Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation

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Collection of Bacterial Isolates from Alaska That Do Not Grow at Temperatures at or Above 37ºC
WARF: P06059US

Inventors: Patrick Schloss, Jo Handelsman

The Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation (WARF) is seeking commercial partners interested in developing a culture collection of bacterial isolates that do not grow at temperatures above 37ºC.
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 developed a culture collection of bacterial isolates that do not grow at temperatures above 37ºC. 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. This collection of bacterial cultures 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
  • 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
For current licensing status, please contact Jennifer Gottwald at [javascript protected email address] or 608-960-9854

WARF