Cameron student takes top prize for Oral Presentation at STEM symposium

Cameron University student Lorena Ponce de Leon Nieves took top honors in Oral Presentation at the recent OK-LSAMP Symposium, sponsored by the Oklahoma Louis Stokes Alliance for Minority Participation program. The consortium is an alliance-based program consisting of 12 Oklahoma institutions of higher education working together to promote minority participation in STEM fields of study.

Ponce de Leon Nieves, a senior biology major from Lawton, was recognized for exceptional research skills and presentation ability. Her research is mentored by Dr. Justin Nash, as assistant professor in the Department of Agriculture, Biology and Health Sciences. Dr. Alimamy Fornah serves as CU's OK-LSAMP project manager.

Ponce de Leon Nieves' research explores how certain plant extracts, like basil and spearmint, can help fight drug-resistant bacteria, specifically Staphylococcus aureus. Drug-resistant bacteria are a big problem in healthcare, costing billions and causing public health issues. The study focused on extracting chemicals from plants using a microwave-based method, which is affordable and safe. Ponce de Leon Nieves tested plant extracts like spearmint and basil to see if they could boost the effectiveness of antibiotics against bacteria that had become resistant.

The results showed that when these plant extracts were combined with certain antibiotics that were previously resisted by the bacteria, they helped slow down or stop the bacteria's growth. This suggests that using these plants alongside antibiotics could make the antibiotics work better. Further research could reveal how these plant chemicals work and whether they could be used more widely in treating infections. The study was funded by the OK-INBRE grant.

###