The Institute of Chemical Biology and Fundamental Medicine SB RAS (ICBFM SB RAS) has compiled the first "All-Russian Atlas of Soil Microorganisms" in Russia, the press service of the Ministry of Education and Science of the Russian Federation reported.
The main goals of the project are to create new enzymes, study the mechanisms of action of new antibiotics, and search for bacteriophages for the development of drugs.
Over two years and two months, more than 15,000 soil samples were collected throughout Russia, from Kaliningrad to Vladivostok.
For the first time, the project implemented a unique end-to-end technology for mass collection, primary screening, and comprehensive study of the properties of soil microorganisms, demonstrating the importance of citizen scientists for the development of scientific research.
Schoolchildren and volunteers conducted primary screening of samples for five types of biological activity and sent them to ICBFM SB RAS. All data were collected into a single database.
The samples were studied using microbiological, molecular biological, and genetic methods. The results are ready for implementation in biotechnological and agricultural companies.
Earlier, www1.ru reported that an environmentally friendly sorbent for combating oil spills was created at SPbSUPTD.
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