You may want to start your
paper by choosing a specific bacterium, Archean, or virus and subsequently
focus to something you find particularly interesting about that organism. Alternatively, you may want to choose a
current issue or problem in microbiology and focus on the problem, covering the
relevant organism from that perspective.
However, it is absolutely required that you discuss the pertinent
biology of the organisms you are studying in your paper.
Please talk to the
instructors and we can provide you with more specifics on the topics listed
below. Please do not feel
constrained by these suggestions.
Follow your own creative idea!
Recent discoveries
Flu vaccine shortages
Bacteria with cytoskeletons/evolutionary tree
Biofilm formation in disease, the environment, or industry
Quorum sensing: how bacteria communicate
Development in prokaryotes- spore formation, Caulobacter, Myxococcus, Streptomyces
Life in extreme environments
Extraterrestrial life
Biodegradation of anthropogenic compounds (PCB's, dioxins pesticides, etc.) by bacteria
Evolution of life
Antibiotic/antiviral resistance mechanisms
How to prevent antibiotic resistance
Antibacterial products
Symbiotic
relationships between bacteria and other organisms
Viable,
but non-culturable organisms
Anti-bacterial
effects of spices
Emerging infectious diseases
Avian flu
SARS
Increase in hepatitis C
Mad cow disease (BSE)
Norwalk viruses and cruise ship outbreaks
Bioterrorism
Pathogenesis of agents of concern- anthrax, smallpox, etc.
Preparedness response- vaccines, antibiotic stockpiling, drills
Pathogens and links to chronic disease
Helicobacter pylori and ulcers
Chlamydia pneumoniae and heart disease
Chlamydia and infertility
CrohnÕs disease
Guillian-Barre syndrome
Pathogens and links to malignancy
Human herpes virus and Kaposi sarcoma
Papilloma virus and cervical cancer
Human T cell leukemia virus and leukemia
Epstein Barr virus and lymphoproloferative disorders
Pathogenesis (many bacteria and viruses can be examined in this context)
Biotechnology
Novel pharmaceutical products from bacteria or Archaea from extreme environments.
Gene therapy using viral vectors
Level 4 labs
Food irradiation
Use of PCR and DNA fingerprinting for characterization of bacterial communities in soil, biofilms or host environments.
Production or biodegradation of PHVB's (i.e., biodegradable plastics) by bacteria.
Epidemiology
Identifying and following an outbreak
Tracking foodborne pathogens
Molecular methods for identifying microbes
Bacteria and your body
Use of
botulinum toxin for cosmetic purposes
Acne and
bacteria
Normal
microbiota and prevention of disease
Flatulence,
intestinal bacteria, and probiotics