In the Tiny Earth CURE students isolate bacteria from soil samples and test them for inhibition of bacteria that are safe relatives of the ESKAPE pathogens. In addition to gaining authentic research experience, students may isolate bacteria that produce new, clinically useful antibiotics. This ultimate, noble goal inspires students and engages them to learn more about their bacterial isolates. While characterizing their promising inhibitory isolates, students learn many microbiology lab techniques such as microscopy, Gram staining, serial dilution, streak and spread plating, and biochemical testing. When we replaced our traditional microbiology lab curriculum with the Tiny Earth CURE in our general microbiology course, we lamented that students no longer completed a lab activity with viruses. We have designed a lab activity that fits into the Tiny Earth CURE, allowing students to isolate viruses from their soil samples, count plaques, and examine the effect of host strain on phage enumeration.
