The Laboratory of Biodeterioration Research of the Nature Research Centre deposits a unique collection of pure cultures of microorganisms of various systematic groups. The collection of microorganisms is the basis of microbiology, its practice and development and a source of microorganism strains and information about them. The collection demonstrates microbial biodiversity, as it maintains saprotrophic, mycosymbiotrophic, parasitic and microscopic fungi, yeast and bacteria strains used in biotechnology. Every year the collection is augmented with new species and strains of microorganisms able to function on various substrates, possessing specific properties related to their application, and producing biologically active substances (enzymes, proteins, vitamins, organic acids, pigments, etc.). The strains of microorganisms patented in the Republic of Lithuania and maintained in the collection are as follows: Trichoderma harzianum VNB-16, decomposing fuel oil (LT patent N 4794B); Candida lipolytica C.6.1-5, oxidizing oil and petroleum products (LT patent N 4793B); Pseudomonas fluorescens IGN 57, decomposing oil and petroleum products (LT patent N 4792B); and the strains of microorganisms Candida lipolytica and Trichoderma harzianum, which are designated for the biodegradation of industrial production waste monoethanolamine (MEA) (LT patent N 5502B). A significant part of the collection is composed of medically important microorganisms belonging to genera Trichophyton, Microsporum, Candida, Geotrichum, Aspergillus, etc. A voluminous collection of microorganisms functioning in the environment allows the maintenance of a valuable microbial gene pool, assisting knowledge and ensuring the peculiarities determining their vital importance and application. The cultures deposited in the collection undergo regular control and application of newly elaborated efficient methods of storage and sustaining activity. For long-term maintenance of microorganisms, cryogenic and lyophilization methods are used. Currently, an electronic database on pure cultures of microorganisms sustained in the collection of the Laboratory of Biodeterioration Research is in the process of development. The electronic database on the maintained gene pool of microorganisms will satisfy the needs of higher education and research, environmental protection and control institutions, manufacturers and the general public. At present, Lithuania is one of the few European countries that does not have a national collection of microorganisms.
The Laboratory of Biodeterioration Research deposits a collection of pure cultures of microorganisms of various systematic groups. The collection demonstrates microbial biodiversity, as it maintains saprotrophic, mycosymbiotrophic, parasitic and microscopic fungi, yeast and bacteria strains used in biotechnology. Every year the collection is augmented with new species and strains of microorganisms able to function on various substrates, possessing specific properties related to their application, and producing biologically active substances. A voluminous collection of microorganisms functioning in the environment allows the maintenance of a valuable microbial gene pool, assisting knowledge and ensuring the peculiarities determining their vital importance and application. The cultures deposited in the collection undergo regular control and application of newly elaborated efficient methods of storage and sustaining activity. Hopefully, an electronic database on the maintained gene pool of microorganisms will satisfy the needs of higher education and research, environmental protection and control institutions, manufacturers and the general public, because Lithuania is one of the few European countries that does not have a national collection of microorganisms.
Microorganism storage conditions
| Abbreviation | Storage method |
| T-1 | Beer mash agarised medium. Surface culture on inclined agar. Stored at +4º C temperature. |
| T-2 | Sabouraud agar. Surface culture on inclined agar. Stored at +4º C temperature. |
| T-3 | Porous glass balls (MicrobankTM, PRO-LAB DIAGNOSTICS, Canada). Stored at -70º C temperature. |
| T-4 | Beer mash agarised medium with 1% wood sawdust. Surface culture on inclined agar. Stored at +4º C temperature. |
| T-5 | Czapek medium. Surface culture on inclined agar. Stored at +4º C temperature. |
| T-6 | Potato dextrose agar. Surface culture on inclined agar. Stored at +4º C temperature. |
| T-7 | Nutrient agar. Surface culture on inclined agar. Stored at +4º C temperature. |
| T-8 | Nutrient agar. Deep culture poured over with vaseline. Stored at +4º C temperature. |
| T-9 | Medium to support nitrogen-fixing bacteria. Surface culture on inclined agar. Stored at +4º C temperature. |
Nutrient media used for microorganism storage
| Name | Composition and preparation |
| Beer ma sh agar | For the growth of microorganisms, beer mash concentrate is diluted with tap water up to 7–8° according to Balling, and 2–2.5% agar is added. The medium is sterilised in an autoclave at 112°C temperature for 25–30 min. |
| Sabouraud agar | Glucose – 20 g, peptone – 10 g, agar – 20 g, distilled water – 1000 ml. The medium is sterilised in an autoclave at 121°C temperature for 15 min. |
| Beer mash agar with 1% wood sawdust | For the growth of microorganisms, beer mash concentrate is diluted with tap water up to 7–8° according to Balling, and 1 % fine pine sawdust and 2–2.5% agar are added. The medium is sterilised in an autoclave at 112°C temperature for 25–30 min. |
| Czapek medium | Saccharose – 30 g, sodium nitrate – 3 g, dipotassium hydrophosphate – 1 g, potassium chloride – 0.5 g/ml, magnesium sulfate heptahydrate – 0.5 g/ml, ferrous sulfate – traces, distilled water – 1000 ml, agar – 20 g. The medium is sterilised in an autoclave at 121°C temperature for 15 min. |
| Potato dextrose agar | Potato infusion – 200 g, glucose – 20 g, agar – 17 g/l. The medium is sterilised in an autoclave at 121°C temperature for 15 min. |
| Nutrient agar | Beef extract – 1 g, yeast extract – 2 g, peptone – 5 g, sodium chloride – 5 g, distilled water – 1000 ml, agar – 15 g. The medium is sterilised in an autoclave at 121°C temperature for 15 min. |
| Medium of nitrogen-fixing bacteria | Saccharose – 20 g, dipotassium hydrophosphate – 0,64 g, potassium dihydrophosphate – 0.16 g, magnesium sulfate heptahydrate – 0.2 g, sodium chloride – 0.2 g, calcium sulfate tetrahydrate – 0.05 g, sodium molybdate tetrahydrate (0.05%) – 5 ml, ferrous sulfate tetrahydrate – (0.05%) – 5 ml, distilled water – 1000 ml, agar – 15 g. The medium is sterilised in an autoclave at 121°C temperature for 15 min. |