Why ChatGPT is such a big deal for education

Dr. Brent A. Anders describes some ways to think about the ChatGPT natural multi-language AI and how those in education may consider the capabilities of this AI

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Searching for New Antibiotics in the Soil

In the past century, scientists discovered that bacteria and fungi produce a secondary metabolite called antibiotics that we can get from the soil. Most antibiotics originate from the ground, where thousands of microorganisms live. Antibiotics help control the bacteria, but the overuse of these antibiotics can be less effective because bacteria can adapt and overcome the drugs. This research aims to discover a new antibiotic that does not exist. Our society is facing a problem due to the rising cases of drug resistance. Healthcare facilities have a problem with ESKAPE pathogens that can cause life-threatening infections. Therefore, it is crucial to research a new soil sample to find inhibition for a potential candidate for the antibiotic. In January, I collected soil from our front yard to do a serial dilution to estimate the concentration of the microbes and the number of colonies. Then I isolated the colonies until I found a suitable candidate that showed inhibition for a potential antibiotic candidate. Then I screened against the ESKAPE relatives to find candidates that showed inhibitions until I narrowed them down and found a viable candidate for my streak plate to see a pure sample. The microorganism I chose had continuously shown consistent inhibition from the Safe relevant RS6. Still, the RS6 candidate was not showing inhibition from the safe relevant Acenibacter bylyi. The pure sample is still in the process of incubation and will conduct further studies. All the data collected for this research could lead to finding a potential antibiotic candidate

Soil Microbes and Antibiotic Screening

Due to the natural development of antibiotic resistance, the search for new antibiotics is vital. Soil provides a highly competitive environment which promotes adaptations of soil dwelling bacteria. These adaptations lead to antibiotic producing bacteria. By serially diluting a soil sample, we can grow its bacteria in different, quantifiable, amounts. These cultures are used when looking for candidates for antibiotic screening. After finding a good candidate, it is tested for inhibition against common antibiotic resistant pathogens

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Candidate University

Semester project started with diluting soil from a residential location in Blue Springs, Missouri. After testing any potential candidates from this soil against the ESKAPE pathogens, it was unsuccessful. The process restarted using soil from a residential location in Overland Park, Kansas hoping to find successful candidates that displayed antibiotic properties. The soil was then diluted in an attempt to grow individual colonies. With this dilution deeming successful, challenge plates were then created to test several potential candidates against the same ESKAPE pathogens used for the first dilution. More than one candidate was developed, but the one chosen is called “Sully”. Sully showed signs of antibiotic characteristics and showed the strongest resistance to many of the ESKAPE pathogens including Enterobacter faecalis and Staphylococcus epidermidis. Sully is a gram negative, non-spore forming, acid fast bacillus bacteria

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Beta-glucosidase Mutation

Cell research tells us how the cell works to keep the body healthy and what diseases cause if they do not work correctly. Cell biological studies show cells\u27 structure, growth, reproduction, and death. The Main idea of the research on Beta-glucosidase (BglB) mutation is how we can generate reliable data about genes and enzyme functions to improve the AI model. Computational tools to predict enzyme stability and catalytic efficiency are a growing method in protein engineering. To improve the predictive accuracy of enzyme modeling software, many data are needed to train the algorithms. The enzyme variants were modeled with FoldIT software, built using Kunkel Mutagenesis methods in Escherichia coli, and the purified proteins were tested for kinetic activity. Adding these mutations to the Design2Data (D2D) Course-based Undergraduate Research Experience database contributes to an improved understanding of the structure-function relationship of ß-glucosidase B. It expands the potential for improving the accuracy of computational modeling tools for protein design. BglB is a suitable model enzyme and easy to mutate. I have researched the BglB mutation A236C. My mutagenesis is successful. After successful mutagenesis, I used BL21 E coli bacteria to make my mutation protein. I will be purifying my mutant enzyme using immobilized metal affinity chromatography. This process isolates the BglB enzyme from all the other cell debris. After the purified enzyme, I will check the stability of my mutant enzyme and at what temperature the enzyme can work or cannot function correctly