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Antioxidants vs. E. Coli Science Fair Projects

Combatting Pathogens - Antioxidants vs. E. Coli Science Fair Projects
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The battle to control harmful bacteria rages in this science fair project...

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Working with E. Coli

Take precautions when working with E. coli. There are safe strains that students can work with in their science fair projects.

MICROBES FEATURED SCIENCE FAIR KITS
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Test bacteria on any surface with the Surface Microbes Experimenter Kit.
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Do an interesting yet fun a Water & Soil Microbes science fair project and find out how safe is your home from unknown creatures.

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The DNA Extraction science fair projects enter you into the world of genetics

 

Objectives/Goals

Antioxidants are said to prevent the damage of cells caused by ultraviolet radiation. To observe the effect of antioxidants on the survival rate of nonpathogenic MM28 and QC781 strains of Escherichia coli (Yale University), concentrations in correlation with the recommended daily allowances/recommended doses for supplementation of vitamin C, vitamin E, and the combination of vitamins C & E were made.

Methods/Materials

The solutions were incorporated into nutrient broth media containing E. coli that grew for 24 hours, were serially diluted, plated, and exposed to ultraviolet light for 0, 5, and 10 minutes. After exposure, the plates were placed in an incubator at 37º C and allowed to grow for 48 hours at which time the colonies present on the plates were counted and recorded.

Results

From the results, the presence of vitamins had an adverse effect to the E. coli. Plates that did not contain vitamins and were not exposed to UV light exhibited a significantly greater average amount of colonies than plates that contained vitamins and were not exposed to UV light. Vitamin C (37.5mg/500mL and 45mg/500mL) vitamin E, and the combination of vitamins C & E (37.5 & 100mg/500mL at 10 minutes, 45 & 100mg/500mL, 75 & 200mg/500mL, and 90 & 200mg/500mL) did not significantly increase the amount of colonies on plates that were exposed to UV light.

Conclusions/Discussion

The research hypothesis that higher concentrations of antioxidants will result in the survival of more E.

coli colonies was not supported for vitamin C (37.5mg/500mL and 45mg/500mL), vitamin E, and the combination vitamins C & E (37.5 & 100mg/500mL at 10 minutes, 45 & 100mg/500mL, 75 & 200mg/500mL, and 90 & 200mg/500mL).

However, the research hypothesis was supported for vitamin C concentrations 75mg/500mL and 90mg/500mL (strain MM28) and for the combination of vitamins C & E concentration 37.5 & 100mg/500mL at 5 minutes (strain MM28).

The research hypothesis that longer exposure time of UV irradiation will cause fewer colonies of E. coli to survive was supported. Conversely, the research hypothesis that the combination of vitamins C & E will increase UV resistance in E. coli was not supported. 3rd party contributor


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