Generating interest in Plant Biology among predominantly pre-med undergraduates using a popular science novel

Many undergraduate pre-med students see little relevance of plant biology to their daily lives or future careers. I have developed assignments for a sophomore-level plant biology course that incorporate readings from from The Botany of Desire by Michael Pollan. After reading a chapter students define botanical terms within the context of the book and write a response to several instructor-provided questions. Each chapter is integrated into a larger topic in class and students discussed relationships between topics on the novel and course content. For example. the fourth chapter discusses domestication and genetic manipulation of the potato. Students are asked to compare traditional Peruvian potatoes to those available in grocery stores and discuss the feasibility of growing a wide variety of potatoes on a large scale in the United States. In class, the chapter is used as a guide for learning about the creation of genetically modified (GM) crops where students compare genetic transformation to plant breeding, create a list of the pros and cons, discuss prior beliefs and formulate their own scientifically-based opinion on the use of GM crops. The majority of students (85%) responded positively to the activities and most students said the book was applicable to class content and helped them relate to the material

Use of a UAV for Water Sampling to Assist Remote Sensing of Bacterial Flora in Freshwater Environments

Ground truth data collection in bodies of water traditionally relies on the use of watercraft and manual sampling. The transport and cost associated with the use of this type of equipment, as well as the time required to reach the site of collection, may all be significantly reduced by the use of small unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV) or drones. In this project we evaluate the implementation of a modified UAV with the ability to collect a small volume of surface water up to 400m offshore. The bacterial flora found in the water of several locations in the Lake Ontario-Rochester Embayment area is then entered into a multi-year database that attempts to correlate hyperspectral data obtained by the Landsat 8 Operational Land Imager with the isolated bacterial species. We found that water collection using a consumer grade UAV facilitated sampling efforts, saving time and providing easy access to otherwise difficult to reach collection sites

Isolation and Identification of Antibiotic Resistance in Bacterial Samples from Lake Ontario

Antibiotic-resistant bacteria are an increasing public health concern and recently the Food and Drug administration has been pressured to withdraw approval of the use of subtherapeutic doses of antibiotics in livestock. In upstate New York, sewage and agricultural run-off may contain microbes that are selected for by antibiotics excreted in humans and livestock waste. Monthly water samples were collected from six different locations in Lake Ontario over the summer of 2011 to isolate and characterize antibiotic resistance in bacteria. Samples were taken from near a treated sewage outflow pipe and the mouth of the Genesee River. Water temperature and clarity were measured for each sample location. Water samples were filtered to collect bacteria and the resulting filtrate was grown on R2A medium. Gram character and resistance to five clinically relevant antibiotics (gentamicin, ampicillin, erythromycin, ciprofloxacin and sulfamethoxazole trimethoprim) was assessed

Potential Use of Basil and Lemongrass Essential Oils Against Human Bacterial Pathogens

The increasing prevalence of multi-drug resistant bacterial infections fuels a continuing need to find effective antimicrobial agents. Basil (Ocimum basilicum) and lemongrass (Cymbopogon citratus) essential oil activity against sixteen true and opportunistic human pathogenic bacterial strains was tested, including: S. aureus, S. epidermidis, B. cereus and E. aerogenes. Inhibition of microbial growth by both essential oils was determined using a Kirby-Bauer disc diffusion assay and results compared to common antibiotics. Results indicated that both essential oils possess antimicrobial compounds against select bacterial strains. Our data support phytomedicine as a plausible option to combat antibiotic resistance

Induction of Plant Defense Gene Expression by Plant Activators and Pseudomonas syringae pv. tomato in Greenhouse-Grown Tomatoes

Plant activators provide an appealing management option for bacterial diseases of greenhouse-grown tomatoes. Two types of plant activators, one that induces systemic acquired resistance (SAR) and a second that activates induced systemic resistance (ISR), were evaluated for control of Pseudomonas syringae pv. tomato and effect on plant defense gene activation. Benzothiadiazole (BTH, SAR-inducing compound) effectively reduced bacterial speck incidence and severity, both alone and in combination with the ISR-inducing product. Application of BTH also led to elevated activation of salicylic acid and ethylene-mediated responses, based on real-time polymerase chain reaction analysis of marker gene expression levels. In contrast, the ISR-inducing product (made up of plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria) inconsistently modified defense gene expression and did not provide disease control to the same level as did BTH. No antagonism was observed by combining the two activators as control of bacterial speck was similar to or better than BTH alone

Utilizing Service Learning in the Analytical Chemistry Classroom

Service learning has been incorporated into the Analytical Chemistry Laboratory to give students a real world sampling experience including both soil and water, alongside professionals in their fields. Analysis of the soil and water includes metals, suspended solids, phosphorus and nitrogen containing compounds requiring knowledge of several different instrumental and wet chemical techniques. Most educational experiences do not afford students the chance to see the real world applications of their classroom knowledge, but with the service learning aspects this deficiency has been resolved. In the soil experience, students provide homeowners from the Highland Park and South Wedge neighbors with lead analysis of their soil as well as written reports of those levels and information on removing or working with lead contaminated soil. For the water project, students are providing baseline analysis of nutrients and metals found in Buckland Creek for the Department of Environmental Services, Division of Pure Waters, which studies the effects of industrial expansion and human activity on water quality in Rochester. The analytical chemistry students further their experience in an advanced analytical chemistry course the following year by performing further analysis on the soil and water, but on a more independent level. They use their previous learned skills to gather water after rainfall and perform analysis back in the laboratory with no structured guidance. The class is also expanding to include a plant biology section, where students will test the affects on growth and safety of plants grown in leaded soil. This experiment will allow students to provide proof to homeowners as to which plants are healthy to eat and which can be used for phytoremediation. In addition to feeling like active contributors to the community, the students and homeowners have been interviewed and photographed for an article detailing lead contamination issues

Microbial Sampling of Major Bodies of Water in Rochester, NY

Public health concerns from wastewater treatment and agricultural runoff are an issue locally in Rochester, NewYork. In fact, many closings of Ontario Beach have been attributed to pollution or the threat of microbial contamination. Antibiotic resistance is a major issue that has become more prevalent in society, antibiotic resistant human pathogenic bacteria can overcome normal types of medicinal therapy, which cannot only lead to increased mortality but also increases in illness and cost of care. Additionally, antibiotic resistant plant pathogens can impact agriculture. In this study, bacterial species from the Lake Ontario embayment collected over the past three years were analyzed. Bacteria that were known to be human or plant pathogens were selected to evaluate for resistance to commonly used antibiotics using the Kirby Bauer disk diffusion assay. A few species exhibited resistance, preliminary results will be shown

Building a Freshwater Bacterial Flora Database for Remote Sensing Applications

The identification and classification of microbial flora in bodies of fresh water has the potential of enhancing our understanding of this ecosystem and improving water management and bioremediation. This effort may be facilitated by the use of remote sensing technologies. For the last 3 years our undergraduate students have collected water samples in the Lake Ontario Rochester Embayment and Irondequoit Bay with the goal of constructing a database of bacterial species and water parameters (e.g. organic matter and chlorophyl content). Such a database is necessary to establish potential correlations between the presence of certain bacterial species and water parameters that can be measured using satellite imagery collected by the Landsat 8 OLI and TIRS sensors. In the past we reported initial efforts at mapping the distribution of bacterial species using 16S rRNA. Here we present our results for the summer of 2015 and present a compounded analysis of 3 consecutive summers. Of approximately 450 bacterial isolates, we have cultured and identified more than 40 different species spanning over 20 genera. Several fish and human pathogens were identified, and antibiotic-resistance profiles determined. Year to year variation of the flora’s composition at individual locations has emerged as the main challenge in establishing reproducible patterns that may be linked to satellite measurements