How bread mold can help us:
In order to learn what liquid is most effective to use
within the fungus solution, we plan to perform a mock experiment with bread
mold. We plan to put bread mold into solution with different liquids and spray it on
sterile bread, in order to test which solution best grew the mold.
Introduction:
The fungus Metarhizium anisopliae already sees use in everyday application. It is commonly used as an insecticide in crops, currently used to target termites, slugs, and other insects that cause the crop itself harm. It is stated to be safe for humans and other animals, as it does not infect either. This makes it safe for use as an insecticide. This being said; a viable, safe, responsible method must be found in which the fungus may be safely transported from the spray bottle and onto the intended surface. A common household object, spray paint, is perfect for this. Spray paint, using a variety of oils, acts as a “vector” of sorts for its contents, transporting them from nozzle to surface.
Using white bread, bread mold (Rhizopus Nigricans and Mucor Stolonifer being the two most common) will be grown and then harvested. Using a 2:1 ratio of distilled water to oil, a variety of oils will be used, including Vegetable, Canola, Linseed, Olive, Coconut, Baby, and Sunflower Seed, to be mixed with water. The bread mold scrapings will be added to the prepared solution of oil and water. Then, putting the solution into a spray bottle, the solution will be sprayed on a new piece of white bread to see if more mold develops faster than bread left in: the open air, regular water, or with the various types of oils. Based on these results, it will be determined if the spray is a viable vector for transport of the spores.
The approximate volume of Fungus required to spread over a malaria blanket has been calculated: .425 grams per blanket at 1.7 meters squared, or .25 grams per square meter. Based on this information it is intended that the average 1 liter bottle will be able to treat 150 malaria nets, meaning, per bottle, there will be 63.75 grams of fungal spores.
During the experimental process, we intend to utilize the following outline:
1. Harvest bread mold after grown for 5 days in a contained environment.
2. Measure out 34 grams of the “contaminated” bread and mold spores, representing 80 treated nets
3. Measure out 160ml of intended oil, and 320 ml of distilled water. This will act as the fluid, and vector, the spores will travel on.
4. Mix both the oil and water together in a sterile container
5. Add the fungal spores to the mixture, stir vigorously for approximately two minutes.
6. Carefully pour the solution into a sterile spray bottle
7. Repeat these steps until all desired oils are represented
8. Measure out 480 ml of each oil used, pour into sterile spray bottle
9. Measure out 480 ml of distilled water, pour into sterile spray
bottle
10. Using separate containers, spray a single piece of bread a single time, label containers appropriately
11. Record data daily.
Conclusion:
With this data, the objective will come into a clearer view: The bread slice that develops mold at the highest rate is the best vector to use in our sprays contents, in order to ensure the fungus is transported properly from bottle to its intended surface.
Introduction:
The fungus Metarhizium anisopliae already sees use in everyday application. It is commonly used as an insecticide in crops, currently used to target termites, slugs, and other insects that cause the crop itself harm. It is stated to be safe for humans and other animals, as it does not infect either. This makes it safe for use as an insecticide. This being said; a viable, safe, responsible method must be found in which the fungus may be safely transported from the spray bottle and onto the intended surface. A common household object, spray paint, is perfect for this. Spray paint, using a variety of oils, acts as a “vector” of sorts for its contents, transporting them from nozzle to surface.
Using white bread, bread mold (Rhizopus Nigricans and Mucor Stolonifer being the two most common) will be grown and then harvested. Using a 2:1 ratio of distilled water to oil, a variety of oils will be used, including Vegetable, Canola, Linseed, Olive, Coconut, Baby, and Sunflower Seed, to be mixed with water. The bread mold scrapings will be added to the prepared solution of oil and water. Then, putting the solution into a spray bottle, the solution will be sprayed on a new piece of white bread to see if more mold develops faster than bread left in: the open air, regular water, or with the various types of oils. Based on these results, it will be determined if the spray is a viable vector for transport of the spores.
The approximate volume of Fungus required to spread over a malaria blanket has been calculated: .425 grams per blanket at 1.7 meters squared, or .25 grams per square meter. Based on this information it is intended that the average 1 liter bottle will be able to treat 150 malaria nets, meaning, per bottle, there will be 63.75 grams of fungal spores.
During the experimental process, we intend to utilize the following outline:
1. Harvest bread mold after grown for 5 days in a contained environment.
2. Measure out 34 grams of the “contaminated” bread and mold spores, representing 80 treated nets
3. Measure out 160ml of intended oil, and 320 ml of distilled water. This will act as the fluid, and vector, the spores will travel on.
4. Mix both the oil and water together in a sterile container
5. Add the fungal spores to the mixture, stir vigorously for approximately two minutes.
6. Carefully pour the solution into a sterile spray bottle
7. Repeat these steps until all desired oils are represented
8. Measure out 480 ml of each oil used, pour into sterile spray bottle
9. Measure out 480 ml of distilled water, pour into sterile spray
bottle
10. Using separate containers, spray a single piece of bread a single time, label containers appropriately
11. Record data daily.
Conclusion:
With this data, the objective will come into a clearer view: The bread slice that develops mold at the highest rate is the best vector to use in our sprays contents, in order to ensure the fungus is transported properly from bottle to its intended surface.