Identification of Bacterial Strains, and Their Effects against Red Imported Fire Ants (Solenopsis invicta)

Mentors: David Williams and Roberto Pereira

Objective: The purpose of the bioassays experiments conducted was to test the effectiveness of unknown bacteria against fire ants (Solenopsis invicta).  The fire ants in the experiment were each fed 1 g of egg yolk each with a different unknown bacterium for three weeks.  At the end of the three-week period the mortality of the ants were calculated.  The mortality percents proved that the seven different types of bacteria were not effective in killing fire ants (Solenopsis invicta).  The bacterium that was used to feed the ants was also tested for identification in the Biolog® system.  A pure culture of bacteria was taken and grown for a period of 24 hours.  Once the bacteria had been grown it was then tested through the Biolog® system for identification.  All seven of the bacteria tested in this experiment were found to be matches with some form of bacteria in the Biolog® system.

LaShaun entering data into the computer program "Biolog" (a bacterial identification system).

LaShaun is working at a biological safety hood, inoculating agar plates with bacterial isolates she used in her research.