Influence of ampicillin and penicillin on the growth of probiotics

BSc student: Aisa Buko

Mentor: Assist. Prof. Dr. Altijana Hromic-Jahjefendic

Year: 2019

Over the past decade, the researches on the role and effects of antibiotics on probiotics have raised in an impressive measure. Probiotics, as beneficial bacterial organisms, help one's overall health system in a way that keeps the gastrointestinal (GI) tract healthy. On the other hand, antibiotics contribute elimination of microorganisms by inhibiting their growth. Due to the ability to inhibit bacteria in the GI tract and the inability to distinguish between useful and harmful ones, antibiotics are often considered as reducers that prevent probiotics to survive and reach the intestines, if taken with no respect to amount nor time. Regarding this, the purpose of this study was to demonstrate the effects of three concentrations of ampicillin and penicillin on the growth of probiotics. In addition, to examine how two types of agents, antibiotics, and probiotics, perform their functions when found together in different concentrations and pH values. For this purpose, the addition of bacteria was done in different LB media acidity and with various antibiotic concentrations. Together with this, the growth of bacteria over time was measured spectrophotometrically. Afterward, two types of antibiotics, ampicillin and penicillin, with three different concentrations were added to media with probiotics and changes were observed. The concentration of probiotics decreases after exposure to antibiotics. Penicillin had a slightly higher inhibition rate than ampicillin. However, these differences are almost negligible. This project also points out the importance of time progress of antibiotics and how it's related to the survival of probiotics. Finally, this graduation project gives an idea of the importance of maintaining healthy microflora and all factors that might affect its balance.