Culturing marine bacteria from UK sediment samples to design co-created student research projects and promote microbiology and genomics education

Percy, L. 2024. Culturing marine bacteria from UK sediment samples to design co-created student research projects and promote microbiology and genomics education. Smith, C.L. (ed.) Microbiology Society Annual Conference 2024. Edinburgh 08 - 11 Apr 2024 Microbiology Society.

TitleCulturing marine bacteria from UK sediment samples to design co-created student research projects and promote microbiology and genomics education
AuthorsPercy, L.
EditorsSmith, C.L.
TypeConference paper
Abstract

In 2017-2018 we were involved in the Microbiology Society project “Antibiotics Unearthed” with approximately 50 undergraduate student volunteers (from Levels 3 to 6). In this extracurricular project, over 30 cultures of both Gram positive and Gram negative marine bacteria were isolated from UK sediments. Data was collected from student reflections about their contribution to the project.
This marine bacteria culture collection has gone on to become the backbone for the co-creation of extracurricular projects, development of learning exercises and module practicals as well as over 40 undergraduate and 12 postgraduate projects. Additional University funding led to a two-year project to optimise extraction of DNA from marine bacteria for preservation of high‐molecular‐weight DNA with high yield for long read sequencing, and resulted in full genome sequencing of four of these cultures Bacillus altitudinis, Bacillus hwajinpoensis, Marinobacter similis and Halomonas titanicace. This has led to further genomics projects and use of bioinformatic tools including antiSMASH to predict secondary metabolites. The combination of microbiological and genomic approaches has enabled projects in the fields of sustainability and novel antimicrobials, as well as exploring pigments, and biopolymer production and screening enzymes for biotechnological applications. Students have contributed to outreach activities on antimicrobial discoveries. Here we present a synopsis of student projects and extracurricular learning activities since the creation of this marine bacteria culture collection.

KeywordsMarine bacteria, microbiology, genomics, education
Year2024
ConferenceMicrobiology Society Annual Conference 2024
PublisherMicrobiology Society

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