Abstract 1745 Using a Molecular Case Study to integrate molecular structures into a Microbiology course

Molecular storytelling combines exploration of biomolecular structure and multidisciplinary functional information to build rich interdisciplinary learning opportunities in life science courses. Utilizing principles of molecular storytelling, we designed a molecular case study (MCS) on the molecular underpinnings of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) for a microbiology course. This MCS aims to bridge important concepts in biochemistry and microbiology by connecting the idea of antibiotic resistance to the underlying molecular mechanisms using exploration of the structures of penicillin binding protein (PBP) with and without the antibiotics bound.