Week 14. Red 5 is E.coli

This week I was able to successfully identify my unknown. After incubating the SIM test, all I needed to do was wait. I had also started an Indole test in case I had positive for sulfide on the SIM. Well the SIM test turned out to be negative for acid and positive for motility. Please find a picture below to illustrate. This results indicated I had Escherichia coli. 
After successfully identifying my unknown, it was time to start working on my research paper and presentation for this Thursday and Friday. So far I have finished the abstract and background info parts. Although the dateline seems very close, I am sure we will all be able to finish our work and turn in!

Week 13 Unknown Identified... or not

This week I was able to identify Red 5 as Bacillus Cereus. The first step in the dichotomous key was to perform a Gramm Stain. Because Red 5 appeared purple under the microscope, it was established that I would be working with a Gram Positive. The shape of the bacteria was rods, so I learned I had a bacillus. Then I performed an endospore stain to determine whether the bacteria formed spores. No spores where found. The same day I also started a glucose and MSA fermentation. The glucose fermentation came back as a positive acid with gas (Oxygen), and the MSA was a negative. So I concluded I had Bacillus Cereus.
The nice thing about science is to take a step back and have to re-do it all! After discussing my results with Josh, he asked I performed a Gram Stain again because more than likely I had incorrect results. After doing so, I got different results, we believe I may have insufficiently washed the Crystal violet off the smear the first time around. My bacteria now locked clearly pink. The next step in the dichotomous key at the lab was to perform an Oxidase test. Such was a negative. So before leaving the lab, because I knew the result for the fermentation test, I inoculated a SIM tube, and an indole test tube. Next week I should be able to walk in the lab and read my results and finally figure out my unknown.

My first Gram stain clearly appeared Positive (purple)

MSA plate (Negative)

Glucose Fermentation, aerobic positive acid

Endospore stain set up

Second Gram stain, as you can see much different.

Week 12 The Unknown

This week I finally got to spend some time in the lab. During the first couple of days I watched safety videos and learned about moving around in the Dalby Lab safely.

Finally today I was assigned an unknown bacteria, Red 5, to identify. It was contained in a test tube. 

In order to grow it and be able to start the dichotomous key, I used two Petri plates and inoculated them with Red 5 using a heat sterilized metal loop. The two platting techniques utilized were lawn and isolation streak. 

The plates were then placed upside down in the incubator at 36.5°C and colony growth should be visible in a day or so. If I successfully isolated Red 5 in the Isolation Streak plate, a single line of colonies should be present.

I am not in the lab on Thursdays, so I will be posting results and beginning to determine cell and colony morphology next week.

My two Petri plates in the incubator :)

Week 11. First for me.

This was my first week as an S-STEM Scholar. Although I still have many steps to take before I can actually start a research project, I got to learn a lot about the program and was lucky enough to meet most of the scholars, including the newbies like me.

We attended our orientation and met with Amanda, she helped us understand our role as a scholar a lot better by explaining what is expected from us. Setting up our blog was something else we went over and Paul stayed to help me and Tony figure out how to do it. I must admit I was a little lost at first but I now feel much more comfortable working on my blog.

Yesterday morning I met with Mat and Josh for an interview to see if I was a good fit to work at the Biosciences Department lab here at PC. They were very nice! I really like the environment in the lab and I am thrilled to share the good news I got in my email this afternoon... I  was selected to complete my intership there!!!

Looking forward to it and will be sharing the experiences for my first week at the lab in a few days!

courtesy of: https://www.flickr.com/photos/danielgreene/290680214/

My soon to be second home!