Storage and transport of microorganisms - by storing microorganisms as air dried cultures on solid nutrient medium to retain viability for long periods

摘要

Microorganisms are stored and/or transported in the form of a film produced by culturing the microorganisms under sterile conditions (without access to foreign microorganisms) on a thin film of a gelled or swellable solid nutrient medium initially satd. with water, and air drying the film for a time that is a multiple of the cell division cycle time of the microorganisms. The dried films are removed from the culture vessel under sterile conditions and packaged in polymer film containers. ADVANTAGE - The microorganisms remain viable for long periods, e.g., 12-36 months. The process is applicable to a wide range of microorganisms, including non-sporogenic bacteria and fungi and the mycelia of higher fungi. In an example, microorganisms were grown on nutrient agar in Petri dishes under ambient conditions for several weeks while allowing the agar to dry. On storage, Anabaena variabilis and Nostoc muscorum remained viable for 36 months and Saccharomyces cerevisiae and Pleurotus ostreatus remained viable for 12 months.