Microbial Biobanks

Joseph Gellner

Co-Presenters: Individual Presentation

College: Hennings College of Science Mathematics and Technology

Major: BS.SCI/TEC/BIO

Faculty Research Mentor: Comollo, Thomas  

Abstract:

This independent study explores the isolation, cultivation, and classification of environmental fungal species for the development of a microbial biobank. The project begins with the collection of samples from natural environments, followed by pasteurization techniques to reduce bacterial contamination while preserving fungal spores. Selective growth is then promoted using a variety of culture media and different plate sizes (ranging from 100 cm² to 60 cm²) to encourage morphological diversity and enable the isolation of distinct fungal colonies. Fungi are selectively subcultured based on unique morphological traits such as color, texture, and spore structure.Following isolation, DNA is extracted from each fungal strain and analyzed through gel electrophoresis to verify quality and molecular weight. The internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region is amplified for genetic identification. Sequences are then processed using bioinformatics software to build a phylogenetic tree, combining genetic and morphological data to classify each isolate. This study integrates classical microbiology with molecular tools to support fungal biodiversity research and contribute to long-term biobanking and future biotechnological applications.