Agar art
We wanted to create a visual representation that incorporated the themes of lungs, breathing and resistant bacteria. Bacteria were transformed with a red fluorescent protein and plated in agar plates with antibiotic. Filter paper in the shape of lungs was used to mimic the materials used in an antibiogram. The final product were plates in which the bacteria grew in the shape of lungs around the filter paper.
Resistance consciousness sculpture
Throughout the months of September and October, we collected leftover and expired medications from the student community. For this, we collaborated with iGEM teams: TecCEM, TecMonterrey_GDL and Tec-Chihuahua in order to develop a national strategy to collect leftover / expired drugs in our respective campuses. Each campus established its collection center, and was in charge of the proper disposal.
In addition to this, through the collection of medicine boxes, we were able to design a sculpture that could create awareness and have a positive impact in the community. The theme of the sculpture was time. We explained to the students that through antibiotic resistance and the path we are currently following, the time we have before the medicine and treatments stop working against diseases and bacteria is getting shorter.
Figure 2. Participants creating a sculpture using empty medicine boxes.
Awareness mural
We noticed that by spreading knowledge in an interactive way, students engaged in the conversation and showed interest by asking questions more easily. Thus, through the creation of an awareness mural where participants shared what they knew about antibiotic resistance, we were able to create consciousness and inform about the basics of this problem and make them reflect on self-medication and the importance of visiting the doctor and following treatment.
Figure 3. Mural where students express their thoughts and knowlege about antibiotic resistance.
Anima collaboration
We collaborated with the CO2 Snatchers Design League team by offering a space for the collection of samples that they needed for their bioart project 'Anima'. During the Biologix summer camp that we conducted, participants were invited to provide samples of bacteria taken from their skin. The CO2 Snatchers team then used a program of their design to analyze the growth of bacterial colonies and interpret them to create music.
Figure 4. Taking bacterial samples for the Anima project
Antibiogram Workshop + Petri dish soap
As part of the Biologix summer camp, the participants received information regarding antibiotic resistance from a holistic approach. They learned about the current global public health situation and the national difficulties. We taught them how bacteria acquire resistance to antibiotics from a biological and molecular point of view (class on microbiology, plasmids, and synbio) and we used storytelling to portray how the body becomes vulnerable to diseases and treatment becomes difficult as pathogens develop immunity against antibiotics, as they are administered more often than required. For this, we held an antibiogram workshop in our lab, in which participants elaborated antibiograms, watched how antibiotics work, and how bacteria can become resistant.
Finally, as part of the workshop, participants were given a petri dish soap that mimicked the antibiogram and bacterial cultures they previously created, with the following phrase: “Antibiotics are losing their power because of misuse; be part of the solution, not the problem.”
Results of the antibiogram, bacteria show resistance to different antibiotics.
Petri dishes plated by Biologix summer camp participants.
Students at the end of the summer camp taking soap in the shape of petri dishes.
The workshop helped develop an interest in synthetic biology in the participants.
Image taken of the soap art in the lab.
The Biologix summer camp and our soap art petri dishes helped us spread awareness of the prevalence of antibiotic resistance.