Optimized cryopreservation of mixed microbial communities for conserved functionality and diversity.

ABSTRACT: The use of mixed microbial communities (microbiomes) for biotechnological applications has steadily increased over the past decades. However, these microbiomes are not readily available from public culture collections, hampering their potential for widespread use. The main reason for this lack of availability is the lack of an effective cryopreservation protocol. Due to this critical need, we evaluated the functionality as well as the community structure of three different types of microbiomes before and after cryopreservation with two cryoprotective agents (CPA). Microbiomes were selected based upon relevance towards applications: (1) a methanotrophic co-culture (MOB), with potential for mitigation of greenhouse gas emissions, environmental pollutants removal and bioplastics production; (

SUBMITTER: Kerckhof FM 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4061060 | biostudies-literature | 2014

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature