Jessica Neamtu, cellular and molecular biology major, received an excellence award for her poster presentation on Saturday at the 65th annual Meeting of the American Society for Microbiology, Arizona and Southern Nevada Branch. Her presentation highlighted the impact and quality of student scholarship emerging from Grand Canyon University's Antimicrobial Discovery Lab.
Several students and faculty from the College of Natural Sciences represented GCU at the meeting, held at Diné College, Tuba City, on the Navajo Nation, and Moenkopi, on the Hopi Nation. Students presented six studies exploring natural products and their antimicrobial potential. Presentations included:
- "Super in Vitro Inhibition of Mycobacterium by Green Tea (Camellia Sinensis) Relative to Chloramphenicol," Maxwell Hinton and Dr. Daisy Savarirajan
- "Pinus Halpensis From Arizona and its Potential Neuroimmune Applications," Jessica Neamtu, Dr. Daisy Savarirajan
- "Unlocking Natural Synergy: Tamarindus Indica Extracts Surpass Antibiotics Against Clinically Significant Bacteria," Jasmine Perez, Ismael Urquiza, Dr. Daisy Savarirajan
- "Antimicrobial Activity of Polar and Nonpolar Extracts of Heteromeles Arbutifolia (Toyon)," Owen Swanson, Dr. Ramesh Velupillaimani
- "Evaluation of Antibacterial Activity and Biofilm Inhibition Against Streptococcus Mutans," Daegan Piequet, Aidan Hoffman, Josh Boadu, Isaiah Barnett, Haeden Hillsman, Hailie Hillsman, Karlee Lopez, Dr. Ramesh Velupillaimani
- "Variability in Antimicrobial Efficacy of Culturally Significant Indian Plants," Shagun Kamboj, Miranda Cortez, Ramesh Velupillaimani
