The introduction of metagenomics into an undergraduate biochemistry laboratory course yielded a predicted reductase that decreases triclosan susceptibility in Escherichia coli

DNA and Cell Biology
Justin J DonatoThomas C Marsh

Abstract

Traditional undergraduate science classes often include a laboratory component aimed at enabling the students to experience the classroom topics firsthand. Typically, these experiments are chosen because they have known outcomes that will clearly demonstrate particular aspects of scientific theory. While this approach has its benefits in skill development and concept reinforcement, the lack of novelty inherent in repeating experiments that have been repeated for many years does not accurately convey the feeling of true scientific discovery to the students. In this work, we have designed and implemented a series of experiments into an undergraduate biochemistry curriculum that incorporates the opportunity for scientific discovery, while simultaneously creating an environment for learning routine laboratory techniques. Through this set of experiments, students enrolled in the course were successful in identifying and beginning to characterize an unknown bacterial gene that confers increased tolerance to triclosan on its host.

References

Aug 26, 1998·Nature·L M McMurryS B Levy
Apr 14, 1999·Nature·C W LevyJ B Rafferty
Jul 27, 2004·Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy·Allison E AielloElaine Larson
Aug 13, 2004·Environmental Microbiology·Christian S RiesenfeldJo Handelsman
Dec 14, 2004·Microbiology and Molecular Biology Reviews : MMBR·Jo Handelsman
Apr 28, 2007·Science·Susan H RussellJames McCullough
Dec 7, 2007·CBE Life Sciences Education·Anne JurkowskiJay B Labov
Oct 10, 2008·The ISME Journal·Heather K AllenJo Handelsman
Dec 11, 2008·PLoS Biology·Pascal HingampCarl Herrmann
Apr 16, 2010·Molecular Systems Biology·Morten O A SommerGautam Dantas
May 11, 2010·Applied and Environmental Microbiology·Justin J DonatoJo Handelsman
Nov 26, 2010·Journal of Structural Biology·N Jiten SinghSeonggu Ro
Dec 21, 2010·Letters in Applied Microbiology·S SalehP J Collier

❮ Previous
Next ❯

Citations

Dec 8, 2020·Frontiers in Microbiology·Theodore R Muth, Avrom J Caplan
Jan 20, 2017·Journal of Microbiology & Biology Education·Sadia J RahmanParjit Kaur
Oct 20, 2017·Biochemistry·Kathryn L HaasLouise K Charkoudian

❮ Previous
Next ❯

Datasets Mentioned

BETA
JN967031

Methods Mentioned

BETA
scraping
restriction digest
electrophoresis
PCR
restriction digests

Software Mentioned

BLAST
Seq
Basic Local Alignment Search Tool ( BLAST )

Related Concepts

Trending Feeds

COVID-19

Coronaviruses encompass a large family of viruses that cause the common cold as well as more serious diseases, such as the ongoing outbreak of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19; formally known as 2019-nCoV). Coronaviruses can spread from animals to humans; symptoms include fever, cough, shortness of breath, and breathing difficulties; in more severe cases, infection can lead to death. This feed covers recent research on COVID-19.

Blastomycosis

Blastomycosis fungal infections spread through inhaling Blastomyces dermatitidis spores. Discover the latest research on blastomycosis fungal infections here.

Nuclear Pore Complex in ALS/FTD

Alterations in nucleocytoplasmic transport, controlled by the nuclear pore complex, may be involved in the pathomechanism underlying multiple neurodegenerative diseases including Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis and Frontotemporal Dementia. Here is the latest research on the nuclear pore complex in ALS and FTD.

Applications of Molecular Barcoding

The concept of molecular barcoding is that each original DNA or RNA molecule is attached to a unique sequence barcode. Sequence reads having different barcodes represent different original molecules, while sequence reads having the same barcode are results of PCR duplication from one original molecule. Discover the latest research on molecular barcoding here.

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

Chronic fatigue syndrome is a disease characterized by unexplained disabling fatigue; the pathology of which is incompletely understood. Discover the latest research on chronic fatigue syndrome here.

Evolution of Pluripotency

Pluripotency refers to the ability of a cell to develop into three primary germ cell layers of the embryo. This feed focuses on the mechanisms that underlie the evolution of pluripotency. Here is the latest research.

Position Effect Variegation

Position Effect Variagation occurs when a gene is inactivated due to its positioning near heterochromatic regions within a chromosome. Discover the latest research on Position Effect Variagation here.

STING Receptor Agonists

Stimulator of IFN genes (STING) are a group of transmembrane proteins that are involved in the induction of type I interferon that is important in the innate immune response. The stimulation of STING has been an active area of research in the treatment of cancer and infectious diseases. Here is the latest research on STING receptor agonists.

Microbicide

Microbicides are products that can be applied to vaginal or rectal mucosal surfaces with the goal of preventing, or at least significantly reducing, the transmission of sexually transmitted infections. Here is the latest research on microbicides.