Bucharest Denisov

“INDUSTRIAL PARTNERSHIP: THE VIEW FROM RUSSIA”: 

“INDUSTRIAL PARTNERSHIP: THE VIEW FROM RUSSIA”

IPP Project “Establishment of the Ecological Center of Russia “: 

IPP Project “Establishment of the Ecological Center of Russia “ The objectives of the project: to discover novel bioactive compounds from selected pristine and contaminated environments in Russia; identify useful commercial applications for such compounds, and produce new value-added products and services involving use of these compounds for domestic and international markets.

THE PROJECT IS FUNDED BY:: 

THE PROJECT IS FUNDED BY: Diversa Corporation, San-Diego, USA Department of Energy, USA National Engineering and Environmental Laboratory, Idaho, USA World Foundation for Environment and Development, Washington, USA THE PROJECT IS SUPPORTED BY:

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The participating institutes: Institute of Biochemistry and Physiology of Microorganisms (Russian Academy of Science), Pushchino, Moscow Region; State Research Center For Applied Microbiology (Ministry of Health), Obolensk, Moscow Region; All-Russian Research Institute of Phytopathology (Ministry of Agriculture), Golitsino, Moscow Region; Research Center For Toxicology and Hygienic Regulation of Biopreparations (Ministry of Health), Serpukhov, Moscow Region. THE CENTER FOR ECOLOGICAL RESEARCH AND BIORESOURCES DEVELOPMENT (CERBD)

TASKS FOR RCT&HRB: 

TASKS FOR RCT&HRB Task 1: “Screen DNA and microbial diversity from biotopes of Central and Southern Russia with the goal of creating preparations for bioremediation of contaminated soils in situ”. Task 2: “Develop antimicrobial substances from microorganisms”. Diversa Project Leaders: Karsten Zengler; Amit Vasavada CERBD Project Leader: Gennady Zharikov; Alexander Denisov Project duration: April 1, 2001 - March 31, 2004

“SCREENING OF DNA AND MICROBIAL DIVERSITY OF BIOTOPES FROM CENTRAL AND SOUTHERN RUSSIA …”: 

“SCREENING OF DNA AND MICROBIAL DIVERSITY OF BIOTOPES FROM CENTRAL AND SOUTHERN RUSSIA …” The basic objectives of research: native soil samples (including ones from rizosphere), bottom sediments, irrigation water samples contaminated by polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs).

“DEVELOP ANTIMICROBIAL SUBSTANCES FROM MICROORGANISMS”: 

“DEVELOP ANTIMICROBIAL SUBSTANCES FROM MICROORGANISMS” The basic objectives of research: Strains of lactobacilli, isolated from farm animals including poultry.

THE MAIN CHARACTERISTICS OF LAB:: 

THE MAIN CHARACTERISTICS OF LAB: high adhesive capacity; colonizing resistance; synthesis of lactic, acetic and propionic acids, as well as carbonic gas, superoxide, bacteriocins, antibiotic-like substances, etc.; synthesis of enzymes; antagonistic activity; stimulation of useful intestinal bacterium growth; ability to persist and to be reproduced in the body; resistance to the stomach acid and intestinal bile; ability to aggregate with the others microbial communities and form normal intestinal balanced and stable flora; stimulation of cellular epithelium proliferation; ability to influence the immune system; reduction of cholesterol level; Antiinflammation and antiallergenic effects; antiviral effect; antitumor effect; harmlessness, non-invasiveness, non-carcinogenicity and non-pathogenicity; potential to use as live bacterial vectors for expression of favorable heterologous genes (the optimal way of antigen delivery through intestinal mucosa)

Fields of LAB application:: 

Fields of LAB application: dairy and food industry (dairy, cheese-making, wine-making, etc.); agriculture (ensilage, plant fermentation); medicine; veterinary; pharmaceutical industry

Scope of activities within the project: 

Scope of activities within the project

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 Training courses on methods for selection of samples, microorganism cultures, identification of microorganisms, DNA isolation and screening of unique genes, recommended by Diversa Corp.

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  Selection of native samples, their short-term storage and transportation

Sampling Sites: 

Sampling Sites

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  Preliminary investigation and description of native samples

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  Isolation of microorganisms from native samples: microorganisms-degraders of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs); lactobacteria

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  Isolation and purification of total DNA from raw samples and microorganisms

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Transfer of microorganisms and total DNA samples to Diversa Corp.

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Genetic analysis by Diversa’s DirectEvolution Technology: phylogenetic analysis; gene site saturation mutagenesis (GSSM); tunable gene reassemblyTM technology (TGRTM)

TOTALS OF COLLABORATION OF THE TOXICOLOGICAL CENTER (SERPUKHOV)WITH DIVERSA CORPORATION: 

TOTALS OF COLLABORATION OF THE TOXICOLOGICAL CENTER (SERPUKHOV) WITH DIVERSA CORPORATION Training – 25 scientists Sampling travels – 10 Samples taken – 460 Microorganisms isolated: 42 strains of microorganisms-degraders of PAHs and 4 - PCBs; 160 strains of lactobacilli Total DNA obtained – 182

Benefits to RCT&HRB: 

Benefits to RCT&HRB participation in long-term commercial non-military projects; commercialization of project results for domestic and international markets; possibility to study Russia’s biological resources using the unique molecular techniques developed by Diversa Corp.; possibility to purchase new modern equipment for conducting research; additional earmarked financial support to Russian scientists; royalty payments from sales of novel biomolecules; initiating new foreign investments for RCT&HRB.

Benefits to Diversa Corp.: 

Benefits to Diversa Corp. access to huge microbial diversity residing in Russia; possibility to obtain new biologically active compounds with unique characteristics; commercial benefits obtained from sales of products derived from Russian biodiversity. opportunity to work with uniquely-qualified, highly-skilled Russian scientists relationships developed which can be expanded upon for new commercial opportunities to promote conservation of biological diversity within Russia;