Isolation and Identification of a Potentially New Relative of Bacillus stratosphericus from Lake Michigan Water Samples — Presentation Detail — Celebration of Scholars

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Student presentations must have a faculty sponsor.

Abstracts must include a title and a description of the research, scholarship, or creative work. The description should be 150-225 words in length and constructed in a format or style appropriate for the presenter’s discipline.

The following points should be addressed within the selected format or style for the abstract:

A clear statement of the problem or question you pursued, or the scholarly goal or creative theme achieved in your work.
A brief comment about the significance or uniqueness of the work.
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Additional Information

More information is available at carthage.edu/celebration-scholars/. The following are members of the Research, Scholarship, and Creativity Committee who are eager to listen to ideas and answer questions:

Jun Wang
Kim Instenes
John Kirk
Nora Nickels
Andrew Pustina
James Ripley

Isolation and Identification of a Potentially New Relative of Bacillus stratosphericus from Lake Michigan Water Samples

Name: Faith Wittmus
Major: Biology
Hometown: Laurens, IA
Faculty Sponsor:
Other Sponsors:
Type of research: Course project

Name: Chelsea Burns
Major: Biology
Hometown: Rockton, IL
Faculty Sponsor:
Other Sponsors:
Type of research: Course project

Name: Angela Fuller
Major: Biology and vocal music core
Hometown: Greendale, WI
Faculty Sponsor:
Other Sponsors:
Type of research: Course project

Name: Chris Nelson
Major: Biology
Hometown: Annawan, IL
Faculty Sponsor:
Other Sponsors:
Type of research: Course project

Abstract

Lake Michigan is a diverse ecosystem that supports a variety of microbial life. During the Microbiology course, our group collected two samples of water from the lake, and two types of bacteria were isolated. Multiple identification tests were run to determine the identity of these bacteria. The first unknown bacterium, CAF, was not able to be conclusively identified due to complications with growth in the laboratory. The other bacterium, WAC, was determined to be a gram positive, rod-shaped bacterium and a close relative to Bacillus stratosphericus. Other factors, such as having the ability to produce catalase and endospore formation capabilities were also consistent with B. stratosphericus identification. Isolation of B. stratosphericus from the lake was unexpected as it is found in the stratosphere where it is believed to be associated with clouds. Despite the similarities mentioned above, WAC did not match B. stratosphericus perfectly based upon DNA analysis and may actually be a novel species.

Poster file