Science Fair 2016 / Epidemiologic experiments (1) Abstract, Materials, Hypothesis

Science Fair 2016

Epidemiologic experiments

of probiotics’ mechanism

(direct antagonism) and

stability.

 

 

 

Kyu Been Lee

Irvine High School (10^th grade 2016)

Science Teacher: Mrs. Joan Elliott

Project Category: PHYSIOLOGY/MEDICAL BIOLOGY

               Title: Pharmacological effects: Epidemiologic experiment of

              probiotics’ mechanism (direct  antagonism) and stability.

 

 

 

Abstract

Objectives/Goals: There were a few purposes for this project one of which was to prove that one of the probiotics’ mechanisms was direct antagonism. Along with that, the project’s purpose was also to determine the probiotics’ stability in an intestine environment and also whether it is safe in the stomach or not. The final purpose was to study epidemiology to show the efficacy of dietary supplement probiotics.

 

Methods/Materials: To observe direct antagonism, I kept the probiotics’ tester tube with the body temperature(PH7.0) and combined it with cultured pathogens on microscope slides. Through the microscope, magnification by 400x and 1000x (with immersion oil for 1000x), showed real antagonistic action of the probiotics. In order to see the effect of the enteric coated capsule, many different stages were prepared: The first one was by putting a neutral pH(PH7.0) at room temperature and adding a neutral pH at body temperature to make an intestine environment for  the 5 and 90 billion probiotics capsules were observed to see their dissolving situation. Second was making a stomach environment with room temperature and body temperature along with vinegar (pH2.2), lemon extract (2.1), and apple vinegar (PH2.4). Finally, the stability experiments were tested through tester tubes: water at pH7.0 and dissolved probiotics in a body temperature environment. To observe the survival time of the probiotics, continued to observe for at least 24 hours.

 

Results: The experiment’s results showed that probiotics’ antagonism was revealed through observations from the microscope. Enteric coated capsule was not dissolved during those 3 hours where we put them in with pH2.1 and 2.2 liquids. However, when it was with pH 2.4 body temperature environment, the 5 billion probiotics  capsule dissolved in only an hour and 4 minutes.  In the pH7 body temperature environment experiment, capsule completely dissolved in 21 minutes(5 billions).  Also in the pH7 room temperature, it took around 45 minutes(5 billions) and 65 minutes(90 billions) to dissolve the capsule completely. Finally, the stability experiment continued until 30 hours passed and even then the probiotics were still alive and active.

 

Conclusion/Discussion: In the end, my hypothesis was proven correct. Since direct antagonism was shown throughout the experiments between probiotics and pathogens, it showed an efficacy of the probiotics’ important mechanism. The fact that the 90 billion probiotics capsule did not dissolved in a stomach environment during 3hours, but the 5 billion probiotics capsule dissolved completely in a stomach environment even before digestion time was up shows that perhaps Nature’s Way, the company, made an experimental problem with those capsules since through earlier experiments, it also showed that if probiotics were to be in acidic environments, they were to die in minutes. Finally, the stability experiment demonstrated the probiotics’ vitality and efficacy against bowel diseases in the end.

 

Summary Statement: My experiments were done to determine just how probiotics’ dietary supplement worked effectively in the small and large intestine.

 

Help was received: My father had purchased the microscope along with many instruments used throughout the experiments. My mother also supported me throughout the experimental processes.

 

 

Materials

2 capsule Optima 90 Billion Active Probiotics      Nature’s way

4 capsule Primadophilus Bifidus 5 Billion              Nature’s way

1cup Kimchi Juice          

Microscope                                                                 LEICA CM E

30 Microscope slides   

30 Cover glass                                                            22x22mm

1 bottle Immersion oil type A

1 Portable Milligram Scale                                       GEMINI-20

1Waterproof Digital Thermometer                        Cooper DPP400W

30 clear plastic container 

1 Eyedropper 

100 Cotton swab, Alcohol for cleansing

8 Test tube

1 Moldy orange

1 Moldy onion

1 Moldy bread

Camera

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Hypothesis

 

If direct antagonism is shown throughout the experiments between pathogens and probiotics, then it will show efficacy about one of the probiotics’ most important mechanism.

If the enteric coated capsule containing the probiotics is shown to be resistant against environments similar to the stomach, it will prove that the capsule is successful at transporting the probiotics to the small intestine. Contrary, if the environment is like the small and large intestine, the enteric coated capsule will dissolve for the acting probiotics.

If probiotics are shown to be alive for at least 24hours in neutral liquids at body temperature, the experiment will proves that probiotics have stability in the small intestine and colon too.

It is important to know that epidemiologic study of dietary supplement’s efficacy as a consumer.