The effect of corticosteriods and antihistamines on the growth rate of the fungus Alternaria alternata
School Name
Spring Valley High School
Grade Level
9th Grade
Presentation Topic
Microbiology
Presentation Type
Non-Mentored
Abstract
The fungus Alternaria alternata is an allergy-causing fungus. Studies have shown that there is a positive correlation between the presence of asthma and allergies and exposure to the Alternaria alternata fungus (Salo et al.). The purpose of this experiment was to investigate whether or not drugs commonly used to treat an allergic reaction caused by the fungus, have any effect on the growth of the fungus Alternaria alternata. Since corticosteroids repair the epithelial barrier and antihistamines sooth irritated histamine receptor, both treating the reactions caused by the fungus, it was hypothesized that one of these drugs would also have a an effect on the growth rate of the fungus. In the conducted experiment, the growth rate of the fungus Alternaria Alternata, was recorded after applying Albuterol Sulfate, a corticosteroid measurement of 0.833 mL, and Diphenhydramine, an antihistamine measurement of 1 mL to the fungus. The growth rate was calculated by finding the difference between two specific diameters and dividing it by t or the amount of time elapsed between these measurements. While, the descriptive statistics illustrate that, the growth rate of values when the Diphenhydramine was applied after 24.17 hours had the most significant decrease in median growth rate, with a median value of -0.35003 mm/hour, the statistical analysis suggested there was no difference in the means. A One-Way ANOVA showed that the mean growth rates for all applications were not statistically different, as the p = 0.0935 >= 0.05, since F(5,174) = 1.92 . The results of this study showed that corticosteroids and antihistamines did not have an effect on the growth rate of the fungus.
Recommended Citation
Blalock, Erin, "The effect of corticosteriods and antihistamines on the growth rate of the fungus Alternaria alternata" (2017). South Carolina Junior Academy of Science. 162.
https://scholarexchange.furman.edu/scjas/2017/all/162
Location
Wall 224
Start Date
3-25-2017 9:00 AM
Presentation Format
Oral and Written
Group Project
No
The effect of corticosteriods and antihistamines on the growth rate of the fungus Alternaria alternata
Wall 224
The fungus Alternaria alternata is an allergy-causing fungus. Studies have shown that there is a positive correlation between the presence of asthma and allergies and exposure to the Alternaria alternata fungus (Salo et al.). The purpose of this experiment was to investigate whether or not drugs commonly used to treat an allergic reaction caused by the fungus, have any effect on the growth of the fungus Alternaria alternata. Since corticosteroids repair the epithelial barrier and antihistamines sooth irritated histamine receptor, both treating the reactions caused by the fungus, it was hypothesized that one of these drugs would also have a an effect on the growth rate of the fungus. In the conducted experiment, the growth rate of the fungus Alternaria Alternata, was recorded after applying Albuterol Sulfate, a corticosteroid measurement of 0.833 mL, and Diphenhydramine, an antihistamine measurement of 1 mL to the fungus. The growth rate was calculated by finding the difference between two specific diameters and dividing it by t or the amount of time elapsed between these measurements. While, the descriptive statistics illustrate that, the growth rate of values when the Diphenhydramine was applied after 24.17 hours had the most significant decrease in median growth rate, with a median value of -0.35003 mm/hour, the statistical analysis suggested there was no difference in the means. A One-Way ANOVA showed that the mean growth rates for all applications were not statistically different, as the p = 0.0935 >= 0.05, since F(5,174) = 1.92 . The results of this study showed that corticosteroids and antihistamines did not have an effect on the growth rate of the fungus.
