The 2008 Pingry School S.M.A.R.T. Team (Students Modeling A Research Topic) has been working with the Fischetti laboratory at The Rockefeller University to design and produce accurate, three‐dimensional physical models of bacteriophage lysins using rapid prototyping (RP) technology. Lysins are bacterial cell wall hydrolases used by bacteriophage during progeny release. These enzymes in their pure form can be applied directly to Gram‐positive bacteria to quickly induce hypotonic lysis from without. This rapid activity shows promise as a novel antibacterial agent to both prevent and treat infections. Discussions with members of the Fischetti laboratory allowed the students to use RP‐RasMol to design models of lysins to highlight their structural and functional characteristics. These designs were used to direct RP machines to build physical models of these enzymes. Along with a Jmol web tutorial (www.pingrysmartteam.com), these physical models serve as “communication tools” used to enhance the understanding of lysins and their applications among the scientific and academic community. By contributing this new tool to the Fischetti laboratory research team, the students have the unique opportunity to experience and participate in the activities of a research laboratory. This work is supported by a grant awarded to Tim Herman by the NIH NCRR SEPA program and the HHMI Precollege Science Education Program.

The 2010 Pingry School S.M.A.R.T. Team (Students Modeling A Research Topic) has been working with the Banta laboratory at Columbia University to design and produce accurate, three‐dimensional physical models of alcohol dehydrogenase AdhD and other enzymes with applications for use in a biofuel cell. Features being engineered into these enzymes include (1) self‐assembly into hydrogels, (2) alternate cofactor use, and (3) broader substrate specificity. Discussions with the Banta laboratory allowed the students to use RP‐RasMol to design models of enzymes studied in the lab to highlight their structural and functional characteristics. These designs were used to direct rapid prototyping machines to build physical models of these enzymes. Along with Jmol tutorials created on the Team website (www.pingrysmartteam.com) and in Proteopedia (www.proteopedia.org), these physical models serve as “communication tools” used to enhance the understanding of these enzymes and their applications among the scientific and academic community. By contributing this new tool to the Banta laboratory research team, the students have the unique opportunity to experience and participate in the activities of a research laboratory. This work is supported by a grant awarded to Tim Herman by the NIH NCRR SEPA program and the HHMI Precollege Science Education Program.

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The Pingry School offers a lab‐based research course that provides high school students with the opportunity to explore the concepts, methods, and applications of molecular biology. The Pingry School is a coeducational, independent, college‐preparatory country day school in Martinsville, New Jersey.To incorporate an authentic research experience into the class, we have partnered with labs at local universities to screen soil samples collected around The Pingry School. Since the 2005‐2006 academic year, numerous bacteriophage have been successfully isolated and used to construct libraries. These libraries are used to screen for functional genes such as lytic enzymes. The libraries also allow for genome analysis and comparison to other known phage genomes. "Phage hunting" and the analysis of phage genomes involve methods and concepts that are exciting and accessible to high school students. Students take part in a scientifically valid and interesting project while having the opportunity to interact with scientists working on bacteriophage technology and applications.

The Sidwell Friends School S.M.A.R.T. Team (Students Modeling A Research Topic) has been working with the Nelson laboratory at the University of Maryland to design and produce accurate, three‐dimensional physical models of bacteriophage lysins using rapid prototyping (RP) technology. Lysins are bacterial cell wall hydrolases used by bacteriophage during progeny release. These enzymes in their pure form can be applied directly to Gram positive bacteria to quickly induce hypotonic lysis from without. This rapid activity shows promise as a novel antibacterial agent to both prevent and treat infections. Discussions with members of the Nelson laboratory allowed the students to design models of lysins to highlight their structural and functional characteristics. These designs were used to direct RP machines to build physical models of these enzymes. These physical models serve as “communication tools” used to enhance the understanding of lysins and their applications among the scientific and academic community. By contributing this tool to the Nelson laboratory research team, the students have the unique opportunity to experience and participate in the activities of a research laboratory. This work is supported by a grant awarded to Tim Herman by the NIH NCRR SEPA program and the HHMI Precollege Science Education Program.