Evaluation of Garlic-Resistance in E. coli (strain K12)

Abstract

Antibiotic resistance, perpetuated through overusage of antibiotics, is rendering current antibiotics ineffective, minimizing the benefits of the Antibiotic Era. Despite research on garlic-based treatments as a safe and effective alternative to conventional antibiotics, there is a lack of understanding if bacteria can grow resistant to garlic itself. However, given that garlic is an effective bactericidal agent and can disrupt biofilm production, an important factor in the ability of bacteria to resist antibiotics, garlic may be immune to antibiotic resistance. Thus, this study seeks to answer the following question: will E. coli (K12) display increased resistance (lower susceptibility) to a garlic-based treatment, as evaluated by a disk diffusion test, over two generations? An agar diffusion test was performed on two duplicate groups of E. coli with identical garlic impregnated disks. This test was then repeated on cultures obtained from the first test using an identical garlic-based treatment. The minimum distance of bacteria colonies from the disk was measured for both generations and compared to ascertain if the E. coli showed increased resistance to the treatment. The first generation of E. coli for both group A and group B had colonies with a minimum distance of 5 millimeters from the disk. The second generation of E. coli for both group A and group B had colonies in contact with the disk, leading to a minimum distance of 0 millimeters. These results indicate that E. coli displayed increased resistance to a garlic-based treatment over the course of two generations.