Project:

Bacteria present on vegetables used in a plant-based diet

Students:

Jaylnn Castro, Sharissa Marsh, Cassidy Marcus, Amanda Hiciano

School:

St. Raymond Academy for Girls, The Bronx

Mentors:

Marianne Williams

Abstract:

The gut is a vital organ in our body, many refer to it as ‘the second brain’. It is necessary for digesting nutrients and expelling waste. It hosts 10¹⁴ microorganisms such as bacteria, viruses, fungi, and protozoa within its microbiome! Despite its importance, the gut is highly sensitive, making it vulnerable to many diseases that could further compromise one's health. Such diseases include inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), inflammatory skin diseases, autoimmune arthritis, type 2 diabetes, obesity, and atherosclerosis. An immense contributor to the health of the gut is diet. Through various studies, it was found that the test subjects who consumed plant-based proteins as well as probiotics or mediterranean diets ultimately had improved gut microbiomes. Overall alleviated symptoms consisted of reduced inflammation, increased biodiversity in gut bacteria, and lowered risks of diseases such as cancer, IBD, autoimmune arthritis, etc. We choose to focus on plant-based diets. The que

Poster:

Team samples: