Investigate a public health emergency at a food truck festival using molecular biology tools! Use PCR, restriction digestion, and gel electrophoresis to track pathogenic E. coli to its source.
Engage students with a compelling real-world scenario that showcases rapid pathogen detection methods used by public health officials, highlighting their vital role in protecting community health. Students investigate an outbreak of pathogenic E. coli bacteria at a community food truck festival. Through patient surveys and DNA analysis, students must trace the outbreak to its source to contain the spread and protect the general public.
This kit provides hands-on experience in differentiating bacterial strains using molecular diagnostic techniques. Students will perform PCR, restriction enzyme digests, and gel electrophoresis on DNA samples from suspected foods, learning to identify the source of a simulated foodborne illness and implement strategies to eliminate the public health threat.
Key info and benefits:
- Techniques: Micropipetting, PCR, restriction digest, gel electrophoresis
- Time required: 120 minutes, can be split over two or three classes
- Suggested skill level: High school
- Highlights real-world applications of molecular microbiology in public health.
Kit includes:
- Reagents for 8 lab groups of 4 students:
- EZ PCR Master Mix, Load-Ready™
- Food Safety Lab Primer Mix
- 4 DNA samples to investigate, including controls
- Restriction enzyme XmnI
- Fast DNA ladder 2
- Reagents are optimised for minipcr blueGel units
- See notes for extra requirements
Storage:
- Reagents and DNA samples require frozen storage which will keep them stable for 12 months, or in the fridge for a month.
- The DNA samples are stable for a couple of weeks at room temperature, and the master mix for several days.
Notes:
- Refer to the resources tab for the lab teacher's guide and student guide. Contact team @ Southern Biological for answers key.
- To perform this lab, you will require electrophoresis equipment; such as electrophoresis chamber, agarose, TBE buffer and Midori green gel stain.
- Our electrophoresis starter kit contains some of the hardware and reagents required.
- Additionally, you will require a thermal cycler. We recommend the mini8 thermal cycler or the mini16 thermal cycler plus PCR vials, a 0.5-10uL micropipette and tips.
- For best results, we recommend running your gels in the blueGel electrophoresis chamber, G40.04 .
- If you do not have a blueGel electrophoresis unit with built-in illuminator, we have a transilluminator, G40.76, onto which you can place your gels to visualise your results immediately after the electrophoresis run is complete. Another option is to pair a Bandit unit with Viewit.
- None of the materials provided in the Food Safety laboratory kit pose a health or food safety hazard.
- At no point are pathogenic bacteria used; references to “pathogenic” and “non-pathogenic” strains or DNA samples are used only to recreate a simulated Food Safety investigation scenario.
