Bring Em Back Alive

Biofilms are ubiquitous in nature, and occur anywhere sufficient moisture and a surface come together. There are solid liquid interfaces, moist soft tissue air interfaces and liquid air interfaces. In any of these sites biofilms may be found and collected by a inquisitive student.

Some Possible Biofilm Collecting Sites

Yellowstone	Puddle	Streams

Location and characterization of a natural biofilm community.

After an investigation of biofilm structure, function and ubiquity, have each student or student group select a habitat (natural or laboratory) from which they would expect to be able to isolate a biofilm population.

Provide them with an array of techniques such as the microfishing and buried slide procedure, and turn them loose.

Have the students characterize the biofilms by staining or culturing techniques.

If possible take photographs of the sites and of the biofilms under microscopy. Convert these images to digital format (jpg or gif files) for inclusion on classroom web pages or Powerpoint presentations

Have them prepare reports, PowerPoint presentations or poster sessions on the nature of the biofilms obtained including drawings, photographs (macro and micro), images from the ASM Biofilm collection which are similar to those observed or even video tape segments taken through the microscope.

Yellowstone and Puddle Photographs by John Lennox, Penn State Altoona

Stream Photograph courtesy of Dr. Harold L. Lovell, Professor Emeritis of Mining Engineering, Penn State University, University Park.