Looduslike ja laboratoorsete mikroobitüvede kollektsioon CELMS

Collection of Environmental and Laboratory Microbial Strains CELMS

Abstract

The Collection of Environmental and Laboratory Microbial Strains
(CELMS) was established in 1995, and it is located in the Institute of
Molecular and Cell Biology of the University of Tartu. A microbiological
collection differs from other natural science collections, such as botanical,
zoological, geological, and mycological collections, because it consists of living
microscopic organisms that are invisible to the naked eye. Like other
microbial culture collections, the primary function of CELMS is to collect,
maintain, and distribute microbial strains, which have unique properties
and practical values in teaching, research assays, biotechnology, etc. For
example, CELMS stores microorganisms with various bioremediation
capabilities isolated from different environmental conditions. Determining
the complete nucleotide sequences of the strains’ biodegradative
plasmids helps researchers study horizontal gene transfer processes in
nature. To make the deposited strains more visible and attractive, several
tests are being performed to identify potential characteristics useful
for biotechnological applications. For example, several strains have been
recently screened for the ability to catabolize biopolymers – cellulose, hemicellulose,
and lignin, to find potential strains that could be used for
the valorization of the wood industries’ waste or byproducts. The public
catalog of CELMS is available on the Estonian Electronic Microbial dataBase
(EEMB) website [footnote 4], where there are listed for each culture
general (isolation location/source, important features necessary for
strain identification etc.) and specific characteristics (ability to degrade
or produce certain chemicals, resistance to drugs, presence of plasmids
etc.), and, if available, links to nucleotide sequences deposited in Gen-
Bank, as well as information concerning published scientific data. The
deposited cultures can be ordered (free of charge) for academic research
(non-commercial purposes) after signing a Material Transfer Agreement.
The CELMS collection preserves well-characterized cultures that are of
interest to researchers in the fields of environmental protection, biotechnological
applications, waste recycling, etc.