Internalization of Escherichia coli (E. coli) into Lettuce Leaves through Stomata; Cross Contamination between Bruised Leaves
Location
CSU Ballroom
Start Date
18-4-2016 10:00 AM
End Date
18-4-2016 11:30 AM
Student's Major
Biological Sciences
Student's College
Science, Engineering and Technology
Mentor's Name
Michael Bentley
Mentor's Department
Biological Sciences
Mentor's College
Science, Engineering and Technology
Description
The purpose of this experiment is to find out whether bruising or physical damage of lettuce leaves will significantly increase the cross contamination to other bruised leaves. To test this the researchers are performing an experiment with 2 phases with 3 replicate trials. The first phase shall include the 6 hour incubation of 4 bruised and 4 non-bruised lettuce pieces to media containing Escherichia coli (E. coli) bacteria. And for the control group, 2 bruised leaves will be incubated in a media with no E.coli. Then, another freshly cut 6 bruised and 4 non bruised leaf pieces will be prepared. The leaves that were in incubation will be laid over the freshly cut leaves using this method: the 4 bruised leaves with E.coli will be laid over on each of the 2 freshly bruised and 2 of the non-bruised leaves. Also, the 4 non-bruised leaves with E.coli will be laid over on each of the 2 freshly bruised and 2 of the non-bruised leaves. For the control group, 2 of the bruised leaves with no E.coli will be laid on freshly cut 2 bruised leaves. After collecting the specimen, 9 randomly systematically selected areas on each leaf are studied under a scanning electron microscope and the number of E.coli in contact with stomata are counted. We expect there to be significantly more bacteria touching the stomata of bruised lettuce leaves that were exposed to E.coli infested leaves than the ones that were not in all 3 trials. This experiment is currently in the data collection stage.
Internalization of Escherichia coli (E. coli) into Lettuce Leaves through Stomata; Cross Contamination between Bruised Leaves
CSU Ballroom
The purpose of this experiment is to find out whether bruising or physical damage of lettuce leaves will significantly increase the cross contamination to other bruised leaves. To test this the researchers are performing an experiment with 2 phases with 3 replicate trials. The first phase shall include the 6 hour incubation of 4 bruised and 4 non-bruised lettuce pieces to media containing Escherichia coli (E. coli) bacteria. And for the control group, 2 bruised leaves will be incubated in a media with no E.coli. Then, another freshly cut 6 bruised and 4 non bruised leaf pieces will be prepared. The leaves that were in incubation will be laid over the freshly cut leaves using this method: the 4 bruised leaves with E.coli will be laid over on each of the 2 freshly bruised and 2 of the non-bruised leaves. Also, the 4 non-bruised leaves with E.coli will be laid over on each of the 2 freshly bruised and 2 of the non-bruised leaves. For the control group, 2 of the bruised leaves with no E.coli will be laid on freshly cut 2 bruised leaves. After collecting the specimen, 9 randomly systematically selected areas on each leaf are studied under a scanning electron microscope and the number of E.coli in contact with stomata are counted. We expect there to be significantly more bacteria touching the stomata of bruised lettuce leaves that were exposed to E.coli infested leaves than the ones that were not in all 3 trials. This experiment is currently in the data collection stage.
Recommended Citation
Limeneh, Jote and Lucy Saidu. "Internalization of Escherichia coli (E. coli) into Lettuce Leaves through Stomata; Cross Contamination between Bruised Leaves." Undergraduate Research Symposium, Mankato, MN, April 18, 2016.
https://cornerstone.lib.mnsu.edu/urs/2016/poster-session-A/5
