Base Pair/SOAR/RBI

Muse of Fire

Outcomes and Expectations

Sidebar images courtesy of DHD Multimedia Gallery

Summer Research InstituteJune 25-29, 2012

St. Andrew's Episcopal School

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Sidebar images courtesy of DHD Multimedia Gallery

SOAR

Base Pair/SOAR/RBI

• UMMC/Public school collaboration

• Mentorship in biomedical research

• Science education enhancement

• Funded by HHMI since 1994

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SOAR

Base Pair/SOAR/RBI• Initiated in 1992 – High school biomedical research mentorship

at UMMC– Graduation credit– Teacher professional development– Biomedical Research course

• HHMI funding 1994-2012• Expansion efforts:– SOAR 2001– RBI 2007– Muse of Fire 2008

© RWR 6-21-2010

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“A Muse of Fire” • HHMI award• Consortium:

– Millsaps College– UMMC– Woods Hole Marine Biological

Institute– Bogue Chitto High School– Jackson Public Schools

• Develop 5 unique, inquiry-based high school activities focused on

the RIFA

6/21/2010

“O for a muse of fire, that would ascendThe brightest heaven of invention”

(King Henry V)

Well, they certainly are annoying, but… why fire ants?

•Unique nature of venom

•Human toxicity – underlying ??

•Biotechnology Education Stimulanthttp://www.dpi.qld.gov.au/fireants/

© RWR 6-21-2010

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The Muse of Fire Project:Focusing Student Interest in Science

Using Region-Specific Biology

Photo Credit: Alex Wild - Myrmecos.net 6-21-2010

Local Interest ↔ Global Impact

Premise: Involve teachers in development of inquiry-based exercises in science education that bring contemporary biomolecular techniques into their classrooms and

allow participation in actual science research

Muse of Fire: Team approach to develop 5 unique, inquiry-

based biotechnology training high school activities focused on the RIFA

Team 1 – Microecology of RIFA: Effects on local environment?

Team 2 – Toxicology: Insecticidal effects?

Team 3 – Human Health Impact: Human danger?

Team 4 – Gene Microarray: Molecular effects?

Team 5 – Wolbachia Symbiosis: Genetic analysis?

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The RIFA – Solenopsis invicta

http://www.aphis.usda.gov/plant_health/plant_pest_info/fireants/downloads/fireant.pdf

Photo credit: Alex Wild - myrmecos.com

•Where are they?•From whence did they come?•How did they get here?•What effects are they having?•Is their sting dangerous?•What is in their venom?•For what do they use their venom?•How are we involving high schools in real research?

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S. invicta Venom – Clinical Toxicity?

• Vast majority of stings cause:• Minor, transient pain• Local redness and

swelling with sterile pustule formation

• Small numbers have larger areas of swelling

• Very few have life-threatening allergic reactions

• Reports of massive fire ant attacks on infants and elderly in nursing homes

© RWR 6-21-2010

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S. invicta Venom

•Unique among stinging insects– ~95% alkaloids and ~5% proteins

•Proteins recognized by immune system and cause allergic reactions •Potential for alkaloid toxicity unknown despite amount in venom Venom contains mixture of

several alkaloid forms – isosolenopsins – solenopsins– dehydrosolenopsins

Synthesis by National Center for Natural Products Research (Ole Miss)

6-21-2010

Massive Fire Ant Stings in an Elderly Woman

Massive Fire Ant Stings

• Most of these cases had severe symptoms, but only one had anaphylactic symptoms.

• Adverse responses to the massive stings included:

– cardiopulmonary failure or arrest in 6 of 10 cases in the medical literature.

– death in 6 of 10 cases in the medical literature.• deShazo RD, et al. Ann Intern Med 1999; 131: 424-429.

– death in 8 of 20 total cases reported (1 of 4 infants).•Rupp MR, et al. Am J Med Sci 2006; 331: 134-138.

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Effect of Solenopsin A on Rat Left Ventricular Effect of Solenopsin A on Rat Left Ventricular Contractility, Contractility, in vitroin vitro

• Male SD rat

• Working Langendorff prep

• Left ventricular dP/dt via balloon

• Superfusion of solenopsin A at 30, 100 µM

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Outcomes and Expectations

•Interactive participation

•Grant submission (s)

•Classroom involvement

•Joining network

© RWR 6-21-2010

Let’s Get to Work!

Sidebar images courtesy of DHD Multimedia Gallery© RWR 6-21-2010