Research Tools
Janthinobacterium lividium Isolates from Alaskan Soil
WARF: P06058US
Inventors: Jo Handelsman, Patrick Schloss, Amy Klimowicz
The Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation (WARF) is seeking commercial partners interested in developing bacterial isolates that have antibacterial activity against Gram-positive bacteria.
Overview
Microorganisms adapted to grow in exceptionally harsh environments, such as hot springs and arctic soils, are a potentially vast source of novel metabolic processes, antibiotics, enzymes and other proteins. Due to the difficulties involved in culturing these microbes, which by definition possess highly unusual growth requirements, this resource today remains largely untapped.
The Invention
UW-Madison researchers have identified red- and purple-pigmented Janthinobacterium lividium isolates that have antibacterial activity against Gram-positive bacteria. These bacteria were isolated from non-permafrost soil in the floodplain of the Tanana River -- an extremely cold and mineral poor environment near Fairbanks, Alaska. The red and purple pigments, which are only produced at temperatures below 28º C, may play a role in the antibacterial activity. This collection of bacteria complements a collection of more than 1,000 bacterial cultures and 16 libraries of bacterial genomic DNA isolated from the same Alaskan soils (see links below).
Applications
- May be useful to treat subjects infected with Gram-positive bacteria
- Provides a potentially valuable source of new genes, antibiotics, metabolic processes and cold-adapted enzymes for food processing, medical and industrial applications
Key Benefits
- Microorganisms adapted to exceptionally harsh environments are a potentially vast source of novel metabolic processes, antibiotics, enzymes and other proteins.
Additional Information
For More Information About the Inventors
Related Technologies
For current licensing status, please contact Jennifer Gottwald at [javascript protected email address] or 608-960-9854
- See WARF reference number P03154US for information on a bacterial culture collection from Alaskan soils.
- See WARF reference number P04104US for information on 10 libraries of bacterial genomic DNA isolated directly from the Tanana River floodplain in Alaska.
- See WARF reference number P05158US for six additional libraries of bacterial genomic DNA isolated from Alaskan soils.
- See WARF reference number P06059US for information on a culture collection of bacteria from Alaskan soils that do not grow at temperatures above 37ºC.