27.08.2014 change 27.08.2014

Scientists - bacteria collectors

Some people collect stamps, figures of elephants or little bells. Over the years of research, researchers collect thousands of bacteria, fungi or DNA fragments that they store in cold storage or freezers. In Poland, the work is underway on a network what would connect bacterial collections of universities and institutes.

Scientists want to create an interconnected network of collections in the project SeCuRe - Strain and Culture Resources, one of the initiators of which is Dr. Anna-Karina Kaczorowska from the Faculty of Biology, University of Gdańsk. The result will be an integrated network of centres specializing in collecting, analysing and maintaining the microbiological material.

"Any person who professionally deals with microorganisms or do research on cells, over time accumulates a huge amount of strains of bacteria, viruses, yeasts and cell lines. Some research teams work on certain problems for decades. During the studies, microorganisms are often collected from their natural environment, or constructed strains with specific properties are genetically engineered in a laboratory. A lot of research material is created" - told PAP Dr Anna-Karina Kaczorowska.

When a scientific team solves the problem or changes the direction of research, long-term achievements of experimental work can be wasted, a unique collection of samples is usually lost due to lack of caregiver. "If microbial strains or DNA samples have not been catalogued according to accepted standards and are not available in a database, only few people know of their existence. If these samples are not organized, included in a collection, they usually first end up in the bottom of the freezer, and over time because of lack of confirmation of their authenticity or lack of space they are simply removed" - explained the researcher.

In the beginning, the network will include three institutions: the University of Gdańsk, Institute of Agricultural and Food Biotechnology in Warsaw and the Polish Collection of Microorganisms at the Institute of Immunology and Experimental Therapy PAS in Wrocław. But - as intended by the creators of the network - other Polish collections are research centres collecting microbiological material are welcome to join.

Currently in the world only a small percentage of such dispersed scientific collections is actually available to researchers from other centres. Researchers looking for a strain of bacteria with specific characteristics can call another lab and ask if their colleagues have the strain. But they wouldn’t be able to check all the institutes in Poland and in the world this way. Therefore, another outcome of the project SeCuRe will be a Virtual Biological Resource Centre.

"We assume that there will be a place on the internet where anyone interested in microorganisms can enter and find what he or she needs. It could be a company seeking microorganisms that carry out a specific biochemical reaction, for example produce the required substance or ferment products. It could be a teacher who wants to show students a processes involving bacteria, or bacteria themselves, like those that glow in the dark. Or a scientist looking for a strain with a specific mutation, isolated bacteria; DNA fragment" - said the scientist. She noted, however, that access to bio-resources will be properly verified and monitored to prevent bacteria or viruses from falling into the wrong hands.

According to estimates, soon about one third of industrial production will be associated with biotechnology, it will use the biological material. In order to meet the needs of biotechnology and to keep pace with growing biomedical sciences, collections of microbiological material must be significantly upgraded. "Sometimes the collections are referred to as museum of strains. This term, however, is associated with dusty tubes rather than modernity. Contemporary collections must be modern research centres, in which, using the latest standardized techniques, you can identify bacteria, describe them and protect them for future generations, and create the widest possible access to them" - explained Dr. Kaczorowska.

The world’s largest collections contain tens of thousands of samples of microorganisms. They are stored, among others, as powder obtained in the process of freeze-drying (drying at low temperatures). Another frequently used method is freezing at -80 degrees Celsius or storing in special containers with liquid nitrogen (-196 degrees Celsius).

"Samples are always stored in duplicate. Part of propagated micro-organisms is as a bank of starting material, and the remainder is aliquoted. Prepared samples, properly stored, are available to those who want to use certain strain" - said the scientist.

The construction of research infrastructure in Gdańsk, Warsaw and Wrocław in the project SeCuRe is planned for five years, and its estimated cost is approx. 140 million zlotys. The project is coordinated by the Institute of Agricultural and Food Biotechnology in Warsaw. At the University of Gdańsk, the first stage involves equipping the Biological Resource Centre, including Plasmid and Microorganism Collection at the Faculty of Biology, with scientific and research equipment for analysing genetic material, identification of microorganisms and digitisation. In the second phase, Polish Virtual Biological Resource Centre will be created

The project SeCuRe is consistent with the concept of creating a common European research infrastructure in the field of microbial resources.

PAP - Science and Scholarship in Poland, Ewelina Krajczyńska

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