Author Type

Undergraduate Student

Date of Award

Spring 5-2-2026

Document Type

Thesis

Publication Status

Version of Record

Submission Date

July 2026

College Granting Degree

Harriet L. Wilkes Honors College

Thesis/Dissertation Advisor [Chair]

Tracy Mincer

Abstract

According to the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), approximately 19-23 million tons of plastic are released into the aquatic environment each year. Vibrio spp. are diverse gram-negative bacteria that inhabit these environments, capable of colonizing and forming biofilms on these plastic surfaces. In an age when anthropogenic activity exerts an undeniable influence on ecosystems, elucidating a way to regulate the interactions between plastic and vibrios is essential. In previous studies, Polymyxin B has demonstrated high efficacy against biofilm formation in gram-negative bacteria, including Vibrio cholerae. The purpose of this study is to investigate the efficacy of cyclic lipopeptide antibiotics toward the disruption of Vibrio spp. biofilm formation on plastic surfaces. Polymyxin B is particularly promising and effective as vibrios are gram-negative bacteria, making them suitable candidates for this antibiotic. Novel compounds, A1A and JP2, structurally resemble Polymyxin B and are expected to share similar outcomes as form follows function.

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