Student Spaceflight Experiments Program

The Reishi Mushroom VS E. coli and Chronic Myeloid

Leukemia

"Science walks on the shoulders of the giants that came before us."

Tommy Conn

Special thanks to:

Dr. Jeff Goldstein, National Center for Earth and Space Science EducationCenter for the Advancement of Science in Space (CASIS), SSEP National Partner

Tennessee Space Grant Consortium at Vanderbilt University

Dr. Raquel Collins-Underwood Department of PathologySt. Jude Children’s Research Hospital

The Biotechnology Education CompanyFayette County Education Association

Fayette Academy, Mr. Ron Canada, HeadmasterMemphis Astronomical Society

West Tennessee STEM Hub, Dr. Alfred Hall, II, DirectorEads Animal Hospital, Dr. Tim Montague, Veterinarian

Dr. Racquel Collins-Underwood,

MT (ASCP), PhD

St Jude Children's Research Hospital scientist mentors multiple STEM

student research teams at Fayette Academy.

Our Research Team

Principal Investigator: Mark Montague

Co-Investigators: Averi Davis, Tucker Whittington, and Harley Wade

Research Question

What effect will microgravity have on the Reishi

mushroom’s (Ganoderma lucidum) ability to weaken, damage, or destroy cells?

Will the E. coli cell reaction in microgravity match the

reaction of the leukemia cell to the Reishi mushroom on

Earth?

Chronic Myeloid Leukemia

We learned about current research at St. Jude Children's Research Hospital.

Leukemia is our primary focus.

Hypothesis

We believe the Reishi mushroom will induce cell arrest and apoptosis in cancer cells. However, we will use E. coli, an alternative bacterial model organism, that will approximate the uncontrolled growth of leukemia cells. The benefits of utilizing bacterial cultures in place of human leukemia cells include the ability to precisely initiate and terminate cell growth, and the ability of these cells to grow in the ambient conditions aboard the ISS (Conant).

E. coli

The R

eis

hi

Mush

room

The Reishi

Mushroom

This fungi has been used in Chinese medicine for thousands of years with no negative side effects.

Reishi Mushroom

Reishi, from Nature’s Pharmacy

o Allergies

o Arthritis

o Cancer

o Depression

o Diabetes

o Heart disease

o Hepatitis

o High blood pressure

o Insominia

o Parkinson’s disease

Known as the "King of Herbs"

“The Japanese government officially lists Reishi mushroom as a cancer treatment.”

Volume 1 – 1 E. coli BactoBead™ (10^5 cells per bead)

Volume 2 – 1.5 g of powdered Reishi mushroom mixed with 3 mL nutrient broth

Volume 3 – 3 mL of 10% formalin, cell growth inhibitor and preservative

Mini-Labratory Headed to ISS: Tube 1

Volume 1 – 1 E. coli BactoBead™ (10^5)

Volume 2 – 1.5 g of powdered Reishi mushroom mixed with 3 mL nutrient broth

Volume 3 – 3 mL of 10% formalin, cell growth inhibitor and preservative

Mini-Labratory Ground Element: Tube 2

Volume 1 – 1 E. coli BactoBead™ (10^5)

Volume 2 – 3 mL nutrient broth

Volume 3 – 3mL of 10% formalin, cell growth inhibitor and preservative

Mini-Labratory Ground Element: Tube 3 (control)

Volume 1 – 2 mL K562 chronic myeloid leukemia cells in Bovine Broth

Volume 2 – 1.5 g of Reishi mushroom in 1 mL of Bovine Broth

Volume 3 – 3 mL of 10% formalin, cell growth inhibitor and preservative

Mini-Labratory Ground Element: Tube 4

Volume 1 – 3 mL of K562 chronic myeloid leukemia in nutrient broth (Bovine blood/serum)Volume 2 – empty

Volume 3 – 3 mL of 10% formalin, cell growth inhibitor and preservative

Mini-Labratory Ground Element: Tube 5 (control)

Spectrophotometer

Quantitative Data Collection

AbsorbanceTransmittance

Spectrophotometer

Data Chart Absorbance Transmission

FME 1ISS Reishi E. coli

FME 2Ground Reishi E. coli

FME 3Control E. coli

FME 4Leukemia Reishi

FME 5Leukemia Control

Chronic Myeloid Leukemia

We will use the stain Trypan blue

to identify cell membrane

damage. We will take photographs of 3 fields of view of each FME tube.

County Mayor signs SSEP Proclamation

SSEP Celebration

“The world is full of magical things patiently waiting for our wits to grow sharper.”

–Unknown

Works Cited

"Benefits & Side Effects of Reishi Mushrooms." LIVESTRONG.COM.

LIVESTRONG.COM, 15 Jan. 2014. Web. 05 May 2014.

"Find a Vitamin or Supplement REISHI MUSHROOM." WebMD. WebMD. Web. 02 June

2014.

"How to Protect Your Child from the Bacterium E. Coli."

Http://criandocriancas.blogspot.com/2011/06/como-proteger-seu-filho-da-

bacteria-e.html. Web. 27 May 2014.

"Immortal Mushrooms of Asia." Weblog post. Metafreedom. Web. 13 Apr. 2014.

"Leukemia, Myeloid(Granulocytic Leukemia; Leukemia, Granulocytic; Leukemia,

Myelocytic; Leukemia, Myelogenous; Myelogenous Leukemia; Myeloid

Leukemia; Myelocytic Leukemia)." Leukemia, Myeloid; Granulocytic Leukemia;

Leukemia, Granulocytic; Leukemia, Myelocytic; Leukemia, Myelogenous;

Myelogenous Leukemia; Myeloid Leukemia; Myelocytic Leukemia. Web. 02 June

2014.

"Mushroom Wisdom Super Reishi Mushroom Elixir of Immortality." Mushroom Wisdom.

Super Reishi Mushroom Elixir of Immortality. Web. 06 May 2014.

"Reishi Mushroom Powder - Natures Happiness | Non-GMO Superfoods & Supplements."

Natures Happiness NonGMO Superfoods Supplements. Web. 20 May 2014.

"Reishi Mushrooms." Benefits & Information. Web. 02 June 2014.

"Reishi Mushrooms: Herbal Medicine for Thousands of Years." Reishi Mushrooms: Herbal

Medicine for Thousands of Years. Web. 02 June 2014.

"Welcome to Herbwisdom." Herb Information, Benefits, Discussion and News. Web. 15 Feb.

2014.