Background
Working in teams of 2, investigate one of the following problems. Submit your project topic online by midnight Feb 12.

La’au
The use of higher plants in the treatment of disease is as old as the art of healing itself. Isaiah of Biblical times suggested that a plaster of figs be placed on boils as a treatment of this form of infection. The Chinese have used plants and herbs for centuries in the treatment of many diseases. Thousands of phytochemicals have been isolated and several serve as plant defenses against microbial infection (3). Preliminary studies showed that plants have antibacterial properties but these studies were done over 60 years ago (2). The idea of using plants was abandoned with the discovery of antibiotics from soil bacteria. The widespread resistance of bacterial pathogens to conventional antibiotics has prompted renewed interest in the use of alternative natural microbial inhibitors such as amtimicrobial peptides (AMPs). AMPs, termed bacteriocins, are ribosomally synthesised polypeptides, which have bactericidal or bacteriostatic effect. A variety of antimicrobial peptides have been discovered in recent years including defensins, found in human skin, magainin, found in frog skin, and squalamine, from the spiny dogfish shark.. Additionally, the rise in foodborne infections has prompted renewed interest in the use of alternative natural microbial inhibitors (4)
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Questions:
-Effects on bacterial/fungal growth of sublethal concentration(s) of an extract of berries, leaves, etc.
-Determine the Minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) and/or minimal lethal concentration (MLC) of an extract.
-The presence of lysozyme against gram-positive cells. Gram-negative cells.
-What is your control?

PharMar
There is a high rate of rediscovery of antibiotic compounds in terrestrial sources, which means the rate of novel compound discovery has been going down. The sea’s potential as a resource is largely untapped. So far, there are only four marine-based drugs on the market and about 40 in clinical/preclinical development. A major therapeutic area for marine natural products is infection. Novel antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) have been isolated from the blood of the spider crab Hyas araneus and the green sea urchin Strongylocentrotus droebachiensis (1). The widespread resistance of bacterial pathogens to conventional antibiotics has prompted renewed interest in the use of alternative natural microbial inhibitors such as AMPs. AMPs, termed bacteriocins, are ribosomally synthesised polypeptides, which have bactericidal or bacteriostatic effect. A variety of antimicrobial peptides have been discovered in recent years including defensins, found in human skin, magainin, found in frog skin, and squalamine, from the spiny dogfish shark.
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Questions:
-Effects on growth of sublethal concentration(s) of an extract of red or brown algae.
-Determine the Minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) and/or minimal lethal concentration (MLC) of an extract.

Gaia
The Gaia hypothesis proposes that living and nonliving parts of the earth are viewed as a complex interacting system. Named after the Greek earth goddess, this hypothesis proposes that all living things have a regulatory effect on the Earth's environment that promotes life overall.

Questions:
-Determine the source of fecal contamination (fecal coliforms, enterococci) in a local creek (read more… ).
-Determine the effect of environmental change on spring productivity (read more…)
-Effect of triclosan on growth of … (read more…)

Pond Scum
The greenest fuel may be provided by little green cells. More than 100,000 strains of algae have been identified. Many of them grow rapidly and can be cultivated to develop high oil content, often more than 60 percent of their biomass. Basic production requirements are simple: water—even saline water—and carbon dioxide. Current research efforts are focused on maximizing oil production. Culture one or more unicellular algae to

Questions:
-Compare cell growth with oil production under different conditions [e.g., pH,aeration (flat flask, shaker), other chemicals, saltwater]. How can you get the most fuel? (read more…)