Microbe Division/Japan Collection of Microorganism

Microbe Division

Head
Moriya OHKUMA,
Ph.D. ISO9001

Microbes are closely related to human health and environment. The Microbe Division / Japan Collection of Microorganisms has contributed to bioscience and biotechnology as one of the leading Culture Collections in the world since 1981. A wide range of microbes relevant to human health and environment are collected, preserved and distributed using new technologies and by collaboration with researchers and the Culture Collections. Type strains and related strains of lactic acid bacteria, anaerobes, aerobes, actiomyces, archaea, extremophiles, yeasts and fungi for human health and environmental research are collected to BRC-JCM. Distribution of the genomic DNA from microbe has started. BRC-JCM also acquired a certification of ISO9001 for the quality control of microbial strains. Efforts have been also made to develop technologies for handling extremophiles and uncultured microbes, screening systems for valuable microbes and culture-independent analysis of the microbes.

Anaerobic chamber
(RIKEN type)

Freeze-drying preservation
(Model: RIKEN type)

Collection, preservation and distribution of microbial strains.
Accession of new microorganisms and issuance of the JCM certificate of deposition and availability for the type strain of a new taxon proposed.
Freezing and freeze-drying preservation of microbial strains.
Quality control of the microbial resources:

	1)	Confirmation of purity and the characteristics of deposited strains.
	2)	Genetic monitoring of the deposited strains.
	3)	Collection and distribution of microbial information related to deposited strains.

Transfer of microbial strains is performed according to the material transfer agreements (MTAs).
The JCM management is performed according to the Regulations of Microbial Usage in RIKEN.
Information services: Homepage (http://www.jcm.riken.jp/) and publication of BRC/JCM Catalogue of Strains every 3 years and BRC/JCM Newsletter every year.

Ampoules for microbial distribution

Freezing preservation of microbes in liquid nitrogen tank (-170C)

Search for new microbes and their systematics.
Development of new screening systems for valuable microbes related to human health and environment.
Develpoment of rapid isolation, cultivation, classification and preservation of extremophiles and yet-to-be-cultured microbes.
Development of preservation of yet-to-be-cultured microbes by clones as eDNA.
Development of culture-independent analysis for microbial diversity.

Extremely thermophilic archaeon Calbisphaera lagunensis JCM 11605	Endogenous intestianal bacteria Clostridium hiranonis JCM 10541^T
Actinomycete living in a tropical rain forest Microbispora corallina JCM 10266	Tiny tropical basidiomycete Tretopileus spherophorus JCM 10092