MIRCEN Activities on Preservation and Utilization of Microbial Resources

Aparat Mahakhant

Microbiological Resources Centre (MIRCEN)Thailand Institute of Scientific and Technological

Research (TISTR)

Introduction to MIRCEN, TISTR

• Microbial Culture Collection

(Bangkok MIRCEN-UNESCO) 1976

• Non-pathogenic: bacteria, yeast, filamentous fungi

• ACC at TISTR 1995

“Biofertilizer Project”

• Useful microbial strains agriculture, industry,

environment

Functions of MIRCEN, TISTR

• Services• Research

- Research relevant to the collection- Applied research on utilization of microbial resources

Main services

• Culture supply

http://www.tistr.or.th/mircen

• Deposit of microorganisms public & safe deposit

• Preservation of strains

• Identification of strains

• Isolation and purification of strains

• Training service

Number of strains available for service

Groups Number of strainsAlgae 429Bacteria 730Fungi 383Yeast 516Total 2,058

0

200

400

600

800

1000

1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004

Year

Bacteria

Yeasts

Fungi

Algae

Num

ber

of st

rain

s ser

vice

Customers:

• Research institute, universities

• Industries

• SME’s etc.

Research conducted by MIRCEN, TISTR

1. Research relevant to the collection1.1 Survey & collection of microbial strains from

terrestrial & aquatic ecosystems e.g. gliding bacteria and microalgae.

1.2 Taxonomy of microbial strains using morphology, biochemical test & 16s rDNA

1.3 Long-term preservation of microbial strains.esp. microalgae

Research conducted by MIRCEN, TISTR (cont.)

Development of long-term preservation techniques for microalgae

• Cryopreservation• Gelatin disc• Encapsulation• Freeze-dried

Development of long-term preservation techniques for microalgae (cont.)

Viability of microalgal strains

Class Characteristics No. of tested Gelatin disc Encapsulation Freeze-dried

S1

4

0

8

2

14(9.3)

3

0

8

5

16(11)

0

0

0

0

0(0)

strains

47

4

71

28

150

SM2

Cyanophyceae Filamentous(N2-fixing)

2

0

7

3

12(8)

Filamentous(non-N2-fixing)

Chlorophyceae Colony

Unicellular

Total

110% skim milk was used as cryoprotectant210% skim milk + 1% monosodium glutamate was used as cryoprotectant3 ( ) % of survival strains

Development of long-term preservation techniques for microalgae (cont.)

Viability of microalgal strains after cryopreservation

Number of Survival Strains

Class Characteristics No. of tested strain 24 hr 12 m

10%G1 10%M2 5%D3 10%D 10%G 10%M 5%D 10%D

Cyanophyceae Filamentous(N2-fixing)

47 46 47 47 47 44 45 46 46

Filamentous(non-N2-fixing)

4 2 4 4 4 1 1 1 1

Chlorophyceae Colony 71 70 71 71 70 54 42 52 52

Unicellular 28 25 28 28 28 21 23 24 27

Total 150 143(95)4

150(100)

150(100)

149(99)

120(80)

111(74)

123(82)

126(84)

1glycerol, 2methanol,3dimethyl sulfoxide, 4( ) % of survival strains

Research conducted by MIRCEN, TISTR

2. Applied research – Agriculture

• Biofertilizer

“Alginure” Algotech Co., Ltd.

Screening of N2-fixing BGA tolerant

• acid soil

• saline soil

• arid area

2. Applied research – Agriculture

•Agroactive compound – insecticide Cotton ball worm & Beet army worm

Hapalosiphon TISTR 8252

Hapalindole

puwainaphycin

2. Applied research – Agriculture

•Agroactive compound – fungicide

Calothrix sp. TISTR 8906

2. Applied research – Agriculture

•Agroactive compound – plant hormone

Calothrix sp. TISTR 8906

2. Applied research – Agriculture

• Soil conditioner

2. Applied research – Food

“Hed Lap” – Nostoc commune

Nutritional Value

moisture 10.19%protein 20.26%fat 0.02%dietary fiber 43.00%calcium 3.55%ash 16.20%iron 0.28%vitamin A 2.31%

etc.

(incl. microbial, heavy metals, toxicity)

2. Applied research – Food (cont.)

Food products from “Hed Lap”

IP -1 patent

- 9 pitty patents

2. Applied research – Paint Industry• Research on the establishment of Thailand standard test method

for determining the resistance of exterior emulsion paint to algaeOn-site

Laboratory

arid

industrial

mountainous

seaside

rubber tree

PhormidiumangustissimumTISTR 8979

Nostoc paludosumTISTR 8978

Chlorococcum sp. TISTR 8973

Research conducted by MIRCEN, TISTR (cont.)

2. Applied research - Environment• Biocontrol of toxic algal blooms in freshwater by

freshwater calm (Chamberlainia hainesiana)

• Microcystis aeruginosa at 103 cells/ml

• Removal > 90% large size (20 cm)

> 80% small size (10 cm)

Race-way ponds 10,000-25,000 L

Thank you very much

☺ Center for Research and Development Strategy (CRDS)

Japan Science and Technology Agency (JST)

☺ Prof. Dr. Mokoto M. Watanabe, NIES

☺ All the audiences