Authors:

Karis Lincoln

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About Paper:

Chronic Wounds Chronic non-healing wounds impact around 2% of the U. S. population, with infections being the most frequent and significant complication. Effective wound healing depends on resolving infections; however, existing treatments often fail to eliminate chronic wound infections. The biological mechanisms that enable bacteria to persist despite therapeutic interventions are not well understood. Of note, obligate anaerobes, like Finegoldia magna, rank among the most common and numerous bacterial inhabitants in chronic wounds, and their abundance is linked to poorer clinical outcomes, including limb amputation. This research explores how the host wound environment influences the physiology of anaerobic wound pathogens like F. magna, enabling them to survive antibiotic exposure. We hypothesize that nutrient limitation within the wound environment slows bacterial growth, facilitating pathogen survival against antibiotics that target growth- related functions. Indeed, we determined that nutrient-limited cultures of F. manga exhibit increased tolerance to antibiotic therapy compared to nutrient-replete cultures. We also determined that nutrient addition can restore responsiveness to antibiotics. These results highlight nutrient manipulation as a promising therapeutic approach to render persistent pathogens more susceptible to antibiotics, which could potentially improve outcomes for chronic wound infections. 229 UNIVERSITY OF OREGON • 2026 UNDERGRADUATE RESEARCH SYMPOSIUM TABLE OF CONTENTS

Source:

University of Oregon / 2026

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Co-authors:

Karis Lincoln