Germ Fighting Sagebrush and Undergraduate Research with David Suisse on Instead Podcast

Sagebrush, a plant that is commonly found around Utah, is being studied for its medicinal properties at Utah State University. David Suisse is an undergraduate researcher at Utah State University and recently shared two of his research projects on the Office of Research’s Instead podcast.

“We found that sagebrush is actually really effective at keeping the bacteria from growing, which means that there is something in the sagebrush that kills germs,” said Suisse. “It’s actually more effective than some of the antibiotics we are using.”

Suisse and his wife, Kayla Suisse, presented their research on the antibiotic effects of sagebrush at the Utah State Capitol for legislators and to Senator Mitt Romney’s office earlier this year.

The point is to inform officials of the possibility of developing sagebrush into a new antibiotic, at a time when bacteria is becoming more resistant to other forms of antibiotics in the human population, explained Suisse.

Utah State has one the highest-ranking undergraduate research programs in the country, which enhances undergraduate educational experiences such as David and Kayla Suisse’s. They work together in the lab of Amita Kaundal, assistant professor in the Department of Plants, Soils, and Climate Science.

According to Suisse, the job comes with “a lot of squishing and crushing and mixing with liquids.''

In addition to studying sagebrush, Suisse is a Peak Summer Research Fellow studying the stigma patients face when receiving medical help for mental health issues.

With his mentors, Sydney O’Shay and Kaitlin Phillips, Suisse is creating and administrating a survey that will help medical professionals provide better care to those with mental health concerns.

“If you like something, then get involved with it early,” advises Suisse to other undergraduates, “That will help shape your degree.” Suisse also says that undergraduate research for Utah State has been “awesome” and “defining” for his own degree.