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Updated: Jun 24, 2026

The Cultivation, Growth, and Viability of Lactic Acid Bacteria: A Quality Control Perspective
Published on: June 16, 2022
A CURE for Microbiology Experiment: Isolation and Characterization of Antimicrobial-Producing Lactic Acid Bacteria
Lijun Wang1,2, Zhenni Yu1
1School of Food and Bioengineering, Xihua University, Chengdu, China.
Abstract:
Traditional microbiology experimental teaching methodology, often based on rigid "cookbook" experiment plans, fails to meet the growing need to cultivate skilled and innovative individuals. Course-based undergraduate research experiences (CUREs) provide a solution by integrating research-based learning into the curriculum, offering an opportunity to improve the "hard" and "soft" skills for science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) students. In this study, a CURE was incorporated into the microbiology experiment curriculum focusing on the isolation and characterization of antimicrobial-producing lactic acid bacteria (LAB) from fermented Sichuan pickles. The CURE was divided into four key sections: (i) designing an experimental plan, (ii) isolation of LAB, (iii) evaluating the antibacterial effects and antibacterial active substances of LAB, and (iv) identifying LAB species and completing the experimental report. Through a tutor observation of the experiment process and a student questionnaire survey, the study demonstrated that CURE-based microbiology experiments significantly improved students' laboratory skills and microbiological-related experimental operation ability and nurtured their scientific thinking. This approach enhances students' preparedness for future career success and cultivates the growth of a well-rounded, skilled person in STEM disciplines.
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