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Bed Bug Researcher Looking for Samples
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bedbugresearcher
newbite
Joined: Jun '09
Posts: 9
Posted 4 months ago
Thu Jun 25 2009 12:46:06
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I'm a researcher at the University of Montana studying bed bug bacteria. Right now I'm looking for samples from any where in North America. If you are interested in providing samples or are interested in my research, either respond to this post or send me an email at amandarainbowlockwood@hotmail.com.
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Well, we've got those. :) Do you need live ones or dead? Does it matter how old or how they were stored? (I have some from several months ago, all taped to notebook paper.)
A live one would be more tricky, since I have a hard time controlling my KILL IT NOW urges. But it might be manageable.
What are you researching? Whether they can spread bacteria, or something else?
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bedbugresearcher
newbite
Joined: Jun '09
Posts: 9
Posted 4 months ago
Thu Jun 25 2009 16:41:20
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Live ones would be preferred, but dead ones aren't bad. The best way to store them (if you want them to keep) is a pill bottle actually. I've kept live ones in those for several weeks at a time. I'm doing a broad spectrum study into the internal bacteria this summer and (depending on what I find) a later study on mechanical transmission of bacteria. Right now I'm trying to find what bacteria to figure out what lives in them naturally so then I can look at common transmission methods for them.
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your host
Joined: Mar '07
Posts: 5,547
Posted 4 months ago
Thu Jun 25 2009 16:55:39
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HI bedbugresearcher!
Are you only interested in field samples?
Could you give us some more information about you: your name, status at U of M and if you're a student, your supervisor's name and contact information?
If you do not want to post all this, would you please PM (private message) it to me? I am the admin for the site.
Thanks!
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If you want live samples from Italy too, tell me...
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bedbugresearcher
newbite
Joined: Jun '09
Posts: 9
Posted 4 months ago
Thu Jun 25 2009 17:42:12
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Though apperciated, I wouldn't want you to have to pay the shipping cost.
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In my experience, the shipping cost from Italy it's a few euros. I guess I can sustain it to support a BBs scientific study. ;-)
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spideyjg
oldtimer
Joined: Jul '08
Posts: 1,405
Posted 4 months ago
Thu Jun 25 2009 21:22:40
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Silly question but you have read the reams of studies in the early 20th century on disease transmission?
Would be interesting to see an updated study that refers to the old ones also.
Jim
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I'm very curious about the methodology used to study the internal bacteria....
Do you grow it in a culture or prepare a slide directly from the specimen?
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Hi,
If you email me from your university email account and request samples I will have some sent to you. We have loads dead around the office but also a significant number of colonies that we collect daily.
Also happy to cover the costs as long as its for confirmed academic research and not as part of a commercial trial. We don't mind supplying to commercial research groups but the fee's they pay help to ensure that the service is free to academics.
Colonies can come in the few's to the few thousands and depends upon source properties.
Good luck with your research though.
David Cain
Bed Bugs Limited -
bedbugresearcher
newbite
Joined: Jun '09
Posts: 9
Posted 4 months ago
Fri Jun 26 2009 12:51:40
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I have read those, my methodology is an expansion of those studies. I use a technique that was developed for human body lice where the outside of the bug is treated using an ethanol iodine solution, then the digestive system is surgically removed and treated with a tissue prep for removing bacterial DNA. The DNA is used for selective PCR probes and sent for sequencing.
David, thank you I'll send you an email today.
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your host
Joined: Mar '07
Posts: 5,547
Posted 4 months ago
Fri Jun 26 2009 13:12:18
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bedbugresearcher,
Thanks for sending me your details. I am glad your team is working on bed bugs. We need all the good research we can get.
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spideyjg
oldtimer
Joined: Jul '08
Posts: 1,405
Posted 4 months ago
Fri Jun 26 2009 13:19:49
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bedbugresearcher - 22 minutes ago »
then the digestive system is surgically removed and treated with a tissue prep for removing bacterial DNA.Without anesthetic! I'm gonna call PETA! ;)
Laugh manically when you kill them or cut them open. :)
Jim
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bedbugresearcher
newbite
Joined: Jun '09
Posts: 9
Posted 4 months ago
Fri Jun 26 2009 13:38:58
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Well, I drown them in cleaning solution first. So more of an autopsy then a surgery, but manic laughing can still ensue.
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I am not sure if I can send them to homes where they will not be lovingly fed and cared for, after all they have been lovingly extracted from the oddest of places.
Sounds like an interesting study. May I suggest that you ask people to send you any info they can on their location and where they think they were exposed it may give some pattern to the markers you are studying.
I will reply to email on Monday.
David
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bedbugresearcher
newbite
Joined: Jun '09
Posts: 9
Posted 4 months ago
Fri Jun 26 2009 14:03:30
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I have been, but the majority of my samples have come from pest control companies so there is very little interaction between myself and the afflicted.
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Hi everyone,
I'm interested in purchasing some bed bugs to use to train dogs to locate the little critters. please contact me at wgATsfnet.com
Thanks,
Wayne
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