Module Overview

In this module, we will explore the C.R.E.A.T.E. method, as it will help us analyze our research article. We will learn about microbes and malaria… and why Delftia tsuruhatensis is so intriguing!

Module Learning Objectives

Module To-Do List

What is the C.R.E.A.T.E. approach to reading primary literature?

The C.R.E.A.T.E. (Consider, Read, Elucidate hypotheses, Analyze and interpret data, Think of the next Experiment) method uses systematic analysis of primary literature in the undergraduate classroom to demystify and humanize science.

Background

• C – Consider: Before reading the article, we analyze the title, authors, and abstract to formulate a preliminary idea of the study. We then create a concept map or draw a diagram of what they already know about the topic, listing any unfamiliar terms.
• R – Read: We read the full article, paying close attention to the details of the experimental setup and methods. We define unfamiliar vocabulary and create drawings or flowcharts to visualize the experimental design.
• E – Elucidate the hypotheses: We identify the specific research questions and hypotheses that the study aims to address. This involves a critical comparison of the paper’s stated hypotheses with the actual outcomes and results.
• A – Analyze and interpret the data: This is a key step where scholars intensely scrutinize the figures and data tables. They analyze the results to form their own interpretation, comparing it with the authors’ conclusions.
• T – Think of the next Experiment: Based on their understanding of the article, scholars propose new, related experiments that could logically follow the study. They may debate these ideas in a “grant panel” style exercise with peers, which highlights the creative and open-ended nature of scientific research. 

Why is this approach important and useful?

This method enables us to critically and carefully analyze the study, facilitating a thorough interpretation of the findings. We will explore connections between host-microbe interactions, public health, genetics, and entomology. You will create (pun intended) the resources to populate this eBook!

How will we get started?

Review Table 1 from this publication: Hoskins SG, Lopatto D, Stevens LM. The C.R.E.A.T.E. approach to primary literature shifts undergraduates’ self-assessed ability to read and analyze journal articles, attitudes about science, and epistemological beliefs. CBE Life Sci Educ. 2011 Winter;10(4):368-78. doi: 10.1187/cbe.11-03-0027. PMID: 22135371; PMCID: PMC3228655.

We will have two or more sessions on each step of the process, documenting what we do, sharing what we create, and learning from the process by updating the Delftia Book.

What is Delftia?

The genus Delftia was first identified following the isolation of its type species, Delftia acidovorans, from soil samples in Delft, Netherlands. The name honors both the city of its discovery and the legacy of pioneering bacteriological research that occurred there. Initially, the organism was classified as Pseudomonas acidovorans in 1926 by den Dooren de Jong. It was subsequently reclassified as Comamonas acidovorans in 1987. The final establishment of the new genus Delftia in 1999 by Wen et al. was a direct result of comprehensive phylogenetic and phenotypic analyses, which revealed significant differences from other microbes in the family Comamonadaceae. These studies, which included the sequencing of the bacterium’s 16S rRNA, provided the definitive molecular evidence needed to justify the creation of a new, distinct genus. The subsequent discovery and characterization of Delftia tsuruhatensis in 2003, isolated from activated sludge in Japan, further solidified the validity of the new genus. Delftia spp. have been isolated from various environments and have applications in agriculture, health, and industry (Bhat et al., 2022).

Learn about the world of Delftia through this 13-minute Google NotebookLM podcast:

The Two Faces of Delftia: Environmental Ally, Clinical Threat

Reflect

References

Bhat, S.V., Maughan, H., Cameron, A.D. and Yost, C.K., 2022. Phylogenomic analysis of the genus Delftia reveals distinct major lineages with ecological specializations. Microbial Genomics, 8(9), p.000864.

Braña, V., Cagide, C. and Morel, M.A., 2016. The sustainable use of Delftia in agriculture, bioremediation, and bioproducts synthesis. In Microbial models: from environmental to industrial sustainability (pp. 227-247). Singapore: Springer Singapore.