2011 Phagehunting Teacher Workshop
Welcome to the 2011 Phagehunting Teacher Workshop. This workshop will be held June 27 – July 1, 2011 at the University of Pittsburgh, Main Campus, Langley and Clapp Halls. The sessions are scheduled to begin promptly at 8:00 AM and will conclude by 5:30 PM each day (time change from previous years).
On Monday, June 27th we will meet at 8:00 AM in A219B Langley Hall for an introductory meeting where objectives and opportunities are identified. Bagels and beverages will be provided. (See the campus map or check it out on Google Maps.)
The first thing we will do is go phage prospecting, looking for your very own bacteriophage. You will need soil samples. We ask that you bring some with you (transportation limiting, of course). Collect at least 4 different soil samples; a sample no larger than what fills a film canister will be more than sufficient. What soil samples are best? Bacteriophages infect bacteria. Bacteria typically thrive in warm, moist environments, so choose samples that reflect that habitat.
The number of genomes available to compare is--as of May 1, 2011--at 228. Colleges and universities from across the country are adding phages at an exciting rate. During this week, we will be isolating, purifying, amplifying phages and then extracting DNA to prepare it for sequencing. Our goal is to have each you do just that in your classroom this year. But that is only part of the workshop experience. In addition to the microbiology and molecular biology techniques you will learn, you will also bioinformatically annotate a phage genome. Comparative analysis tools will be introduced so you can use them in your classroom. To that end, bringing your own computer, so that you can load all of the software, will benefit you immensely. If you find you don’t have a compatible computer, we will have computers for you to use while you are here. We ask that you let us know if you are bringing a computer at that it meets the minimum requirements.
With a stronger focus on comparative genomics, we ask that you read the enclosed articles and be ready to discuss them and ask lots of questions.
You will need to complete a variety of forms and return them to us by Friday, May 6, 2011. These include:
- Registration Form
- Liability Release
- Meningitis Form (Note this does not mean you need a meningitis shot, rather that you have been notified of the potential risk.)
- Materials Transfer Agreement (part of Phage in a Box)
I look forward to working with you this summer.
Debbie Jacobs-Sera
Coordinator of the HHMI Professorship Phagehunting Program
(412) 648-3170
FAX (412) 624-4870
djs@pitt.edu