Date of Award

2023

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Bachelors

Department

Natural Sciences

First Advisor

Diaz Almeyda, Erika

Area of Concentration

Natural Sciences

Abstract

Vibrio is a genus of Gram-negative bacteria typically found in warm, brackish water. Some Vibrio species can infect humans, such as Vibrio vulnificus, also known as flesh-eating bacteria, which infects roughly 50 to 100 people and kills 16 of them annually in the United States, mostly in Gulf Coast states such as Florida[1], [2]. In fact, Florida alone had 74 cases and 17 deaths in 2022, an increase from 34 cases and 10 deaths in 2021[3]. This increase is thought to be correlated with the Category 4 storm Hurricane Ian that made landfall in Cayo Costa in late September of that year [3]. With large amounts of flood waters affecting people and homes across most of Lee County, they accounted for a whopping 28 cases and 8 deaths out of the state’s total[3]. This project aimed to further research the rates of Vibrio vulnificus within Lee County post-Hurricane Ian, using Sarasota County as a control, in order to further public health awareness and offer insight to pathogen response after major weather events. To do so, 4 sites were sampled, 3 in Lee County and 1 in Sarasota, where the effects of the hurricane were not as severe. DNA was extracted from each sample and analyzed using PCR, gel electrophoresis, and qPCR techniques to test for presence as well as to quantify total Vibrio bacteria and Vibrio vulnificus. The results showed that while there did seem to be Vibrio bacteria as well as Vibrio vulnificus present in each sample, there will need to be more research done to determine abundance.

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