Evolution of antibiotic resistance in bacteria
Elena Bray Speth, Saint Louis University-Main Campus
This activity is intended to guide students to apply principles of evolution by natural selection to explain a real world biological phenomenon (the evolution of bacteria populations resistant to common ...

Molecular Techniques in Ecology and Evolution
steven kimble, Towson University
Microbiomes are the huge communities of microbes that live in and on host organisms, and are typically intimately involved with the host in myriad ways, including in immune, metabolic, and behavior functions. As ecosystems, these microbiomes are sensitive to changes in their environments, such as host aging, disease state, or contact with pollutants. They could therefore be used as bioindicators of host health, but the membership and functions of microbiomes are poorly understood in almost all creatures, especially reptiles and amphibians. In this CURE we use modern field, laboratory, and bioinformatic tools to describe and analyze the microbiomes of non-model organisms such as frogs, turtles, and reef fish.

Genome Solver: Microbial Comparative Genomics
Gaurav Arora, Gallaudet University
Genome Solver began in 2011 as way to teach Bioinformatics tools to undergraduate faculty. As part of the Genome Solver project as a whole, we developed a Community Science Project (CSP) for faculty and students to join. The CSP explores horizontal gene transfer (HGT) between bacteria and the phages that infect them. Students get involved in this project and develop testable hypotheses about the role HGT between bacteria and phages play in microbial evolution. Our own work has demonstrated that undergraduates can produce publishable data using this approach. We invite faculty and their students to participate in the search for additional evidence of this type of HGT by investigating the vast wealth of phage and bacterial sequences currently in databases. All that is needed is a computer, an Internet connection, and enthusiasm for research. Faculty and students can work on an organism of interest or we can help them pick organisms to explore these phenomena. By pooling all of the information from a variety of small projects under the umbrella of the Genome Solver CSP, we will be able to better understand the role of HGT in bacterial evolution.

Characterising the prokaryotic ATPase-ome
Alice Robson, University of Bristol
Students work in teams of 3-4 trying to identify and characterise putative ATPase enzymes from prokaryotic organisms. Each student identifies a putative uncharacterised ATPase gene from a range of prokaryotes (archaea and bacteria), and uses bioinformatic methods to characterise the gene. They then work in teams in the lab to clone, express and purify their chosen proteins; finally they characterise the protein using spectrophotometric ATPase assays. The team presents a poster on their work, then each student individually writes a report in the style of a short paper. The student grade is based on three assessed pieces: the lab book (20%), poster presentation (10%, graded as a team), and the report (70%). This course is compulsory for year 3 of our MSci Biochemistry programme, and counts for 20 credit points (out of 120 for the year). The course has been running since 2017 with an intake of 20-30 students per year, all of whom have passed the course.

Antibacterial soaps, friend or foe: An investigative case study
Ann Mills
This lab activity will not only draw on students' real life experiences but will also draw on student's previous lab experiences in proper laboratory techniques and data analysis performed in previous activities. The lab will incorporate the use of scientific inquiry methods and strategies while students develop reasonable answers to the questions asked.

Bioinformatics
By Monica Bruckner, Montana State University; Based on the Bioinformatics Exercise by Seth Bordenstein.
This exercise contains two interrelated modules that introduce students to modern biological techniques in the area of Bioinformatics, which is the application of computer technology to the management of biological information. The need for Bioinformatics has arisen from the recent explosion of publicly available genomic information, such as that resulting from the Human Genome Project.

Investigative Case - Los Angeles and the Future of Mono Lake
Developed by Monica Bruckner, Montana State University, based on the Los Angeles and the Future of Mono Lake WebQuest by Sarah Bordenstein, Marine Biological Laboratory.
The Los Angeles and the Future of Mono Lake WebQuest leads students in a guided exploration of Mono Lake's extreme environment and asks them to consider the preservation of this environment in relation to the needs of humans.

Structural Requirements for NADase activity of bacterial Toll/interleukin-1 receptor (TIR) domain-containing proteins
Michelle Snyder, Towson University
Toll-like receptors (TLRs) initiate innate immune signaling pathways via interactions of their Toll/interleukin-1 receptor (TIR) domains with cytoplasmic TIR domain-containing signaling proteins. Various bacterial species also express TIR domain-containing proteins that appear to contribute to bacterial evasion of the innate immune system. Bacterial TIR domains also have been found to exhibit NADase activity. We have developed a course-based undergraduate research experience (CURE class) involving 16-20 undergraduate students per year to characterize the structural requirements for the NADase activity of the TIR from Acetinobacter baumanii (AbTIR). Students use the molecular visualization software UCSF Chimera to analyze the AbTIR crystal structure and identify amino acids near the predicted NAD binding site in AbTIR that they hypothesize will play a role in AbTIR NADase activity. Students then perform site-directed mutagenesis to create plasmids for expression of their His-tagged mutant AbTIR proteins. Recombinant mutant AbTIR proteins are expressed in E. coli, purified by nickel chromatography and tested for NADase activity. Results from the course are presented at the annual department research poster symposium, allowing students a forum in which to practice their scientific communication skills and engage with faculty and other research students from the department. Overall, the course aims to provide research experiences for a large and diverse group of students, engaging these students in critical research skills including hypothesis formation, experimental design, data collection, data analysis, and communication of scientific findings.