During my undergraduate studies at Georgia Tech, my senior research project piqued my interest in microbiology. Collaborating with the Zoo Atlanta staff, I, along with two other students, conducted a comparison of the oral microbiota of ten captive lizards across five species, including Varanus komodoensis, V. rudicollis, V. griseus, Uromastyx aegyptia, and Corucia zebrata. It has been speculated that Komodo Dragon monitor lizards (V. komodensis) employ a predatory strategy that exploits pathogenic oral bacteria to subdue prey, although there is no explicit evidence of this phenomenon. Previous studies have examined the oral microbiota of wild and captive Komodo Dragons, but not in comparison with other Varanus spp. Since we could not directly address this hypothesis, the purpose of our research was to compare the oral microbiota in three carnivorous varanid lizard species and two herbivorous non-varanid lizard species maintained in the same facility. …show more content…
Colony isolates initially were assessed by morphology and Gram staining. DNA harvested from overnight cultures was amplified by PCR using two sets of 16s rDNA primers to detect a broad range of Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacterial species. We found that oral bacterial diversity varied among individuals and species. Furthermore, we identified four bacterial species previously unassociated with the oral cavity of V. komodoensis. With the assistance of Dr. Joseph Mendelson, director of herpetological research at Zoo Atlanta, our work was published in a peer-reviewed journal Herpetological Review. Seeing the acknowledgment of my undergraduate research reaffirmed my professional goal to investigate the host-pathogen interactions that mediate human
The purpose of this study is to identify an unknown bacterium from a mixed culture, by conducting different biochemical tests. Bacteria are an integral part of our ecosystem. They can be found anywhere and identifying them becomes crucial to understanding their characteristics and their effects on other living things, especially humans. Biochemical testing helps us identify the microorganism present with great accuracy. The tests used in this experiment are rudimentary but are fundamental starting points for tests used in medical labs and helps students attain a better understanding of how tests are conducted in a real lab setting. The first step in this process is to use gram-staining technique to narrow down the unknown bacteria into one of the two big domains; gram-negative and gram-positive. Once the gram type is identified, biochemical tests are conducted to narrow down the specific bacterial species. These biochemical tests are process of elimination that relies on the bacteria’s ability to breakdown certain kinds of food sources, their respiratory abilities and other biochemical conditions found in nature.
The Web. The Web. 7 December 2011. Bearded Dragons make great pet lizards. My Beardie.
Raelians Raelians also love hierarchy. They group themselves into six levels, ranging from novice to Rael himself, who alone occupies the 6th level. Cocolios is a 3rd-level Raelian and a "regional guide." Chabot, a 4th-level Raelian and a "national guide," sets up an interview with Lear, a 5th-level Raelian. Adherence to the movement and to another religion * Adherence to the Raelian religion excludes adherence to another religion.
G. vaginalis is still a mystery and is being continuously investigated. Research is being done to identify its causes and pathogenicity. Improved media and methods used for the isolation and identification are beneficial to getting answers. The development of a suitable animal model for bacteria vaginosis is one of the challenging areas for future investigation (Catlin, 1992).
Erika Lopez’s chapter on the Canadian Johns is the longest chapter in her novel, Flaming Iguanas, possibly because it displays an empowering moment for Jolene, wherein Lopez’s protagonist undergoes a masculine sensation that fulfills her own needs and desires as an independent woman on the road. She meets the Canadian Johns, middle-aged bikers from Canada, who help her get her broken bike fixed. She uses one of the Canadian Johns for a thrilling ride on his motorcycle, and for a place to stay for a night. Jolene imagines herself riding the motorcycle and puts herself in the Canadian Johns’ place: “I only want to have sex with this Canadian guy when we’re going seventy miles around curves, not when he turns around” (Lopez 125). When she realizes
The purpose of this project was to identify unknown bacteria species from a mixed culture. The two unknown species were initially plated onto Tryptic Soy Agar (TSA), Eosin Methylene Blue (EMB), Mannitol Salt Agar (MSA), and blood agar plates to distinguish between the two different bacteria using colony size, color, shape, and growth characteristics. By identifying and inoculating the differing types of colonies, the two unknown bacteria were purified and able to be tested
6.) Seshadri et al., Comparison of the Genome of the Oral Pathogen Treponema denticola with Other Spirochete Genomes. Science. 1998 Jul 17; 281(5375):324-5.
Every human has microbiomes that are personalized for the individual and are extremely important to maintaining a good health standing, however, these microbiomes can be capable of contracting a disease. One of the most common areas for these microbiomes to contract something that could be harmful to the person’s health is called the oral microbiomes, which are found in the mouths of humans. Within the biofilms of the oral cavity, rests these oral microbiomes that maintain a healthy equilibrium in the mouth. However, if not taken care of properly, oral microbiomes can be taken over by a pathogen that can quickly turn the state of the person’s mouth from a healthy equilibrium to a very unhealthy equilibrium (1). Some bacteria found in the oral cavity can be an extremely danger.
Exotic animals carry diseases and infections that can be potentially harmful or fatal to humans, jeopardizing the safety of the community. These diseases range in severity from common ringworm infections from African pygmy hedgehogs to lyssaviruses in p...
Due to their direct contact with patients, personnel of health care teams are exposed to a higher risk of contracting diseases. Specifically, this risk becomes more potential for dental professional teams if we know that most of the human microbial pathogens are isolated from oral secretions. They can cause serious diseases that might transmit from patients to the personnel, and vice versa (Bednarsh & Molinri, 2010). In 1970 and the early 1980s, result showed the tendency among dental professionals to have more certain infectious diseases than the general public due to their exposure to blood and saliva of their patients (Bednarsh & Molinri, 2010). Disease, such as hepatiti...
Dental plaque is the combination of bacteria embedded in a matrix of salivary proteins and bacterial products superimposed on the acquired pellicle (Berkovitz, et al., 2011). It is an example of a biofilm, a term used to describe relatively undefinable microbial community associated with a tooth surface or any other hard, non-shedding material (Reddy, 2008). Plaque can also be described as
Saliva contains glucose; therefore, if you have uncontrolled diabetes, the amount of glucose present in your saliva is elevated. We naturally have somewhere between 200 to 300 bacterial species in our mouths: Some of these bacteria are good and some of them are bad. Streptococcus mutans is typically the bacterium responsible for causing tooth decay; whereas, periodontal disease is usually caused by a mixture of Porphyromonas gingivalis and Treponema denticola.
The American Alligator is an amazing reptile, having survived almost unchanged since the time of the dinosaurs. Having been hunted almost for extinction, this reptile has made an amazing comeback in recent years. Inhabiting almost every body of water in Florida. American alligator are not considered endangered species, but these harsh looking creatures are threatened.
All practicing dentists, dental associates, and laboratories follow standard precautions and recommendations specified by the Center for Disease Control (CDC). The standard precautions, previously known as the universal standard precautions, focus on the perception that all blood and bodily fluids, regardless if they contain blood, such as saliva, may be contaminated and should be considered infectious. (Bebermeyer). The infection control methods that are practiced in dental offices were established by the CDC in 2003 with Guidelines for Infection Control in Dental Healthcare Settings (Kohn). These guidelines include the use of protective barriers, personal protective w...