Modeling and Visualizing Bacterial Colony Purification Without the Use of Bacteria or Laboratory Equipment

Microorganisms typically exist in diverse and heterogeneous communities within their various environmental niches. The isolation of an individual species from these communities is an essential laboratory skill to study of the properties and behaviors of that organism. To achieve this separation, the...

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Autor principal:	Grace L. Axler-DiPerte
Formato:	article
Lenguaje:	EN
Publicado:	American Society for Microbiology 2017
Materias:	Special aspects of education LC8-6691 Biology (General) QH301-705.5
Acceso en línea:	https://doaj.org/article/e91b9477213e4cd7ad8774c82739bdaa
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spelling	oai:doaj.org-article:e91b9477213e4cd7ad8774c82739bdaa2021-11-15T15:04:06ZModeling and Visualizing Bacterial Colony Purification Without the Use of Bacteria or Laboratory Equipment10.1128/jmbe.v18i2.13081935-78851935-7877https://doaj.org/article/e91b9477213e4cd7ad8774c82739bdaa2017-09-01T00:00:00Zhttps://journals.asm.org/doi/10.1128/jmbe.v18i2.1308https://doaj.org/toc/1935-7877https://doaj.org/toc/1935-7885Microorganisms typically exist in diverse and heterogeneous communities within their various environmental niches. The isolation of an individual species from these communities is an essential laboratory skill to study of the properties and behaviors of that organism. To achieve this separation, the “quadrant streak” for single colony purification is often included in undergraduate microbiology laboratory curricula. To aid student mastery of this technique, I have developed a simulated culture purification activity that allows students to immediately visualize the dilution and separation of an artificial microbial community with the goal of isolating purified colonies. This tool uses readily available, inexpensive, art supplies to simulate a mixed bacterial culture. The “mixed culture” consists of craft glitter of at least two distinct colors, held together with water-soluble, highly pigmented watercolor or gouache paint. Students practice aseptic technique by using a paintbrush to mimic an inoculating loop to streak and dilute the culture on a piece of cardstock. Sterilization of the “loop” is simulated by rinsing the brush. Students will immediately self-assess whether they are correctly performing the quadrant streak, rather than having to wait until the next laboratory session for bacteria to grow, which may allow them to master the technique sooner.Grace L. Axler-DiPerteAmerican Society for MicrobiologyarticleSpecial aspects of educationLC8-6691Biology (General)QH301-705.5ENJournal of Microbiology & Biology Education, Vol 18, Iss 2 (2017)
institution	DOAJ
collection	DOAJ
language	EN
topic	Special aspects of education LC8-6691 Biology (General) QH301-705.5
spellingShingle	Special aspects of education LC8-6691 Biology (General) QH301-705.5 Grace L. Axler-DiPerte Modeling and Visualizing Bacterial Colony Purification Without the Use of Bacteria or Laboratory Equipment
description	Microorganisms typically exist in diverse and heterogeneous communities within their various environmental niches. The isolation of an individual species from these communities is an essential laboratory skill to study of the properties and behaviors of that organism. To achieve this separation, the “quadrant streak” for single colony purification is often included in undergraduate microbiology laboratory curricula. To aid student mastery of this technique, I have developed a simulated culture purification activity that allows students to immediately visualize the dilution and separation of an artificial microbial community with the goal of isolating purified colonies. This tool uses readily available, inexpensive, art supplies to simulate a mixed bacterial culture. The “mixed culture” consists of craft glitter of at least two distinct colors, held together with water-soluble, highly pigmented watercolor or gouache paint. Students practice aseptic technique by using a paintbrush to mimic an inoculating loop to streak and dilute the culture on a piece of cardstock. Sterilization of the “loop” is simulated by rinsing the brush. Students will immediately self-assess whether they are correctly performing the quadrant streak, rather than having to wait until the next laboratory session for bacteria to grow, which may allow them to master the technique sooner.
format	article
author	Grace L. Axler-DiPerte
author_facet	Grace L. Axler-DiPerte
author_sort	Grace L. Axler-DiPerte
title	Modeling and Visualizing Bacterial Colony Purification Without the Use of Bacteria or Laboratory Equipment
title_short	Modeling and Visualizing Bacterial Colony Purification Without the Use of Bacteria or Laboratory Equipment
title_full	Modeling and Visualizing Bacterial Colony Purification Without the Use of Bacteria or Laboratory Equipment
title_fullStr	Modeling and Visualizing Bacterial Colony Purification Without the Use of Bacteria or Laboratory Equipment
title_full_unstemmed	Modeling and Visualizing Bacterial Colony Purification Without the Use of Bacteria or Laboratory Equipment
title_sort	modeling and visualizing bacterial colony purification without the use of bacteria or laboratory equipment
publisher	American Society for Microbiology
publishDate	2017
url	https://doaj.org/article/e91b9477213e4cd7ad8774c82739bdaa
work_keys_str_mv	AT gracelaxlerdiperte modelingandvisualizingbacterialcolonypurificationwithouttheuseofbacteriaorlaboratoryequipment
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Modeling and Visualizing Bacterial Colony Purification Without the Use of Bacteria or Laboratory Equipment

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