Science Buddies: "Ask an Expert"

I want to do a project on the effect of antibiotics on gut microbiota but i don't exactly know how to test it?

Hello and welcome to Scibuddies.

Your idea to test the effect of antibiotics on gut bacteria is an excellent one, but as you said--how are you going to do it. You would need to have pure cultures of the gut bacteria and then you would need a panel of antibiotics to test and a way to measure their effect.

This would be doable, but you would probably need access to a university research lab in order to do the experiments. Rather than use actual gut bacterial strains, however, you could test antibiotics on probiotic bacteria such as lactobacillus, which can be isolated from yogurt or milk and grown on agar.

The next problem, however, is more difficult to solve and that is where to get antibiotics. If you have access to some of these then you may be able to do the experiment, but you will still need a spectrophotometer or turbidimeter to measure the effect on bacterial growth. If you don't have access to these instruments, you could still measure the antibacterial effect by plating a dilution of the bacteria, with and without antibiotic treatment, on agar and counting the colonies.

This is all i will tell you for now. Post again with more questions and I will try to help you get the project planned and executed.

Good luck!
Sybee

Hi JFJAX2005!

Here is a video to give you better insight into the basics of testing antibiotics on bacteria (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ofsYORny8Lg). As Expert Sybee said, it will be really difficult to obtain gut bacteria and antibiotics and find a place to do this in a safe way. Consider whether your school has a lab or the proper facilities to perform this experiment.

Neha

Thank you all for your responses, they all helped. the question I have now is what are the most common types good and bad bacteria in the gut microbiome. I am asking because I was looking around and I know carolina biological and home science tools has bacteria cultures and I was hoping they might have one type of good and bad bacteria found in the gut.

Thanks,
Jace

Hi Jace,

You can google your question and find a lot of information as to the beneficial gut bacteria, but I doubt that Carolina Bio sells them. Also, check with your school about the use of bacteria in your science project. Many schools have restrictions on what you can use because of the risk of contamination. That's why I suggested using lactic acid bacteria from yogurt as a test strain. People eat yogurt so these bacteria are known to be safe. You can grow these bacteria on certain kinds of agar. Do a search to find out.

As for 'bad' gut bacteria--I would avoid these as many of them can be harmful and you would not be allowed to use them.

Hope this helps,
Sybee

Hi,

I just made it to MNSEF or MN State Science Fair and I was wondering what I should add, change or get rid of on my science board? Also What tips do you have for displays and what to have on them and how should I prepare answers to possible judge's questions?

Thanks,
JF

P.S. This is the link to my board: https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/ ... sp=sharing

Hello JF,

Congratulations on your success in making it to the state fair!

I've merged this post with the thread for your previous posts so the experts who helped you with your earlier questions can more easily see that you have follow-up questions (and see that you were successful at your local science fair!). Please keep your posts together in this thread!

Hopefully they can help you with the scientific content (and what to keep and what to drop) of your display board!

You also asked for suggestions about the actual display board and how to prepare for judges' questions. This section of the Science Buddies Advanced Project Guide has several topics which should be very helpful:

https://www.sciencebuddies.org/science- ... mpetitions

Here are several that you can look at, but I suggest you browse the entire list!

How to Be Successful at a Top Science Competition
https://www.sciencebuddies.org/science- ... ompetition

Data Analysis for Advanced Science Projects
https://www.sciencebuddies.org/science- ... e-projects

Data Presentation Tips for Advanced Science Competitions
https://www.sciencebuddies.org/science- ... mpetitions

Big Display Boards for Top Fairs
https://www.sciencebuddies.org/science- ... mpetitions

Judging Tips for Top Science Competitions
https://www.sciencebuddies.org/science- ... mpetitions

I hope this helps and that you won't be discouraged by the long list. You might start with the tips on data analysis and see what the experts who were helping you suggest.

Please be sure to post again if you have more questions! And good luck at the state fair!