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Finding Antibiotics
No full textAntibiotic resistance is a growing global health concern, as bacteria evolve mechanisms to evade existing treatments, rendering many antibiotics ineffective. To address this issue, our research focuses on discovering new antibiotic-producing organisms from soil samples. By isolating and identifying potential candidates, we aim to contribute to the development of novel antimicrobial agents. Our methods involved collecting soil samples and performing serial dilutions to cultivate diverse bacterial colonies. Later techniques included screening bacterial colonies against safe relatives to ESKAPE pathogens to observe antibiotic properties. Through morphological observation and biochemical testing, we worked to identify potential antibiotic-producing strains. While results are still being analyzed, this project is significant as it explores untapped microbial diversity for new antibiotics. Future steps include further characterization of promising candidate
Discovering the Function of an Unknown Protein Using Bioinformatics Tools
No full textFor years, we have been able to replicate the three-dimensional structure of proteins. This alone is revolutionary in providing growth and insight into the ever-expanding field of biochemistry. Although the structure is important, without understanding their function, much remains to be uncovered in each and every protein. To move closer toward functional studies of thousands of proteins, we are tasked with uncovering the details behind a database full of untapped potential. By using a combination of bioinformatic data, 3D structure, and investigative skills, we plan to unearth the deeper meaning behind the ultimate inception of these proteins
Group 4 Estimated Skeleton Stature
No full textThe remains of our unknown group 4 skeleton in the Biol 144 class at JCCC we are discussing the possibility of estimating the skeletons height and stature. Which is primarily determined by genetic factors and environmental influences. Variations of the skeletons height can result from genetic disorders, hormones, and nutrition during critical growth periods. The understanding of the skeletons height is essential for growth using mathematical approaches to assess issues related to stature data. Calipers were used to determine the dimensions based off each vertebrae (C2-L5), sacral segment, femur, tibia, talus, and calcaneus. The stature estimation equations were based on the skeletal element sum which was calculated in formula to add in the soft tissue that can no longer be seen. Our skeleton, which was already suspected to be a female, was measured as a total estimated height of 144.96 cm(57.1 inch or 4’8 ft). This result provides a reasonable estimate of our skeletons\u27 stature through mathematical approximation of the linear regression saying the estimated height would be 160.9-168.34 cm. Additional factors can be taken into consideration such as cartilage thickness, or intervertebral discs, or age, which could make these measurements vary. The results of the skeletal height measurements of the vertebrae and lower limbs provide insight into the stature of our skeleton. Some factors can affect the accuracy of our results. Different populations have different height scales that could go into effect. Age has not been identified so that could also go into effect within our calculations. Overall I feel we provided as many accurate measurements as we could. For more accuracy we would need more information on the anatomy, ancestry, and age of our skeleton
Helia Saladin: A Possible Broad-Spectrum Antibiotic
No full textAntibiotic resistance is a growing concern in healthcare as infectious pathogens are rapidly developing resistance to conventional antibiotics faster than new types of antibiotics are being discovered. The ESKAPE pathogens are a group of multidrug-resistant organisms responsible for a significant portion of antibiotic-resistant infections seen in healthcare. Therefore, researching for new antibiotics that can treat these pathogens can be very useful when conventional antibiotics are no longer effective against them. In my microbiology lab class, we collected soil samples, performed serial dilutions to isolate potential bacterial candidates onto master plates, and created screening plates with the hopes of finding candidates that showed potential for producing novel antibiotics. I was able to isolate a bacterial candidate from a soil sample outside my apartment that demonstrated antimicrobial activity against the safe relatives for two of the ESKAPE pathogens. This bacterial candidate, which I named Helia Saladin, showed strong inhibition against the safe relatives Enterococcus faecalis (E. faecalis) and Eschericia coli (E. coli), suggesting Helia’s potential for antimicrobial properties against the actual infectious pathogens associated with these safe relatives as a possible future novel antibiotic
Antibiotic Soil Experiment!
No full textSoil is a rich source of microbial diversity and serves as a competitive environment where bacteria produce antibiotics. With the rise of antibiotic resistance threatening effective infection treatment, discovering new antibiotics is increasingly critical. The overuse and misuse of antibiotics have accelerated this crisis, making the search for new antimicrobial compounds essential. This study aimed to identify potential antibiotic-producing microorganisms from soil samples. A serial dilution technique was used to estimate microbial concentration per gram of soil, ensuring an accurate representation of cultivable bacteria. To assess antibiotic production, soil isolates were screened against six non-pathogenic bacterial strains: Enterococcus faecalis, Escherichia coli, Enterobacter aerogenes, Pseudomonas putida, Acinetobacter baylyi, and Staphylococcus epidermidis. Zones of inhibition discovered around these soil-derived bacterial colonies indicated antimicrobial activity. These findings highlight soil as a valuable source of microorganisms with potential antibiotic properties. This study indicates the importance of continuing to search for new antibiotics, emphasizing the role of environmental microbiology in addressing antibiotic resistance
Cataclysmic Variable: CY Ursa Major
No full textWe present a detailed description and analysis about the star system CY Ursa Major, as well as accounting for its unusual and unique behavior throughout years of observation from other sources. Based on information we found from SINBAD, AAVSO, and other observational programs, CY UMa’s is a G-class star with a surface temperature in the range of 5,000 K-6,000 K located at (0 56 56.9964835104 +49 41 18.201049512). Its light curves appear to eclipse and could be a result of its binary nature or an outburst change in its luminosity. We have also found its orbital period of 0.06957 +- 0.00004 days, and we have analyzed the “superoutbursts” which may be affecting it. A major part of this project is its challenge of finding new information that is either not easily accessible or that has not been calculated or recorded like its mass, rotation, luminosity,and other statistics. We will continue to further our research and develop our understanding of our star system and gather as much information for our poster and make our contribution to observational, stellar astronomy
Winter Analysis of Harmful Algal Blooms (HABs) in Three Local Lakes Using qPCR Techniques
No full textThis study focusses on investigating for the presence of cyanobacteria associated with Harmful Algal Blooms (HABs) during the winter using quantitative Polymerase Chain Reaction (qPCR) techniques for detection and analysis. HABs are the result of overgrowth of these photosynthetic organisms that grow excessively in freshwater systems under the right circumstances. These organisms are a concern because they can produce toxins that can be harmful to humans, animals, and the environment. Since HABs are more commonly known to proliferate during the summer, monitoring of freshwater lakes is typically not done during the winter months. Thus, this research is important to help provide more insight into how HABs behave, since HABs have been found to occur during winter months. Three local lakes were selected for study: Amesbury Lake (Johnson County), South Lake (Johnson County), and Big Eleven (Wyandotte County). The selection was based on the HABs warning list from the Kansas Department of Health & Environment. Water samples were collected using 0.22 micron membrane filters from Millipore, at three different locations at each lake. Samples were collected before and after ice coverage of the lakes. qPCR assays targeting specific cyanobacterial species known to produce toxins associated with HABs were used to identify and quantify the genetic material of these species. The results of this study may indicate that there are no HABs in the lakes, or that conditions for HABs are more favorable either before or after ice formation
My Soil Collection from My Front Yard
No full textI am searching this to find different bacteria against antibiotic resistance. Antibiotic resistance is a serious problem that affects the lives of many, making it difficult to treat a variety diseases and infections. I collected a soil sample from my front yard that has microbes that present potential inhibition against eskape relatives. Eskape relatives are related to eskape pathogens that are very common in our environments.Therefore testing the relative will be a safer way to find candidates that fight against those pathogens. I have screened and identified potential candidates through metabolic and genetic approaches. Hopefully this research can help find a new antibiotic and help with new methods and locations for the research
Interactions Between Wild Animals and Pet Toys on a Rural Farm in Lawrence, KS
No full textIn this project I aim to find out whether wild animals interact with common household pet toys when encountered in their environment. By observing these interactions, I seek to understand whether these wild animals engage with the toys in a playful manner, use them as tool, or not interact with them at all. An assortment of 4–5 household pet toys will be placed in open rural field in front of the trail camera. The toys will be rotated and rearranged periodically to provide variety. If these findings are successful then it may suggest that pet toys can elicit more playful behaviors in wildlife that are seen from domesticated pets, potentially influencing their everyday lives, their environments, or even health
Basic Dynamical Modeling of Weather Phenomena
No full textAccurate measurement and prediction of weather phenomena is an important part of our modern way of life, from deciding whether to wear a jacket on your way to work to having advance warning of dangerous or potentially life-threatening storms. Dynamical Modeling is a subset of Differential Equations in which many professionals dedicate their entire careers to understanding a single problem, and one of the classic examples of this type of system is weather predictions and modeling. A dynamical system is a system of mathematical equations representing the ways in which the current state of a real or abstract set of data changes based on its current values, the passage of time, or any other measurable variable involved. This poster seeks to explain at a basic level the type of systems the prediction and understanding of weather phenomena can be represented by, and the principles under which these types of systems operate