Science Buddies: "Ask an Expert"

I'm doing a science fair project that includes two strains of bacteria, haemophilus influenzae and streptococcus pneumoniae. The rules of my science fair project are that pathogens can only be used in the senior division, and I'm not in that. If I culture the bacteria from myself, are they considered pathogens?

Hello paulcat,

Pathogenic, in relation to bacteria, means that the strains you are using are harmful. What bacteria are you working with? Some bacteria are harmless. For example, many strains of E.Coli are harmless, and can be used in your project only if you specify the strain you are conducting your experiment with. I am not familiar with the bacteria you are working with; are you conducting your research right now? Make sure the strains you are working with are pathogenic or not. You definitely need to specify to your fair what strains of the two bacteria you are using.
I don't know what you mean "I culture the bacteria from myself." How exactly are you conducting this experiment?
If your science fair is ISEF affiliated, rules state that experiments involving pathogenic micro organisms cannot be conducted in a school lab, only in an institution. Please do not culture the bacteria you are working with in your home; this is definitely not allowed.
Even if your fair is not ISEF affiliated, please do not culture harmful bacteria in your school lab; it could be extremely dangerous.

I hope this helps.

Sincerely,
Sareena

Both haemophilus influenzae and streptococcus pneumoniae are classified as pathogens. Whether or not you culture them yourself does not affect that.

Post if you have more questions,
Sonia

hey there

im sorry about that but since your topic includes both those bacteria they are considered as pathogens just as what was quoted above. i suggest you do aproject that you will enjoy working on yet stay on the safe side so that you will not run into any problems when dealing with judging criteria and important research permission forms

A real world answer to your question is that medical scientists / pharmaceutical companies have found a need to spend millions of dollars producing vaccines to both of those bacteria. Millions are vaccinated yearly to prevent them.

Sounds pathogenic to me (and, they are, and can be lethal in some individuals, especially elderly, infirm patients, and very young babies. 5% of individuals who contract streptococcal pneumonia die from it, 30% if they become bacteremic. It kills more people in this country every year than all other vaccine preventable diseases combined. H Influenza, type b, was the leading cause of meningitis in children before the vaccine was developed. Fortunately, it is uncommon to contract it after 5 years of age.)

We don't know what your project entails, but there's a wide world of bacteria out there (after all, they outnumber us). A safer choice is out there that can provide an interesting experiment / learning experience for you.