Caleb Helms, Christopher Lyles

Acetaminophen is widely used in the United States to treat pain and fever and has been found to accumulate in water bodies.  This has raised growing concerns about the possible toxic effects on the environment.  Enrichments were incubated both under aerobic and anaerobic conditions (nitrate- and sulfate-reducing), inoculated with 100 µl of wastewater sludge, and amended with 1 mM of acetaminophen.  Acetaminophen loss was monitored over time with liquid chromatography.  Cultures were extracted using ethyl acetate.  The first aliquot of ethyl acetate for anaerobic cultures was done inside a glove bag under argon atmosphere to avoid O2 contamination. The rest of the extraction was done outside of the glove bag.  Extracts were run on a GCMS and analyzed using mass hunter (v10.0).  The results showed the presence of hydroquinone -TMS derivative in aerobic and nitrate-reducing cultures.  Sulfate-reducing cultures did not show the presence of hydroquinone -TMS derivative.  Our results suggest that under aerobic conditions acetaminophen was readily metabolized both abiotically and biotically; and under nitrate-reducing conditions, acetaminophen does appear to degrade as evidenced by the presence of hydroquinone -TMS derivative. However, sulfate-reducing conditions showed no apparent degradation after +900 days.  Our results suggest that nitrate reduction might be a possibility for the removal of acetaminophen in anaerobic environments.  

Blake Milton, Dr. Wannee Tangkham, Dr. Frederick LeMieux, Duyen Bui, Thammaradee Nooritthi

Moo Swan is Thai-styled pork jerky with a high sugar content. However, most consumers are concerned that high levels of sugar may contribute to developing weight gain and contribute to obesity. Faced with this issue, natural sweeteners: raw honey (RH), monk fruit (MF), and tagatose (TT) can be used as an alternative. Therefore, the objective of this study was to evaluate Moo Swan substituted with three different types of natural sweeteners (RH, MF, and TT). In this study, each treatment was analyzed for sensory evaluation. Participants (n=35) evaluated the jerky for acceptability of flavor, texture, taste, sweetness, and overall liking by using a 9-point hedonic scale. For physicochemical and microbial analyses, samples were tested for pH, sugar content (ºBrix), color (L*, a*, and b* values), moisture content, lipid stability (TBARS), ash content, aerobic plate count, Enterobacter, Escherichia coli, Listeria spp. and S. aureus at room temperature (25°C) for 21 days. Results indicated that Moo Swan with added tagatose had the highest texture (7.60), overall liking (8.75), acceptability (89.5%), and purchase (75.4%) scores. However, jerky with added tagatose obtained the lowest moisture content (40.46%), pH value (5.34), a*redness (5.02), sugar content (13ºBrix), TBARS (1.63 mg MDA/kg), and aerobic plate count (2.08 log CFU/g). In addition, no E. coli, Enterobacter, Listeria spp., or S. aureus were detected over the 21 days. 

Emily Arceneaux, Raj Boopathy

Antibiotic resistance has been a prevalent issue in public health in recent years. The bacteria found in medical and clinicals settings are not the only relevant sources of antibiotic resistant bacteria (ARB); there are genetic reservoirs, called the resistome, in the environment that hold antibiotic resistance genes, or ARGs, and provide ample opportunity for horizontal gene transfer in the environment. Because of growing challenges and environmental reservoirs for these microbes, new methods for dealing with ARB and ARGs are needed. Both natural and constructed wetlands have shown potential to be effective in reducing antibiotic resistance in the environment. When compared to traditional wastewater treatment facilities, constructed wetlands have been shown to be cheaper, more efficient, and better in removing antibiotics and ARGs. A 2023 study was completed on the Point au Chenes assimilation wetland, which is a natural wetland that receives its input from treated sewage coming from Thibodaux, Louisiana. The purpose of this study is to determine the efficacy of the Nicholls State University constructed wetland in reducing nutrient and ARB/ARG content through water chemistry, bacterial, and DNA analysis.  

Raymond Antwi, Christopher Chappell, Yaw Twumasi, Zhu Ning, Jacob Annan, Gabriel Ahoma, Judith Oppong, Daniel Aniewu,

The conservation of our natural resources is a shared responsibility that affects every individual on the planet. It transcends geographical boundaries, economic status, and social backgrounds. While the impacts of environmental degradation are felt universally, studies have shown that climate change disproportionately affects marginalized communities and is not evenly distributed. A striking phenomenon that exemplifies this disparity is the case of "Cancer Alley"; a region in the US where industrial pollution and environmental injustice have inflicted severe health and socioeconomic disparities on vulnerable populations. This study utilizes the American Forests’ Tree Equity Score Analyzer tool to evaluate the urban tree canopy cover required to achieve tree equity in the East Baton Rouge Parish, Louisiana (EBRPL). The analysis revealed a composite tree equity score of 86 for Baton Rouge. However, 29 of the 313 group blocks/census blocks of EBRPL have tree equity scores below 75 with a current canopy cover of 21% (average = 34.21). The findings suggest an additional 29% canopy cover to achieve the desired goal. Despite the seeming unending fight against environmental injustice in the cancer alley, this study highly recommends the establishment of tree equity improvement programs where sustainable and strategic tree planting exercises will be carried out to improve tree canopy cover and its resulting urban heat island mitigation and air pollution reduction.

Jeff Dacosta Osei, Yaw A. Twumasi, Zhu Ning, Esi Dadzie, Dorcas Twumwaa Gyan

In the pursuit of sustainable water management, understanding the intricate relationship between vegetation changes and surface infiltration rates becomes paramount. This study delves into the profound implications of altering vegetation patterns in East Baton Rouge. The concept of 'Harmony in Green' encapsulates the intricate balance sought between vegetation dynamics and surface infiltration using spectral indices and soil data from the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO), emphasizing the interconnectedness of these elements in achieving sustainability goals. Through a comprehensive exploration, the research investigates how changes in vegetation using Landsat image, induced by various factors including climate shifts and anthropogenic influences, reverberate through the ecosystem, influencing surface infiltration rates. Unraveling these complex interactions, the study aims to contribute valuable insights to the field of water resource management in East Baton Rouge, aligning with the Sustainable Development Goals. The transformative impact alluded to in the title signifies not only a quantitative alteration in surface infiltration rates but also a qualitative shift towards a harmonious coexistence between natural processes and human needs. This study endeavors to provide a nuanced understanding of the intricate dynamics between vegetation changes and surface infiltration, offering a foundation for informed decision-making in sustainable water management practices. The 

Alec Plaisance, Raj Boopathy, Darcey Wayment

Antibiotic resistant bacteria (ARB) and antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) are commonly found in Louisiana’s local waterways, specifically in the waterways of Bayou Lafourche and the Intracoastal Canal. In August of 2022, Hurricane Ida flooded levees in Larose, Louisiana, where the bayou and canal intersect, and deposited sediment contaminated with industrial chemicals, antibiotics, and ARB. Individual bacteria isolated collected from sediment were multidrug resistant. Therefore, these isolates’ ability to resist multiple antibiotics made them likely candidates to degrade antibiotics as their sole carbon or nitrogen source. One of the bacterial isolates, Alcaligenes faecalis, was able to use sulfamethoxazole (SMX) as its sole nitrogen source and was resistant at concentrations of 250 mg/L of SMX. When this bacterium was grown on a basic mineral salt medium with SMX as the sole nitrogen source, as SMX contains amino groups, Alcaligenes faecalis was able to cleave the amino group. SMX was removed by 39.81% in the culture. HPLC analysis showed the production of a metabolite. LC/MS and a standard confirmed the identity of the metabolite as 3-Hydroxy-5-methylisoxazole. The bacterial isolate has deaminase enzymes that removed an amino group from SMX and used the ammonia as a nitrogen source only when there is no other nitrogen source in the medium. The isolate did not produce 3-Hydroxy-5-methylisoxazole when SMX and ammonium salt were provided in a basic mineral salt medium.

Caleb Boudreaux, Alec Plaisance, Raj Boopathy

In our previous study, four multi-drug resistant bacteria were isolated from overtop sediment that was brought in through storm surge caused by Hurricane Ida in 2021. The bacteria isolated were from sludge samples in the small community of Larose, LA, relatively close in proximity to the Gulf of Mexico. The purpose of this study was to measure the degree at which two of the bacterial isolates, Bacillus cereus and Bordetella avium are resistant to the antibiotic, Trimethoprim. These two isolates showed resistance to Trimethoprim with sulfonamide antibiotic-resistance genes (ARG's), sul1 and sul2 respectively. In this study, these two isolates were grown in the presence of various concentrations of Trimethoprim ranging from 0 to 250 mg/L to observe the maximum tolerance level of these isolates for Trimethoprim. The results showed that the two isolates had the ability to grow up to 250 mg/L of Trimethoprim. In a different experiment, bacterial isolates were grown with Trimethoprim as the sole carbon and nitrogen using a basic mineral salt medium. The results from this study indicated the bacterial isolates can tolerate Trimethoprim, but do not have the ability to degrade it. 

Ivy Hebert

The removal of xenobiotic compounds in the environment, such as phenol, is important in limiting potential exposure. The purpose of this study was to measure the ability of a bacterial consortium to degrade phenol. The consortium was obtained from a sediment that polluted the yards of residential properties in southeastern Louisiana after Hurricane Ida in August 2021. Phenol was detected in the sediment in concentration range of 800-2,100 mg/kg of sediment with an average of 1,200 mg/kg. A bacterial consortium was developed using basic mineral salt medium with 1,000 mg/L phenol as the sole carbon source. The consortium’s ability to degrade phenol was tested in triplicates with abiotic control and using phenol as the sole carbon source. Phenol degradation was monitored using high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). The consortium was able to grow on and degrade phenol. The individual members of this consortium were identified as Escherichia coli and Ochrobactrum anthropi. Pure culture bacteria were tested for their phenol degrading potential. Future study includes the identification of the metabolites using LC/MS and construct phenol degradation pathway.