1. Base Pair/SOAR/RBI Muse of Fire Outcomes and Expectations Sidebar images courtesy of DHD Multimedia Gallery Summer Research Institute June 25-29, 2012 St. Andrew's Episcopal School © RWR6-25-2012

2. Sidebar images courtesy of DHD Multimedia Gallery SOAR Base Pair/SOAR/RBI UMMC/Public school collaboration Mentorship in biomedical research Science education enhancement Funded by HHMI since 1994 © RWR6-21-2010

3. SOAR Base Pair/SOAR/RBI Initiated in 1992 –High school biomedical research mentorship at UMMC –Graduation credit –Teacher professional development –Biomedical Research course HHMI funding 1994-2012 Expansion efforts: –SOAR 2001 –RBI 2007 –Muse of Fire 2008 © RWR6-21-2010

4. © RWR “ A Muse of Fire ” HHMI award Consortium: –Millsaps College –UMMC –Woods Hole Marine Biological Institute –Bogue Chitto High School –Jackson Public Schools Develop 5 unique, inquiry-based high school activities focused on the RIFA 6/21/2010 “O for a muse of fire, that would ascend The brightest heaven of invention” (King Henry V)

5. Well, they certainly are annoying, but… why fire ants? Unique nature of venom Human toxicity – underlying ?? Biotechnology Education Stimulant http://www.dpi.qld.gov.au/fireants/ © RWR6-21-2010

6. © RWR The Muse of Fire Project: Focusing Student Interest in Science Using Region-Specific Biology Photo Credit: Alex Wild - Myrmecos.net 6-21-2010 Local Interest ↔ Global Impact Premise: Involve teachers in development of inquiry-based exercises in science education that bring contemporary biomolecular techniques into their classrooms and allow participation in actual science research

7. Muse of Fire: Team approach to develop 5 unique, inquiry- based biotechnology training high school activities focused on the RIFA Team 1 – Microecology of RIFA: Effects on local environment? Team 2 – Toxicology: Insecticidal effects? Team 3 – Human Health Impact: Human danger? Team 4 – Gene Microarray: Molecular effects? Team 5 – Wolbachia Symbiosis: Genetic analysis? © RWR6-21-2010

8. The RIFA – Solenopsis invicta http://www.aphis.usda.gov/plant_health/plant_pest_info/fireants/downloads/fireant.pdf Photo credit: Alex Wild - myrmecos.com Where are they? From whence did they come? How did they get here? What effects are they having? Is their sting dangerous? What is in their venom? For what do they use their venom? How are we involving high schools in real research? © RWR6-21-2010

9. S. invicta Venom – Clinical Toxicity? Vast majority of stings cause: Minor, transient pain Local redness and swelling with sterile pustule formation Small numbers have larger areas of swelling Very few have life- threatening allergic reactions Reports of massive fire ant attacks on infants and elderly in nursing homes © RWR6-21-2010

10. © RWR S. invicta Venom Unique among stinging insects –~95% alkaloids and ~5% proteins Proteins recognized by immune system and cause allergic reactions Potential for alkaloid toxicity unknown despite amount in venom Venom contains mixture of several alkaloid forms –isosolenopsins –solenopsins –dehydrosolenopsins Synthesis by National Center for Natural Products Research (Ole Miss) 6-21-2010

11. Massive Fire Ant Stings in an Elderly Woman

12. Massive Fire Ant Stings Most of these cases had severe symptoms, but only one had anaphylactic symptoms. Adverse responses to the massive stings included: –cardiopulmonary failure or arrest in 6 of 10 cases in the medical literature. –death in 6 of 10 cases in the medical literature. deShazo RD, et al. Ann Intern Med 1999; 131: 424-429. –death in 8 of 20 total cases reported (1 of 4 infants). Rupp MR, et al. Am J Med Sci 2006; 331: 134-138. © RWR6-21-2010

13. Effect of Solenopsin A on Rat Left Ventricular Contractility, in vitro Male SD rat Working Langendorff prep Left ventricular dP/dt via balloon Superfusion of solenopsin A at 30, 100 µM © RWR6-21-2010

14. Outcomes and Expectations Interactive participation Grant submission (s) Classroom involvement Joining network © RWR6-21-2010

15. Let’s Get to Work! Sidebar images courtesy of DHD Multimedia Gallery © RWR6-21-2010