Biological & Life Sciences Resources: CBIO233

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RESEARCH INFORMATION

Finding primary literature papers is essential for staying informed about current research in a given field. PubMed and Google Scholar are two widely used databases for locating peer-reviewed articles. PubMed, maintained by the National Library of Medicine, specializes in biomedical and life sciences literature, offering advanced search filters to refine results by study type, publication date, and free full-text availability. Google Scholar provides broader coverage across disciplines and includes articles, theses, and conference papers, though not all sources are peer-reviewed. 

1. PubMed

           ​​​(https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/)

        2. Google Scholar

            (https://scholar.google.com/) 

This is an individual assignment.

Each member of your group should find a different paper on your bacterium. Therefore, you will need to communicate with each other about which papers you have chosen. Two people with the same paper in the same group will get a zero on this assignment! 

For this assignment:

1. Use the link to access PubMed: 

           https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/.

       2. In the search bar, type:

• The full bacterium name of the organism you have chosen. 
• Add one of the following search terms (each group member should use a different one)
  • Bacterial growth
  • Bacterial metabolism
  • Biofilms
  • Quorum sensing
  • Microbial ecology and habitats
  • Antibiotic resistance mechanisms
  • Host-microbe interactions
  • Bacterial genetics
  • Horizontal gene transfer
  • Bioremediation
  • Cell wall composition
  • Endospore
  • Flagella and/or movement
  • Plasmids 
  • Virulence factors
  • If you are struggling, please reach out and talk to me. Other topics can be approved. I am just trying to help limit your searches. 

1. On the side bar, check "5 years" (because we want something recent).
2. Search for an article that meets the following criteria:
   • You must be able to access the free full text, or see if CAU has digital access to this journal through the "institutional access". Or you can reach out to me if you've found the perfect article - I may have alternative means of finding the article for you. 
   • It must not be a review (reviews do not have methods, results & discussion).
   • It needs to have a separate results and discussion section. 
   • It cannot be a public health article. 
   • It must be around 10-15 pages or less in length.
   • Published in the last 5 years. If you are struggling, please reach out. 
3. Download and save the pdf on your computer. 
4. Submit this pdf to this assignment.
5. Do NOT delete the pdf on your computer - we will use this in the next assignment. 

EXTRA CREDIT

Understanding how to effectively navigate academic sources is a crucial skill for success in this course and beyond. Some of you may already feel confident in this area, while others might find it more challenging. To support your research skills, I am offering an opportunity to earn 50 additional points by meeting with Dr. Rosaline Odom, our research librarian at the Atlanta University Center Robert W. Woodruff Library. We have a research tab located on the Library’s Biological Sciences Research Guide which can be helpful as you make your choices of articles: https://research.auctr.edu/c.php?g=197164&p=10748456

This optional consultation is designed to help you refine your research strategies, improve your ability to navigate university databases, and make the most of available academic resources. Dr. Odom—and all university librarians—are highly knowledgeable professionals whose expertise can greatly enhance your research process.

Guidelines:

• This is not a requirement; it is an optional opportunity for additional points.
• The 50 points will be awarded only after verification that you have met with Dr. Odom. Upon verification this assignment will earn you 50 points.
• You may discuss topics such as refining search terms, using advanced database features, evaluating sources, defining the rigor of an academic paper, and integrating research into your work.
• This consultation will benefit not only this class but also future coursework and research projects.

I strongly encourage you to take advantage of this opportunity to strengthen your academic research skills. If you have any questions or need assistance in scheduling your meeting, please let me know. To arrange a day and time for an appointment with Dr. Odom, please email her at rodom@auctr.edu.

Microbiology is the study of microbes. Microbes, which are also called micro-organisms, are a group of organisms that are too small to be seen with the naked eye. Despite being even smaller than the human cell, microbes still vary dramatically in size, with most viruses being up to 100 times smaller than the average bacterium. Microbes are the oldest life form on this planet and there is even fossil evidence in Australian rocks of microbial communities living 3.48 billion years ago. Microbes that cause disease are called pathogens. While it might seem that they make up a large proportion of the microbes on our planet, human pathogens account for less than 1% of microbial species.

• Immunohistochemistry is an important application of monoclonal as well as polyclonal antibodies to determine the tissue distribution of an antigen of interest in health and disease. Also referred to as IHC, it is widely used for diagnosis of cancers; specific tumor antigens are expressed de novo or up-regulated in certain cancers.
• Bioinformatics involves the integration of computers, software tools, and databases in an effort to address biological questions. 

Contact the Biological Sciences Subject Librarian (Dr. Rosaline Odom, rodom@auctr.edu) for assistance.