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andymc
cocoa beetles from zanzibar



Registered: 11/25/09
Posts: 2,395
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Perhaps, a legitimate mycology use for UV 1
#14248821 - 04/06/11 05:44 PM (12 years, 9 months ago) |
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So there I was, down to my last poured petri dish, and I really needed to make a transfer, but it had a little spot of bacteria in the dish. Normally I'd discard that dish, but I was in a tight spot.
I'd previously bought a UV disinfectant wand from ThinkGeek on a whim (I had a big gift certificate to spend) but never found much use for it.
So, I dosed that bacteria with UV from the wand, and made the transfer, circled the spot on the cover of the dish, to see if it spread. Not only has it not spread, it no longer has that shiny, colourful look of bacteria spots on agar - it looks kind of grey and dead.
So, UV: useful for something after all?
-------------------- How I make spore prints Trade List My flow hood If he asks me "Did you have a good time?" I'll say, "Get the lights, Mr. Grim Reaper" -odds
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Doc_T
Random Dude




Registered: 03/06/09
Posts: 42,395
Loc: Colorado
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Re: Perhaps, a legitimate mycology use for UV [Re: andymc]
#14248951 - 04/06/11 06:05 PM (12 years, 9 months ago) |
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Hmm... that's polycarbonate, right?
-------------------- You make it all possible. Doesn't it feel good?
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andymc
cocoa beetles from zanzibar



Registered: 11/25/09
Posts: 2,395
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Re: Perhaps, a legitimate mycology use for UV [Re: Doc_T]
#14248977 - 04/06/11 06:09 PM (12 years, 9 months ago) |
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Quote:
Doc_T said: Hmm... that's polycarbonate, right?
-------------------- How I make spore prints Trade List My flow hood If he asks me "Did you have a good time?" I'll say, "Get the lights, Mr. Grim Reaper" -odds
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Doc_T
Random Dude




Registered: 03/06/09
Posts: 42,395
Loc: Colorado
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Re: Perhaps, a legitimate mycology use for UV [Re: andymc]
#14248992 - 04/06/11 06:12 PM (12 years, 9 months ago) |
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Sorry, random obscure thought. The material of those pre-poured dished, the plastic is polycarbonate. I think. And I wonder at the UV transmission profile of polycarbonate vs glass. I know glass won't pass much UV, but I don't know about the plastic.
-------------------- You make it all possible. Doesn't it feel good?
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andymc
cocoa beetles from zanzibar



Registered: 11/25/09
Posts: 2,395
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Re: Perhaps, a legitimate mycology use for UV [Re: Doc_T]
#14249015 - 04/06/11 06:15 PM (12 years, 9 months ago) |
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I wondered if that's what you meant 
I lifted the lid, in front of the flow hood, and dosed it for a few seconds. I reckon you could do the same inside of a glove box though.
I reckon you're right though, I wouldn't automatically assume that it can pass through the dish lid effectively.
-------------------- How I make spore prints Trade List My flow hood If he asks me "Did you have a good time?" I'll say, "Get the lights, Mr. Grim Reaper" -odds
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Doc_T
Random Dude




Registered: 03/06/09
Posts: 42,395
Loc: Colorado
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Re: Perhaps, a legitimate mycology use for UV [Re: andymc]
#14249027 - 04/06/11 06:18 PM (12 years, 9 months ago) |
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Didn't think about lifting the lid.
I still don't think anybody should be using UV, but at least this seems to be a plausible effective use.
-------------------- You make it all possible. Doesn't it feel good?
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andymc
cocoa beetles from zanzibar



Registered: 11/25/09
Posts: 2,395
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Re: Perhaps, a legitimate mycology use for UV [Re: Doc_T]
#14249106 - 04/06/11 06:33 PM (12 years, 9 months ago) |
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It'll be interesting to see what happens when the mycelium reaches that spot.
Can't post pics tonight, but I will if anything interesting happens
-------------------- How I make spore prints Trade List My flow hood If he asks me "Did you have a good time?" I'll say, "Get the lights, Mr. Grim Reaper" -odds
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andymc
cocoa beetles from zanzibar



Registered: 11/25/09
Posts: 2,395
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Re: Perhaps, a legitimate mycology use for UV [Re: andymc]
#14340264 - 04/23/11 07:48 PM (12 years, 9 months ago) |
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Well, dey et dem:

There's some condensation on the lid making it difficult to see, but there was some other mold on the other side of the dish (not sure my flow hood is working out for me so well) so I had to open it inside a glove box.
The spot of bacteria that I dosed with the UV wand (circled) was completely overrun by the good mycelium. So, maybe it works!
-------------------- How I make spore prints Trade List My flow hood If he asks me "Did you have a good time?" I'll say, "Get the lights, Mr. Grim Reaper" -odds
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Doc_T
Random Dude




Registered: 03/06/09
Posts: 42,395
Loc: Colorado
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Re: Perhaps, a legitimate mycology use for UV [Re: andymc]
#14341059 - 04/23/11 10:35 PM (12 years, 9 months ago) |
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Outstanding!
Next: How much UV is just enough to kill bacteria? Is that amount safe for mycelium?
-------------------- You make it all possible. Doesn't it feel good?
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M11
White Thumb

Registered: 06/14/09
Posts: 1,840
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Re: Perhaps, a legitimate mycology use for UV [Re: Doc_T]
#14341116 - 04/23/11 10:47 PM (12 years, 9 months ago) |
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I have used a UV bulb to sterilize my area prior to inoculation. Works quite well. Kills airborne contaminants as well.
-------------------- Of course, then there's the problem of eating vermiculite. On the bright side, it makes your poop and teeth glitter. Just pretend it's christmas. -RR Those mushrooms are fine. Your friend is a pussy. -RR Outdoor Patch
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savage.renegade



Registered: 07/02/10
Posts: 986
Loc: Bay area
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Re: Perhaps, a legitimate mycology use for UV [Re: M11]
#14341150 - 04/23/11 10:53 PM (12 years, 9 months ago) |
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Just dont give yourself skin cancer or shine it your eyes.
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savage.renegade



Registered: 07/02/10
Posts: 986
Loc: Bay area
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Re: Perhaps, a legitimate mycology use for UV [Re: savage.renegade]
#14341172 - 04/23/11 10:57 PM (12 years, 9 months ago) |
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Personally i would wear special goggles. is that uv-c? Maybe the wand is safe? I would look it up though
Edited by savage.renegade (04/23/11 11:11 PM)
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M11
White Thumb

Registered: 06/14/09
Posts: 1,840
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Re: Perhaps, a legitimate mycology use for UV [Re: savage.renegade]
#14341349 - 04/23/11 11:35 PM (12 years, 9 months ago) |
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I wear my sunglasses ha ha. I don't know if it helps, but they are polarized.
I usually just run it over the surface of the table a few times and then sit it upright on the table facing upwards for about 30 minutes while I grab my syringes and such. It really has cut down on my contamination rate. I think it kills more contaminants than you would think, especially airborne types.
-------------------- Of course, then there's the problem of eating vermiculite. On the bright side, it makes your poop and teeth glitter. Just pretend it's christmas. -RR Those mushrooms are fine. Your friend is a pussy. -RR Outdoor Patch
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savage.renegade



Registered: 07/02/10
Posts: 986
Loc: Bay area
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Re: Perhaps, a legitimate mycology use for UV [Re: M11]
#14341724 - 04/24/11 01:12 AM (12 years, 9 months ago) |
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Quote:
M11 said: I wear my sunglasses ha ha. I don't know if it helps, but they are polarized.
I usually just run it over the surface of the table a few times and then sit it upright on the table facing upwards for about 30 minutes while I grab my syringes and such. It really has cut down on my contamination rate. I think it kills more contaminants than you would think, especially airborne types.
I dont know if that will block it. Look it up. I know uv is bad on the eyes probably similar to flash burn from welding
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scrantonstrangler
Trip till nothins intense



Registered: 03/27/11
Posts: 418
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Re: Perhaps, a legitimate mycology use for UV [Re: savage.renegade]
#14341907 - 04/24/11 02:20 AM (12 years, 9 months ago) |
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i have a UV light with an exposure stand, syringes, tin foil squares, lids jars, and any thing else you can imagine. Big fan of uv, thanks for the new use
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andymc
cocoa beetles from zanzibar



Registered: 11/25/09
Posts: 2,395
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Re: Perhaps, a legitimate mycology use for UV [Re: andymc] 1
#14793711 - 07/19/11 05:19 PM (12 years, 6 months ago) |
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Here's another one:
I had a single spore syringe from my last print of a cubensis variety. I didn't use sterile water to create that syringe, merely purified. Predictably (in retrospect) when I used that syringe to drop spores on agar, I got nothing but a pool of bacteria. Damn.
So I tried again, but this time after I droppered some solution onto the agar, in front of the flow hood, I dosed it with UV for 10 seconds or so.
The spores germinated this time; when they first started, it looked a little bit strange -- isolated little pinhead-sized spots -- but now I've got a basically normal-looking plate.
So, it seems as if UV may be useful for eliminating enough bacteria from spore solution, and allowing enough spores to survive, to germinate from a contaminated spore syringe. I might do another couple of plates from that syringe (one with UV, one without) to see whether I can replicate this.
-------------------- How I make spore prints Trade List My flow hood If he asks me "Did you have a good time?" I'll say, "Get the lights, Mr. Grim Reaper" -odds
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Doc_T
Random Dude




Registered: 03/06/09
Posts: 42,395
Loc: Colorado
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Re: Perhaps, a legitimate mycology use for UV [Re: andymc]
#14793926 - 07/19/11 05:54 PM (12 years, 6 months ago) |
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Good work. 
Kids- don't try this at home, UV is dangerous stuff. But this is a very cool line of inquiry.
Could you zap the whole syringe for a period of time, kill the bacteria that way? I can see a whole new thing coming out of this...
-------------------- You make it all possible. Doesn't it feel good?
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andymc
cocoa beetles from zanzibar



Registered: 11/25/09
Posts: 2,395
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Re: Perhaps, a legitimate mycology use for UV [Re: Doc_T]
#14793978 - 07/19/11 06:03 PM (12 years, 6 months ago) |
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Quote:
Doc_T said: Good work. 
Kids- don't try this at home, UV is dangerous stuff. But this is a very cool line of inquiry.
Word. Yeah, this is a disinfectant 'wand' thing I got from ThinkGeek, though they don't seem to carry it any more (perhaps too many customers got cancer and died ). It shines a directed light when you pass it over a surface. Looks like this one.
I don't think I'd use it casually; in this case, I was trying to save something that I knew had bacteria in it.
Quote:
Doc_T said: Could you zap the whole syringe for a period of time, kill the bacteria that way? I can see a whole new thing coming out of this...
I wouldn't guess that the UV would pass through the syringe plastic very well, but then I don't know enough about the subject to make a more educated statement. In this case I was shining it directly on a couple of drops of spore solution, before I replaced the petri lid.
-------------------- How I make spore prints Trade List My flow hood If he asks me "Did you have a good time?" I'll say, "Get the lights, Mr. Grim Reaper" -odds
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Doc_T
Random Dude




Registered: 03/06/09
Posts: 42,395
Loc: Colorado
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Re: Perhaps, a legitimate mycology use for UV [Re: andymc]
#14794017 - 07/19/11 06:08 PM (12 years, 6 months ago) |
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You'd need longer exposure, for sure. Not handheld, but make a rig and use a timer. 5 minutes, ten, whatever.
People sending out syringes for contests could sterilize a group at once, if a usable dosage can be determined. Use yours to figure out how much is enough, then figure a way to measure it. (milliwatts per square centimeter, is my guess) They make UV meters but they are pricey fora single use.
-------------------- You make it all possible. Doesn't it feel good?
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andymc
cocoa beetles from zanzibar



Registered: 11/25/09
Posts: 2,395
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Re: Perhaps, a legitimate mycology use for UV [Re: Doc_T]
#14799896 - 07/20/11 07:53 PM (12 years, 6 months ago) |
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I inoculated 4 dishes last night from that contaminated syringe; 2 without UV treatment, and 2 with.
So far, it looks like the results are holding up. On the UV-disinfected plates, there's nothing visible except a couple of dots of clumped spores. On the non-UV plates, it looks as if the bacteria may be making a reappearance.
I'll update with photos when things have had a bit more time to develop.
-------------------- How I make spore prints Trade List My flow hood If he asks me "Did you have a good time?" I'll say, "Get the lights, Mr. Grim Reaper" -odds
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