Dietary Influence on Fecal Bacterial Load in Mice: Organic vs. Inorganic Feeding
Faculty Mentor
Karin Melkonian
Area of Research
Biology, Microbiology
Major
Biology
Description
INTRODUCTION: Diet is the foundation of gut microbiota composition and is consequential to host physiology and behavior. Prior observations show that animals fed organic diets present more docile behavior, which may favor or disfavor gut microbial abundance.
METHOD: To observe differences between organically and inorganically fed mice, five mice from each group will be isolated, and equal masses of stool will be collected. Each sample will be combined with Tryptic Soy Broth and mixed to prepare for serial dilutions, which will then be plated onto Tryptic Soy Agar plates, each receiving 100 µL of solution. The plates will be incubated for 12–18 hours and subsequently analyzed for colony counts.
RESULTS: From this, total bacterial load and its potential relationship to behavioral differences between groups can be evaluated.
DISCUSSION/CONCLUSION:This study aims to determine how diet influences gut microbiota composition and its potential relationship to behavior.
Dietary Influence on Fecal Bacterial Load in Mice: Organic vs. Inorganic Feeding
INTRODUCTION: Diet is the foundation of gut microbiota composition and is consequential to host physiology and behavior. Prior observations show that animals fed organic diets present more docile behavior, which may favor or disfavor gut microbial abundance.
METHOD: To observe differences between organically and inorganically fed mice, five mice from each group will be isolated, and equal masses of stool will be collected. Each sample will be combined with Tryptic Soy Broth and mixed to prepare for serial dilutions, which will then be plated onto Tryptic Soy Agar plates, each receiving 100 µL of solution. The plates will be incubated for 12–18 hours and subsequently analyzed for colony counts.
RESULTS: From this, total bacterial load and its potential relationship to behavioral differences between groups can be evaluated.
DISCUSSION/CONCLUSION:This study aims to determine how diet influences gut microbiota composition and its potential relationship to behavior.