Microbiology Commons^™

Laboratory Exercises In Microbiology: Discovering The Unseen World Through Hands-On Investigation, Joan Petersen, Susan Mclaughlin

Open Educational Resources

The exercises in this laboratory manual are designed to engage students in hand-on activities that reinforce their understanding of the microbial world. Topics covered include: staining and microscopy, metabolic testing, physical and chemical control of microorganisms, and immunology. The target audience is primarily students preparing for a career in the health sciences, however many of the topics would be appropriate for a general microbiology course as well.

An Analysis Of Fecal Coliform Bacteria As A Water Quality Indicator, Janet Heyl Vail

Dissertations

The focus of this study is to assess the efficacy of fecal coliform bacteria as a microbiological water quality indicator. The scientific and educational context of fecal coliform bacteria is explored through analysis of large sets of water quality data, focused field monitoring projects, and review of commonly used resources for school-based and volunteer water-related studies. Analyzed data sets include long term sampling (10 years), multiple sites, daily samples, storm event samples, and other parameters monitored in parallel with bacteria. Special attention is given to data sets from Kent County, Michigan. A background reference site in Michigan unimpacted by humans …

Microbiology: A Laboratory Experience, Holly Ahern

Milne Open Textbooks

As a group of organisms that are too small to see and best known for being agents of disease and death, microbes are not always appreciated for the numerous supportive and positive contributions they make to the living world. Designed to support a course in microbiology, Microbiology: A Laboratory Experience permits a glimpse into both the good and the bad in the microscopic world. The laboratory experiences are designed to engage and support student interest in microbiology as a topic, field of study, and career.

This text provides a series of laboratory exercises compatible with a one-semester undergraduate microbiology or …

The Effects Of Aloe Vera On The Human Gut Microbiome, Samantha Leon

Honors Theses

The human gut microbiome is a diverse community of bacteria influenced by multiple factors including host age, geographical location, and diet. This study observed the effects of aloe vera juice on the human gut microbiome. Fecal samples were taken every two weeks over a period of one year; the subject consumed aloe vera juice in alternating cycles of consumption “on” and abstaining “off” with each cycle lasting for eight weeks. The bacterial community in each sample was characterized using 16S rRNA gene sequencing. Sequences were identified and their relative abundances were used to look for patterns distinguishing “on” and “off” …

Microbiology For Allied Health Students, Molly Smith, Sara Selby

Biological Sciences Open Textbooks

This open textbook is a remix of Openstax Microbiology, CC-BY 4.0, and created through an Affordable Learning Georgia Round Six Textbook Transformation Grant.

The textbook has the following supplemental materials within this repository:

This is a collection of instructional materials for the following open textbook and lab manual:

• Microbiology for Allied Health Students Lab Manual
• Microbiology for Allied Health Students Instructional Materials

Authors' Description:

Microbiology for Allied Health Students is designed to cover the scope and sequence requirements for the single semester Microbiology course for non-majors and allied health students. The book presents the core concepts of microbiology …

Contribution Of Probiotics Streptococcus Salivarius Strains K12 And M18 To Oral Health In Humans: A Review, Turner A. Stowik

Honors Scholar Theses

The overgrowth and disequilibrium of pathogenic microorganism species both native and non-native to the oral cavity can manifest into a variety of different oral diseases, pathologies, and afflictions in humans, including dental caries, gingivitis, pharyngitis, halitosis, and oral candidiasis. Two bacterial strains with clinically-significant probiotic applications in curtailing the pathogenic bacterial growth involved in these conditions are Streptococcus salivarius strain K12 and Streptococcus salivarius strain M18. To summarize the most up-to-date in vitro, in vivo, and clinical research findings, administration of these S. salivarius strains typically in the form of probiotic lozenges results in colonization, reduction in inflammatory measures, …

How Exercise Impacts The Brain And Cognition, Cody Larson

Biology and Microbiology Graduate Students Plan B Research Projects

Physical exercise has been shown to impact the brains composition and functionality. The changes that arise in the structure of brain, as result of engaging in physical exercise, give rise to cognitive changes. Structural changes are observed most notably in the prefrontal cortex and hippocampus. These changes are preceded by elevations in cerebral blood flow, and growth factors, resulting increased neuroplasticity and neurogenesis. Frequency, duration, intensity, and type of physical exercise can have differing effects on the brain. Moderate intensity aerobic exercise presents the most profound improvements in memory, and inhibitory control over time.

Efficacy Of Biopesticides For Organic Management Of Cucumber Beetles, Mary A. Rogers

Doctoral Dissertations

Organic growers are limited in crop protection techniques for cucumber beetle management. Spotted (Diabrotica undecimpunctata howardi) and striped (Acalymma vitatta) cucumber beetles and are significant pests of cucurbits in the U.S. Feeding results in aesthetic damage and reduction in marketable yields as well as transmission of bacterial wilt that can result in plant mortality. Biopesticides are products formulated from naturally occurring organisms such as fungi and bacteria that are pathogenic or toxic to insect pests. Advantages to these products are that they have low environmental risk, low risk to non-target organisms including mammals and beneficial insects, …

Identification Of Bacterial Species Using Colony Pcr, Kaiti Walker

Honors Theses

My research consisted of two separate parts, both involving the PCR methods. In part one I was trying to identify bacteria isolated from a chicken coop. In part two I was trying to identify bacteria isolated from the bluff. In both parts, I used a technique called colony PCR. This concept uses a single colony of bacteria to complete the PCR reaction. One pipet tip from a single colony is selected from the plate and mixed into a tube containing ultrapure water. A small amount of this bacterial mixture is then added into the PCR reaction. In the first part …

Comparing The Effectiveness Of Alternative And Prescription Antibiotics Against Gram-Positive Bacteria, Rachel Jenkins, Roan Dickenson, Sam Turnbull, Marcela Torres

Senior Theses

The rapid emergence of antibiotic-resistant bacteria is a global public health concern that threatens the efficacy of antibiotic drugs. We found that natural remedies, specifically coconut oil, honey and cinnamon essential oil, have the potential to be used as a clinical alternative to treat antibiotic-resistant infections. In this experiment, we performed a disk diffusion test and measured the area of inhibition of each treatment to compare the effectiveness of natural and prescription antibiotics. Cinnamon essential oil showed significantly greater antibiotic activity compared to a prescription treatment, amoxicillin. With bacterial resistance continuously expanding, more work needs to be done to determine …