John Cornilious

• BSc Biomedical Sciences (NUMed 2 +1)
• Comparing the virulence of S. aureus Mu50Ω1 and Mu50Ω2 in a C. elegans model

Antibiotic resistant bacterial strains continue to rise and add onto the burdens of public health. It is important to identify and rank such strains according to virulence. This will enable health industry workers to prioritise deliverance of interventions. In the present study, two recently isolated vancomycin-susceptible MRSA strains, Mu50Ω1 and Mu50Ω2, had their virulence compared in survival assays. In the assays, C. Elegans worms were fed either Mu50Ω1 or Mu50Ω2. The survival rate of the worms was measured and the findings suggested that Mu50Ω1 was more virulent than Mu50Ω2. This is the first ever investigation into these strains and therefore this study provides a starting point for further molecular investigations into the reasons for differences in virulence of the two strains. Other MRSA strains can be tested using similar assays to provide preliminary virulence comparisons as well.

Funded by: NUMed Malaysia

Project Supervisor: Dr A. Kong