr. [Joy] Scaria and his lab and the support from the ASM that made this impactful experience possible."
Bormann, entering her senior year as a human biology major and member of the women's golf team, is identifying gut bacteria that inhibit the growth of disease-causing microorganisms.
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Bormann next to the poster she presented depicting her research.
The Parkston native works at the Animal Disease Research and Diagnostic Laboratory under the supervision of Assistant Professor Scaria in the Department of Veterinary and Biomedical Sciences. Bormann's project was supported through funding from the South Dakota Governor's Office of Economic Development, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and the American Society for Microbiology.
Last summer, she screened a chicken gut library, examining 63 bacterial species to identify those that form biofilms. To do this, she worked with postdoctoral research associate Abhijit Maji and graduate student Supapit Wongkuna. Professor Kinchel Doerner, dean of the Graduate School and an anaerobic bacteriologist, served as a co-mentor for the project.
"I studied bacteria within the chicken gastrointestinal tract that can form biofilms," said Bormann. "By improving the gut microbiomes of chickens, we can prevent diseases that plague the poultry industry, which humans rely on for sustenance."
Biofilm-formation is a characteristic of many gut bacteria that aid in gut health. Biofilms are composed of clusters of bacteria that adhere to surfaces and secrete substances that help them adhere. Dental plaque, pond scum, and the bacteria that build up on medical devices are common examples of biofilms.
Biofilms cause many diseases; however, biofilm-forming bacteria may also aid in human and animal gut health. Nonharmful bacterial species that form biofilms within the gut may outcompete dangerous bacteria such as Salmonella, a pathogen notorious for causing disease within chicken populations.
Developing better probiotics and preventing pathogenic infections in poultry is the final goal of the project.
Bormann's next presentation of this project will be in New Orleans, La. at the National Collegiate Honors Council Annual Conference, Nov. 6-10.
-GoJacks.com-
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