Kadam Snehal, Methwani Kashish, Kaushik Karishma S
Hull-York Medical School, University of Hull, York, United Kingdom.
Department of Biotechnology, Savitribai Phule Pune University, Pune, Maharashtra, India.
J Microbiol Biol Educ. 2022 Aug 9;23(2). doi: 10.1128/jmbe.00099-22. eCollection 2022 Aug.
It is increasingly recognized that microbes such as bacteria exist in communities or biofilms, both in the environment and human body. However, school biology curricula continue to focus on the free-floating form of bacterial life, with minimal descriptions of biofilms. Consequently, there is a need to introduce biofilms to school students, to not only to develop a fundamental understanding of microbial life but also to highlight the challenges posed by biofilm infections to antibiotic treatment. We have developed a hands-on activity for students to build a biofilm model and use it in comparison with a model of free-living (planktonic) bacteria, to test the role of the extracellular matrix in the antibiotic tolerance of biofilms. The activity uses simple, easy-to-obtain supplies and is designed to be conducted in an in-person or virtual format for elementary and middle school students in the age group of 6 to 13 years. We conducted the activity in virtual mode (via Zoom) for 59 school students across India, and we present feedback and acquired knowledge that could be used to execute and adapt this accessible and engaging science experience.
人们越来越认识到，诸如细菌之类的微生物以群落或生物膜的形式存在于环境和人体中。然而，学校生物课程仍继续侧重于细菌生命的自由漂浮形式，对生物膜的描述极少。因此，有必要向学生介绍生物膜，这不仅是为了培养对微生物生命的基本理解，也是为了突出生物膜感染给抗生素治疗带来的挑战。我们为学生开发了一项实践活动，让他们构建一个生物膜模型，并将其与自由生活（浮游）细菌模型进行比较，以测试细胞外基质在生物膜抗生素耐受性中的作用。该活动使用简单、容易获得的材料，设计为以面对面或虚拟形式，面向6至13岁的中小学生开展。我们通过Zoom以虚拟模式为印度各地的59名学生开展了该活动，并展示了可用于执行和调整这种易于理解且引人入胜的科学体验的反馈和所学知识。
