Abstract
This project was part of an investigative report for Al Rojo Vivo’s “Amenaza Escondida” (“Hidden Threats”) on Telemundo. The television network’s team followed an individual as he carried on his daily activities. A sterile swab was used to test the objects being touched by the individual, as well as the individual’s hands after touching that object. The samples were placed on a nutrient agar plate and brought to us for incubation at 37 °C overnight. The goal of this study was to identify the bacterial changes on the hands of an individual as he goes about his daily activities. A few bacteria from each nutrient agar plate were picked for analysis, based on their colony morphology. The bacteria that were chosen for the experiment were grown in patches on nutrient agar plates, Mannitol Salt Agar (MSA) plates (to detect Staphylococcus aureus) and Eosin Methylene Blue Agar (EMB) plates (to detect E. coli). Colony PCR was used to amplify the 16s rDNA for sequencing. To ensure that the DNA segment was replicated, gel electrophoresis was performed. The DNA was sent to Genewiz for sequencing. Sequences were input into BLAST to compare them to previously identified bacteria. A variety of bacteria like Bacillus cereus (from soil), S. aureus (normal flora of the skin/nose) and E. coli (fecal matter) were identified on the hands, which were not initially present. This shows that these bacteria were acquired as the individual came into contact with more objects. The segment aired on 11/25/15.
Faculty Sponsors
Dr. Julie Torruellas Garcia
Project Type
Event
Location
Alvin Sherman Library
Start Date
4-8-2016 1:00 PM
End Date
4-8-2016 5:30 PM
Bacterial Analysis of Skin Flora on Hands Throughout the Day
Alvin Sherman Library
This project was part of an investigative report for Al Rojo Vivo’s “Amenaza Escondida” (“Hidden Threats”) on Telemundo. The television network’s team followed an individual as he carried on his daily activities. A sterile swab was used to test the objects being touched by the individual, as well as the individual’s hands after touching that object. The samples were placed on a nutrient agar plate and brought to us for incubation at 37 °C overnight. The goal of this study was to identify the bacterial changes on the hands of an individual as he goes about his daily activities. A few bacteria from each nutrient agar plate were picked for analysis, based on their colony morphology. The bacteria that were chosen for the experiment were grown in patches on nutrient agar plates, Mannitol Salt Agar (MSA) plates (to detect Staphylococcus aureus) and Eosin Methylene Blue Agar (EMB) plates (to detect E. coli). Colony PCR was used to amplify the 16s rDNA for sequencing. To ensure that the DNA segment was replicated, gel electrophoresis was performed. The DNA was sent to Genewiz for sequencing. Sequences were input into BLAST to compare them to previously identified bacteria. A variety of bacteria like Bacillus cereus (from soil), S. aureus (normal flora of the skin/nose) and E. coli (fecal matter) were identified on the hands, which were not initially present. This shows that these bacteria were acquired as the individual came into contact with more objects. The segment aired on 11/25/15.
