Date post: | 17-Jan-2016 |
Category: |
Documents |
Upload: | margaret-parsons |
View: | 213 times |
Download: | 0 times |
Base Pair/SOAR/RBI
Muse of Fire
Outcomes and Expectations
Sidebar images courtesy of DHD Multimedia Gallery
Summer Research InstituteJune 25-29, 2012
St. Andrew's Episcopal School
© RWR 6-25-2012
Sidebar images courtesy of DHD Multimedia Gallery
SOAR
Base Pair/SOAR/RBI
• UMMC/Public school collaboration
• Mentorship in biomedical research
• Science education enhancement
• Funded by HHMI since 1994
© RWR 6-21-2010
SOAR
Base Pair/SOAR/RBI• Initiated in 1992 – High school biomedical research mentorship
at UMMC– Graduation credit– Teacher professional development– Biomedical Research course
• HHMI funding 1994-2012• Expansion efforts:– SOAR 2001– RBI 2007– Muse of Fire 2008
© RWR 6-21-2010
© RWR
“A Muse of Fire” • HHMI award• Consortium:
– Millsaps College– UMMC– Woods Hole Marine Biological
Institute– Bogue Chitto High School– Jackson Public Schools
• Develop 5 unique, inquiry-based high school activities focused on
the RIFA
6/21/2010
“O for a muse of fire, that would ascendThe brightest heaven of invention”
(King Henry V)
Well, they certainly are annoying, but… why fire ants?
•Unique nature of venom
•Human toxicity – underlying ??
•Biotechnology Education Stimulanthttp://www.dpi.qld.gov.au/fireants/
© RWR 6-21-2010
© RWR
The Muse of Fire Project:Focusing Student Interest in Science
Using Region-Specific Biology
Photo Credit: Alex Wild - Myrmecos.net 6-21-2010
Local Interest ↔ Global Impact
Premise: Involve teachers in development of inquiry-based exercises in science education that bring contemporary biomolecular techniques into their classrooms and
allow participation in actual science research
Muse of Fire: Team approach to develop 5 unique, inquiry-
based biotechnology training high school activities focused on the RIFA
Team 1 – Microecology of RIFA: Effects on local environment?
Team 2 – Toxicology: Insecticidal effects?
Team 3 – Human Health Impact: Human danger?
Team 4 – Gene Microarray: Molecular effects?
Team 5 – Wolbachia Symbiosis: Genetic analysis?
© RWR 6-21-2010
The RIFA – Solenopsis invicta
http://www.aphis.usda.gov/plant_health/plant_pest_info/fireants/downloads/fireant.pdf
Photo credit: Alex Wild - myrmecos.com
•Where are they?•From whence did they come?•How did they get here?•What effects are they having?•Is their sting dangerous?•What is in their venom?•For what do they use their venom?•How are we involving high schools in real research?
© RWR 6-21-2010
S. invicta Venom – Clinical Toxicity?
• Vast majority of stings cause:• Minor, transient pain• Local redness and
swelling with sterile pustule formation
• Small numbers have larger areas of swelling
• Very few have life-threatening allergic reactions
• Reports of massive fire ant attacks on infants and elderly in nursing homes
© RWR 6-21-2010
© RWR
S. invicta Venom
•Unique among stinging insects– ~95% alkaloids and ~5% proteins
•Proteins recognized by immune system and cause allergic reactions •Potential for alkaloid toxicity unknown despite amount in venom Venom contains mixture of
several alkaloid forms – isosolenopsins – solenopsins– dehydrosolenopsins
Synthesis by National Center for Natural Products Research (Ole Miss)
6-21-2010
Massive Fire Ant Stings in an Elderly Woman
Massive Fire Ant Stings
• Most of these cases had severe symptoms, but only one had anaphylactic symptoms.
• Adverse responses to the massive stings included:
– cardiopulmonary failure or arrest in 6 of 10 cases in the medical literature.
– death in 6 of 10 cases in the medical literature.• deShazo RD, et al. Ann Intern Med 1999; 131: 424-429.
– death in 8 of 20 total cases reported (1 of 4 infants).•Rupp MR, et al. Am J Med Sci 2006; 331: 134-138.
© RWR 6-21-2010
Effect of Solenopsin A on Rat Left Ventricular Effect of Solenopsin A on Rat Left Ventricular Contractility, Contractility, in vitroin vitro
• Male SD rat
• Working Langendorff prep
• Left ventricular dP/dt via balloon
• Superfusion of solenopsin A at 30, 100 µM
© RWR 6-21-2010
Outcomes and Expectations
•Interactive participation
•Grant submission (s)
•Classroom involvement
•Joining network
© RWR 6-21-2010
Let’s Get to Work!
Sidebar images courtesy of DHD Multimedia Gallery© RWR 6-21-2010