Do you kiss your mother with that mouth? An inquiry-driven microbiology undergraduate research experience into the human oral microbiome

Authors

  • Jack Tsang Hsing Wang School of Chemistry and Molecular Biosciences, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, 4072, Australia
  • Joshua Daly School of Chemistry and Molecular Biosciences, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, 4072, Australia Australian Centre for Ecogenomics, School of Chemistry and Molecular Biosciences, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, 4072, Australia
  • Jayee Patil School of Chemistry and Molecular Biosciences, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, 4072, Australia
  • Roy A Hall School of Chemistry and Molecular Biosciences, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, 4072, Australia
  • Mark A Schembri School of Chemistry and Molecular Biosciences, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, 4072, Australia
  • Gene W Tyson School of Chemistry and Molecular Biosciences, Australian Centre for Ecogenomics, Advanced Water Management Centre, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, 4072, Australia
  • Philip Hugenholtz School of Chemistry and Molecular Biosciences, Australian Centre for Ecogenomics, Advanced Water Management Centre, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, 4072, Australia

Abstract

Clinical microbiology testing is a fundamental component of healthcare, which depends upon the problem solving skills of its employees. Graduates entering these positions must be able to select, conduct, and interpret a wide variety of diagnostic tests, and undergraduate curricula must be able to foster these transferrable research skills. To this end, an undergraduate research experience (URE) was implemented in MICR2000, an introductory microbiology and immunology course offered at The University of Queensland (UQ). The URE aimed to identify the bacterial composition within healthy human oral cavities (the human oral microbiome), an original research question that has the potential to establish oral risk factors for disease. Previous studies have been hindered by limited volunteer recruitment but by engaging MICR2000 students, 225 oral swab samples were collected for microbial identification via student-driven selection and interpretation of diagnostic tests. In addition to novel research data generated for the oral microbiome, pre and post surveys revealed higher learning gains in laboratory skills, and confidence in explaining, interpreting, and designing experiments (p<0.05). By engaging the students in an authentic research project that maximizes their contribution with respect to providing clinical samples and data generation, the URE provides an inquiry-driven approach to learning clinical microbiology.

Author Biography

Jack Tsang Hsing Wang, School of Chemistry and Molecular Biosciences, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, 4072, Australia

Dr Jack T.H. Wang, BSc/BIT, Ph.D, GCHEd. Associate Lecturer in Microbiology (Teaching-Focused) Building 76 Room 404A School of Chemistry and Molecular Biosciences University of Queensland, Brisbane 4072

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Published

2013-09-23