Date of Award
Fall 1-2-2025
Document Type
Thesis
Degree Name
Master of Arts (MA)
Department
Chemistry
First Advisor
Akira Kawamura
Second Advisor
Wayne Harding
Academic Program Adviser
YUJIA XU
Abstract
Biofilm formation in Escherichia coli plays a critical role in microbial chemical communication and surface-associated persistence. This study investigates the antibiofilm activity of 12-hydroxystearic acid (12-HSA), evaluating its R and S enantiomers as well as a racemic mixture. E. coli BL21, biofilms were grown under standardized laboratory conditions and quantified using the Crystal Violet staining assay. Treatment with 12-HSA resulted in a measurable reduction in biofilm biomass, with differences observed between the individual enantiomers and the mixture. These findings suggest that 12-HSA influences early adhesion and biofilm development, supporting its potential as a small-molecule modulator of bacterial surface behavior. This work contributes to the growing interest in targeting biofilm formation through chemically derived signaling disruptors.
Recommended Citation
Khusanova, Khilola, "Optimizing Biofilm Assay Reproducibility and Characterizing the 12-Hydroxystearic Acid on Escherichia coli" (2025). CUNY Academic Works.
https://academicworks.cuny.edu/hc_sas_etds/1431
