Presenter: Andy Siemens
Mentors: Jessica Green and Erica Hartmann, Biology
Poster: 59
Major: Biology
Different light treatments affect the growth of certain bacterial strains in the built environment, however little is known about the effect of light on an entire bacterial community. The goal of this study is to investigate the impact of UV vs. visible light on the viability of the dust microbiome. We developed a method to quantify viable dust by treating samples with the DNA-binding agent propidium monoazide (PMA), which prevents the amplification of DNA from non-viable cells during polymerase chain reaction (PCR). This technique was used to determine the amount of DNA from live vs. dead cells by comparing amplified 16S gene copy numbers with and without PMA treatment using quantitative PCR (qPCR). As a pilot study, dust samples were treated with broad-spectrum light to determine the appropriate dosage for killing dust microbes. The built environment was simulated using light boxes designed by the Energy Studies in Buildings Laboratory. Experiments were performed in triplicate using identical box setups for each trial. In future experiments, the relationship between different wavelengths of light and bacterial viability will be tested by subjecting dust samples to sunlight with UV wavelengths removed, sunlight with visible and infrared wavelengths removed, and dark conditions. The results from these studies will influence the choice of light filtering in windows for buildings such as hospitals where the elimination of pathogens is extremely important.