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Microbial Collection of Taiwan and the Database
袁國芳
Dr Gwo-Fang Yuan
Bioresource Collection and Research Center
Food Industry Research and Developmant Institute
Hsinchu, Taiwan
Abstract
The Bioresource Collection and Research Center, originally named the Culture
Collection and Research Centre (CCRC) at FIRDI, was launched in 1982. The function
and research aims of the BCRC are to: 1. collect, preserve, and provide the genetic
biodiversity resources and information; 2. store and supply of patent related biological
organisms and genetic resources; 3. authenticate and identify the biological and genetic
resources; 4. research, develop and apply the biological and genetic resources; and 5.
provide industrial related technical or information service.
BCRC is the only systematic microbial collection center in Taiwan. More than eighteen
thousands of microbial strains were collected in this center including actinomycetes,
bacteria, filamentous fungi, mushrooms, phages and yeasts etc. Among these, about
seven thousand strains are local isolates. On the other hand, 54 genetic libraries were
collected including human, Oryza sativa, Phalaenopsis equestris, Penaeus monodon,
Monascus, and Metagenomic DNA sample from the soil. Totally, 845 thousands clones
were preserved and most of them were from local organisms. In addition, we also
collected cell lines including the Taiwan Biobank human resources.
The information of the bioresources we collected were store in our database. People can
access the information of the microbial or bioresource we collected. In addition, we
established "Taiwan Microbial Knowledge" in our web site: http://www.bcrc.firdi.org.tw,
including: 1.Scientific knowledge; 2.Edible & medicinal fungi knowledge; and 3.Taiwan
fungal flora knowledge.