{"id":16175,"date":"2024-03-11T14:52:52","date_gmt":"2024-03-11T18:52:52","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.eckerd.edu\/news\/?p=16175"},"modified":"2024-03-26T14:30:33","modified_gmt":"2024-03-26T18:30:33","slug":"microbiology-class","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.eckerd.edu\/news\/blog\/microbiology-class\/","title":{"rendered":"Eckerd College biology professor leads microbiology class in a world-changing lab"},"content":{"rendered":"[vc_row type=&#8221;in_container&#8221; full_screen_row_position=&#8221;middle&#8221; column_margin=&#8221;default&#8221; column_direction=&#8221;default&#8221; column_direction_tablet=&#8221;default&#8221; column_direction_phone=&#8221;default&#8221; scene_position=&#8221;center&#8221; text_color=&#8221;dark&#8221; text_align=&#8221;left&#8221; row_border_radius=&#8221;none&#8221; row_border_radius_applies=&#8221;bg&#8221; overflow=&#8221;visible&#8221; overlay_strength=&#8221;0.3&#8243; gradient_direction=&#8221;left_to_right&#8221; shape_divider_position=&#8221;bottom&#8221; bg_image_animation=&#8221;none&#8221;][vc_column column_padding=&#8221;no-extraa-padding&#8221; column_padding_tablet=&#8221;inherit&#8221; column_padding_phone=&#8221;inherit&#8221; column_padding_position=&#8221;all&#8221; column_element_direction_desktop=&#8221;default&#8221; column_element_spacing=&#8221;default&#8221; desktop_text_alignment=&#8221;default&#8221; tablet_text_alignment=&#8221;default&#8221; phone_text_alignment=&#8221;default&#8221; background_color_opacity=&#8221;1&#8243; background_hover_color_opacity=&#8221;1&#8243; column_backdrop_filter=&#8221;none&#8221; column_shadow=&#8221;none&#8221; column_border_radius=&#8221;none&#8221; column_link_target=&#8221;_self&#8221; column_position=&#8221;default&#8221; gradient_direction=&#8221;left_to_right&#8221; overlay_strength=&#8221;0.3&#8243; width=&#8221;1\/1&#8243; tablet_width_inherit=&#8221;default&#8221; animation_type=&#8221;default&#8221; bg_image_animation=&#8221;none&#8221; border_type=&#8221;simple&#8221; column_border_width=&#8221;none&#8221; column_border_style=&#8221;solid&#8221;][vc_column_text]\n<audio class=\"wp-audio-shortcode\" id=\"audio-16175-1\" preload=\"none\" style=\"width: 100%;\" controls=\"controls\"><source type=\"audio\/mpeg\" src=\"https:\/\/anchor.fm\/s\/deee7c24\/podcast\/play\/84521937\/https%3A%2F%2Fd3ctxlq1ktw2nl.cloudfront.net%2Fstaging%2F2024-2-25%2F5bc60d43-2acf-319a-f4fb-d56791914cf2.mp3?_=1\" \/><a href=\"https:\/\/anchor.fm\/s\/deee7c24\/podcast\/play\/84521937\/https%3A%2F%2Fd3ctxlq1ktw2nl.cloudfront.net%2Fstaging%2F2024-2-25%2F5bc60d43-2acf-319a-f4fb-d56791914cf2.mp3\">https:\/\/anchor.fm\/s\/deee7c24\/podcast\/play\/84521937\/https%3A%2F%2Fd3ctxlq1ktw2nl.cloudfront.net%2Fstaging%2F2024-2-25%2F5bc60d43-2acf-319a-f4fb-d56791914cf2.mp3<\/a><\/audio>\n[\/vc_column_text][divider line_type=&#8221;No Line&#8221; custom_height=&#8221;16&#8243;][image_with_animation image_url=&#8221;16209&#8243; image_size=&#8221;full&#8221; animation_type=&#8221;entrance&#8221; animation=&#8221;Fade In&#8221; animation_easing=&#8221;default&#8221; animation_movement_type=&#8221;transform_y&#8221; hover_animation=&#8221;none&#8221; alignment=&#8221;&#8221; img_link_large=&#8221;yes&#8221; border_radius=&#8221;none&#8221; box_shadow=&#8221;none&#8221; image_loading=&#8221;skip-lazy-load&#8221; max_width=&#8221;100%&#8221; max_width_mobile=&#8221;default&#8221;][vc_column_text]<em>Senior Aarushi Gandhi samples a vegetable patch to try to isolate a bacteria colony. Photos by Penh Alicandro &#8217;22<\/em>[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row type=&#8221;full_width_content&#8221; full_screen_row_position=&#8221;middle&#8221; column_margin=&#8221;default&#8221; column_direction=&#8221;default&#8221; column_direction_tablet=&#8221;default&#8221; column_direction_phone=&#8221;default&#8221; scene_position=&#8221;center&#8221; text_color=&#8221;dark&#8221; text_align=&#8221;left&#8221; row_border_radius=&#8221;none&#8221; row_border_radius_applies=&#8221;bg&#8221; overflow=&#8221;visible&#8221; overlay_strength=&#8221;0.3&#8243; gradient_direction=&#8221;left_to_right&#8221; shape_divider_position=&#8221;bottom&#8221; bg_image_animation=&#8221;none&#8221; shape_type=&#8221;&#8221; gradient_type=&#8221;default&#8221;][vc_column column_padding=&#8221;padding-2-percent&#8221; column_padding_tablet=&#8221;inherit&#8221; column_padding_phone=&#8221;inherit&#8221; column_padding_position=&#8221;right&#8221; column_element_direction_desktop=&#8221;default&#8221; column_element_spacing=&#8221;default&#8221; desktop_text_alignment=&#8221;default&#8221; tablet_text_alignment=&#8221;default&#8221; phone_text_alignment=&#8221;default&#8221; background_color_opacity=&#8221;1&#8243; background_hover_color_opacity=&#8221;1&#8243; column_backdrop_filter=&#8221;none&#8221; column_shadow=&#8221;none&#8221; column_border_radius=&#8221;none&#8221; column_link_target=&#8221;_self&#8221; column_position=&#8221;default&#8221; gradient_direction=&#8221;left_to_right&#8221; overlay_strength=&#8221;0.3&#8243; width=&#8221;1\/1&#8243; tablet_width_inherit=&#8221;default&#8221; animation_type=&#8221;default&#8221; bg_image_animation=&#8221;none&#8221; border_type=&#8221;simple&#8221; column_border_width=&#8221;none&#8221; column_border_style=&#8221;solid&#8221;][vc_column_text]\n<h3>Penicillin is one of the most well-known and well-used medications today.<\/h3>\n[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row type=&#8221;full_width_content&#8221; full_screen_row_position=&#8221;middle&#8221; column_margin=&#8221;default&#8221; column_direction=&#8221;default&#8221; column_direction_tablet=&#8221;default&#8221; column_direction_phone=&#8221;default&#8221; scene_position=&#8221;center&#8221; top_padding=&#8221;48&#8243; text_color=&#8221;dark&#8221; text_align=&#8221;left&#8221; row_border_radius=&#8221;none&#8221; row_border_radius_applies=&#8221;bg&#8221; overflow=&#8221;visible&#8221; advanced_gradient_angle=&#8221;0&#8243; overlay_strength=&#8221;0.3&#8243; gradient_direction=&#8221;left_to_right&#8221; shape_divider_position=&#8221;bottom&#8221; bg_image_animation=&#8221;none&#8221; shape_type=&#8221;&#8221; gradient_type=&#8221;default&#8221;][vc_column column_padding=&#8221;padding-2-percent&#8221; column_padding_tablet=&#8221;inherit&#8221; column_padding_phone=&#8221;inherit&#8221; column_padding_position=&#8221;right&#8221; column_element_direction_desktop=&#8221;default&#8221; column_element_spacing=&#8221;default&#8221; desktop_text_alignment=&#8221;default&#8221; tablet_text_alignment=&#8221;default&#8221; phone_text_alignment=&#8221;default&#8221; background_color_opacity=&#8221;1&#8243; background_hover_color_opacity=&#8221;1&#8243; column_backdrop_filter=&#8221;none&#8221; column_shadow=&#8221;none&#8221; column_border_radius=&#8221;none&#8221; column_link_target=&#8221;_self&#8221; column_position=&#8221;default&#8221; gradient_direction=&#8221;left_to_right&#8221; overlay_strength=&#8221;0.3&#8243; width=&#8221;2\/3&#8243; tablet_width_inherit=&#8221;default&#8221; animation_type=&#8221;default&#8221; bg_image_animation=&#8221;none&#8221; border_type=&#8221;simple&#8221; column_border_width=&#8221;none&#8221; column_border_style=&#8221;solid&#8221; column_padding_type=&#8221;default&#8221; gradient_type=&#8221;default&#8221;][vc_column_text]Despite how revolutionary the drug is, Scottish physician and microbiologist Alexander Fleming discovered it by accident. According to scientific lore, in 1928, Fleming returned from a holiday to find mold growing in his petri dish of bacteria. He saw that the bacteria wouldn\u2019t grow around the mold due to the mold\u2019s self-defensive chemicals that could kill bacteria. A few experiments later, that mold became the penicillin we know and use today.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWe are essentially doing what Dr. Fleming did,\u201d explains Eckerd College <a href=\"\/biology\/faculty\/denison\/\">Biology Professor Steven Denison, Ph.D.<\/a>, who is teaching microbiology this semester. \u201cBut it\u2019s not an accident. We are taking soil and searching for antibodies that could be lifesaving.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Most of the antibiotics we use are produced by microorganisms living in our own backyards, he says. What started as one accident in a petri dish has created multiple predominant drugs. But the world of microbiology is forever changing.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cBacteria are becoming resistant to antibiotics. It doesn\u2019t bother the harmful bacteria; it just keeps growing,\u201d Denison says. \u201cThere\u2019s a shortage of antibiotics now, and pharmaceutical companies aren\u2019t working very hard to develop new antibiotics.\u201d[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][vc_column column_padding=&#8221;no-extra-padding&#8221; column_padding_tablet=&#8221;inherit&#8221; column_padding_phone=&#8221;inherit&#8221; column_padding_position=&#8221;all&#8221; top_margin_tablet=&#8221;32&#8243; column_element_direction_desktop=&#8221;default&#8221; column_element_spacing=&#8221;default&#8221; desktop_text_alignment=&#8221;default&#8221; tablet_text_alignment=&#8221;default&#8221; phone_text_alignment=&#8221;default&#8221; background_color_opacity=&#8221;1&#8243; background_hover_color_opacity=&#8221;1&#8243; column_backdrop_filter=&#8221;none&#8221; column_shadow=&#8221;none&#8221; column_border_radius=&#8221;none&#8221; column_link_target=&#8221;_self&#8221; column_position=&#8221;default&#8221; gradient_direction=&#8221;left_to_right&#8221; overlay_strength=&#8221;0.3&#8243; width=&#8221;1\/3&#8243; tablet_width_inherit=&#8221;default&#8221; animation_type=&#8221;default&#8221; bg_image_animation=&#8221;none&#8221; border_type=&#8221;simple&#8221; column_border_width=&#8221;none&#8221; column_border_style=&#8221;solid&#8221; column_padding_type=&#8221;default&#8221; gradient_type=&#8221;default&#8221;][image_with_animation image_url=&#8221;16210&#8243; image_size=&#8221;full&#8221; animation_type=&#8221;entrance&#8221; animation=&#8221;Fade In&#8221; animation_easing=&#8221;default&#8221; animation_movement_type=&#8221;transform_y&#8221; hover_animation=&#8221;none&#8221; alignment=&#8221;&#8221; img_link_large=&#8221;yes&#8221; border_radius=&#8221;none&#8221; box_shadow=&#8221;none&#8221; image_loading=&#8221;skip-lazy-load&#8221; max_width=&#8221;100%&#8221; max_width_mobile=&#8221;default&#8221;][divider line_type=&#8221;No Line&#8221; custom_height=&#8221;16&#8243;][vc_column_text]<em>Senior Christian Anthopoulos inspects the soil.<\/em>[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row type=&#8221;full_width_content&#8221; full_screen_row_position=&#8221;middle&#8221; column_margin=&#8221;default&#8221; column_direction=&#8221;default&#8221; column_direction_tablet=&#8221;default&#8221; column_direction_phone=&#8221;default&#8221; scene_position=&#8221;center&#8221; top_padding=&#8221;32&#8243; bottom_padding=&#8221;32&#8243; text_color=&#8221;dark&#8221; text_align=&#8221;left&#8221; row_border_radius=&#8221;none&#8221; row_border_radius_applies=&#8221;bg&#8221; overflow=&#8221;visible&#8221; advanced_gradient_angle=&#8221;0&#8243; overlay_strength=&#8221;0.3&#8243; gradient_direction=&#8221;left_to_right&#8221; shape_divider_position=&#8221;bottom&#8221; bg_image_animation=&#8221;none&#8221; shape_type=&#8221;&#8221; gradient_type=&#8221;default&#8221;][vc_column column_padding=&#8221;no-extra-padding&#8221; column_padding_tablet=&#8221;inherit&#8221; column_padding_phone=&#8221;inherit&#8221; column_padding_position=&#8221;right&#8221; column_element_direction_desktop=&#8221;default&#8221; column_element_spacing=&#8221;default&#8221; desktop_text_alignment=&#8221;default&#8221; tablet_text_alignment=&#8221;default&#8221; phone_text_alignment=&#8221;default&#8221; background_color_opacity=&#8221;1&#8243; background_hover_color_opacity=&#8221;1&#8243; column_backdrop_filter=&#8221;none&#8221; column_shadow=&#8221;none&#8221; column_border_radius=&#8221;none&#8221; column_link_target=&#8221;_self&#8221; column_position=&#8221;default&#8221; gradient_direction=&#8221;left_to_right&#8221; overlay_strength=&#8221;0.3&#8243; width=&#8221;1\/1&#8243; tablet_width_inherit=&#8221;default&#8221; animation_type=&#8221;default&#8221; bg_image_animation=&#8221;none&#8221; border_type=&#8221;simple&#8221; column_border_width=&#8221;none&#8221; column_border_style=&#8221;solid&#8221; column_padding_type=&#8221;default&#8221; gradient_type=&#8221;default&#8221;][vc_column_text]To help address this problem, a group in Wisconsin started an organization called <a href=\"https:\/\/tinyearth.wisc.edu\/\">Tiny Earth\u00ae,<\/a> which partners with colleges with classes like Denison\u2019s, allowing students to screen bacteria from soil to hopefully find a new bacteria-fighting molecule.<\/p>\n<p>Tiny Earth works with colleges and universities globally, allowing undergraduate students to publish work while addressing a pressing global health challenge\u2014our diminishing supply of effective antibiotics.<\/p>\n<p>Faculty visit Tiny Earth at the University of Wisconsin\u2013Madison every two years and are trained in the protocol. Denison joined the team in 2023 and is beginning his search at the <a href=\"\/green\/farm\/\">Eckerd College Community Farm<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>On Feb. 27, Denison\u2019s students, now considered Tiny Earthlings, went out to the farm to collect samples. \u201cI thought the garden would be a good place to test soil samples because of how unique it is,\u201d Denison says. \u201cThere are several different environments in such a small space. There will be a lot of different microorganisms that do different things.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI was excited to be outside and learn about the different types of soil and why they have different properties,\u201d says Aarushi Gandhi, a senior <a href=\"\/biology\/\">biology<\/a> student from Bangalore, India. \u201cActinomycetes were one type of bacteria we read about that may have antibiotic properties. We purposefully chose to dig in a nutrient-rich area, the vegetable patch, to hopefully isolate some of their colonies.\u201d[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row type=&#8221;full_width_content&#8221; full_screen_row_position=&#8221;middle&#8221; column_margin=&#8221;default&#8221; column_direction=&#8221;default&#8221; column_direction_tablet=&#8221;default&#8221; column_direction_phone=&#8221;default&#8221; scene_position=&#8221;center&#8221; top_padding=&#8221;48&#8243; bottom_padding=&#8221;32&#8243; text_color=&#8221;dark&#8221; text_align=&#8221;left&#8221; row_border_radius=&#8221;none&#8221; row_border_radius_applies=&#8221;bg&#8221; overflow=&#8221;visible&#8221; advanced_gradient_angle=&#8221;0&#8243; overlay_strength=&#8221;0.3&#8243; gradient_direction=&#8221;left_to_right&#8221; shape_divider_position=&#8221;bottom&#8221; bg_image_animation=&#8221;none&#8221; shape_type=&#8221;&#8221; gradient_type=&#8221;default&#8221;][vc_column column_padding=&#8221;no-extra-padding&#8221; column_padding_tablet=&#8221;inherit&#8221; column_padding_phone=&#8221;inherit&#8221; column_padding_position=&#8221;right&#8221; column_element_direction_desktop=&#8221;default&#8221; column_element_spacing=&#8221;default&#8221; desktop_text_alignment=&#8221;default&#8221; tablet_text_alignment=&#8221;default&#8221; phone_text_alignment=&#8221;default&#8221; background_color_opacity=&#8221;1&#8243; background_hover_color_opacity=&#8221;1&#8243; column_backdrop_filter=&#8221;none&#8221; column_shadow=&#8221;none&#8221; column_border_radius=&#8221;none&#8221; column_link_target=&#8221;_self&#8221; column_position=&#8221;default&#8221; gradient_direction=&#8221;left_to_right&#8221; overlay_strength=&#8221;0.3&#8243; width=&#8221;1\/1&#8243; tablet_width_inherit=&#8221;default&#8221; animation_type=&#8221;default&#8221; bg_image_animation=&#8221;none&#8221; border_type=&#8221;simple&#8221; column_border_width=&#8221;none&#8221; column_border_style=&#8221;solid&#8221; column_padding_type=&#8221;default&#8221; gradient_type=&#8221;default&#8221;][image_with_animation image_url=&#8221;16211&#8243; image_size=&#8221;full&#8221; animation_type=&#8221;entrance&#8221; animation=&#8221;Fade In&#8221; animation_easing=&#8221;default&#8221; animation_movement_type=&#8221;transform_y&#8221; hover_animation=&#8221;none&#8221; alignment=&#8221;&#8221; img_link_large=&#8221;yes&#8221; border_radius=&#8221;none&#8221; box_shadow=&#8221;none&#8221; image_loading=&#8221;skip-lazy-load&#8221; max_width=&#8221;100%&#8221; max_width_mobile=&#8221;default&#8221;][divider line_type=&#8221;No Line&#8221; custom_height=&#8221;16&#8243;][vc_column_text]<em>Biology Professor Steven Denison (left) observes senior Jake Murias take a soil sample.<\/em>[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row type=&#8221;full_width_content&#8221; full_screen_row_position=&#8221;middle&#8221; column_margin=&#8221;default&#8221; column_direction=&#8221;default&#8221; column_direction_tablet=&#8221;default&#8221; column_direction_phone=&#8221;default&#8221; scene_position=&#8221;center&#8221; top_padding=&#8221;32&#8243; text_color=&#8221;dark&#8221; text_align=&#8221;left&#8221; row_border_radius=&#8221;none&#8221; row_border_radius_applies=&#8221;bg&#8221; overflow=&#8221;visible&#8221; advanced_gradient_angle=&#8221;0&#8243; overlay_strength=&#8221;0.3&#8243; gradient_direction=&#8221;left_to_right&#8221; shape_divider_position=&#8221;bottom&#8221; bg_image_animation=&#8221;none&#8221; shape_type=&#8221;&#8221; gradient_type=&#8221;default&#8221;][vc_column column_padding=&#8221;padding-2-percent&#8221; column_padding_tablet=&#8221;inherit&#8221; column_padding_phone=&#8221;inherit&#8221; column_padding_position=&#8221;all&#8221; column_element_direction_desktop=&#8221;default&#8221; column_element_spacing=&#8221;default&#8221; desktop_text_alignment=&#8221;default&#8221; tablet_text_alignment=&#8221;default&#8221; phone_text_alignment=&#8221;default&#8221; background_color_opacity=&#8221;1&#8243; background_hover_color_opacity=&#8221;1&#8243; column_backdrop_filter=&#8221;none&#8221; column_shadow=&#8221;none&#8221; column_border_radius=&#8221;none&#8221; column_link_target=&#8221;_self&#8221; column_position=&#8221;default&#8221; el_class=&#8221;lg_text&#8221; gradient_direction=&#8221;left_to_right&#8221; overlay_strength=&#8221;0.3&#8243; width=&#8221;1\/1&#8243; tablet_width_inherit=&#8221;default&#8221; animation_type=&#8221;default&#8221; bg_image_animation=&#8221;none&#8221; border_type=&#8221;simple&#8221; column_border_width=&#8221;none&#8221; column_border_style=&#8221;solid&#8221; column_padding_type=&#8221;default&#8221; gradient_type=&#8221;default&#8221;][vc_column_text]<span class=\"accent-color\">The students will take the soil samples and mix them with water, making dilutions. They will then spread the dilutions onto bacterial growth plates. After a few days, the bacteria and microorganisms will grow. Some of those bacteria could produce an antibiotic molecule useful for treating infections.<\/span>[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row type=&#8221;full_width_content&#8221; full_screen_row_position=&#8221;middle&#8221; column_margin=&#8221;default&#8221; column_direction=&#8221;default&#8221; column_direction_tablet=&#8221;default&#8221; column_direction_phone=&#8221;default&#8221; scene_position=&#8221;center&#8221; top_padding=&#8221;32&#8243; text_color=&#8221;dark&#8221; text_align=&#8221;left&#8221; row_border_radius=&#8221;none&#8221; row_border_radius_applies=&#8221;bg&#8221; overflow=&#8221;visible&#8221; advanced_gradient_angle=&#8221;0&#8243; overlay_strength=&#8221;0.3&#8243; gradient_direction=&#8221;left_to_right&#8221; shape_divider_position=&#8221;bottom&#8221; bg_image_animation=&#8221;none&#8221; shape_type=&#8221;&#8221; gradient_type=&#8221;default&#8221;][vc_column column_padding=&#8221;no-extra-padding&#8221; column_padding_tablet=&#8221;inherit&#8221; column_padding_phone=&#8221;inherit&#8221; column_padding_position=&#8221;right&#8221; column_element_direction_desktop=&#8221;default&#8221; column_element_spacing=&#8221;default&#8221; desktop_text_alignment=&#8221;default&#8221; tablet_text_alignment=&#8221;default&#8221; phone_text_alignment=&#8221;default&#8221; background_color_opacity=&#8221;1&#8243; background_hover_color_opacity=&#8221;1&#8243; column_backdrop_filter=&#8221;none&#8221; column_shadow=&#8221;none&#8221; column_border_radius=&#8221;none&#8221; column_link_target=&#8221;_self&#8221; column_position=&#8221;default&#8221; gradient_direction=&#8221;left_to_right&#8221; overlay_strength=&#8221;0.3&#8243; width=&#8221;1\/1&#8243; tablet_width_inherit=&#8221;default&#8221; animation_type=&#8221;default&#8221; bg_image_animation=&#8221;none&#8221; border_type=&#8221;simple&#8221; column_border_width=&#8221;none&#8221; column_border_style=&#8221;solid&#8221; column_padding_type=&#8221;default&#8221; gradient_type=&#8221;default&#8221;][vc_column_text]\u201cIt is surmised that only 0.3% of soil bacteria can be successfully cultured,\u201d says Christian Anthopoulos, a senior biology student from Malvern, Pennsylvania. \u201cAnd that upwards of a trillion microbes may exist in Earth\u2019s soil. This huge sink of untapped potential is the next frontier for microbiologists, and participating in a global experiment to identify potential antibiotics is a one-of-a-kind experience.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>The bacteria will then be transferred to another plate in a more organized manner. A safe-relative pathogen is then spread over the bacteria. If the pathogen can\u2019t grow near one of the bacteria growths, it means an antibody is being produced. This antibody will be purified and sent to Tiny Earth headquarters for further identification.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cIf it\u2019s something new,\u201d Denison says, \u201cit can be sent through the path of chemists and can ultimately be used as a drug for treatment.\u201d[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row]\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>[vc_row type=&#8221;in_container&#8221; full_screen_row_position=&#8221;middle&#8221; column_margin=&#8221;default&#8221; column_direction=&#8221;default&#8221; column_direction_tablet=&#8221;default&#8221; column_direction_phone=&#8221;default&#8221; scene_position=&#8221;center&#8221; text_color=&#8221;dark&#8221; text_align=&#8221;left&#8221; row_border_radius=&#8221;none&#8221; row_border_radius_applies=&#8221;bg&#8221; overflow=&#8221;visible&#8221; overlay_strength=&#8221;0.3&#8243; gradient_direction=&#8221;left_to_right&#8221; shape_divider_position=&#8221;bottom&#8221; bg_image_animation=&#8221;none&#8221;][vc_column column_padding=&#8221;no-extraa-padding&#8221; column_padding_tablet=&#8221;inherit&#8221; column_padding_phone=&#8221;inherit&#8221; column_padding_position=&#8221;all&#8221; column_element_direction_desktop=&#8221;default&#8221; column_element_spacing=&#8221;default&#8221; desktop_text_alignment=&#8221;default&#8221; tablet_text_alignment=&#8221;default&#8221;&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":144,"featured_media":16209,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[37,45],"tags":[1029,986,546,1180,1182,1181],"class_list":{"0":"post-16175","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-academics","8":"category-biology","9":"tag-community-farm","10":"tag-eckerd-college-community-farm","11":"tag-farm","12":"tag-soil","13":"tag-steven-denison","14":"tag-tinyearth"},"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO Premium plugin v27.4 (Yoast SEO v27.4) - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-premium-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Eckerd College biology professor leads microbiology class in a world-changing lab - News | Eckerd College<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.eckerd.edu\/news\/blog\/microbiology-class\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Eckerd College biology professor leads microbiology class in a world-changing lab\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"News | Eckerd College\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/www.eckerd.edu\/news\/blog\/microbiology-class\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"News | Eckerd College\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2024-03-11T18:52:52+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2024-03-26T18:30:33+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"http:\/\/www.eckerd.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/51\/2024\/03\/ghandi.jpg\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"2000\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"1333\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/jpeg\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"Claire Barnett &#039;27\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"Claire Barnett &#039;27\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"6 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\\\/\\\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"Article\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.eckerd.edu\\\/news\\\/blog\\\/microbiology-class\\\/#article\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.eckerd.edu\\\/news\\\/blog\\\/microbiology-class\\\/\"},\"author\":{\"name\":\"Claire Barnett '27\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.eckerd.edu\\\/news\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/person\\\/46e29e0c3497beaa28a669526aefbd20\"},\"headline\":\"Eckerd College biology professor leads microbiology class in a world-changing lab\",\"datePublished\":\"2024-03-11T18:52:52+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2024-03-26T18:30:33+00:00\",\"mainEntityOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.eckerd.edu\\\/news\\\/blog\\\/microbiology-class\\\/\"},\"wordCount\":2209,\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.eckerd.edu\\\/news\\\/blog\\\/microbiology-class\\\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.eckerd.edu\\\/news\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/sites\\\/51\\\/2024\\\/03\\\/ghandi.jpg\",\"keywords\":[\"community farm\",\"Eckerd College Community Farm\",\"farm\",\"soil\",\"Steven Denison\",\"TinyEarth\"],\"articleSection\":[\"Academics\",\"Biology\"],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.eckerd.edu\\\/news\\\/blog\\\/microbiology-class\\\/\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.eckerd.edu\\\/news\\\/blog\\\/microbiology-class\\\/\",\"name\":\"Eckerd College biology professor leads microbiology class in a world-changing lab - News | Eckerd College\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.eckerd.edu\\\/news\\\/#website\"},\"primaryImageOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.eckerd.edu\\\/news\\\/blog\\\/microbiology-class\\\/#primaryimage\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.eckerd.edu\\\/news\\\/blog\\\/microbiology-class\\\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.eckerd.edu\\\/news\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/sites\\\/51\\\/2024\\\/03\\\/ghandi.jpg\",\"datePublished\":\"2024-03-11T18:52:52+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2024-03-26T18:30:33+00:00\",\"author\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.eckerd.edu\\\/news\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/person\\\/46e29e0c3497beaa28a669526aefbd20\"},\"breadcrumb\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.eckerd.edu\\\/news\\\/blog\\\/microbiology-class\\\/#breadcrumb\"},\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"ReadAction\",\"target\":[\"https:\\\/\\\/www.eckerd.edu\\\/news\\\/blog\\\/microbiology-class\\\/\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.eckerd.edu\\\/news\\\/blog\\\/microbiology-class\\\/#primaryimage\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.eckerd.edu\\\/news\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/sites\\\/51\\\/2024\\\/03\\\/ghandi.jpg\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.eckerd.edu\\\/news\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/sites\\\/51\\\/2024\\\/03\\\/ghandi.jpg\",\"width\":2000,\"height\":1333,\"caption\":\"Student in baseball hat crouches down to put soil in a test tube\"},{\"@type\":\"BreadcrumbList\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.eckerd.edu\\\/news\\\/blog\\\/microbiology-class\\\/#breadcrumb\",\"itemListElement\":[{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":1,\"name\":\"Home\",\"item\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.eckerd.edu\\\/news\\\/\"},{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":2,\"name\":\"Eckerd College biology professor leads microbiology class in a world-changing lab\"}]},{\"@type\":\"WebSite\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.eckerd.edu\\\/news\\\/#website\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.eckerd.edu\\\/news\\\/\",\"name\":\"News | Eckerd College\",\"description\":\"Newsroom at Eckerd College\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"SearchAction\",\"target\":{\"@type\":\"EntryPoint\",\"urlTemplate\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.eckerd.edu\\\/news\\\/?s={search_term_string}\"},\"query-input\":{\"@type\":\"PropertyValueSpecification\",\"valueRequired\":true,\"valueName\":\"search_term_string\"}}],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},{\"@type\":\"Person\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.eckerd.edu\\\/news\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/person\\\/46e29e0c3497beaa28a669526aefbd20\",\"name\":\"Claire Barnett '27\",\"image\":{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/secure.gravatar.com\\\/avatar\\\/80d7352172c58a91dcbefcc33e978cc69fdb3cc75a7018060aa7885758cd8ba7?s=96&d=blank&r=g\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/secure.gravatar.com\\\/avatar\\\/80d7352172c58a91dcbefcc33e978cc69fdb3cc75a7018060aa7885758cd8ba7?s=96&d=blank&r=g\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/secure.gravatar.com\\\/avatar\\\/80d7352172c58a91dcbefcc33e978cc69fdb3cc75a7018060aa7885758cd8ba7?s=96&d=blank&r=g\",\"caption\":\"Claire Barnett '27\"}}]}<\/script>\n<!-- \/ Yoast SEO Premium plugin. -->","yoast_head_json":{"title":"Eckerd College biology professor leads microbiology class in a world-changing lab - News | Eckerd College","robots":{"index":"index","follow":"follow","max-snippet":"max-snippet:-1","max-image-preview":"max-image-preview:large","max-video-preview":"max-video-preview:-1"},"canonical":"https:\/\/www.eckerd.edu\/news\/blog\/microbiology-class\/","og_locale":"en_US","og_type":"article","og_title":"Eckerd College biology professor leads microbiology class in a world-changing lab","og_description":"News | Eckerd College","og_url":"https:\/\/www.eckerd.edu\/news\/blog\/microbiology-class\/","og_site_name":"News | Eckerd College","article_published_time":"2024-03-11T18:52:52+00:00","article_modified_time":"2024-03-26T18:30:33+00:00","og_image":[{"width":2000,"height":1333,"url":"http:\/\/www.eckerd.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/51\/2024\/03\/ghandi.jpg","type":"image\/jpeg"}],"author":"Claire Barnett '27","twitter_card":"summary_large_image","twitter_misc":{"Written by":"Claire Barnett '27","Est. reading time":"6 minutes"},"schema":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@graph":[{"@type":"Article","@id":"https:\/\/www.eckerd.edu\/news\/blog\/microbiology-class\/#article","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.eckerd.edu\/news\/blog\/microbiology-class\/"},"author":{"name":"Claire Barnett '27","@id":"https:\/\/www.eckerd.edu\/news\/#\/schema\/person\/46e29e0c3497beaa28a669526aefbd20"},"headline":"Eckerd College biology professor leads microbiology class in a world-changing lab","datePublished":"2024-03-11T18:52:52+00:00","dateModified":"2024-03-26T18:30:33+00:00","mainEntityOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.eckerd.edu\/news\/blog\/microbiology-class\/"},"wordCount":2209,"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.eckerd.edu\/news\/blog\/microbiology-class\/#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/www.eckerd.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/51\/2024\/03\/ghandi.jpg","keywords":["community farm","Eckerd College Community Farm","farm","soil","Steven Denison","TinyEarth"],"articleSection":["Academics","Biology"],"inLanguage":"en-US"},{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https:\/\/www.eckerd.edu\/news\/blog\/microbiology-class\/","url":"https:\/\/www.eckerd.edu\/news\/blog\/microbiology-class\/","name":"Eckerd College biology professor leads microbiology class in a world-changing lab - News | Eckerd College","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.eckerd.edu\/news\/#website"},"primaryImageOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.eckerd.edu\/news\/blog\/microbiology-class\/#primaryimage"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.eckerd.edu\/news\/blog\/microbiology-class\/#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/www.eckerd.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/51\/2024\/03\/ghandi.jpg","datePublished":"2024-03-11T18:52:52+00:00","dateModified":"2024-03-26T18:30:33+00:00","author":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.eckerd.edu\/news\/#\/schema\/person\/46e29e0c3497beaa28a669526aefbd20"},"breadcrumb":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.eckerd.edu\/news\/blog\/microbiology-class\/#breadcrumb"},"inLanguage":"en-US","potentialAction":[{"@type":"ReadAction","target":["https:\/\/www.eckerd.edu\/news\/blog\/microbiology-class\/"]}]},{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/www.eckerd.edu\/news\/blog\/microbiology-class\/#primaryimage","url":"https:\/\/www.eckerd.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/51\/2024\/03\/ghandi.jpg","contentUrl":"https:\/\/www.eckerd.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/51\/2024\/03\/ghandi.jpg","width":2000,"height":1333,"caption":"Student in baseball hat crouches down to put soil in a test tube"},{"@type":"BreadcrumbList","@id":"https:\/\/www.eckerd.edu\/news\/blog\/microbiology-class\/#breadcrumb","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Home","item":"https:\/\/www.eckerd.edu\/news\/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"Eckerd College biology professor leads microbiology class in a world-changing lab"}]},{"@type":"WebSite","@id":"https:\/\/www.eckerd.edu\/news\/#website","url":"https:\/\/www.eckerd.edu\/news\/","name":"News | Eckerd College","description":"Newsroom at Eckerd College","potentialAction":[{"@type":"SearchAction","target":{"@type":"EntryPoint","urlTemplate":"https:\/\/www.eckerd.edu\/news\/?s={search_term_string}"},"query-input":{"@type":"PropertyValueSpecification","valueRequired":true,"valueName":"search_term_string"}}],"inLanguage":"en-US"},{"@type":"Person","@id":"https:\/\/www.eckerd.edu\/news\/#\/schema\/person\/46e29e0c3497beaa28a669526aefbd20","name":"Claire Barnett '27","image":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/80d7352172c58a91dcbefcc33e978cc69fdb3cc75a7018060aa7885758cd8ba7?s=96&d=blank&r=g","url":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/80d7352172c58a91dcbefcc33e978cc69fdb3cc75a7018060aa7885758cd8ba7?s=96&d=blank&r=g","contentUrl":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/80d7352172c58a91dcbefcc33e978cc69fdb3cc75a7018060aa7885758cd8ba7?s=96&d=blank&r=g","caption":"Claire Barnett '27"}}]}},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.eckerd.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/16175","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.eckerd.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.eckerd.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.eckerd.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/144"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.eckerd.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=16175"}],"version-history":[{"count":7,"href":"https:\/\/www.eckerd.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/16175\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":16300,"href":"https:\/\/www.eckerd.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/16175\/revisions\/16300"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.eckerd.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/16209"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.eckerd.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=16175"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.eckerd.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=16175"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.eckerd.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=16175"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}